RIZ BI DFEEN ~ Lebanese Rice with Chickpeas

Savoury rice with chickpeas  with the sweetness of apricots .

Ingredients:

30g /1 oz vermicelli
120g / 4 oz basmati rice
120g precooked white chick peas
240 ml  boiling water
12 dried apricots cut into quarters
1 small onion finely diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
1 stick cinnmon
1 tablespoon fresh chopped coriander
2 tablespoons sunflower oil.

Method:

1. Wash the rice and soak in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. In a pan add the oil when it is hot add the cinnamon  followed by the onions and sauté until translucent.
3. Add the vermicelli to the onions and sauté until  slightly golden  in colour. Drain and add the rice to the onions  and vermicelli and sauté for 2-3 minutes more.
4.Add the salt and pepper  half  the apricots followed by  240 ml boiling water.Stir.
5. Bring the rice to boil , once it is boiling reduce the heat to lowest setting , cover the pan and cook for 25 minutes.(Do not open pan lid in that time)
6.After 25 minutes open the lid and fluff the rice up with a fork. Transfer it to a serving dish.
Garnish with the remaining apricots and fresh chopped coriander.
Serve  with vegetable stew.

You may like;
Fattoush Salad

Submitting to:
Flavours of Lebanon, event by simply.food guest hosted by Sara' Corner

Savory puffed rice snack

Savory and crunchy puffed rice, a fast and speedy snack that can be made in minutes.

Ingredients:

120 grams / 4 oz puffed rice (mumra)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon salt( or to taste)
1/2 tablespoon sunflower oil

Method:

1. In a microwaveable bowl add the puffed rice.
2. Sprinkle the puffed rice with salt, oil and turmeric powder and mix well.
3. Place the bowl in the microwave and microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring at 1 minute intervals.
4. Leave the puffed rice to cool slightly for 1 minute and check that it is crispy, if it appears a little soft microwave again for further 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5. Remove from microwave and sprinkle with chilli powder.
Serve as it is or as a topping on salads .

You may like;
 Fafda

Piyaz - Turkish Black-eyed bean salad.

Refreshing and delicious salad with a  tangy kick.

Ingredients:

1 small red onion finely diced
1 can precooked black eyed beans drained
8 cherry  tomatoes cut into quarters
1 tablespoon fresh coriander
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sumac (I used amchur powder instead)
1 clove garlic

Method:

1.Place the beans, onions , coriander and tomatoes in a bowl.
2. Add the garlic, lemon juice,vinegar salt and pepper, amchur powder, chilli flakes and cumin powder and toss well.
3. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 4 hours to allow all the flavours to marinade.
4. Serve with toasted pitta bread.

Submitting to:
 Flavours of Turkey event by simply.food guest hosted by PJ of Seduceyourtastebuds.

Banana Cake (Eggless) ~ May 21st 2012 Secret Recipe Club

This is my assignment with the Secret Recipe Club.The aim of the club is that you are allocated a blog from which you have to select  a recipe and try  it and blog about it.

My challenge for this month was to cook from Amy's blog "My Savvy Kitchen". I choose the banana bread after much deliberation as there were many delicious vegetarian recipes to choose from. The original recipe can be found here. I have adapted it  to make it  egg less and I baked it in a shallow cake tin  rather than a loaf hence the name banana cake and not banana bread as Amy has called her version.

Delicious banana cake moist and fragrant.

Ingredients

120g/ 4 ozc  unsalted butter
320 g /10.5 oz  light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
480g/ 16 oz plain  flour
2 tablespoons cider vinegar (replacing two eggs)
60 ml  light sour cream
4 tablespoons milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large bananas mashed (240g/ 8 oz)
1 tablespoon icing sugar for dusting.

Method:

1.Preheat oven to 175 degrees C/350 degrees F.
2.Butter and flour a large 10inch X 8 inch cake tin
3.In a medium bowl, sieve the  flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together.
4.Cream butter and sugar ,add in vinegar , sour cream, milk ,vanilla and mashed banana until fully combined.
5. Gently fold in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients
6. Pour the cake mix into the prepared tin and smooth over the top with  a spatula.
7. Bake in a preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or umtil top is golden brown. . To check if cake is done insert  a skewer in the centre of the cake , if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
8 Remove cake  from oven and allow to cool. Transfer to a wire rack.
9. Once cooled dust with icing sugar and cut into slices.

You may like
Eggless chocolate chip cake

Fattoush-Lebanese peasant Salad

Fattoush is a simple but tasty salad that is commonly known as peasants salad in Lebanon.It is given this name because it is made from any seasonal vegetable that is readily  available and its very easy to make but absolutely delicious to eat. The original recipe of Fattoush can be found here.

Ingredients:

2 Man'ooshe breads
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon garlic paste
1 carrot grated
120 grams/ 4 oz cooked sweet corn
120 grams/ 4 oz diced cucumber
2 medium tomatoes finely diced
1 red onion finely diced
red and green bell peppers finely diced
2 leaves iceberg lettuce finely shredded
2 tablespoons fresh coriander finely chopped
6 small red radish diced

Dressing:
1/2 tablespoon sumac (I used amchoor powder instead)
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (I used honey instead )
1 tablespoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes

Method:

1. Mix 1/2 teaspoon garlic paste with 1 tablespoon olive oil and brush this on the man'ooshe flat breads.
2. Place them under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes until crispy.
3. Remove from the grill and cut into 1 inch squares and keep aside.
4. In a jar add the olive oil, garlic, salt, chilli flakes, honey,thyme, amchoor powder and lemon juice and mix well. Keep aside
5. In a large bowl add the  carrot, bell peppers, lettuce, sweet corn,onions, cucumber, radish, coriander  and tomatoes and toss together.
6. Add the grilled toasted man'ooshe bread and pour over the prepared dressing. Toss well and serve immediately.

Submitting to:
Flavours of Lebanon, event by simply.food guest hosted by Sara' Corner

Giveaway Free Tickets to BBC Good Food Show Summer Nec Birmingham

NEC Birmingham from 13-17 June 2012

The sun may not be shining yet but you can look forward to a Great British Jubilee Summer with the BBC Good Food Show Summer, returning to the NEC Birmingham from 13-17 June 2012 from 9am - 6pm daily.Every ticket includes entry to BBC Gardeners' World Live, Britain's most friendly and inspirational gardening Show, featuring experts from the Gardeners' World TV program
Highlights of the show are:

The Producers’ Village
The Producers’ Village is always packed with small speciality producers who specialise in local and seasonal produce.The area includes pavilions from Henrietta Green's FoodLoversBritain.com Fair and the extremely popular Ludlow Producers Market.

The summer kitchen
If you're looking for summer recipe inspiratation, you can enjoy top entertainment from your favourite chefs in the Summer Kitchen.The Summer Kitchen features top chefs cooking delicious summer recipes live on stageI.

Grow your Own
This is the ultimate destination for anyone who craves tips on how to live the good life and learn about what can be achieved with even the smallest of plots. You'll soon be growing your way to five-a-day!

Master Chef Experience

If you’re enjoying watching MasterChef on television, you're sure to love the live version! See John Torode and Gregg Wallace live, and loud, on stage joined by a whole host of fellow judges, past winners and previous contestants.
To Get more information on the show and reserve your tickets click here

So Are you excited to visit the show?? Would you like to win a pair of tickets??
BBC Good Food show have kindly offered 3 free pairs of tickets to 3 lucky simply.food readers.
There are 8 ways to participate, each comment will count as one entry.There is one main way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries.
Rules:

• You must leave a separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they will not be counted.
• No Cheating as all entries will be checked.
• The winners will be picked via random org  and  winners will be notified after competition closes. Winners must  claim tickets within 48 hours of receiving notification other wise another winner will be selected.
• Only persons over 18 years can participate.
• Only persons with UK mailing address can participate.
• The organisers reserve the right to cancel the show and if this happens the competition will become void. No cash alternative will be awarded.
• Competition closes on Sunday 3rd June 19.00 pm                                                                   

8 ways to enter
1. Leave a comment saying why you would like the tickets and what part of the show you would enjoy the most.
2. For a second chance to win become a follower of simply.food  via google connect in side bar and leave a comment saying you have done so.
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Good Luck.


Pictures and text courtesy of BBC Good food show

Man'ooshe Lebanese Flat bread

Man'ooshe is a Lebanese flat bread that is widely available in every street bakery in Lebanon. It is commonly served with a spread  called Za'tar made from sumac, sesame seeds and salt and topped with tomatoes , onions and salads of choice wrapped up and enjoyed.The man'ooshe can also be used  as a pizza base and topped with your favourite cheese and toppings.
The authentic recipe for the man'ooshe can be found here. I have adapted the recipe to suit my taste.

Ingredients:

500 g / 16 oz plain purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon quick yeast
250 ml hand hot water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 tablespoon fresh coriander finely chopped.

Ingredients for za'tar:


1 teaspoon  thyme leaves,
1tablespoon sesame seeds,
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp red chilly flask,
2 to 3 tbsp olive oil

Method:

Mix all ingredients to make a spread.

Method:

1. In a bowl combine the flour,salt, yeast and sugar and mix well.
2. Add water a little at a time and make a dough that is soft and pliable.
3.Transfer the dough onto a flat floured surface  and knead for 2-3 gradually  adding the oil.
4. Return the dough to the bowl rub with oil and cover with a tea towel and leave it in a warm place for the dough to rise for 2-3 hours.
5. Once the dough has risen, knock the air out remove it from the bowl onto a floured surface, add the garlic paste and fresh coriander and knead again for 2-3 minutes.
6. Dive the dough into 12 pieces and roll each out into a 8 inch diameter flat bread.
7. Heat a skillet and place the flat bread on it, cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip it and cook for 2-3 minutes more until brown spots appear on it.
8. Remove from skillet and keep wrapped in a clean tea towel and repeat for rest of dough.
9. Serve spread with za'tar or plain with curry of choice or as pizza base.

You can check out how to make Man'ooshe with za'tar here.

Submitting to:
Flavours of Lebanon, event by simply.food guest hosted by Sara' Corner