Feta Parcels

                                                                

Feta Parcels

This dish is a very simple Greek starter. The main ingredient is Feta Cheese and Puff pastry but you can easily substitute Puff pastry with phyllo pastry. 

Ingredients:

•  2 sheets of puff pastry/blatterteig
•  1 big block of feta cheese
•  1 pack of fresh basil/parsley
•  2 table spoons of sesame seeds
•  Pinch of salt.

Method:

Pizza

Pizza: Yes! this word brings a smile on all the kids faces and although all the adults might not admit it but it brings a :) on their faces too, it sure does on mine. I think this is some comfort food and you can get so creative and make real fun and healthy pizzas.
Now pizza made by the dough made at home is something else. With a little flour and some simple ingredients you can make a fantastic pizza at home.

Here is what you will need:

I normally take white flour but sometimes when I am in the healthy mood I also take half Ruck-Mehl and half weizen. I do add some Semolina/Weizen griess, the fine one for some texture and sometimes I also add a table spoon of tomato puree to give some colour.


Ingredients:

     

Mango Creme

                                                

This is a Dessert inspired by the Indian "Shreekhand" or Amarkhand. These Indian Desserts are based on natural Yogurt. Sreekhand is based on Yogurt, sugar, Saffron, green Cardamom powder and some nuts and the Amarkhand is all the mentioned things plus the bestest "King of Fruit" YES Alfonso Mango in it. Here you can read more about the "King of fruits" The Alphanso

But here is a more European version of a Mango Creme with creme and Curd cheese. It makes a great summer dessert.

Ingredients :

1. 6 pieces of Alphonso Mango/500 gms can of Alphonso Mango puree
2. 250 ml of fresh creme
3. 350-400 gms of Magerquark(curd cheese) or Rahmquark(curd cheese with creme in it)
4. 3-4 green cardamom pods, crushed
5. few strands of saffron
6. chopped pistachios to garnish.

A Super Simple Tomato Salad

Tomato is a very versatile vegetable which can be used in a variety of ways. Below is a super simple tomato salad which can be made in minutes.

Ingredients:

- 4 fresh tomatoes, cut into circles
- a bunch of fresh red radishes

For the dressing:
- 1 medium sized red onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove of garlic pressed
- handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped (you can also take basil, goes extremely well)
- salt to taste
- big pinch of red chili powder
- few shakes of black pepper powder
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- about a tsp of lime juice but it can be substituted with vinegar.

Bread Pakora

 Bread Pakora is a comfort food for me, it can be a good snack and it also makes a great appetizer and a small lunch. I remember as a child me and my brother used to eat it from a vendor outside our school.
Most of the time I make it either with brown toast bread or leftover bread, the sort of bread we use to make Bruchetta.


Ingredients (4 people)

• 1 cup of chicpea flour (besan)
• 3/4 to 1 cup of water
• ½ tsp salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 green chilly, finely chopped
• handful of fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 tsp of cumin seeds
• 1 pinch of backing powder
• 1 pinch of asatofedita

Method:

1. Make the batter using about 3/4 to 1 cup of water mixing it with a hand beater and making it into a fine paste. The consistency will be between pancake and Waffel mix, so not too runny and not too thick. Keep the batter aside for about 10-15 minutes.
2. Slice the bread if you are taking a loaf or as earlier mentioned you can either take white or even brown toast bread. Actually back home you get it made from toast bread only. But since we get so many types of bread here, so you can be creative.
3. Heat a flat pan or a heavy bottom non stick pan.
4. Smear about a teaspoon of Ghee/oil on the pan.
5. Dunk a slice of bread into the batter and put about 2-3 on the pan according to the size of the pan.
6. Let it cook for about 3-4 minutes. Turn the bread pakora to the other side and again smear some ghee on the edges. Cook it further for 3-4 minutes.
7. Serve hot with ketchup, chutney or even a small salad.
8. TIP: Actually you can reduce the water and also add a beated egg to the batter, this way it goes in the direction of an omelette and more proteins for you, but I am not a big egg fan.

Aubergine curry

This is an Aubergine curry which I Bipasha cooked for us, it comes from the region of Calcutta it is quite simple to do and tastes amazing. Below is my version.  Here is what you will need. 

Ingredients:

- 2 medium sized Aubergines

- 250 creme

- 250 natural yogurt

-1 tbsp mustard

- 2 tbsp tomato puree

- 1 red chili powder

- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

- salt to taste

- 2 tbsp of oil