From the Middle Eats

To bring some exotic flavour into your kitchen this Ramazan, Sapna Sarfare explores delectable iftar fare from the Middle East

Sapna Sarfare

Posted On Friday, August 03, 2012 at 08:36:39 AM

Shishbarak (baked stuffed dumplings)

Pics: Rajesh Nirgude

Ingredients

•   Feta cheese: 200 gms
•   Mint leaves: 10 gms, chopped
•   Pine nuts: 25 gms, crushed and roasted
•   Garlic: 10 gms, chopped
•   Olive oil
•   Salt: to taste
•   Pepper: to taste
•   Phyllo pastry sheets: 10

Method

•   Mix the ingredients for the stuffing together and run lightly through a blender
•   Place a small amount of stuffing on each phyllo sheet
•   Moisten the edges of the sheet with water and fold in so that it seals on itself in a cylindrical shape
•   Place the finger-shaped shishbarak on a well-greased, pre-heated baking tray and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes
•   Serve warm!

Koushari (Lentil-rice and macaroni with tomato sauce)

Ingredients

•   Rice: 700 gms
•   Lentils: 700 gms
•   Macaroni: 150 gms
•   Tomatoes: 80 gms
•   Garlic: 50 gms
•   Onions: 100 gms, chopped
•   Bay leaves: 3
•   Olive oil: 4 tbsp
•   Salt: to taste
•   Pepper: to taste

Method

•   Place lentils in a saucepan and bring to a boil and then simmer on low till tender
•   Meanwhile, cook the rice
•   Also cook the macaroni till is al dente
•   Sauté the onions and the garlic in olive oil till brown
•   Add the rice and lentils to the sautéed onion and garlic and cook for a while
•   For serving, put the macaroni on top of the cooked rice and lentils, and top with pureed tomato sauce spiked with salt and fresh black pepper
•   Serve warm!

Mahalabiya (sweet milk pudding)

Ingredients

Courtesy: Chef Mathew John, Le Meridien

•   Rice flour: 500 gms
•   Milk: 1.5 litres
•   Cardamom: 10 gms, crushed
•   Sugar: 200 gms
•   Pistachio: 50 gms, chopped
•   Rose water: 30 ml

Method

•   Boil the milk for around 10 minutes
•   Add sugar and stir until it dissolves
•   Add the rice flour to it and stir well till it thickens
•   Add the remaining ingredients in and stir well again
•   Spoon into a bowl and cool for around two hours
•   Serve cold, but first, garnish with some slivers of chopped pistachio!

	Mail this article Print this article Translate this article	Rate me....
	Share Share Share Share

Contribute/ Share your Opinion

Food Glossary

From the Middle Eats

Contribute/ Share your Opinion

More