My style of fusion... Aubergine and egg masala.. Yummmm

Hello Everyone,

Its really fascinating that cooking is a continuously growing and evolving art. There are soo many ingredients in this world which can be experimented together to make amazing combinations.

For my personal self.. I like experimenting a lot and as a result of these experiments I have come up with this fusion recipe which is super easy to make and is very filling and tasty.

This recipe is a simple combination of aubergine(baingan in hindi) and boiled eggs, both of my all time favourite ingredients . It came as a nice surprise for my husband, who is the connoisseur of all my experiments.. in short my Guine pig :P

Let me start with the recipe now. :)

Ingredients:

1	Aubergine	2 medium size
2	Boiled Eggs	3
3	Chopped Onions	1 big
4	Chopped tomato	1
5	Chopped mixed peppers	1 cup
6	Peanuts	a handful
7	Green chillies	2
8	Ginger Garlic paste	1/2 teaspoon
9	Red chilli powder	1teaspoon
10	Turmeric powder	1/2 teaspoon
11	Coriander powder	1teaspoon
12	Jeera	1 teaspoon
13	Garam masala	1/2 teaspoon
14	Salt	to taste
15	Oil	2 tablespoons

      

Method:

1. Remove the yolk of the boiled eggs and chop the white into cubes. You can keep some of the yolk to put in the dish, it makes the dish creamier.
2. Cut the Aubergine into cubes.
3. Roast the peanuts on a dry pan and then coarsely grind them in a grinder.
4. Put the pan on the flame and add oil.
5. When the oil is hot, add jeera, ginger garlic paste , onions and green chillies.
6. When the onions are brown, add aubergine and salt. 
7. Cover the pan until the aubergine has released water and are soft.
8. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, ground peanut and stir well.
9. Add tomatoes ,peppers and the yolk and cover the pan until the tomatoes are fully mashed.
10. When the tomatoes are done add boiled eggs and stir gently.
11. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes and put the flame off.
12. Serve hot with chapattis and enjoy.

Festive season special.. Badam Phirni

Hi Friends,

As all of you know that the festive season is in its full swing in India these days. Everyone is cheerful, positive, the air feels so fresh, markets overflow with all sorts of colorful goods and people who are enthusiastic to buy them. All and all it is the best time to be in India. With festivity comes sweets and Indians are crazy about sweets.

Hence, I am bringing to you a very simple but tasty sweet dish. It's called Badam Phirni which is a simple milk and rice dish with almonds.

Ingredients:

1	Milk	5 cups
2	Rice	3/4 th cup
3	Sugar	3 tablespoons
4	Saffron	5 strands
5	Rose Water	1 teaspoon
6	Condensed milk	2 tablespoons
7	Almonds	10
8	Cardamom powder	2 pinches

Method:

1. Soak the rice in water for atleast 1/2 an hour.
2. Drain the water and grind the rice in a grinder util it forms a smooth paste.
3. Chop the almonds.
4. Dissolve the saffron in 2 table spoons of milk and put the rest to boil.
5. When the milk starts boiling, add rice, saffron milk, cardamom  and rose water and stir.
6. Keep stirring until the rice thickens all the lumps are dissolved in milk.
7. Add condensed milk and stir.
8. Add sugar and almonds
9. Switch off the flame and let it cool
10. Place in bowls and put in the refrigerator.

Let it cool for at-least an hour and then enjoy.

food chat... Talking to a Greek gentleman

Hello Food Lovers!!

As you all know or would have known by now that this blog is all about visiting different geographies and having food. And it is nothing better than if you are introduced to the food by a person who belongs to that geography. But in our busy lives, we cannot physically visit each and every country however it is always good to know about the famous cuisines, eating habits and tastes of different places and also people's approach towards food.

Hence I have decided that I would dedicate a section of my blog to "Food Chats" in which I would be chatting to people belonging to different parts of the world, knowing their favourite dishes, eating habits and their food love.

First person I would like to interview is Panagiotis Galanis,  my colleague and a fine Greek man. Every now and then we find ourselves getting involved in intense food conversations. Hence I have decided to have him as my first guest and he has been really kind to answer my questions very patiently.

Here is the series of question and answers hope you will enjoy them.


1. Which part of Greece are you from?

Athens, a sunny city by the sea.


2. What is your favourite Greek food?

Hmm... that’s a tough one really, but if I have to choose one it would be Cretean meat pie ”tourta” – it is absolutely delicious.


3. What is the dish that you have grown up eating?

My childhood memories are associated with “Gemista” the traditional stuffed tomatoes, a very popular dish during the summer.


4. Which dish do you think cannot be found anywhere else as good as in Greece?

Most of them really, as they require good quality vegetables to cook, a rarity in the UK.


5. How have eating habits changed in Greece since you were a kid?

Not much really, fast foods claimed a portion of the take away food industry but Mediterranean diet is remaining largely unchanged - there is enough variety for every appetite.


6. What is the most loved Greek party snack?

Folio pies in the shape in small triangles, containing either feta cheese, minced meat or spinach (among others).



7. What food brings you home?

Kleftiko, a delicious slow cooked oven roast. I like the variation that is slowly cooked in thick baking paper.



8. What other cuisines do you like?

Indian, Mexican and Chinese. I enjoy them often. Rich and colourful cuisines.



9. Do you like Indian food? Do you find any similarities with Greek food?

I love Indian food -Yes! There is so much variety in taste, texture and colour that each visit to a good restaurant makes me very excited. I am especially fond the strong curry dishes.

There are surprising similarities between the two cuisines but also stark differences too.

In many instances the philosophy of cooking is very similar, but use spices differently. Of course there are plenty of entirely different dishes, but that makes it all the more interesting to me.


10. What is food to you?

A well cooked meal for me is far more than sustenance: It is a fascinating hobby (when I cook), a way of sharing and ultimately carrying a bit of the culture and enjoyment to your guests and friends. – Always a reason for respite and celebration.

Thanks  a lot Panos for sharing your fond memories with us. Hope we all keep enjoying good food as always. Cheers!

City Beautiful... Amsterdam

Earlier this summer, we planned a trip to Amsterdam. Thinking it to be yet another popular city in Europe, I didn't expect anything too special or too different from it. But to my surprise and thankfully I was sooooo wrong. The city amazed me with its beautiful architecture, the amazing network of canals, museums,  its difference in culture to other European cities, humble people, good food and absolutely everything.

It has become my favourite destination so far and thus I would like to introduce  this amazing city to you and tell you about the best things to do there.

Amsterdam is the capital and the most popular city in the Netherlands. The city is also the melting pot of various cultures coming together and living in harmony with each other.

How to arrive: There are many ways of getting to Amsterdam, specially for the Europeans. The people in the neighbouring countries like France, Belgium etc  can take a bus, train or drive to Amsterdam which is very well connected via roads and railways. People in the UK can  take the Eurostar/Euro-tunnel or Ferry  or can drive or take the train whichever is comfortable. For others its better to take the flight to Schipol Airport as we did.

How to start:  If you are in Amsterdam for the sole purpose to travel and cover all the tourist destinations, buying  I Amsterdam cards from the airport comes handy. They come in 24/36/72/96 hour packs. They not only allow you free/discounted entry to major attractions but also give you free transport, discounts at some restaurants and also free gifts!!! yay!!!

 Amsterdam central station is about 15 minutes by train from the airport. After you reach the central station, you can find buses, trams , taxis running everywhere taking people to their destinations.

Where to stay:  Given  its tourist destination status there are 100's of hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts to stay in Amsterdam. You can also rent a house boat and have a cozy stay. The most popular area to stay is within the so called "Ring" i.e within the canal network. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance because it gets sold out pretty quickly.

What to visit:  Well well.. I can literally go gaga about this thing because there is soo much so lemme start

1. Museums :  As I had mentioned before, Amsterdam has some of the most amazing museums. You can spend atleast 2-3 days just visiting the museums. but dont do that :D.. Just visit some popular ones. My favourite were Rijksmuseum ,Van gogh musem, Amsterdam history museum and Anne frank house. And yes the "I Amsterdam" sign is at Rijksmuseum, go click pictures with it, climb on it, hang on it..  :D 
   
2. Tulip gardens: That's the second thing Amsterdam is so famous for. If you have planned your trip during March, do plan  a visit to the garden. Kuekenkhof gardens, is one of the famous. However if you miss the tulip season, don't worry, you can always visit the beautiful flower market which is a treat as well.
   
3. Dam Square & Royal Palace:  You can call it the city center, it is the most popular place to hangout. It is always flooded with people with some or the other performances , shows, shops, mall etc. The Royal Palace which is just opposite to the square is a nice, historical and informative place to visit as well.
   
4. Zaanse Schans: The place which gives you the real feel of being in Holland. The windmills, lakes, boats, cattle, little cheese shops. yes you can find everything you heard about Holland at this beautiful place. There is also a museum which you can visit and also a woodshoe manufacturing unit, must see.
   
5. Canal Cruise: Amsterdam and its magnificent network of canals, bridges , boat houses, buildings make the canal cruise a must do thing. You would not only fall in love with the beauty of the place but also the sheer architectural intelligence involved in building it. The view is even more enchanting at night when all the bridges and buildings are lit up.
   
6. Coffee shops: Oh Yeah! I am coming there.. As you all know, cannabis is legal in Amsterdam, the place where its available is the traditional coffee shops. It is available in different forms such as cigarettes, brownies, muffins etc and also in different power levels. :P If you plan to go there, go with company and do not overdo! (by personal experience :P) 
   
7. Red Light Area:  Over the years this has emerged as a tourist spot rather than anything else. You can go at anytime during the day and have a walk around. I would say no more.
8. Rent a bike: This is the best thing to do if you want to get a proper hangs of the city and its surroundings. Vondelpark is a nice venue to cycle around.

What to eat: Here comes my favourite section :) Yuhuuuu! Amsterdam may be known for its magical canals and cannabis but the thing very few people know is that it is a food heaven. I had the most gastronomically satisfying experience and I still do want to go back to Amsterdam to have those lovely Pancakes!!! Yummm.
Here is a list of things you must have when you are in Amsterdam or your trip would be nullified. ;)

1. Pancakes: There is a plethora of  restaurants which serve Dutch as well as International pancakes. The Pancake Bakery and Pancakes! Amsterdam were my favourite.
   
2. Fries:  These are traditional french fries but there is a variety of sauce present to eat with it which makes a real difference. Vleminckx and Chipsy King are the famous outlets.
   
3. Herring: It is a very famous fish which is mostly eaten raw..  But there is a version served with bread onions and pickle which is yum yum :)
   
4. Falafel: Originally  middle eastern, falafels are a huge hit among the tourists as well as locals. Maoz is the most popular chain.
   
5. Waffles: Waffels are again a must have in  Amsterdam. There are plenty of stores near Dam square where you can find good Waffles.
   
6. Indonesian food: As Indonesia was earlier a Dutch colony, you will find Indonesian restaurants everywhere in Amsterdam. But we found that it was over priced and over hyped. :P
   
7. Cheese: As Dutch people are very fond of cheese, you can find cheese shops and cheese tasting rooms at every corner. So you can taste the varieties of cheese present and pick the best one.
   

Phew!!! that was a long tale to tell.. but I am happy that I have covered all the major points I wanted to share. 

I hope you have a wonderful time when you visit this amazing city. :) Cyaaaa