Easy comfort food from Morocco and Turkey, using tagines!

Yesterday, I presented these two dishes at D.A.Niels Kitchenware, to highlight cooking with tagines.  Both are quite simple to prepare, once you have the mise en place ready.  In the Turkish Eggplant and Lentil stew, the recipe without a tagine suggests to cook for 1 1/2 hours.  In the tagine, the stew was ready in less than 30 minutes.

 

Moroccan Beef Tagine (can use lamb)

2 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

Eggplant and Lentil Stew with Pomegranate Molasses
(Adaptation from a Paula Wolfert recipe)

1 1/2-pound long, narrow eggplant
Salt
1/2 cup lentils
Water
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp Turkish Baharat
2 long green chiles, such as Anaheims—stemmed, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup pomegranate molasses

Peel three strips length-wise into the eggplants. Slice, score, and cut into three pieces shorter.

Cook the lentils in a small saucepan, simmering for about 15 minutes. Drain.

Add olive oil to the tagine and prepare the vegetables by combining the onion, garlic, tomatoes, spices, and salt.

Spread half of the mixture into the tagine and top with half of the eggplant. Cover with half of the lentils, then repeat, ending with the vegetables on top. Pour the remaining olive oil around the mixture and drizzle with the pomegranate molasses.

Bring the stew to simmering in the tagine, and cook over low heat, covered, until the eggplant is tender, up to an hour. May need to add a bit of water.

Serve hot, cold or warm.


Enjoy!
-->

Rose Harissa! Divinely delicious.

I recently received a beautiful gift with dried, edible roses as part of it.  I have found that I have been using the dried roses in so many ways, it is worth it to secure a source.  Rachel Thoo is a most amazing source with her beautiful website with fantastic instructional videos on fermentation, gardening, cooking, etc.  Homemade with Rachel is an invaluable resource. 

http://www.homemadewithrachel.ca/

In the interim, if you can't find edible roses easily, try the teas section in an Asian grocery store. 
 
Rose Harissa

3-5 red peppers, halved and seeded
4-8 (make it as spicy or as mild as you like) chilies
5-7 garlic cloves
4+ tbs olive oil, with extra for topping jar
4-8 tbs dried or fresh edible rose petals (http://www.homemadewithrachel.ca/)

1 tsp sea salt, to tastes
up to 1/2 tsp rose or orange blossom water (I found that the orange blossom water was a milder flavour that matched better)

 Preheat oven to 250ºF (120ºC).

Place peppers and chilies cut side down on a lined baking sheet with the garlic cloves and a good drizzle of olive oil.  Roast for about an hour.  The peppers should not be blackened, just softer.  Remove from the oven and let cool. 

Place all ingredients in a food processor and purée.  

In a medium saucepan, heat some olive oil and add the puréed mixture.  Cook until the moisture has evaporated, stirring. 

Place harissa in a clean, sterile jar, with room to top with olive oil.  Refrigerate and enjoy on pasta, steaks, toast, dips, etc, for at least a month.

Cilantro!

Love it or hate it, it isn't really up to you.  Cilantro reaches the taste buds in such a manner that people who think it tastes of soap, have a physically differently shaped taste bud than those who love the herb.  Now that makes me think what else they may be tasting differently.

It is a workhorse herb, ubiquitous in some cuisines.  I have been embracing it because of the wonderful abundance of cilantro in my CSA.  No complaints. 

For health benefits, Cilantro is considered to be an antioxidant, lower sodium intake, an excellent source of fibre, magnesium, manganese, some protein, and iron. Cilantro has 11 essential oils, and 6 types of acid, including Vitamin C.  Cilantro is used as an anti-inflammatory, to lower cholesterol, help with skin problems, regulates blood pressure, bone health, good for living with diabetes diets, and has antihistamine properties, which also means to stay out of the sun.

The following recipes are very cilantro forward, and are Thai, Moroccan, and others, to illustrate the herb's versatility. 

1. Moroccan
Chermoula

1 head garlic, peeled (or 3-5 large cloves)
¼ tsp cayenne
1 heaping tbs cumin
½ bunch parsley
1 whole bunch cilantro
juice of one lemon
2 tbs vinegar
1 generous tbs olive oil
salt, to taste

Blend all of the ingredients together.  Use as a garnish, to marinate fish or chicken, sauté vegetables such as carrots or eggplant.  Mix with yoghurt for a salad dressing.

2. Thai
Gai Yang
3 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro, including stalks (part of my CSA from Heart Acres Farm)
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tbs fish sauce
2 tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbs chopped lemongrass (optional)
chicken pieces (I used chicken thighs, available at Wildfire Farms at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
ground chilies (optional)

Blend all ingredients, except for the chicken, and pour over the chicken to marinate for a few hours.  Grill until done.  Enjoy! 

3. Canadian
Lobster Tails with Cilantro Chipotle Cream (easy!)

6 Nova Scotia Medium (5-6 oz.) lobster tails
drizzle olive oil
1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 bunch cilantro leaves, finely chopped
juice of one lime
1/4 (+/-) tsp chipotle flakes or ground dried chipotle
pinch sugar
pinch sea salt

Mix cream, yoghurt, cilantro, lime, chipotle, sugar and salt.  Chill.

Cut lobster tails open on the soft side of the shell. Drizzle olive oil over tails. Heat BBQ to a high heat. Grill lobster tails until shell becomes quite red all over. Remove from heat. Now you can either pull lobster meat from shell and serve with Cilantro chipotle cream or serve immediately with cream over or on the side.

Enjoy!

4, Mexican
Green Herb Salsa (served with omlettes)

Paired with Chateau des Charmes Brut - Canada
Ingredients

* 1/4c blanched almonds, toasted
* 1 small garlic clove
* 1c fresh parsley leaves
* 1/2c fresh cilantro leaves
* 1/2c fresh basil leaves
* 2/3c extra -virgin olive oil
* 1/8 tsp red-pepper flakes
* coarse salt and ground black pepper
* 2tsp white-wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar

How to make it

* Using chef's knife(or food processor)finely chop almonds, garlic and herbs. Stir (or blend) in oil and red-pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
* To store, refrigerate up to 1 day. Stir in vinegar just before serving.
* Great variations: Feel free to include any type of soft green herb, such a s oregano, chives, mint. You can also substitute pistachios, walnuts or pine nuts for the almonds.

Spring Flavours for Nowruz, Easter, and Passover, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

 For CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai, I will be presenting the following dishes.  Red Snapper Ceviche, Sole with Chermoula (Moroccan), and Charoset, a Moroccan version.

All of these dishes are very simple to prepare and are quite delightful. 

Red Snapper Ceviche1 pound skinless red snapper fillets, cut into 1/4-inch dice (Available at Gimli Fish)
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1/2 cup finely diced red bell peppers
1/2 cup finely diced yellow bell peppers
1/2 thinly sliced small red onion
1 minced small garlic clove
Pinch of ground cumin
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Salt

1 bunch each of mustard and radish sprouts (from Fresh Forage and available at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 

In a large bowl, toss the diced fish with the lime juice, lemon juice, jalapeño, red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, garlic, cumin, crushed red pepper and season with salt. Refrigerate the snapper ceviche for 30 minutes. Stir in the sprouts and extra-virgin olive oil and serve.

 Sole with Chermoula
2-3 sole fillets per person
olive oil or butter, for cooking fish

3-5 large cloves garlic
¼ tsp cayenne
1 heaping tbs cumin
pinch saffron
½ bunch parsley
1 whole bunch cilantro
handful mustard sprouts (available from Fresh Forage at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
handful radish sprouts (available from Fresh Forage at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
juice of one lemon
2 tbs vinegar
1 generous tbs olive oil
salt, to taste

In a mortar or blender, mix the garlic, cayenne, cumin, saffron, herbs and sprouts, lemon, vinegar, olive oil, and salt, to a paste. 

Just before serving, heat butter or olive oil in a sauté pan to medium heat.  Season the fillets.  Cook a couple of minutes per side and plate.  Spoon Chermoula over the fish. 

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

 Moroccan Haroset (Charoset)

1 lb blanched almonds
1 lb pitted dates
2 apples, peeled, cored and quartered
1 tsp ground good cinnamon, plus ½ cup for rolling
¼ tsp ground ginger

The day before, finely grind almonds in a food processor. Add the dates, apples and 1 tsp cinnamon and the ginger and continue pulsing until the apples are chopped into tiny pieces and the mixture comes together. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, shape the mixture into balls the size of a large marble. Put the ½ cup cinnamon in a bowl and roll the balls in it.

Soups on at CBC's Weekend Morning Show

On Saturday, I presented the following 3 soups for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai.  Each are quite simple to prepare with loads of great flavours.  I'm very passionate about soup having a lot of big flavours.

Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

4 red peppers, roasted, seeded and peeled
1 large oven roasted yam or sweet potato
1 head roasted garlic
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2-3 cups broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 tbs butter
1 tbs olive oil
Optional: 1 pinch saffron

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add butter and olive oil. Sauté onions until light brown in colour and add remaining ingredients. Cook until well incorporated and purée using an immersion blender or transfer to a blender or food processor.

Garnish with crouton or crème fraiche and/or crispy fried herbs.

Enjoy!

Dhal

2 cups red lentils
1 medium onion, diced
1 inch ginger, grated
3-4 cloves garlic, grated
2 tbs curry spice blend (I make my own in small batches as I roast and grind the spices but try a garam masala with more chilies,
2-3 tbs olive or vegetable oil
2-3 tomatoes, diced
1 cup spinach leaves
~ 4-6 cups water
~ 1 cup yoghurt
salt, to taste

Optional:  chopped sorrel, kale, spinach, zucchini, all are wonderful and available at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market on Saturday

In a larger pot, bring lentils and water to a boil. In a separate pan, heat oil and sauté onion until translucent. Add spice blend and cook until softened. Add ginger and garlic and be careful not to burn. When the water in the lentil pot is boiling, add hot onions and spices to the pot and stir. Simmer and add vegetables. Bring to a gentle boil. Stir in yoghurt and test for salt.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Butternut Squash Soup

1 yellow onion, chopped
pinch coarse salt
1 1/2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 lbs butternut, kabocha, or calabaza squash halved, peeled and seeded and cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks (about 6 cups) (available at Fertile Farm, Almost Urban Vegetables, and other producers at the St. Norbert's Farmer's Market)
2 tbs tomato paste
1 tsp La Kama Spice Mixture (1 tsp each of ground ginger, turmeric and white pepper, good pinch of grated nutmeg, 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon and optional cubeb pepper)
1/2 cup heavy cream or creme fraiche
1/2 lb crumbled chevre
1 tsp or more to taste Harissa paste

salt and pepper, to taste

1. Cook onion in heavy bottomed pot or casserole dish (tajine) on medium low heat with the olive oil until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes
2. Add the squash, cover with parchment paper and/lid and cook for 20 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste, spices and 4 cups of hot water and bring to a boil. Then simmer until the squash is tender, about 20+ minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Blend in batches or with an immersion blender until smooth. Add the cream and 3/4 of the cheese and the harissa at the end. Purée until velvety.
5. Bring up to heat and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve into warmed bowls and top each portion with a light sprinkling of the remaining cheese.

Enjoy!

Lamb chops with Ras el Hanout

I recently bought a lot of lamb from a fantastic producer, Gerry Oliver from Spiritsands Shepherds.  I will be featuring some lamb dishes this upcoming Manitoba Fibrefestival, Friday evening and Saturday at the Red River Exhibition Grounds.  Manitoba lamb is some of the best in the world.

Here, I have prepared an elegant meal that is very easy to prepare, of Ras el Hanout rubbed lamb loin chops, wild rice pilaf, and chipotle butter corn on the cob.

Ras el Hanout rubbed Lamb loin chops with orange and pomegranate.

4 lamb chops (2 per person)
Enough Ras el Hanout to rub all over the meat.
olive oil
salt, to taste
2-3 tbs butter
Zest of one orange
Juice of one orange
1 tbs Dijon mustard
~1/4 cup of Pomegranate liquor (can substitute with an orange liquor or brandy)

Brown chops that have had Ras el Hanout rubbed onto them and let chill for a few hours in olive oil and a bit of butter, for 2 minutes per side.  Remove from pan and let rest.  Add juice, zest, liquor, mustard, and butter to the pan and incorporate well.  Add the browned chops back to the pan and let cook for 1-2 minutes.  Season and serve with Wild Rice Pilaf and corn.

High Tea on CBC

This morning on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Nadia Kidwai I presented High Tea.  I made Moroccan fresh mint green tea slightly sweet, crust less sandwiches using Old Church Bakery's Feta Dill Sourdough, Gimli Fish's Smoked Goldeye with cream cheese, some smoked salmon and cucumber with dill, and Strawberry Shortcake. These make lovely and easy to prepare dishes for Mothers Day next week.

Smoked Goldeye with Cream Cheese 

1 medium smoked Goldeye (available at Gimli Fish), skinned and pulled off of the bones
1/2 - 1 cup softened cream cheese
1-2 green onions, sliced, or chives
salt and pepper, to taste
optional:  chilies

Mix all ingredients together to make smooth consistency.  Spread generously on crustless bread for high tea.  I used Old Church Bakery's Feta Dill Sourdough, available today at Third and Bird and St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.

Also featured above, smoked salmon with cucumber and dill.

Strawberry Shortcake

 2 cups flour
5 tbs sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Strawberries and other berries macerated in a bit of sugar for at least 30 minutes.  Whipped cream with a bit of sugar and vanilla.

Mix dry ingredients above and add the buttermilk until just mixed.  Pour into an ungreased 8" pan and bake for 18 minutes, until golden.  Remove from pan onto a cooling rack after cooling the pan for a few minutes.  Cut into serving pieces and split in half. 

Spoon berries and whipped cream over the shortcake and enjoy!

Catering prize for Manitoba Eco-Network's Reel Green Gala on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

This morning I presented the following recipes for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with interim host, Nadia Kidwai.  These are full of flavour but I've also made them very easy to prepare. 

On March 16th, Manitoba Eco-Network will be hosting our annual fundraising event, The Reel Green Gala.  Sponsors include Assiniboine Credit Union, Tire Stewardship Manitoba, Stantec, and other amazing supporters such as VIARail, and local producers.  I'm offering catering for four, supported by Almost Urban Vegetables, for the chicken, Vita Health for many other ingredients, and I'll prepare Moroccan food.

Tickets are available at www.reelgreen.brownpapertickets.com.

Moroccan Chicken with Prunes and Almonds

 1 chicken – (3 1/2 lbs)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup prunes
1-2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground ginger
1 cup whole blanched almonds
vegetable oil for frying

Rub all the chicken pieces with salt, pepper and cumin. Let stand for one hour.

Soak prunes if very dry.

Place onions in a wide shallow casserole with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, 1/4 cup water, cover and steam for 15 minutes.

Brown the almonds in 4-5 tbs oil in a large skillet and drain on paper towels. Brown the chicken evenly on all sides in the oil and transfer to the steamed onions. Cover with parchment paper and cook in tajine on the lowest heat for about 1 1/4 hours.

Discard the parchment paper. Add the prunes and bring to a gentle boil. Remove from the heat. Serve with almonds sprinkled on top.

Enjoy!

Beet Salad I and II

1 lb Beets
1 tb Sugar
1 Lemon; juice of
1 tb Olive oil
1 lg Pinch of cinnamon
1 tb Chopped parsley
Salt; to taste

Wash beets well, being careful not to break their skins. Cut off the
tops, leaving a stalk of about 1 1/2". Boil in a 3 quart saucepan
until tender, covered. Allow the water to cool, then slip off the
skins, trim off the tops, and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the beets. Let marinate
for 1 hour before serving.

Beet Salad II: Prepare as described above, but add 1 tsp. orange
flower water, 1/8 tsp. cumin, a pinch of paprika, and a little water
to the sauce.

Celebrating CBC's Host Terry MacLeod, and Change

This morning, I'll be presenting the following recipes for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod.  As this is Terry's final weekend with CBC Radio, we are celebrating him as well as changes throughout the 24 years that he has been with us in Manitoba.  The beef dish represents the changes in attitudes toward food in that we are so passionate about global flavours and yet are more conscientious than ever as to where our food comes from and how it its produced.  The beef comes from Wildfire Farms.  The chocolate dish is a dish for Terry that I made because I heard that he enjoys Grand Marnier.  I wanted to find something very easy to prepare with it and this is a great season to represent this treat.

I'm at D. A. Niels today giving a tajine cooking demonstration and the beef dish will be one of the tajines, based on a Paula Wolfert recipe.

Grand Marnier Balls (Kugel)

3⁄4 cup whipping cream
1⁄4 cup butter
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
7 semi-sweet chocolate baking squares, melted
3 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
chocolate sprinkles
Put cream, butter and sugar into saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil, stirring often. Remove from heat.
Add Grand Marnier, chocolate and crumbs. Mix well. Shape into 42 balls. Roll in chocolate sprinkles. Chill or freeze.

Moroccan Beef Tajine(can use lamb)

1 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes (I used apricots today)
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

 Today at D. A. Niels:
  

Marak (Tajine) of Eggplant, peppers and peas with preserved lemon
¼ cup olive oil

1 medium globe eggplant

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 tsp sugar

2 ripe or canned tomatoes, chopped (I’m using 2 tbs good tomato paste with tomatoes)

1 tbs Ras el Hanout

1 tsp sea salt

½ tsp turmeric

2 tbs chopped flat leaf parsley

 ½ preserved lemon (see chef for details)

1. Heat oil in tajine over low heat.  Add vegetables and sugar and cover with lid or with parchment paper and the lid and cook gently for 10 minutes.  Raise heat slightly and add a splash of water. 

2. Add tomatoes and continue to cook, covered for a few minutes.

3. Add the parsley and lemon juice.  Garnish with the slivered lemon and olives (or cook in with tajine).  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Getting Cheeky on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

 Yesterday morning I presented the following dishes for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with guest host Laurie Hoogstraten.  

The wonderful ingredients are all available now at your farmer's markets.  The eggs for the köfte are from Nature's Farm,  the beef cheeks and ground beef are from Wildfire Farms, and you can often find me either through the blog or at St. Norbert's Farmer's Market.

It is not common at all to find beef cheeks, let alone beef shank in many large grocery stores.  Knowing your beef producer directly makes it possible to get parts of the steer that are delicious but not easily found otherwise.  The lovely beef today can be purchased at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market from Wildfire Farms.  Beef cheeks can also be incredible as a burger instead of ground meat.  Marinate in red wine and spices overnight and braise until tender.  Put the cheek on the bun with coleslaw, caramelized onions, chutney, etc.

Braised Beef Cheeks in photo and the "Cook like a Chef" workshop photo for cooking Wildfire Farms beef in St. Norbert's Farmer's Festival

Beef Cheeks

This is the adaptation of Tyler Florence’s recipe for Osso Bucco. The wine that he recommended using was Amarone.  

 This makes an elegant winter comfort meal.

1. Beef Cheeks or Osso Bucco (Make both as they cook the same in this dish):
 1 cup all-purpose flour
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 Beef Cheeks (Available at Wildfire Farms at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1-3 tbs butter

1 onion, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 lemon, zest peeled off in wide strips with a vegetable peeler
1 head garlic, cut horizontally through the middle
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 bottle dry red wine
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can low-sodium beef broth (I had homemade chicken broth on hand instead)
1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes, hand-crushed

Put the flour in a large shallow platter and season it with a fair amount of salt and pepper. Dredge the meat in the seasoned flour and then tap off the excess (extra flour will burn and make the dish off-tasting).

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat and hit it with a 3-count drizzle of oil. Add the butter and swirl it around the pan to melt. Sear the meat, turning carefully with tongs, until all sides are a rich brown caramel color. Drizzle with a little more oil, if needed. (Do this in batches if the shanks are big and look crowded in the pot.) Remove the browned meat to a side plate. There will be a lot of flavor left over in the bottom of the pot. You're going to use that to create your sauce.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Using the same pot, sauté the onion, celery, carrots, lemon zest, garlic, bay leaves, and parsley over medium heat. Cook the vegetables down until they start to get some color and develop a deep, rich aroma. Season with salt and pepper; add a little oil if needed. Nestle the meat back in the pot. Pour in the wine and let it simmer down for 20 minutes, until the wine has reduced by half. Reducing is key for intense flavor. Add the beef broth and tomatoes and stir everything together. Cover the pot and put it in the oven. Braise for 1 and a 1/2 hours. Then remove the cover and continue to cook for another 30 minutes. The sauce should be thick and the meat tender and nearly falling off the bone.
Remove bay leaves.

Enjoy!

2. Mini Köfte two ways  Moroccan and Turkish

Moroccan
1 lb ground beef (or lamb), Beef today from Wildfire Farms, available at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market
1-2 tbs Ras el Hanout (available St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)
pinch salt
1 egg (Nature’s Farm eggs are superb and available at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)

Mix ingredients well together and form into patties or oblongs (Köfte shaped)

Grill over high heat until desired cooked state.  Let rest and serve with your favourite condiments such as Dijon mustard, caramelized onions, tomato chutney, soft egg, cheese, etc.  Served today with yoghurt tahini sauce.

Turkish
1 lb ground beef (Wildfire Farms at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)
1-2 tbs Turkish Baharat (Karenfood at St. Norbert’s Farmer’s Market)
pinch salt
1 egg (Nature’s Farm eggs at St. Norbert’sFarmer’s Market)

Mix ingredients well together and form into patties or oblongs (Köfte shaped)

Grill over high heat until desired cooked state.  Let rest and serve with your favourite condiments such as Dijon mustard, caramelized onions, tomato chutney, soft egg, cheese, etc.

Enjoy!

Tagine cooking demo today at D.A.Niels! From 11-3PM

 I'll be presenting these dishes as a Tagine cooking demonstration today at D.A.Niels at 485 Berry St..

Regarding the very good tomato paste, listed in the Squash recipe, try Tat brand, available at Millad's Supermarket at 396 Notre Dame.

Moroccan Beef Tagine (can use lamb)

2 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Squash Tagine

1 small butternut, hubbard or winter squash, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 eggplant, cubed
1/4 cup chopped black olives
1/4 cup chopped dates
1 medium onion, chopped
1 head garlic (loose cloves)
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs “tomato magic” or very good tomato paste (ask chef)
1 tbs turmeric
1 heaping tablespoon Ras El Hanout *
Splash of Rosewater**
1/2 chopped pickled lemon (just the peel)***
Pinch of salt
Optional: eggplant, zucchini

Place all ingredients together in a casserole dish (traditional cooking vessel is a tajine). Cover and bake at 350F for about 45 minutes. If cooking on the stovetop, cook covered at medium heat for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender. Serve with rice or couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

Cooking with Tajines at D.A.Niels!

On Saturday, I presented the following dishes for a cooking demonstration using tajines at D.A. Niels.  I'll be there again on December 5th to give another tajine cooking demonstration.  

The photo with the eggs was at the beginning of cooking.  Cooking eggs in the tajine whole results in a creamy egg.  Quite remarkable!  One person tried the beef tajine recipe using my Ras el Hanout with Moose meat!  He loved the result.  My spice blends of Ras el Hanout, Turkish Baharat and Tea Masala, are all available at D.A. Niels.  

Come and see me at the Downtown Hydro Market on Thursday, November 12th, for more cooking ideas and products!

 

Moroccan Beef Stew (can use lamb)

2 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

Moroccan Squash Tajine

1 small butternut, hubbard or winter squash, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 medium chopped red pepper
1/4 cup chopped black olives
1/4 cup chopped dates
1 medium onion, chopped
1 head garlic (loose cloves)
2 tbs olive oil
juice of half a lemon
1 tbs turmeric
1 heaping tablespoon Ras El Hanout *
Splash of Rosewater**
1/2 chopped pickled lemon (just the peel)***
Pinch of salt
Optional: eggplant, zucchini

Place all ingredients together in a casserole dish (traditional cooking vessel is a tajine). Cover and bake at 350F for about 45 minutes. If cooking on the stovetop, cook covered at medium heat for about 30 minutes or until the vegetables are fork tender. Serve with rice or couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

A rare evening of entertaining. A Labour Day traditional BBQ?

Last night I had the pleasure of having some lovely friends for dinner.  Great wine, good beer and wonderful celebration foods to share over lively conversations.  Perfect!

1. Appetizers:
Georgian Eggplant
Pesto Escargot
Tuna Tataki

2.  Mains
BBQ'd French Fries 
Roasted purple potatoes
Ras el Hanout Pomegranate grilled chicken
Lamb Shashlik

3.  Dessert.
Didn't make it that far.  :)

BBQ French Fries

2-4 potatoes, washed and then cut into thin fries, skin-on
Olive oil, to coat


Cut the potatoes into fries and soak for a while in very cold water.  When ready, drain and dry the potato pieces and toss with olive oil. 

On a hot BBQ grill, covered with a Cookina BBQ sheet, spread out the potatoes and cook, stirring, until potatoes are crisp and brown.  Remove from heat and toss with seasoning.  Serve immediately.

Moroccan Beef Short Ribs on CBC's Weekend Morning Show!

 This morning I'll be presenting these amazing looking and smelling local beef short ribs on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod.  You can get these great ribs at Wildfire Farms at St. Norbert's and Downtown Winnipeg Farmer's Markets.

(Photos above marinating, below, simmering)

Grass-fed Moroccan Beef Short Ribs (Ribs from Wildfire Farms and available at the St. Norbert and Downtown Winnipeg Farmer's Markets!)  http://www.wildfirefarms.ca/

(For 6-8 ribs)

2 pkgs Grass Fed Beef Short Ribs

Marinade:

1 cup olive oil

1 cup red wine

2 tbs ground ginger

1 tbs ground Turmeric

2 tbs Ras el Hanout (available at the Downtown Winnipeg Farmer's Market or Pollock's Hardware Coop)

1 tsp Kosher or sea salt

zest of one lemon

Place meat in marinade and coat.  Let chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.  Remove ribs and reserve liquid.

For braising the ribs:

2 tbs olive oil

1/2 cup chicken broth and 1/2 cup beef broth, aka bone broth (also available from Wildfire Farms)

1/2 lemon, sliced

2 tbs lemon juice*

1-2 tbs honey

Heat 2 tbs olive oil in a medium sauté pan and brown the meat.  Remove and place all remaining liquids to a large tagine or braising pot.  Bring up to simmering heat and let cook for a couple of hours, until meat is loose from the bone.

* Preserved lemons can be substituted for fresh!

Serve with couscous or quinoa.

Enjoy!

Tagine cooking demo

I've been a bit busy and forgot to post this from Saturday's cooking demonstration at D.A. Niels.  Both are so yummy.  The chicken recipe is adapted from Paula Wolfert's The Food of Morocco as I used apricots instead of prunes.  Such a great cookbook.  An invaluable resource, actually.

The eggs in the second dish are placed whole, on top of the vegetables in the tagine.  They cook whole and are remarkably creamy in texture and not rubbery. 

Chicken Tajine with Apricots and almonds

1 chicken – (3 1/2 lbs) (or, your favourite pieces)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 cup cut dried apricots
1-2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground ginger
1 cup whole blanched almonds
vegetable oil for frying

Rub all the chicken pieces with salt, pepper and cumin. Let stand for one hour.
Place onions in a wide shallow casserole with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste, 1/4 cup water, cover and steam for 15 minutes.

Brown the almonds in 4-5 tbs oil in a large skillet and drain on paper towels. Brown the chicken evenly on all sides in the oil and transfer to the steamed onions. Cover with parchment paper and cook in tajine on the lowest heat for about 1 1/4 hours.

Discard the parchment paper. Add the apricots and bring to a gentle boil. Remove from the heat. Serve with almonds sprinkled on top.

Zucchini Tajine with whole eggs

2 onions, thinly sliced

4 medium zucchini, sliced on the bias

1 medium sweet potato, cubed

1 tbs good tomato paste

2 tbs Ras el Hanout

salt, to taste

splash rose water or orange blossom water

4-8 whole eggs

olive oil

Place all ingredients except for eggs mixed together in a tagine with ½ cup water.  Place whole eggs on top of vegetables.  Slowly simmer until zucchini is soft, about 20-30 minutes.  Remove egg and shell and place on plate of zucchini for service.

Enjoy!

Optional, green olives, black olives,

Mediterranean Tour with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy

Last night I had the pleasure of presenting the following dishes for the Assiniboine Park Conservancy Foodie Series with host Karin Lind of the APC and Scott Strizic of the MLCC.   These can be made in advance if you are planning something special for Thanksgiving.

1. Toenail of a dog - Köpeğoğlu

1 globe eggplant
1 red pepper
1 leek
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbs olive oil
1/3 cup tahini
1 cup yoghurt
1 tbs dried oregano
Salt and pepper

Wash the eggplant and prick all over with a fork. Drizzle oil over eggplant, whole pepper and the white of the leek. Roast in a hot BBQ, turning occasionally. Remove eggplant when soft. Remove red pepper when blackened and leek when soft and caramelized. Cube eggplant with skin on. Peel blackened skin off of pepper and chop. Slice leek into thin rounds. Mix all ingredients together and chill until serving. Serve with French bread or a baguette.

Enjoy!

2. Spanish Tapa Potato wedges with roasted garlic dip

3 lb potatoes
2 tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tsp salt

Roasted Garlic Dip
2 garlic bulbs, roasted
1 tbs olive oil
5 tbs sour cream
4 tbs mayonnaise
hot smoked paprika, to taste
salt

Roast the garlic for 25 minutes at 350ºF until caramelized. Let cool enough to handle. Squeeze out and mash. Mix in a bowl with the sour cream and mayonnaise. Season with salt and paprika. Chill.

For the potatoes, cut each potato half into 3 wedges and place in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, garlic and salt and toss well. Transfer to a roasting pan and arrange in a single layer. Roast for 1- 1/14 hours, or until crisp and golden.

Serve immediately with roasted garlic dip.

Enjoy!

3. Moroccan Beef Tajine

1 lb beef roast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste

Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat with olive oil until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on all sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in your mouth when done.

Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.

Enjoy!

4. French Profiteroles

Ingredients

1 cup milk
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
Pinch kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat the milk, butter, and salt over medium heat until scalded. When the butter is melted, add the flour all at once and beat it with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a dough. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 minutes. The flour will begin to coat the bottom of the pan. Dump the hot mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the eggs and pulse until the eggs are incorporated into the dough and the mixture is thick.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip. Pipe in mounds 1 1/2 inches wide and 1-inch high onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You should have about 18 puffs. With a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl at the top of each puff. (You can also use 2 spoons to scoop out the mixture and shape the puffs with damp fingers.) Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned, then turn off the oven and allow them to sit for another 10 minutes, until they sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Make a small slit in the side of each puff to allow the steam to escape. Set aside to cool.

For the chocolate sauce, place the cream and chocolate chips in a bowl set over simmering water and stir just until the chocolate melts.  Set aside.

Cut each profiterole in half, fill with whipped cream or lemon curd or ice cream.  Close and drizzle with chocolate sauce.