Tag: World Cuisine#1

Veg Hakka Noodles | How to make veg hakka noodles?

Hot and spicy, loaded with vegetables, veg hakka noodles
08/24/2016 8:30:27 PM vindhyadesai

Love eating Chinese food? There are usually very few restaurants which make quality Chinese food. They generally add artificial colours and MSG (mono-sodium glutamate) which should not be consumed. Making Chinese food at home is not difficult at all. Just use a heavy pan or wok when making Chinese food as everything is cooked at high temperature, quickly tossed and served hot. This is Dish 8 of the World Cuisine series, veg hakka noodles, the Indo-Chinese way. Loads of vegetables makes this dish quite fibrous and healthy. You do not need to use a lot of oil at all, just get the balance of flavours right! ... “Veg Hakka Noodles | How to make veg hakka noodles?”

Mac n Cheese

Creamy rich, kids favourite mac n cheese
08/21/2016 4:54:27 PM vindhyadesai

Every kid loves mac n cheese, it is creamy, tasty and it has oodles of cheese. It starts with a basic white sauce or bechamel sauce. Cooked macaroni, a type of pasta is added to it and finished with cheese and is baked in the oven till the cheese melts. Different kinds of flavours are added to this. This is Dish 7 of the World Cuisine Series and this is from America (ori. English as per wiki) but extremely popular in American and Canadian region. Enjoy with a slice of plain garlic bread. Make the dish creamy and not dry. Macaroni is made using tube or elbow macaroni pasta generally but any kind of small pasta which holds the sauce well can also be used. Here I have used small shell pasta. ... “Mac n Cheese”

Apple Strudel – An Austrian speciality dessert

Flaky and crispy layers with juicy apples served with a homemade custard
08/20/2016 4:22:11 PM vindhyadesai

Thin puff pastry layers with crunch of sugar and juicy fragrant apples baked inside, served with custard and vanilla ice cream, sounds like a great combination for an indulgent dessert. This dessert is a speciality dish from Austria very famously made in one of its cities, Vienna. So here is Dish 6 from the World Cuisine Series from Austria. It is a pastry based dessert made with apples, puff pastry and other dry nuts. Strudel apparently is a word from German language. Traditionally, homemade strudel is a rolled pastry with fillings inside. The first time I tried it, I made it in the traditional way (few photos included from v1). The next time I tried it I made it into a cross between a French apple galette and an Austrian apple strudel, looks exotic and is super scrumptious. This is a very decadent dessert, go easy on the portions but enjoy it once in a while. ... “Apple Strudel – An Austrian speciality dessert”

Baked Gem Squash | Roasted Gem Squash – South African style roasted squash

Sweet roasted gem squash with creamy corn filling – A South African vegetarian delicacy
08/18/2016 9:56:16 PM vindhyadesai

Another recipe, Dish 5 of World Cuisine Series and this time it is from the beautiful country of South Africa. Like I mentioned in the 1st post of world cuisine series, it is always best to eat and source vegetables that are available locally in season. For this recipe use any kind of small squash/pumpkin. The sweet flesh of a squash is very fibrous and is very tasty. It just melts in the mouth when baked/roasted. It is used differently in different types of cuisines. I have adapted this recipe from this blog. There are so many resources out there to learn about new cuisines and new dishes. Make this with any type of squash you can get your hands on and enjoy the flavours. It is gluten free and it can be made vegan by adding a vegan cheese or even skipping it, just roasted will be just as nice! Here I have used gem squash which is a green skinned, yellow fleshed squash(picture below) and is ideal to share for two. Eat the pulp/flesh of the squash and discard the hard/tough skin of the squash ... “Baked Gem Squash | Roasted Gem Squash – South African style roasted squash”

Spinach Corn Cheddar Cheese Muffins | Mexican Savoury Muffins

Packed with a punch of jalapenos, with cheese, corn and spinach – Mexican style muffins
08/17/2016 9:53:27 PM vindhyadesai

I have a soft spot for anything savoury 🙂 Whenever I get an opportunity, I try to make savoury things to nibble on. This is Dish 4 of the World Cuisine Series and it is from Mexico. One of my favourite cuisines to prepare and of course to eat (gobble ’em all up). These are muffins with Mexican flavours, corn, jalapenos, cheese, what is not to like about them. Whenever I bake anything I try to make them all with whole wheat. Along with whole wheat flour, I have also used yellow cornmeal which is maize flour, easily available in stores/supermarkets. It gives a nice texture to the muffins, you also get to incorporate another grain and cornmeal is widely used in Mexican cuisine! The most important thing about muffins is not to overmix the batter/mixture which will make them chewy and hard. Mix and make muffins, enjoy them as a snack or for a quick nibble with a glass of milk in the morning. Also try other Mexican recipes! ... “Spinach Corn Cheddar Cheese Muffins | Mexican Savoury Muffins”

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”

Panzanella – Italian Bread Salad

Refreshing and flavoursome Italian bread salad
08/14/2016 4:06:58 PM vindhyadesai

Whenever we think of Italian food only pizzas and pasta cross our minds. Fresh Italian food is so much more than that. They give importance to fresh ingredients, local produce, Italian plum tomatoes for instance are the most flavoursome tomatoes I have ever eaten. We might not be able to procure ingredients from various places all the time but fresh vegetables that we get locally and seasonally are always the best. This salad is very simple, very tasty yet looks quite exotic. Fresh vegetables with a refreshing vinaigrette poured over bread cubes makes it quite filling yet light. This Italian salad is Dish 2 part of the World Cuisine Series all this week on Food Of Interest! ... “Panzanella – Italian Bread Salad”

Aloo Paratha | Aloo ke Parathe | How to make aloo paratha?

Filling and favourite aloo ke parathe
08/13/2016 6:25:11 PM vindhyadesai

This week on Food Of Interest [FOI] I will be adding vegetarian recipes from cuisines from various parts of the world. The list is of course to start with, Indian, followed by Italian, Spanish, Mexican, South African, Austrian, American and last but not least Chinese. The dishes themselves will be revealed over the next week. It is all about fresh vegetarian cooking. Fresh produce all over the world is treated with immense respect in their local cuisines. Tasty food, a few famous dishes and a few unheard of dishes but all about vegetables and fruits and fresh produce that is eaten and celebrated world over. To begin, a very famous Indian recipe which celebrates potato and wheat, aloo paratha. This paratha is everybody’s favourite and is very filling. So here is Dish 1 part of World Cuisine Series – Aloo paratha! A super Sunday morning breakfast/brunch. ... “Aloo Paratha | Aloo ke Parathe | How to make aloo paratha?”