Grilled lamb chop (yummy!)

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Food Lover

grilled-lambLamb is popular in the middle eastern cuisine. Normally middle easterners serve lamb in rice with mint & yogurt sauce. I, however, served it with baguette and mango chutney. It tastede xcellent.

Ingredients:
- Lamb chops 4 pieces (about 3/4″ thick)
- Handful of mints for garnish
- Stir fried vegetable
- Sourdough bread (such as baguette) or rice if desired.

Procedures:

Prepare seasoning rub for Lamb Chop by grinding 1 tsp Cumin seeds and 1 tsp Coriander seeds roughly. Then add 1 tsp salt, combine 1 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp oil. Finally rub mixture onto both side of the chops and marinate it for an hour or more.
Heat up the grill.
Place chops on hot grill into oven until golden brown on both sides for medium doneness.
Spoon mango chutney on the side, garnish with mints or parsley.
Serve hot with vegetable, rice and/or bread.

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A very exotic cocktail from Middle East

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Food Lover

Venus cocktail

cocktail

All ingredients are fresh fruit juice only. However if you would like to have a dizzy feeling, alcohol could be also added.

Type of dish : Nibbles
To serve : 2
Preparation : 0 min
Cooking : 0 min
Budget : Cheap
Difficulty : Easy

Ingredients:
150ml apricot juice
150ml peach nectar (peach juice)
250 ml crushed strawberries
5 drops orange flower water (the essence of Middle East)

Recipe :
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender and serve chilled.

2. Decorate with lemon slice and some little flowers.

Advice:
This cocktail will stimulate desire?!?! Y

You have been warned! =P

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Common herbs and spices that you gotta know (Part II)

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Food Lover

Marjoram

It is often confused with oregano. However, marjoram is actually a member of the mint family as well. Marjoram has a more mild, sweet flavor than oregano. Common to Middle Eastern foods, marjoram is grown domestically and imported mostly from Egypt.

Marjoram Leaves

Dried marjoram is a natural fragrance and it combines well with other seasonings and will enhance so many different dishes. It is especially good along with other herbs in beef stew.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a kind of seeds with oval shape, that have a sweet, spicy flavour. They come from East Indies and since they have a quite high oil content and and a very rich aroma, nutmeg are commonly used in dishes made with milk and cheese, such as rice pudding, béchamel sauce and whipped cream.

Turmeric

Originated in South Asia, turmeric, a member of the Ginger family, has been now widely used in Middle East due to its special deep yellow-orange colour. They are usually grinded into powder as a major ingredient in curry powder and is also used to color sauces and syrups and rices and to flavor meat and vegetable dishes.

Sumac

Sumac is a member of the Cashew family. It produces bright or dark-red berries or drupes. In the Middle East, the drupes are harvested, ground, and used as a spice. This purple-reddish powder has a sour taste and is used to flavor rice dishes and stews. Sumac berries are cooked in water until they reduce to a thick, sour essence which also serve as the same purpose for flavoring meat and vegetable dishes.

Five-spice powder is a spice mixture that originated in China that integrates the sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty. The powder is most often used in cooking duck and beef stew.

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Common herbs and spices that you need to know (Part I)

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Food Lover

Herbs and spices are very much important i adding more flavor and depth to a Middle Eastern meal. Each herb and spice has unique effect that work well in the culinary world. Here introduce the usage of some of the major herbs and spices before moving on.

Harissa

A kind of Middle Eastern spice. It is commonly used as a base for slow cooking lamb shanks; sprinkle over roasting vegetables or even cook with herbs and peas as a salad.

Mint

Mint is an herb that is associated with dessert. Mint goes well with fruits and sweets in Middle Eastern cooking.

Mint

Cumin

Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family. We could buy the best cumin in india. There is a kind of very popular street food called Falafel where fried balls of puréed chickpeas and spicy seasoning are served with tahina sauce and salad.

Coriander

Coriander is the dried leaves of the herb, Coriandrum sativum, an annual herb of the parsley family. For an Indian raita, stir chopped or grated cucumber, Coriander Leaf, salt and pepper into natural yoghurt.

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Dining Etiquette in Middle East

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Food Lover

As a Middle Eastern food lover, how could we do not know anything about the table manners when having this cuisine? It is all about respect other countries and yourself. Therefore, make sure you remember all the dos and don’ts below.

  • Guests are honoured with prime choice of meats. Don’t get too excited since the definition of “prime choice” may be cultural variation. They are head, eyes or even some internal organs. Well, if I were you, please accept them as a big smile.
  • Eat with right hand only. Especially if you are invited by a Saudi for a meal, you should never eat with your left hand since it is considered unsanitary.
  • How to eat without utensils? Food is shaped into a desired amount bolus with all the fingers of your right hand and then use your thumb to push it into your mouth. Just one reminder, make sure your hand is clean.
  • You should always remember to try every single dish offered to you on the table. And most importantly, no matter what the fact is, it is proper etiquette to compliment the host on the food and his hospitality.
  • Meals are usually served in large portion, so make sure you have a good appetite! Since eating large quantities is a mark of showing your appreciation. Besides, if you have finished all the food, don’t be happy as they will re-fill your plate immediately! So, it is better to leave food on your plate always.
  • Last but not least, alcohol is NOT allowed under Islamic law, and for this reason many Saudis will not drink. But still, friendly Saudi hosts may accommodate guests with alcoholic beverages. However, just a kind reminder, make sure you drink very fairly since Becoming drunk and behaving outrageously will be considered as totally offensive, and may result in harsh punishment.
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