Tag: cumin

Veggie Skewers

Veggie skewers II

Veggie Skewers

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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When hungry people are chomping at the bit at a BBQ appetizers can buy you time and these ones are so easy and tasty that your guests may even forget about the main course.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping List:

  • 8 ounces Paneer
  • 1/2 of a Large Red Onion -thick sliced
  • 1 large Red Pepper – cut into chunks
  • 12 – 18 Grape tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Cumin
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 6 Bamboo/Metal skewers

Putting it all together:

  1. Cut the Paneer into small cubes and place in a large bowl.
  2. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well.
  3. Soak the bamboo skewers for 30 minutes so they won’t burn.
  4. Starting with the Paneer thread the ingredients on the skewers, alternating, until all skewers have been used.
  5. Grill at 350° for about 10 minutes.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                             Bon Appetit

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Coffee Rubbed Striploin

Coffee Rubbed Striploin

Coffee Rubbed Striploin

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Sunday dinners with family are a time to gather together and enjoy good drink , good conversation and really good food which is why I chose this recipe for this family gathering.

The secret to any good recipe lies in the ingredients and for this one the ingredients in the dry rub make the difference.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list: 

  •  4 Striploin steaks 
  • 2 tablespoons Ancho chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons finely ground Coffee beans
  • 5 tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground black Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground Coriander
  • 2 teaspoons ground Ginger
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt

Putting it all together:

  1. Preheat the bbq to 450°
  2. In a medium non reactive bowl mix all the dry ingredients together.
  3. Thoroughly rub the steaks with the dry rub and place on the bbq for 9 minutes a side.
  4. Enjoy

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…….

                           Bon Appetit 

Balti Chicken

Balti Chicken

Balti Chicken

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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I’ve wanted to make this recipe ever since I saw it in a movie set in the U.K. and tried some from a local Indian restaurant, Koh-I-Noor and because it has been rainy and nasty outside today (kind of reminds me of Britain) I decided to make it today.

This particular version is “healthier” than those that you would find in an Indian Takeaway joint in the U.K. however it is still full flavoured and filling.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken Breast cut into bite sized pieces
  • 250 ml Passata
  • 150 ml Water
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 medium Onion – coarsely grated
  • 1 medium Tomato – diced
  • 1 Red Pepper roughly chopped
  • 1 small to medium Green Chili
  • 4 Garlic cloves – diced
  • 1 tbsp Lime juice
  • 2 tsp Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Chili powder
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 3 tsp Ground Cardamom 
  • 1 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 3 tsp ground Ginger
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground Coriander
  • 2 tbsp Garam Masala 
  • Rice Pilaf for service

Putting it all together:

  1. Put the chicken in a medium bowl. Mix in the lime juice, paprika, chili powder and a grinding of black pepper , then leave to marinate for at least 15 mins, preferably a bit longer.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick sauté pan. Tip in the cinnamon stick, cardamom , whole chili and 1 teaspoon ground cumin , and stir-fry briefly just to colour and release their fragrance.  Stir in the onion, garlic and ginger and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-4 mins until the onion starts to turn brown. Add the remaining oil, then drop in the chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 mins or until it no longer looks raw. Mix the turmeric,  remaining cumin, ground coriander and Garam Masala together. Tip into the pan, lower the heat to medium and cook for 2 mins . Pour in the Passata and 150 ml water, then drop in the chunks of pepper. When starting to bubble, lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 mins or until the chicken is tender.
  3. Stir in the tomato, simmer for 2-3 mins. Season with a little salt. If you want to thin down the sauce, splash in a little more water. Remove the cinnamon stick and chili.
  4. Serve with rice.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…..

                          Bon Appetit 

Five Spice Pork with Pineapple Salsa

Five Spice Pork

Five Spice Pork with Pineapple Salsa

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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This particular recipe originally was in Chatelaine magazine but as with most recipes I come across I have made a slight adjustment to it based on the ingredients I had in the house and the varying tastes of those in the family.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 12 Pork Loin medallions
  • 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
  • 1/3 cup Hoisin Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Low Sodium Soya Sauce
  • 2 tsp Sambal
  • 1 tsp Five Spice powder
  • 2 cups diced Pineapple
  • 2 medium Tomatoes seeded and chopped
  • 3/4 cup chopped Red Onion
  • 1 medium Red Pepper – diced
  • 1 medium Green Pepper – diced
  • 1/4 chopped Cilantro
  • 1 tsp ground Coriander
  • 1/2 tsp ground Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tbsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Lime juice

Putting it all together:

  1. Place the pork in a large non reactive bowl with a tight fitting lid.
  2. Mix the next five ingredients in a separate container, pour over the pork, mix well, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  3. For the salsa combine all the remaining ingredients in a non reactive bowl, mix well, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  4. To cook the pork heat some oil in a large pan and fry for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°.
  5. Serve over rice with the pineapple salsa.
  6. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit 

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Moroccan Chicken Stew

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Looking out the window today and seeing the snow swirling about got me thinking of exotic climates where the only thing swirling around is the ice in my glass. Now, as with most of you, I doubt I will ever make it to some of these places so I will settle for visiting them through their food.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 1/2 pounds skinless Chicken Thighs
  • 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 2 Red Onions quartered and sliced
  • 4 Garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 sweet Green Peppers rough chopped
  • 1 28 ounce can of Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 15 ounce can Chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1/3 cup Golden Raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped Green Olives
  • 12 ounces cooked Orzo pasta
  • 1 tsp ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground Cumin
  • 1 tsp ground Ginger
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp Cayenne powder
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Chopped Parsley for garnish.

Putting it all together:

  1. In a bag toss the flour and chicken until coated
  2. Heat the oil in a non stick skillet and sear the chicken until browned on both sides. About 6 minutes and transfer to a plate.
  3. Cook the onion in the skillet for about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne and ginger; cook 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the tomatoes and season with salt. Add the chicken; simmer covered, 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in peppers, raisins, olives and chickpeas: simmer, stirring, 15 minutes, until peppers are tender and the chicken is no longer pink near the bone.
  6. Serve over Orzo.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit 

All purpose Dry Rub

  • Servings: ”Approx.
  • Difficulty: ”easy”
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All purpose dry rub

They say that “Necessity is the mother of Invention” and so I can only imagine that this was the thought going through the mind of whomever first came up with the idea of using a Dry Rub to flavour their food. Now I know that, historically, salting  and drying different types of foods has been around for centuries and has been very successful in its use but the origin of the dry rub will leave me scratching my head for some time to come.

This particular rub is my go to for beef and pork since I have a slightly different one for chicken and by adding a few other ingredients this one can be used as a Blackening spice, Mexican style spice etc.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 3 Tablespoons Seasoned salt
  • 3 Tablespoons Pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons Granulate Onion
  • 2 Tablespoons Paprika
  • 3 Tablespoons Dry Parsley flakes
  • 3 Teaspoons Oregano
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin 

Putting it all together:

  1. Put all ingredients in a non reactive bowl and mix until well incorporated
  2. Store in a container with a tight fitting lid

You can use this dry rub for grilled meats, oven baked meats, stews or whatever you can dream up.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time………

                       Bon Appetit