Posted by Monica Puri Bangia | Under Latin Flavors, Sauce, Vegetarian
Thursday Sep 2, 2010
Delicious is what I think of when I look at this vibrant sauce. It is full of flavor and best of all- goes with all sorts of meats and even vegetables.
It is my version of a chimichurri sauce which is popular in Argentina, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Mexico. It is mostly used as a sauce for grilled meat and even as a marinade.
Good friends were coming over for dinner and I wanted to barbecue but keep it simple. I had a huge piece of a boneless rib eye steak and I also bought my husband’s favorite fish- alaskan butterfish or also known as black cod. Thankfully our local fish monger (Freemans) now carries the fish regularly.
I bought some corn to grill and potatoes to roast in the oven- and thats it. I grilled the meat and the fish and served it with this delicious sauce. It complimented the steak as well as the creamy fish.
The sauce is simply made with cilantro, parsley, lemon juice, orange juice, garlic and my secret ingredient- ancho chili powder. I love using that spice in sauces and marinades- it gives everything a delicious smoky flavor.
Try this spicy chimichurri sauce- you will want to eat it everything in the fridge…
Click here for the recipe… »
Posted by Monica Puri Bangia | Under Entrées, Indian Cuisine, Poultry, hamburger, kid friendly
Wednesday Sep 1, 2010
These burgers hold a special place in my heart- why you ask- well, because this was the first time my daughter started eating burgers! She does not like sandwiches- they only one she will eat is a jam sandwich. I don’t make it for her very often since it offers hardly any food value.
I made this for a barbecue and she had been outside playing all day and came in completely famished and ready to pounce on dinner. I had planned on giving her grilled sausages with corn since I knew she was not keen on the hamburgers- but surprise, surprise- she picked up a burger and started eating it.
I made these simply with ground turkey, ginger and some fresh mint and cilantro. I flavored them with salt and garam masala. I also whipped up a quick cilantro mayonnaise with lots of fresh cilantro, green onions and lemon juice. It is amazing how much different a few key ingredients can make a huge difference- the mayo was delicious.
My daughter had the burger with baby spinach but no mayo. She loved it and announced that she will be eating burgers from now on. I am thrilled- yet another food group had been added to her vast collection.
Try these burger this weekend- they are quick, easy and delicious…
Click here for the recipe… »
Posted by Monica Puri Bangia | Under Appetizers/Snacks, Indian Cuisine, Poultry, kid friendly
Tuesday Aug 31, 2010
I made these a few weeks ago for a barbecue we were having. I decided to make these seekh kebab to serve as appetizers with some shrimp. I love making seekh kebabs since they are so simple and full of flavor.
I kept it real simple for these particular ones. The two main ingredients I added were ginger and mint. I love the two aromatics together- they make anything taste delicious.
I of course started with ground turkey meat. You can use ground pork or lamb but since turkey meat is healthier- I always use that.
I simply marinated the meat with ginger, mint, cilantro, coriander powder and garam masala. I beat an egg for binding and some salt- thats it. It is great for this mixture to sit for a few hours if not over night (that would be ideal). It is amazing what a difference over night makes- the seekh kebab come out a lot more flavorful.
I have extra long metal skewers which I used to make the seekh kebabs on the grill outside. It doesn’t take very long for the meat to cook and so they were done in no time. I served them with some mint chutney and it was a wonderful appetizer.
You could serve in hot dog or any other kind of buns and make a meal out of them. Drizzle some mint chutney on top and maybe some onions and you have a fabulous sandwich.
Try the ginger and mint seekh kebab for your next barbecue….
Click here for the recipe… »
Posted by Monica Puri Bangia | Under Italian Cuisine, Meats, hamburger
Monday Aug 30, 2010
I loved eating and making these burgers. Summer is almost done and I feel like grilling and eating all sorts of fresh produce. I had been busy all day Friday and we didn’t have any plans for dinner. We got home around five and I decided to grill burgers, roast some potato wedges and make a salad- simple summertime meal.
I still had to go and buy some ground beef. Usually I prefer turkey meat due to health reason but I decided to go look for grass fed ground beef. Before going shopping, I peeled and cooked the potatoes. I chopped basil, thyme and rosemary for the burgers. I minced garlic and grated a shallot. Once I got the meat and rolls, I simply added the chopped ingredients and that was it- I was done. My husband had asked me to purchase the ready to grill patties but I can’t get myself to do that. I have no idea what is in there.. especially the meat quality. I prefer to make my own- especially since it doesn’t take very long at all.
We grilled the burgers and ate a delicious, simple summer meal… I can’t believe it is almost done. Make this recipe this weekend…
Click here for the recipe… »
Posted by Monica Puri Bangia | Under Italian Cuisine, Salad, Sides, Vegetarian
Sunday Aug 29, 2010
I was in the kitchen listening to the radio the other day- which, by the way is my favorite thing to do- when I heard someone talk about summer tomatoes. They were saying how good the crop is this year because of the hot hot weather. I realized it to be true as I thought about the bumper tomato crop I have been harvesting from my backyard. The tomatoes have been unbelievable. I mostly grown cherry tomatoes- I love them. They are super versatile and delicious.
Anyway, the radio person suggested a peach and tomato salad- and that is where I got my inspiration. It is so simple that I am almost embarrassed to post it as a recipe.
The key ingredient is balsamic glaze. You can buy it at a specialty store- I bought my from Italy but you can make your own as well. It is as simple as cooking regular balsamic vinegar down on a medium heat until it cooks down to a syrupy consistency. That is all this salad has- salt, really good olive oil and thyme.
It is very delicious- the combination of tomatoes and nectarines is unbelievable. Before summer is over- try this super simple salad…
- 2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 to 2 nectarines cut into ½ inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic glaze
- 2 teaspoon fresh thyme
Add the cherry tomatoes and nectarines into a medium bowl. Add the salt and olive oil. Let them sit for at least an hour. Add the fresh thyme and balsamic glaze and serve.