The Global Suhoor Treat: Peremech

The Global Suhoor Treat: Peremech~

After decades of communist rule Uzbekistan is re-embracing its Islamic cultural heritage. The open bazaars in the capital Tashkent is teamed up with snacks in time for iftar. During the month of Ramadan a combination of poetry and prayers are recited during suhoor - this is known as aqajan’s prayers. A sofreh is spread out and a heavy meal is laid out as the pre-dawn meal :)

Explore with me the pre-dawn meal served around the world :D :D

Ingredients for peremech dough:

• ½ cup of yogurt,
• ½ cup of water,
• 3 tablespoons of oil,
• ½ teaspoon of salt & sugar,
• 2 pieces of egg,
• 4 cups of flour.

Ingredients for peremech filling:

• 2 onions; diced,
• 1½ cups of chicken stock ,
• 1 lbs beef; minced,
• 1 teaspoon of garlic; crushed,
• salt and pepper according to taste,
• 1 tablespoon oil egg wash & black nigella for garnishing.

Directions:

1. Combine the yogurt with water, oil, salt, sugar and eggs in a food processor.
2. Add flour and make the dough. Knead for 10 minutes, cover and let it rest for an hour.
3. Add one diced onion and chicken stock into a saucepan; simmer until it is well cooked and set it aside.
4. Mix the other onion with ground beef, garlic, salt and pepper.
5. Divide dough into 24 small balls. Now divide filling among dough circles and place each in the center.
6. Bring the sides together in tight pleats while keeping a small opening in the middle.
7. Apply the egg wash and sprinkle the nigella seeds.
8. Bake in a moderate oven until golden or deep fry it :) :)

The Global Suhoor Treat: Bubur Pulut Hitam

The Global Suhoor Treat: Bubur Pulut Hitam~

In Malaysia, making and distributing ‘buburlambuk’, a creamy rice porridge made of meat pieces, coconut milk, spices and other savory condiments is customary. This is also done at many local mosques :)

Another aspect is the Ramadan bazaar that spring up at almost every corner of the country. This offers an array of delicacies for iftar and suhoor. Local Eid songs are also played on the radio and in shopping malls, adding to the festive mood :)

Explore with me the pre-dawn meal served around the world :D :D

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water,
• 1 piece of pandan leaf (screw pine),
• ¾ cup of black glutinous rice,
• ½ cup of brown sugar,
• ¼ cup of white sugar,
• 2 cups of coconut milk,
• banana slices (according to need).

Directions:

1. Bring water and the pandan leaf to a boil in a saucepan over high heat.
2. Once boiling, add the rice and stir.
3. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
4. Remove the pandan leaf and stir in the sugars.
5. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
6. Remove from stove, add the coconut milk and serve with banana slices :) :)

The Global Suhoor Treat: Menemen

The Global Suhoor Treat: Menemen~

Turkey is one of the largest Muslim countries in Europe. After two decades of peace many of its Ottoman traditions are making a comeback. The Ottoman flags and the tradition of firing the cannons are still prevalent :)

On the streets of Sarajevo people make long lines to buy somun (traditional Ramadan bread). The minarets of the mosques are decorated with a green star and crescent. Drummers still go around the neighborhood, drumming loudly to wake people up for suhoor :)

Explore with me the pre-dawn meal served around the world :D :D

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces of egg,
• 6 pieces of tomatoes; chopped,
• 2 pieces of green peppers; cubed,
• 2 pieces of red & yellow peppers; cubed,
• 2 pieces of onions; sliced ,
• 1 piece of garlic clove; crushed,
• ½ cup of olive oil,
• a pinch of cumin & dried mint salt and pepper to taste a few slices of beef salami.

Directions:

1. Warm the olive oil in a large pan; lightly fry the onions and peppers for a few minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes and cook until all the vegetables are soft.
3. Add the processed meat slices and cook until the oil begins to separate.
4. Break the eggs and add to the pan.
5. Cover and cook for a few minutes.
6. Season with cumin, salt, pepper and dry mint.

Dates-Nuts Ladoo

Dates-Nuts Ladoo~

This is such a healthy ladoos. It has dates, nuts all good stuffs packed in one. A really quick and nutritious snack, something kids will love to eat and easy for parents to make ;) Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does :D :D

Ingredients:

• 250 g of dates, 
• 250 g of sugar, 
• 100 g of fried peanut (halved),  
• desiccated coconut according to need, 
• 2 tablespoons of clarified butter.

Directions:

1. Wash the dates and drain out the water, seeded it and chopped it properly. 
2. Then fry the chopped dates & halved nuts with the clarified butter some time on a pan and keep aside. 
3. Then cook the sugar with some water until it is sticky and give the fried mixture and stir it very well. 
4. Take it out and pour desiccated coconut on the mixture and stir it. 
5. Now make the ball then roll it on the desiccated coconut. 
6. Now serve it on a serving dish :) :)

Sultanahmet Koftecisi

Sultanahmet Koftecisi~

This is a very popular turkish delights. Very good for parties in special occasions :) :)

Ingredients:

• 225 g of ground beef,
• 225 g of ground lamb,
• 2 pieces of chopped onion,
• 3 slices of bread,
• 1 teaspoon of cumin powder,
• 1 piece of egg,
• a bunch of finely chopped parsley,
• light olive oil for shallow frying,
• black pepper according to taste (freshly grounded),
• salt according to taste.

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients very well on a bowl and keep aside in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. 
2. Then divide the mixture and make the koftecisi and shallow fry in oil. 
3. Once golden and cooked through, and serve it with pita bread and salad on a serving dish :) :)

Thai Peanut Dressing

Thai Peanut Dressing~

Peanuts in any dressing add a distinct heaviness to it, which is thankfully very healthy sans the guilt of consuming something fattening. The Thais love their vegetables and along with an expansive variety of vegetables they also have a popular dressing, which can be consumed anywhere, anytime of the year!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger,
• 4 tablespoons of creamy peanut mash (roast about 200 g peanuts then make a paste of them),
• ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice,
• 2 teaspoons of soy sauce,
• 1 teaspoon of fish sauce,
• 1 tablespoon of honey,
• 4 tablespoons of water.

Directions:

1. Blend the ginger, peanut mash, lemon juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, honey and water until smooth and creamy. 
2. You can make it alternately thicker by adding less water to go with certain dishes. 
3. You can store in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

Serving:

Use the thicker form of the dressing for grilled meat skewers, while serve the slightly watery one as a dip with chopped raw vegetables and even potato wedges.

Ricotta Cheese Sandesh

Ricotta Cheese Sandesh~

To be precise, Sandesh & most of the sweet meats of South-Asia are made from only “chaana“ (a soft fresh paneer/ cheese made with curdled milk), & sugar in their basic form, clarified butter or ghee is rarely being used in these; forget the flour, corn flour & the condensed milk used in the “modern” versions. Using flavorings, garnishes & other ingredients like fruits, pulps, etc. are an option. The variety, flavors & texture depends on the time of the year & occasion. With all the sweetness flowing, it is only fair that every occasion is marked with multitude of sweets like during weddings & other family celebrations :D :D

There are a zillion variety in different shapes & sizes; some are dry (sandesh), some are syrupy & soaked (chom chom, kalojam, malai chom chom etc), others floating in sugar syrup (rasgulla or roshogolla). Often the sweet meats are made to look pretty & attractive with nuts, saffron, silver foils & rose petals as garnishes. So sandesh is not just the food; it is a big part of our culture too :) :)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of ricotta cheese, 
• a pinch of cardamom powder, 
• ½ cup of sugar, 
• 1 tablespoon of pistachio-raisin for garnish.

Directions:

1. At first crumble the freshly ricotta cheese and mix with the sugar by the hand on a pan and cook it by stirring it some time. 
2. When the ricotta cheese absorbed the sugar, you spread the cardamom powder, stir it properly and take it out. 
3. Pour mixture on the flat plate and press it with the back spoon. 
4. Allow it to cool down.
5. Cut into desired shapes and and garnish it with the pistachio, raisin or cherry before you serve :) :)

Pistachio Kulfi

Pistachio Kulfi~

Kulfi is basically the traditional South-Asian equivalent to ice cream. Although similar to ice cream in taste and appearance, kulfi is known to be denser and creamier.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of condensed milk, 
• ½ cup of milk powder, 
• ½ cup of heavy cream, 
• ½ cup of sugar, 
• 1 cup of pistachio, 
• 2 tablespoons of corn flour, 
• ½ teaspoon of rose water, 
• ½ teaspoon of green food color (as your choice), 
• ½ cup of water.

Directions:

1. At first soak the pistachio on the hot water to get soft and peel them properly and place the chopped pistachio on a bow. 
2. Mix the corn flour with the water and keep aside. 
3. Mix the condensed milk with the milk powder very well and boil it some time, when it is simmer you put all the ingredients except the corn flour and stir it occasionally. 
4. Now pour the corn flour and stir it, take it out after 1 minute and let it rest for cool and beat them properly by the hand beater. 
5. Pour the mixture on the mold and keep in the freezer whole night for to get chilled. 
6. If you want to place stick on the kulphi then take it out after 4 hours, when it is slightly chilled you put stick on the kulphi. 
7. Now put the mold on a glass of lukewarm water and gently pull
8. the kulphi with the stick on the mold :) :)

Shrimp-Pasta Salad

Shrimp-Pasta Salad~

I love pasta....and with shrimp this is heaven ;) :D 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of medium-sized shrimp, 
• 250 g of pasta, 
• 1 tablespoon of chopped carrots, 
• 1 tablespoon of boiled bean, 
• 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic, 
• 1 teaspoon of chopped green chili, 
• ½ cup of tomato sauce, 
• 1 tablespoon of chopped cheese, 
• olive oil according to need, 
• salt according to taste.

Directions:

1. Boil the pasta with 2 liters of water, 1 tablespoon salt &1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan properly. 
2. When the pasta is cooked you sieve it very well. 
3. Fry the chopped garlic with the olive oil some time in another frying pan and pour the shrimp on the pan and fry it until you smell the spicy fragrant. 
4. Then pour the boiled pasta and rest of the ingredients together, fry and stir them some time.
5. Remove the pan when it is cooked.
6. Pour in the serving dish and serve with the chopped cheese :) :)

Chicken Bird

Chicken Bird~

Hey guys I tried something different here. Its crispy and super yummy…..now you guys tell e how it is? ;) :)

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces of chicken breast (with wings), 
• 1 teaspoon of mustard paste, 
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper powder, 
• ½ teaspoon of tasting salt, 
• 1 piece of egg, 
• 2 tablespoons of flour, 
• 1 cup of bread crumbs , 
• ½ cup of mashed potatoes, 
• 1 tablespoon of butter, 
• 4 pieces of cloves, 
• salt according to taste.

Directions:

1. Wash the chicken breast with the water very well and drain out the water properly. 
2. Then rub it with the mustard paste, salt, lemon juice, black pepper & tasting salt and marinate for 1 hour. 
3. Fried the mashed potatoes with the butter some time and stir it, take it out and keep aside. 
4. Then rub the meat in the flour, dip in the beaten egg and then roll it on the bread crumbs and deep fry it until it is golden. 
5. Then make the bird face with the mashed potato and the bird eye with the cloves. 
6. Now serve it with some salad on a serving dish :) :)

Fresh Sugarcane Juice

Fresh Sugarcane Juice~

Apart from your quickly refilling your body sugar and fluids, sugarcane juice also

provides an instant burst of energy that keeps you active :D

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of sugarcane; skin peeled and chopped in to small pieces,
• 1 cup of water,
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice,
• ½ inch ginger; chopped.

Directions:

1. Transfer the sugarcane chunks in to the blender. 
2. Add water, lemon juice, chopped
3. ginger and grind well. 
4. Filter the juice using a cloth sieve remove the husk from the clear juice. 
5. Discard the husk and serve the juice with ice :) :)

Barfi

Barfi~

Barfi is a popular dessert. Traditional barfis are made from mawa. There are various types of barfis, which are available in every household. Milk powder barfis are similar to fudge and is very soft, sweet and rich. It is one of the quickest and easiest desserts to cook. The main ingredients are milk powder, sugar and butter.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk powder,
• 1¼ cup of sugar,
• ½ cup of butter,
• ½ cup of water,
• 1 pinch of yellow colour,
• 10 pieces of pistachios.

Directions:

1. Grease a plate with ghee or butter and keep aside. 
2. Chop the pistachios and keep aside for garnishing. 
3. In a pan add butter, milk powder and sauté for 2-3 minutes in medium flame. 
4. Turn off the fire and transfer it to another plate. 
5. In a same pan, add sugar and water, keep the gas in simmer and let the sugar melt completely by stirring well. 
6. When the sugar dissolves, let it boil in a low flame and stir. 
7. Add the milk powder and mix well. 
8. Keep stirring till the mixture slightly thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan. 
9. Remove from pan and pour it into greased plate.
10. Spread it into a plate. 
11. Garnish with chopped pistachio and press it well. 
12. Allow it to cool down.
13. Cut into desired shapes and serve :) :)

Pan Fried Scallops with Pesto Glaze

Pan Fried Scallops with Pesto Glaze~

It’s just wonderful with crispy seared scallops! Seared scallops with ...pesto glaze over the scallops...its just yummy :D :D

Ingredients:

• 3 pieces of scallops
• olive oil according to need
• salt according to taste
• pepper according to need

Ingredients for pesto:

• basil leaves according to need
• pine nuts according to need
• olive oil according to need

Directions:

1. Marinate the scallops in olive oil, salt and pepper.
2. Sear the scallops before frying them on a pan.
3. To make the pesto, blend the basil leaves, pine nuts and olive oil together.
4. Pour the pesto over the scallops before serving :) :)

Bombay Ice Halwa

Bombay Ice Halwa~

Bombay halwa is an unique halwa recipe. Learn to make this simple, tasty and mind cooling bombay ice halwa. This halwa is one of my favorite :D :D

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of liquid milk, 
• ¼ cup of semolina, 
• ¼ cup of clarified butter, 
• ½ cup of sugar (or according to taste), 
• ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder, 
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, 
• ¼ cup of chopped pistachios & almonds, 
• 1 tablespoon of CMC, 
• 1 drop of yellow food color.

Directions:

1. Mix the milk with semolina and boil it, stir it occasionally and then pour the sugar & cardamom powder.
2. Pour the clarified butter on the mixture and stir it when the mixture is thick. Then pour the CMC and stir it continuously when it is dense you take it out.
3. Now mix the yellow food color on the mixture properly and section it into 2 parts.
4. Place the one portion of yeast on a large & long-foil paper and cover it with the plastic wrapper and roll it to make thin flat bread.
5. Sprinkle the chopped nuts and cinnamon powder and roll it again then cut into squire shape and keep aside for 24 hours.
6. Now make the same way to another portion of yeast and cut the parchment paper of the same size.
7. Then place the halwa on the paper one by one and keep in the refrigerator for cold and serve the bombay ice halwa in a serving dish :) :)

Grilled Angus Fillet Steak

Grilled Angus Fillet Steak~

Discover this wonderful recipe with me which is one of my favorite :D :D

Ingredients:

• 120 g of angus fillet,
• salt according to taste,
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper,
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil,
• ½ cup of mashed potato,
• ¼ teaspoon of white pepper,
• 2 tablespoons of milk,
• salt according to taste,
• 1 piece of cauliflower,
• 2 pieces of broccoli,
• 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley.

Ingredients for sauce:

• 2 pieces of sliced mushrooms,
• 1 teaspoon of garlic paste,
• 1tablespoon of butter,
• 4 tablespoons of beef stock.

Directions:

1. Marinate the fillet with the salt, pepper & olive oil and keep it ½ an hour.
2. Then grill the marinated fillet for a few minutes until it is tender.
3. Mix mashed potato with the butter, white pepper, milk & salt, fry it some time on a pan and keep aside.
4. Fry the cauliflower & broccoli with little butter on this pan and place it on the serving dish.
5. Make for the sauce; sauté the sliced mushrooms in garlic & butter and add the beef stock and stir it, reduce it until saucy thickness is reached.
6. Pour the sauce over the grilled steak and garnish with chopped parsley on the serving dish and serve with the mashed potato under the steak :) :)

Orange Panna Cotta

Orange Panna Cotta~

This orange panna cotta is simple and refreshing dessert, light and delicate. It has an exquisite flavor and the color is beautiful.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of orange juice, 
• 3 tablespoons of gelatin, 
• 1 cup of condensed milk, 
• 1 cup of cream, 
• ½ cup of sugar.

Directions:

1. Boil the milk with the sugar for some time, take it out and keep aside. 
2. Then mix the gelatin with orange juice and cook it some time and take it out and let it rest for cool. 
3. Then mix all the ingredients together properly and keep in the refrigerator. 
4. Now take it out after 4-5 hours and serve the orange panna cotta.

Moroccan Mint Tea

Moroccan Mint Tea~

It is believed that green tea known locally as gunpowder- tea was first introduced by the English into the Maghreb in the 18th century. The serving of mint tea can take a ceremonial form, especially when prepared for a guest. 

Traditionally in this region, women prepare the meals whilst the men make tea. The beverage is a symbolism of hospitality and prepared by the head of the family. Mint tea is served not only at mealtimes but also through the day. It is consumed socially, in tea bars as.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups of boiling water,
• 1 tablespoon of green tea leaves,
• 2 tablespoons of sugar,
• A handful of fresh mint leaves.

Directions:

1. Boil the water and pour a small amount in the teapot, swishing it around to warm the pot.
2. Combine the mint, green tea and sugar in the teapot, and fill it with hot water. Let the tea brew for 3 minutes.
3. Set the teapot over the stove and simmer under low heat for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from the fire and pour a glass of tea into the cup.
5. Pour it back into the pot and repeat this process a few of times.
6. Pour the tea into the cups from a higher distance to create foam.
7. Now simply enjoy :) :)