I've been meaning to do a Mediterranean dinner sometime, and what better way to kickstart the week than with some yummy in the tummy?!!
The menu for tonight is :
- Hummus
- Zalouk (A Moroccan Eggplant salad - which is the ONLY form in which i actually LIKE eggplant!!)
- Mediterranean(ish) Chicken (which doesnt really follow any recipe!)
- and Pita Bread !! (that I'm MAKING from scratch!!)
Ingredients: 600 gm cooked chickpeas 3 garlic cloves crushed
(of course, I used more garlic! I LOVE garlic, remember?)
100 ml Olive Oil (preferably Extra Virgin)
2 tbsp Tahini
1 tsp Ground Cumin (which I skipped!)
Juice of 1 lemon
Method: Blend chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini and lemon juice till smooth.
Add 1/4 th cup water and blend again. Garnish with paprika and olive oil.
- Zalouk (Moroccan Eggplant Salad)
Ingredients: 1 large eggplant - peeled and chopped 4 (or more) large tomatoes - peeled and chopped (I didnt peel them!)
3 (or more!) cloves of garlic - minced fine.
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped parsley (also skipped!)
1 tbsp paprika / chili flakes
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water
Lemons (optional, but best if you DID use the lemons!)
Method: Place all ingredients except the lemon in a pot.
Cover and simmer at medium heat.
Cook covered for about 30 mins till eggplant and tomato are tender.
Mash well. Continue cooking (uncovered) to reduce - upto 30 mins.
Stir frequently. Drizzle additional olive oil if required.
Squeeze lime over after cooking. Stir. Serve either hot or cold.
Ingredients: 1 sachet yeast (about 1 tbsp) 1/2 cup warm water
3 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 cup lukewarm water
Method: Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add sugar and stir until
dissolved. Let it sit for 10-15 mins till it turns frothy.
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast mixture. Slowly add 1 cup
of warm water and stir till the dough is elastic, not sticky.
Place dough on a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic
for about 10 - 15 mins.
Coat with olive oil and let it sit in a warm place until the dough doubles
in volume - about 3 hours. Once the dough has doubled, roll out as a
rope, pinching off small pieces.
Cover and let the pieces sit for 10 - 15 mins. Preheat oven to 250 C.
Roll out the dough into circles of about 5 -6 inches diameter and about
1/4 inch thick.
Bake for about 3-4 mins till the bread puffs up.
Flip and bake the other side.
So I'm off to knead and punch and chop and dice and mince! Will post pictures soon! :)
