Spicy Indian Beef Stew

August 25, 2013 By sujatha 4 Comments

The last few weeks have been both busy and quiet. Busy with family and quiet as we took a week long trip to the Dordogne region, some 3 hours from where we’re at the moment. So, although I’ve been in the kitchen and have tried out interesting recipes, I never really got around to documenting them here.

Yesterday, however, I made an Indian dinner on special request from my dear step father-in-law whose b’day it was and who really loves spicy exotic food. The menu included chicken smothered in a yoghurt sauce, a spicy beef stew and a side dish of pan fried aubergines along with a cucumber coriander raita to cool things off. Dessert was creme brulee indianised by the addition of cardamom and orange zest for extra measure.

[Read more…]

A Sunny Rainy BBQ & Some Recipe Ideas

May 18, 2013 By sujatha Leave a Comment

Last Tuesday we had a barbecue. It was a warm day with temperatures reaching over 20C, a pleasant change from the rain and gloom that has pervaded these early spring days. It was a short lived dose of sunshine though as it began drizzling once again even before we could fully wrap up our meal.

[Read more…]

Indian Lamb Curry – Gosht Dopiaza

May 12, 2013 By sujatha 2 Comments

I do cook Indian meals quite frequently (although this may not be reflected in the number of ‘Indian Food’ posts here). A hot meal of dal, roti and rice with maybe an additional side dish or meat curry has become a staple in our household.

India is a large country with very distinct cultures and cuisines in its different regions. This means that I still follow recipes once in a while when I feel like doing something different. A few days ago, when there was a request to make an Indian dinner for some family guests, I turned to the internet to look up some inspiration. What I found was a lovely recipe for ‘gosht dopiaza’ or meat with lots of onions – a very popular dish back home in restaurants. I thought I’d give it a try, of course, with heavy customisation. Once you’re comfortable making a curry of any sort, customising recipes to suit your tastes and what’s available becomes second nature.

[Read more…]

Herbed Pita Bread with Grilled Pork & Tzatziki

May 5, 2013 By sujatha 2 Comments

I’ve tried making pita bread only once before. The results were quite mediocre which is why I was never tempted to try it again. However, as time has passed, I’ve gained a little experience and confidence in the baking department. The other day, when we were stuck at home thanks to a continuous downpour that showed no signs of stopping, I had to think of something for supper.

[Read more…]

Lemony Braised Duck Legs in a Sumac Tomato Sauce

April 28, 2013 By sujatha Leave a Comment

I remember the first time I came up with this recipe, it was to use up a couple of leftover duck legs and to create something from the ingredients in my kitchen cupboard. At that time, I was going through a lot of Middle Eastern recipes and hence the inspiration to use some Middle Eastern flavours such as sumac and lemons. It turned out to be a satisfying dish and I tried recreating it just last night. This time round, I made notes so I could record it here and come back to it if need be in the future 😉

Since the local eating habits here in the French countryside extend beyond the usual chicken-lamb-beef variety of meat, it’s quite easy to source meat such as duck, rabbit, quail, etc, things that required a trip to a specialty store in Dublin. It also gives people like me who want to experiment in the kitchen, the chance to play with different ingredients and learn more about cooking with different varieties of poultry and game. Keeps it interesting!