Tag: Starter

Mediterranean Platter 1

Mix and match Mediterranean nibbles and snacks platter with dips
09/30/2016 9:52:55 PM vindhyadesai

Mediterranean cuisine is a very vast cuisine. It covers various regions with a wide variety of dishes. Over the last few days I have posted recipes which are simple dips from the Mediterranean cuisine. These dips can be easily converted into a big party platter, forms a great starter with simple nibbles to munch on. The dips included Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Tzatziki. This platter is great for parties or potlucks. Very easy to prepare, easy to put it all together and is very portable. Nibbles and snacks can include very simple things like sliced avocado, pita chips and even tortilla chips (ok may be not Mediterranean but tastes awesome!). Other common things from the Mediterranean region like olives, some Greek Feta cheese (available in most supermarkets) all make up for great snacks on this platter. Include other things if you want to like slices of toasted pita bread, roasted aubergines etc. Restaurant quality dishes at home ready in few minutes. Easy on the stomach and on your pockets! A colourful photo fest below 🙂 ... “Mediterranean Platter 1”

Hara Bhara Kababs | Hara Bhara Tikki | How to make hara bhara kababs?

Loaded with greens, delicious hara bhara kabab with refreshing mint chutney
09/25/2016 5:43:33 PM vindhyadesai

Starters and appetizers always set the tone of a meal. Delicious starters served in the right portions define the quality of the rest of the courses. Kebabs/Kababs are one of the most preferred kind of starters. Kababs are originally from Middle East. These need not be non-vegetarian as is the common notion. Perfectly delicious vegetarian kebabs/kababs can be made and they make great starters to a meal. Boiled potatoes generally form the base of vegetarian kebabs/kababs. Hara bhara kabab is one of the most common type of starters, loaded with goodness of green spinach and peas mixed into a base of boiled and mashed potatoes. Grated paneer adds great texture and structure to these kababs, light masalas like amchur powder add the perfect taste to wake up those taste buds. Serve these with a simple refreshing mint/pudina chutney or with plain old ketchup. ... “Hara Bhara Kababs | Hara Bhara Tikki | How to make hara bhara kababs?”

Brinjal Coins

Crispy but soft, pan fried brinjal/aubergine coins for tea-time
9/16/2016 10:42:06 PM vindhyadesai

Something to munch on during tea-time especially on a rainy lazy Sunday evening surely sounds like fun. Snacks with tea/coffee need not always be deep fried or dunked in a lot of oil and then fried. Snacks can be subtly made and they taste really good without the guilt of a lot of calories. Eggplant or big brinjal/aubergine is not an appreciated vegetable but if it is converted to a tasty, crispy, savoury snack it can be very delightful. I call these Brinjal Coins because they look like big gold coins with the beautiful golden yellow colour rendered by the addition of turmeric/haldi. This is one of the many simple snacks I have learnt from my mother. Enjoy these with your hot beverage or serve as a starter! Try other snacks/starters. ... “Brinjal Coins”

Gazpacho – Spanish Mixed Vegetable Cold Soup

Fresh, chilled mixed vegetable gazpacho – Spanish style summer soup
08/15/2016 10:14:26 PM vindhyadesai

Gazpacho is a cool soup made using finely chopped vegetables. Simple flavours are added like vinegar, black pepper and garlic. Use garlic sparingly, a small piece gives a great hum of flavour to the soup. It is great served at room temperature or slightly chilled. This is freshness at its best! Gazpacho originates from Spain with many variations that have evolved. Greek Gazpacho is also quite famous with added Mediterranean flavours like feta cheese, olives.
This is a healthy soup, with tomatoes and cucumber as the base. Some like it completely pureed and some like it chunky but the best way at least for me, is the soup blitzed till it is slightly pulsed but still has some texture. Save a few finely chopped veggies to add on top of your soup, that way you know what exactly you are tasting. Enjoy this super cool soup, read more about Gazpacho! This is Dish 3 part of the World Cuisine Series here on Food Of Interest. ... “Gazpacho – Spanish Mixed Vegetable Cold Soup”

Cream of tomato soup

A bowlful of piping hot cream of tomato soup served with croutons
04/09/2016 10:09:10 PM vindhyadesai

A bowl of piping hot tomato soup has to be one of the most popular dishes on a cold winter night. I make this very often and we gulp it down with croutons or grilled cheese (grin). Make this for an early evening supper/dinner or serve it along with a starter during lunch. This one is surely a crowd favourite and is bound to go down well amongst kids. There are so many variations of tomato soup. It comes in the form of powder, canned tomato soup, fresh soup sold in containers, tomato soup cubes, tomato soup in cartons and many more. Why not make fresh tomato soup at home. Easy available ingredients and very simple to make. I have tried many variations of tomato soup. I like this variation from ‘thepioneerwoman’ especially the cheese croutons. ... “Cream of tomato soup”