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Tag: cayenne pepper

Moroccan Style Vegetable Stew with Olive Gremolata

This is a great vegetarian stew to make for company or through the week- and a great recipe to post for meatless Monday!! It does have a whole lot of ingredients but most of them are very common and are usually in a pantry. Harissa is a Moroccan style condiment that is made with red peppers and can have some heat as well… it is commonly found in super markets…

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon harissa paste
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 large carrots, chopped
  • 1 large yellow pepper, chopped
  • 1 14 ounces can of tomatoes (I used fire roasted with green chilies)
  • 1 cauliflower head, cut into small florets
  • 1 14 ounces can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 3 to 4 cups water or vegetable broth
  • Salt

Heat a large saucepan with the olive oil. Add the onion and cook on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cinnamon, coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper. Saute for 2 minutes on medium heat. Add the garlic and dates and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add the harissa paste, tomato paste and flour. Saute for another 2 minutes. Add the carrots and pepper. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cauliflower and chickpeas. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes and add the water or broth. Bring to a boil and add 2 teaspoons salt. Lower the heat and cover with lid and cook for 20 minutes. Take the lid off and continue cooking till the consistency is of a thick stew. Check for seasonings and keep aside.

Gremolata

  • ½ cup green olives, chopped (I used olives stuffed with garlic)
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup golden raisins, chopped
  • Zest of one large lemon

Mix the olives, parsley, raisins and lemon zest in a small bowl. Top the stew and serve.

 

Moroccan Vegetable Tagine

Vegetable Tagine

Great healthy way to start off the new year!

Spice Mix

  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Roast the cumin and coriander seeds in a cast iron skillet on a medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes or till the seeds become aromatic. Take off the heat and grind smooth in a coffee grinder. Take out in a small bowl and add the turmeric and cayenne pepper. Keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon harissa
  • 3 to 4 medium yellow potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 2 medium turnips, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 3 to 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • Salt
  • 1 cup green olives, sliced
  • ½ cup dried apricots, sliced
  • ½ cup slivered almonds
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons dried mint, crushed

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste, harissa and the spice mix. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the potatoes, turnips, carrots, chickpeas, chicken stock and salt. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cover with lid and cook for 30 minutes. Take the lid off and check to see if the root vegetables are tender. Mash some potatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to slightly thicken the liquid. Add the olives and apricots. Turn the heat up to cook off some of the excess liquid to get the desired consistency- it should be like a thick soup. Add the almonds, cilantro, parsley and dried mint. Check for seasonings and serve with couscous.

Indian Style Latkes

Here is my take on potato latkes… !

  • 2 large russet potatoes (about 3 cups)
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 2 green onions, minced
  • 2 teaspoons grated ginger
  • 1 serrano chile, minced
  • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 2-3 tablespoons chickpea flour (all-purpose flour will be fine)
  • ½ cup extra light olive oil heated to about 200 degrees.

Heat oven to 200 degrees. Place a small lined cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

Line a large mixing bowl with a cheese cloth. Grate the potatoes in the cloth and squeeze all the liquid out and put back into the bowl. Add the shallots, green onions, ginger, chile, cilantro, egg, salt and the coriander powder. Slowly add the flour, mix well until the mixture is thick.
Scoop the mixture with a ¼ cup measure. Place it gently in the hot oil and flatten it with the back of the cup measure. Cook on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes on both sides or till golden brown. Take out on a platter lined with paper towels, drain well and place in the oven to keep hot.
Serve with cilantro cream or apple chutney.

Makes 9-10 medium sized latkes.

Latkes1 Latkes

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Cilantro Cream

  • ½ cup low-fat sour cream
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Juice of one lime
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste

In a blender, add the sour cream, cilantro, lime-juice and salt. Blend till smooth- you may need to add a couple teaspoons of water to start the blending process. Take out in a small bowl and serve with the latkes.

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Apple Chutney

  • One large honey crisp apple, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • ½ cup apple cider
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 cloves
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
  • Salt

In a small saucepan, add the apple, cider, vinegar, sugar, cloves, ginger, cayenne pepper and salt. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the apples till they are soft and the liquid is half the amount- about 10 minutes. Smash the apples with the back of a ladle and mix with the thickened liquid. Cook for another 5 minutes and take out in a bowl and serve with the latkes.

Turkish Style Kebabs

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 tablespoons harissa
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground sumac
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 small yellow onion, grated
  • 2 inch piece of ginger, grated
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup mint, chopped

Transfer all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, mix well and let sit for 2 to 3 hours. Form about 12 sausage shaped kebabs and then insert a skewer through each and grill till done. Serve in warm pita with some greens like arugula topped with the harissa sauce.

Harissa Sauce

  • 1 cup full fat yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup mint, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons sumac
  • 2 tablespoons harissa
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix everything in a small bowl, taste for seasonings and serve over the kebabs.

Roasted Eggplant with Peas

  • 1 medium sized eggplant

Place the eggplant on to a grill or under a broiler. Char the skin from all sides, making sure the eggplant is nice is tender once done- about 10 to 15 minutes. Keep aside and let cool, take skin off and mash with a fork.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons stems of fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons stems of fresh cilantro
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup peas
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the oil. Add the dill, cilantro, onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the coriander powder, turmeric, salt and cayenne pepper. Saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and sauté for an addition 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggplant and cook on medium heat, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes. Add the peas, cilantro and dill. Mix well and let cook for 5 to 6 minutes or till the peas are heated through. Check for seasonings and serve warm.

Ground Pork with Cauliflower in Cilantro Sauce (Keema Gobi)

Ground Pork with Cauliflower in Cilantro Sauce

One of our favorites…

Cilantro Sauce

  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 4 green onions, chopped
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • ½ yellow onion, chopped

Blend the cilantro, green onions, ginger, garlic and onion in a blender till veggies form a smooth paste. Keep aside.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the oil. Add the cumin seeds and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the ground meat and sauté on high heat. Separate the meat while stirring with a wooden spoon- for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cilantro paste and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes on medium heat. Add the cauliflower, coriander powder, salt and cayenne pepper. Mix well and lower heat to simmer and cover. Cook for 20 minutes. Take the lid off and turn the heat up, stirring constantly, cook for another five minutes or till the excess moisture has cooked through. Check for seasonings and garnish with cilantro.

Mattar Paneer (Peas with Paneer) in Cilantro Sauce

A classic made a little different… I love, love cilantro- so I used it as a base for this dish… so, so good!!

  • 1 cup fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 3 garlic cloves, skin off
  • 6 to 7 scallions, ends cut off and halved
  • ½ cup full fat yogurt
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 12 ounces paneer, cut into 1 inch squares and soaked in warm water (for an hour)
  • 1½ cups frozen peas
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Transfer the cilantro, cumin, garlic, scallions, yogurt, water, salt, turmeric, cayenne pepper and ground coriander to a blender. Blend till a smooth sauce is formed. Keep aside.

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the cilantro sauce and sauté on medium heat, stirring every couple of minutes, for about 20 minutes. Drain the paneer and add to the sauce. Mix well and bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the frozen peas, bring to a boil and simmer for another 5 minutes. Check for seasonings and garnish with cilantro.