Battered Zucchini Fries

The season of bounty is officially here.
Zucchini or courgette (bostanel) is a wonderful summer squash which can be prepared in matter of minutes. Being very tender and delicate, it it requires minimal thermal treatment. In fact, these battered zucchini fries are crisp from outside and delightfully crunchy on the inside, since the hot oil  crusts the batter and barely affects the inside texture, if not let for too long to brown.

My batter is a simple one: yoghurt, flour, salt, paprika and a tad of turmeric. Crunch crunch. I had to protest them kids grabbing the whole plate and go away with it: hey, I am writing a blog!!!

Soya Malai Kofta - a Treat for the Vegan, Vegetarian, and the Budget Conscious

These are incredibly good. At less than 25 US cents per pound, soya beans have certainly been underrated, mostly used for cattle feed in this part of the world (Moldova). A great source of high quality protein, soya is an invaluable ingredient in a vegetarian's pantry, as well as in a budget conscious persona's.
Easy to make from scratch (not as easy as unpacking a frozen box of them though ;). Soaking and cooking the beans is required, and a pressure cooker is a life saver. Grind the beans (about 2 cups) with a handful of semolina, add herbs, spices, seasoning, form into small balls and coat them in bread crumbs, or semolina, and shallow fry them. These take very little oil if the oil is brought to optimum temperature. Am sure they can be baked too.
Serve them plain, or soak them in gravy, for an extra kick.

After a Six Month Break- I Am Back, La Placinte!

Pasca- traditional Easter Bread. It usually has a braided cross on top. However, for Ispas (Ascenssion of jesus), that is left undone.

It's been long since I trotted on my own space. Moving, changing homes, changing lives and perspectives- all of them.
Visiting Moldova for the past fifteen days, and five more months left to enjoy the beauty and bounty of this rich land.
Of course, baking, with one week recurrence interval. At grand scale.

Placinta Recipes and instructions

The Grand Fire

Baking in process...

Placinte

Cottage Cheese Placinta

Herb Placinta

Cabbage and Herb Placinta

Potato and Herb Placinta

Tart Cherry Placinta

    

Festive Pastries- Merry Christmas!

These are fun if you enjoy baking with your kids- they will remember it! Or just in case you love baking for no other reason than the joy of baking!
Shorted dough filled with {homemade} mascrapone cheese and black olives. Easy breezy!

Merry Christmas!

Roasted New Potatoes the Indian Way

Whenever we visit Moldova, I make sure I pack all sorts of condiments and spices that surely come handy there. These potatoes were new crop of the year and they deserved a special welcome. Butter roasted with paprika and cumin, garnished with sliced fried onions,  mustard seeds and crushed garlic- a treat for the tummy as well as the eyes.

Rava Idli

YUM!!!

Tamarind Rice- the Sweet, the Sour, the Crunchy, the Irresistible

Of course, there are many manners of making tamarind rice, but I prefer soaking the tamarind pods. Never mind the extra time for preparing the pulp, the taste shows up in the final dish. Concentrated 

tamarind seems a bit intrusive, and the ready made tamarind sauces are not worth the buy.
Fried green/red chili, mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, peanuts and the beautiful tangy tamarind sauce are simmered together with Basmati rice to produce this staple South Indian delicacy. Whether a snack or a side dish, it's mouthwatering.