Cooking in Paris

Paris, May 21st, 2008

We had a brilliant day cooking with Samira at her home in Paris.
We loved the class we did with her in Zürich. So much, in fact that we were all inspired to visit her in Paris. Our cooking group expanded from 7 to 14 ladies for this trip. Most of us stayed at the Hotel Brighton in the 1st arrondissement, a few were over at Hotel Select on the left bank, and two lucky ladies stayed at Samira's. The Brighton is a lovely place to stay, reasonable prices for Paris, and a fantastic location. The rooms have recently been renovated and the staff are friendly and helpful.

We started off the day wandering around her local market; stopping by at the butcher, the fruit and vegetable store, the fishmonger, the baker and a wonderful cheese place. Not to be missed are their delectable little cheese tarts.


Meeting Samira at Metro Argentine before our market visit.





Our first stop - the butcher - to buy our duck breasts.



The rue Poncelet market.







The fish market.



Outside "Alléosse" - a cheese lovers heaven.
Address: 13, Poncelet - 75017 Paris. Tel. 01 46 22 50 45



With guidance from Samira we bought kilos and kilos of cheese to take back with us to Switzerland. I especially liked the Comte and the Brin d'amour. The Comte is a sharp hard fruity, cheese, similar to a Gruyere. The Brin d'amour, (translates to the branch of love), is made from the milk of sheep or goats that have grazed on wild herbs on steep Corsican hillsides. Coated with rosemary, thyme, coriander seeds and savory aromatic herbs, it has a tender, ivory-colored pâte and a delectable, slightly sour taste. Delicious!




In Samira's kitchen





The Menu

Lemon–Lime Salmon
****
Roquefort and Pear Tart
****
Scallops with Saffron Mustard Sauce and Saffron Rice
****
Magret de Canard with Apricot Port Wine Sauce
Perfumed Potatoes
****
Mixed Greens with Simple Vinaigrette
****
French Cheese Plate
****
Lemon Mousse Gateaux


Samira is a wonderful teacher, (she has a PhD in education), and even someone who doesn't like cooking will be infected by her amazing zest and enthausism. Here are the details of her cooking school, Food Unites the World (just click on it to get to the link). We spent the whole day with her. A couple of hours were spent at the markets, followed by a marathon cooking session. The food was truly outstanding. If you only have time to do one class in Paris, go to Samira's. She has also written a fabulous cook book, which is worth buying. I use mine very often.

We rolled out the door at around 7PM, stuffed and happy. After a revitalizing walk along the Champs-Élysées to Place de la Concorde we stopped off at the Buddha Bar for a drink. Perfect end to a great day.

Photos and recipes follow:


Starter: Lemon-lime marinated fresh Salmon



Recipe

Lemon-Lime Marinated Fresh Salmon

500gr fresh salmon fillets
Juice of 2 large lemons
Juice of one lime
1 bunch fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon simple vinaigrette
2 or more tablespoons perfumed or regular olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Clean Salmon and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut salmon into small cubes, place in a medium bowl and pour juice of one lemon over salmon. Toss well. Refrigerate for an hour.

2. Remove salmon from the refrigerator, discard juice.

3. Add juice of second lemon and lime juice to salmon and mix well.

4. Mix in remaining ingredients, refrigerate until ready to serve.

5. Serve over mixed greens.

(makes 6 servings)


First Course: Pear and Roquefort Tarts



Recipe

Roquefort and Pear Tart

500gr puff pastry
1 pear, firm but not too hard to eat
1 1/2 cups red wine
175gr Roquefort cheese or blue cheese
60gr fromage blanc or sour cream
2 egg yolks
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

1. Peel pears, cut each into six sections or pieces, and core. Place pears in a medium saucepan, pour wine over them, cover pan and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, drain pears and discard or drink the wine. Cut each half into thin slices keeping them attached at the thinner end. Set aside until ready to use.

2. Preheat oven to 200° C. Place the puff pastry on a work surface. Cut pastry into six 3- or 4-inch squares or rounds depending on preference. Cut six ¾-inch strips or thin rounds to use as borders. Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl. Place the thin strips of puff pastry on the edges of the squares or rounds making neat borders, and brush borders with egg yolk.

3. Place pastry on a cookie sheet covered with a waxed paper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 190° C.

4. In a medium bowl, using a fork mix Roquefort cheese and sour cream until well blended. Mix in nutmeg, nuts and salt and pepper to taste if desired. Spread cheese mixture in the middle of the squares, top with slices of pear, and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature before serving. Garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.

The base



These are such fun to make and they look incredible. You could make smaller, bite size ones for an apero.







Cutting the pear and fanning it out.





The combination of the Roquefort, the pear and the walnuts is tantalizing. If you like blue cheese, you'll love this recipe.




Grilled Scallops with Saffron Mustard Sauce

Exceptional! The mustard seeds give it another dimension.



Recipe

Grilled Scallops with Saffron Mustard Sauce

Sauce
1 cup fish or chicken broth, chicken cube or fish cube also works
½ cup white wine
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon ground saffron
½ cup whipping cream
1 to 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

1. Mix the first five ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium hear.
2. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and whisk mustard and butter into sauce, blend in the chopped tarragon and
set aside until serving time.

Seafood
Use any meaty fish fillet (cod, perch, grouper or sea bass), fillets of sole, scallops, scampi or large shrimp. You can also use a combination of fish fillet, shrimp and scallops. Allow 110gr fish fillet, 2 small or 1 large scallop and 2 shrimp per person if you use a combination of seafood. All scallops or all shrimp can also be used.

Heat one tablespoon butter or olive oil or half butter half olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add seafood and sauté for three to four minutes or until light brown. Remove from heat and set aside. Add any accumulated juices from the seafood after cooking to the mustard cream sauce and simmer for a couple of minutes to heat it before serving.

To Serve: Arrange the grilled seafood on a serving plate and drizzle some of the sauce over it. Serve warm with Basmati saffron rice.

(makes 6 to 8 servings)








Saffron rice



Recipe

Saffron Basmati Rice

Bring about 4 cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup of basmati rice and stir well to avoid rice lumps. Keep boiling over medium heat until rice is almost done. (about 10 minutes). Remove from stove, strain rice from water using large sieve, and return to saucepan. Mix in Saffron, crushed chicken cube (optional), and ½ teaspoon salt - if not using chicken cube. Cover and simmer on low heat until all liquid has evaporated and rice is done, about 10 minutes. Keep covered until ready to serve.


Duck Breast with apricot sauce



Recipe

Roast Duck Breast with Apricot Port Wine Sauce

2 large or 3 medium whole duck breasts (magret de canard)
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 tablespoons clarified butter
1 cup Port wine (Porto)
2 tablespoons good quality brandy
1 cup duck or chicken broth or two chicken cubes with one cup water
1 cup thinly sliced dried apricot
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Heat butter in a medium heavy saucepan or skillet over low heat. Add shallots and cook until soft but not brown. Add port and brandy and boil until reduced by half. Add broth and cook for 15 minutes or until reduced to one cup.

2. Stir in apricot, vinegar, and salt and pepper. Simmer sauce over low heat for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Preheat oven to 230 ºC. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat until hot. Place duck breasts, skin sides down, in skillet and cook over low heat until skin is deep golden, about 12-15 minutes. Turn duck breasts over and cook other sides of duck breasts for about 3 minutes. Remove from skillet and discard fat or save for other use.

4. Place duck breasts skin sides down in roasting pan of baking dish. Roast in oven for about seven to ten minutes depending on how well you like your meat done. Remove from oven, place on a cutting board, and cut duck breasts into thin slices. Salt and pepper slices and decoratively place slices on a serving dish. Pour hot sauce over slices and serve immediately. (makes 6 servings)



Potatoes



Recipe

Perfumed Potatoes

1 pound baby red or white potatoes, use fingerlings if available
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup perfumed olive oil or regular olive oil
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning
8 bay leaves
10 garlic cloves, unpeeled

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Wash potatoes very well, place them in a shallow baking dish, mix in all ingredients except bay leaves, and toss well.

2. Tuck bay leaves around potatoes. Spread garlic cloves over potatoes and bake for 40 minutes, turning potatoes once every 15 minutes.
(makes 6 to 8 servings)


The Ladies



Cheese Platter



Served with a green salad. The salad dressing we made was superb.

Recipe

Simple Vinaigrette

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar, sherry vinegar, or red wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning (optional)
8 or more fresh raspberries (optional)

1. Beat or whisk mustard with vinegar until creamy.

2. Slowly beat in oils. Keep beating until mixture becomes thick.

3. If using red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar ad herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning and mix well.

4. If using raspberry vinegar, add fresh raspberries, blend them into the dressing while crushing them with a fork.

5. Place in airtight container and refrigerate. It keeps for one week.
(Makes ¾ cup)


Lemon Mousse Cake



Recipe

Lemon Mousse Gateaux

Gateaux
2 large eggs
½ cup sugar
½ cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup ground unsalted pistachios or walnuts (optional)
4 large egg whites + 2 tablespoons sugar

1. Preheat over to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch spring form pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Butter and flour parchment paper and set aside.

2. Mix flour, baking powder and nuts if using any in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in large bowl until slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes. Fold nut mixture into egg mixture and set aside.

4. Beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

5. Fold egg whites into flour mixture in two additions. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on rack for five minutes. Cut around cake in pan and turn cake out onto rack. Remove parchment paper and let cake cook completely.

Lemon Mousse

Lemon Curd:
2 ½ cups sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3 large eggs
5 large egg yolks
½ cup unsalted butter cut into small pieces

Mousse:
5 tablespoons water
4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (1 ½ sheets = 1 teaspoon powdered gelatin)
6 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 ¼ cup chilled whipping cream


1. Place sugar and cornstarch in heavy large saucepan and mix well. Gradually add lemon juice while whisking until cornstarch dissolves. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks.

2. Add butter and stir the mixture over medium heat until it begins to thicken and comes to a boil. Boil for about ten minutes to cook the cornstarch. Transfer lemon curd to a bowl and cool at room temperature. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. (Can be made up to four days in advance.)

3. Place 5 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin evenly over water and let stand for about ten minutes.

4. Pour one cup of the chilled lemon curd in a small saucepan and place on medium heat until very warm. Remove from heat and set aside. Heat gelatin mixture over medium heat and stir mixture until all gelatin has dissolved and mixture becomes clear making sure not to bring mixture to a boil. Whisk warm gelatin mixture into warm lemon curd until well blend. Gradually add 2 cups of the chilled lemon curd to the warm gelatin mixture and blend well. Set aside. Refrigerate any remaining lemon curd.

5. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until whites are thick and glossy. Fold whites into lemon gelatin mixture in 4 additions.

6. Beat cream in another bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into egg white lemon mixture in 4 additions until well blended.

7. Return cake to pan, pour lemon mousse over cooled cake to fill the cake pan. Refrigerate any remaining lemon mousse. Refrigerate lemon mousse gateaux until mousse is set, about two to three hours or overnight.

8. Remove lemon mousse gateaux from pan. Gently spread one cup of the reserved lemon curd over lemon mousse gateaux. Place reserved lemon mousse in pastry bag fitted with small star tip and decorate around top edge of the lemon mousse gateaux. Chill gateaux until ready to serve. (Can be made one day in advance).

Note:
You can serve it with sliced fresh strawberries or place whole strawberries on top of lemon mousse or on top of the cake before pouring the lemon mousse over.

Viola!

Thai Food

A week before our Paris trip we got together and cooked in the demo kitchen of Hugo Dubno (Delikatessen-Import). Many thanks to Fani's husband Richard and to Hugo Dubno. Richard designed and installed this wonderful teaching kitchen. The room is enormous and we could have easily fitted in many more people.

The recipes are my adapations from various Thai cooking classes and cookbooks.

Our Menu

Green Chicken Curry
Tom Yam Goong
Thai Beef Salad
Phad Thai

Recipes

Green Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
350g chicken breast or thigh fillet, cut into bite size pieces
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 - 4 Tbsp green curry paste (recipe follows or buy it ready made from your local Thai store)
1 stick lemongrass, sliced lengthways on an angle into 4 - 6 cm lengths (optional)
8 - 10 long beans, cut into 4 cm lengths (optional)
6 - 8 Thai eggplants, cut in quartered or halved, cut just before added
¼ cup Thai pea eggplant
250ml (1 cup) thin coconut milk
250ml (1 cup) coconut cream
1/2 cup water (more if necessary)
40g (2 Tbsp) palm sugar (optional)
2 Tbsp fish sauce
2 - 3 green chillies, sliced lengthways on an angle into 3-4 cm pieces
4 - 6 medium sized kaffir lime leaves, torn into pieces
1 cup sweet Thai basil leaves

Garnish
green or red chillies, thinly sliced
2 - 3 Tbsp coconut cream

Preparation:

In a wok or a saucepan, heat oil. Add the curry paste and stir fry for 2 - 4 minutes, until fragrant. Add lemongrass, beans and eggplants. Fold into paste. Add water and bring to a slow simmer for 3 - 4 minutes. Add coconut milk and coconut cream a little at a time. Allow oil should come to the top before adding more of the coconut milk and cream.
Place chicken pieces into curry and cook for approx. 4 minutes until curry regains its color. Eggplants should be slightly soft. Add sugar, lime leaves, fish sauce and chilli. Simmer for 1 or 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and transfer to a serving bowl. Add basil leaves just before serving.

Green Curry Paste

Ingredients:
1/2 Tbsp coriander seeds, dry roasted
1/4 Tbsp cumin seeds, dry roasted
1 tsp sea salt
10 white peppercorns
20 small green bird’s eye chillies, chopped (about 3 Tbsp)
3 Tbsp red shallots, finely chopped
2 Tbsp garlic cloves, chopped
1 Tbsp galangal, finely chopped
2 Tbsp lemongrass (white part only), finely chopped
1 Tbsp kaffir lime peel, finely chopped
2 Tbsp coriander root, washed, scraped and chopped
1 tsp shrimp paste

Preparation:

Dry roast the spices individually in a frying pan. Grind spices separately to form powders.
Using a mortar and pestle, pound lemongrass, galangal, lime zest, coriander root and sea salt. When ingredients are becoming smooth, add garlic, red shallots, and shrimp paste. Continue pounding to create a smooth paste.
Mix in the remaining ingredients and grind, pound in a mortar or process in a food processor until the mixture forms a smooth paste.


Tom Yam Goong

Ingredients:
2 small green chillies
2 coriander root and stems
5 kaffir lime leaves
3 cups (750ml) chicken stock or water
300g prawns – washed, peeled and deveined (peels can be used for the stock).
200g mushrooms
6 cloves garlic, crushed
10 thin slices galangal root
3 stalks lemon grass, crushed, cut into 2cm pieces
2 tomatoes, cut into bite size pieces
3 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp chilli jam (Nam Prik Phao)
½ cup coriander, chopped

Preparation:

In a mortar, crush the green chillies with the coriander roots and the stems.
Heat the stock to boiling point in a saucepan. Add the galangal, garlic, lemongrass, lime leaves, crushed chillies and coriander roots back to the boil.
Add the prawns, mushrooms, fish sauce, sugar, chilli jam and simmer for 1 minute. Add the lime juice. Taste and add more lime juice or fish sauce, if needed. Serve garnished with coriander.

Thai Beef Salad

Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 coriander roots, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons oil
400g piece rump or sirloin steak, about 2.5 cm thick
Salad greens (for example: cos or bib lettuce, watercress, baby spinach)
200g cherry tomatoes, cut in half
4 small cucumbers, chopped
8 spring onions, chopped
4 red shallots, finely sliced lengthways
5 Kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
1 lemon grass, finely sliced
½ cup coriander leaves
½ cup mint leaves
½ cup Thai basil leaves (optional)

Dressing:
3 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon light soy sauce or Thai soy sauce
2 - 10 red chillies, (chopped finely, seeds removed if preferred)
1 - 2 tablespoons palm sugar or soft brown sugar

Preparation:

Combine the chopped garlic and coriander roots, black pepper and 2 tablespoons of the oil. If you have a mortar and pestle, use it to finely grind the mixture. Alternatively, blend the mixture well in a food processor or blender. Spread the mixture evenly over the steak.
Heat the remaining oil in a heavy-based frying pan or wok over high heat. Add the steak to the pan and cook for about 4 minutes each side, turning the steak once only during the cooking time. Remove the steak from the pan and allow to cool.
To make Dressing: Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, red chillies and sugar in a jar, shake until the sugar has dissolved.
Cut the cooled steak into thin strips. Arrange the prepared salad greens on a serving plate and add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, shallots, lime leaves, lemon grass and strips of steak. Drizzle with the dressing and scatter coriander, mint and basil leaves over the top. Serve immediately.
Alternatively serve the salad sauce on the side if you are eating Thai style and serving lots of other dishes at the same time.






Phad Thai

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 Tbsp chopped shallots
140g dried rice noodles or 300g fresh rice noodles
2 large eggs
200g shrimp or prawns
80g firm tofu
1 Tbsp turnip, chopped (optional)
5g dried shrimp (optional)
6 Tbsp chicken stock or water
45g roasted peanuts, crushed or chopped
20g Chinese flat chives, cut into 2cm pieces
60g bean sprouts

Sauce:
3 Tbsp fish sauce
3 Tbsp white sugar or palm sugar
1 Tbsp soy sauce (optional)
4 Tbsp tamarind juice

Accompaniments:
fresh vegetables
(bean sprouts, spring onions, chives,
salad greens, Chinese cabbage)
roast peanuts
2 limes, cut into wedges

Preparation:

Soak the dried rice noodles in hot water for about 10-15 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside.
Combine ingredients for sauce, dissolving sugar.
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a wok and fry garlic and shallots. Add the dried shrimp, tofu and turnips. Add prawns and noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds. Add the stock or water and stir-fry for 30-60 seconds. Turn down heat and add the sauce, mix thoroughly. Remove and set aside.
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a pan or a wok, add eggs and scramble, spreading egg into a thin layer over the pan. When set return noodles and mix together.
Add the chives and bean sprouts. Mix together thoroughly. Sprinkle over chopped peanuts. Check seasoning. Serve with fresh vegetables, (bean sprouts, peanuts, chives etc.). Garnish with chillies and coriander if desired. Serves 2.

Making the egg swirls.




Robin making the egg swirls for the Phad Thai

Easter Gitzi

Written by Sandy O.


When I first came to Switzerland from the USA 25 years ago, I was truly surprised by the variety of meats that are eaten here. Actually, once I started sampling game, game birds, suckling pig, and the like, I realized what I had been missing out on. One of the best surprises was goat at Easter time. Here's my favorite recipe. This is really nice served with simply boiled new potatoes and roasted asparagus.

EASTER GITZI (young goat)
serves 8

2 gitzi legs

Marinade
1/2 cup olive oil (1.25 dl)
1 bottle inexpensive white wine
4 large cloves garlic, sliced
Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs
4 bay leaves

Have your butcher cut the gitzi legs into 4 pieces each. Place the gitzi in a large nonmetal container. Combine the marinade ingredients and pour over the gitzi and cover. Marinade the gitzi overnight.

Roasting
1 large onion, peeled and sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs

Remove the bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme sprigs from the marinade.

Line the bottom of a large covered roaster or Dutch oven with the onion and carrot slices.

Quickly brown the gitzi pieces to seal the pores and remove to the large roaster or Dutch oven.

Remove excess fat from the frying pan. Pour in the marinade, including the garlic pieces, and bring to a boil. Pour over the gitzi pieces

Add a few new sprigs of rosemary and thyme to the roaster, cover, and bake at 180 degrees for 90 minutes.

Sauce
4-5 dl light cream

Strain the marinade into a sauce pan. Return the gitzi to the oven uncovered while making the sauce.

Reduce the marinade liquid by 1/2. Whisk in 1/3 of the cream and reduce to thicken. Repeat with remaining cream. Adjust seasoning and serve.

An Indonesian Feast

This session was hosted by Fani in her store after the lunch time rush. If you're ever in the Glattzentrum, near Zürich, and you're in the mood for delicious noodles or curry, head to Noodle Land. She's on the top floor: after you get off the escalator just go straight for about 10 metres and and you'll be in her store. She has a different menu every day. Typical offerings are Red Duck Curry, Phad Thai, Dim Sum and Green Chicken Curry. Unfortunately, she is being forced to close in the Fall of 2009. Migros are forcing all the small private food shops out, to make way for a big Migros Fast Food Land.

Our being there attracted lots of inquestive looks from her regulars, but we loved the attention and the comments. Her kitchen is super modern, with lots of induction woks, so it was a pleasure to cook there.

Here are some wonderful recipes from Fani's childhood.

Gado Gado



Ingredients:

112 ml / 4 fl oz / 1/2 cup vegetable oil
225 g / 8 oz / 1-1/3 cups raw peanuts
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 shallots, chopped
A thin slice of shrimp paste (optional)
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
450 ml / 16 fl oz / 2 cups water
1 tbsp tamarind water or juice of a lemon

Preparation

· Stir-fry the peanuts for 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain in a colander, and leave to cool. Then pound or grind the nuts into a fine powder, using a blender, coffee grinder, or pestle and mortar. Discard the oil, except for 1 tablespoonful.

· Crush the garlic, shallots and shrimp paste in a mortar with a little salt, and fry in the remaining oil for 1 minute. Add the chilli powder, sugar, soy sauce and water. Bring this to the boil, then add the ground peanuts.

· Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce becomes thick; this should take about 8-10 minutes.

· Add the tamarind water or lemon juice and more salt if needed.

· When cool, keep in a jar in the fridge. Reheat as required for use with satay or as a dip for lalab (crudites) or savoury snacks. The sauce will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Hilda steaming vegetables.



Chicken Opor

Sauce

¼ c onion, chopped coarsely
4 lemon grass, chopped fine
30 g kemiri (candlenuts or macademia)
8 tsp coriander powder
4 tsp salt
5 tsp sugar
5 tsp chilli powder (optional)
5 tbs almond, ground
2 tsp garlic/oil
1 tsp accent (optional)
2 tsp chicken bouillon
600 ml coconut milk
150 ml whipping cream

Other Ingredients:

1 kg chicken breast, sliced 1 ½ cm width or a whole chicken, cut into pieces
1 cup onion, chopped finely
1 cup red/green sweet pepper (capsicum), diced
700 g zucchini cut in ½ moon shape (optional)
8 hard boiled eggs
½ tsp rind from Thai lime (optional)




Preparation

· Blend sauce ingredients together, (from onion to accent), or use pestle and mortar. Then fry the paste in a little oil for about 4 minutes. Add bouillon, coconut milk (a little at a time) and whipping cream. Cook for 7 more minutes. Set aside.

· Fry 1 cup of finely chopped onion in a little oil until translucent, add chicken. Cook for about 7 minutes, Add half of the sauce over the chicken, then the thai lime. Stir and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Add the sweet pepper, zucchini and hard-boiled eggs. Pour the remaining sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for about 1/2 hour to 1 hour or more. Just before serving, quarter the eggs and place them around the dish. Serves 8


Indonesian Curry Rendang (Beef or Chicken)

Sauce

1/4 c onion, roughly chopped
4 tsp garlic/oil
2 tsp coriander, ground
½ tsp fennel, ground
2 tsp cumin, ground
¼ tsp cloves, ground
4 fresh chilies, chopped
1 lemon grass, chopped finely

½ cup shredded coconut, roast it in pan for about 7 minutes, on low to medium heat
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tsp grated palm sugar or brown sugar
1 2/3 cups coconut milk

Other Ingredients:

1 kg beef or chicken, cut in 2 ½ cm size cubes, (rub meat with ½ tsp salt & 1/8 cup dark soy)
½ c onion, chopped
500 potatoes, peeled, cut in cubes
400 g carrots, cut into thin rounds
15 g kaffir leaves (cut every leave into 3 parts)
10 g coriander leaves

Garnish: 1-2 fresh chillies, finely chopped and roasted onion





Preparation

· Blend sauce ingredients, (from onion to lemon grass), or use pestle & mortar.

· Place the coconut milk in a large pan, bring it almost to the boil, then reduce the heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk has reduced by half and the oil has separated out. Do not allow the milk to brown.

· Add the sauce mixture to the coconut milk. Then add the shredded coconut, lemon juice and sugar. Stir for 1 minute. Add the meat and cook for 2 minutes until it changes colour. Cook until the liquid is reduced and the mixture is quite thick.

· Stir frequently to prevent the meat sticking to the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking until the oil from the coconut milk is released once again, letting the curry develop color and flavour. Keep cooking until it is brown and dry. Don’t let the dish burn. Cooking time: 1-2 hours.



Poulet Kalasan

Sauce

¾ c onion (finely chopped)
2 cm galangal
¼ tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic/oil
2 tsp chilli powder (optional)
1 ½ tsp chicken bouillon



1 kg. chicken thigh or chicken breast, sliced into strips1 ½ cm width. Rub chicken with 1 tsp baking soda. Put aside.
2 cans coconut water (not coconut milk!)
500 gr. potatoes, cut into cubes and cooked for 10 minutes
1 cup water & 1 tbs chicken bouillon
1 can chickpeas or 150 gr. fresh chickpeas (when using fresh chickpeas soak them in water for 2 hours)

Preparation

·Blend ingredients (except bouillon) together or mash them using pestle & mortar.

·Sautee until translucent, put in chicken, fry for about 2-3 minutes, then pour in the coconut water. Cook for 10 more minutes. Add potatoes and chickpeas. Add 1½tsp chicken bouillon.

·Preheat the oven to 220°F. Place the chicken and sauce in a baking dish (uncovered) and bake for 15 minutes or until done.


Spicy Shrimp (SAMBAL GORENG UDANG)

Sauce

1 tsp garlic/oil
2 cm galangal
6 kaffir leaves
5 fresh red chillies, seed removed
1 tbs shrimp paste (belachan)
1 tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
1 tbs tamarind juice
2 cups coconut milk

800 g shrimp, medium to large, shelled, de-veined, cut butterfly style.

Add:
½ tsp salt
¼ c shallot, chopped
1/8 tsp white pepper
¼ tsp sugar





Preparation

· Blend sauce ingredients, except coconut milk, or use pestle/mortar

· Fry sauce in a little oil, for about 2 minutes.

· Add shrimp into the sauce, stir well until shrimp are half pink, add the coconut milk. Keep cooking and stir occasionally until coconut milk thickens.
Serves 8



Fish in Balinese Sauce

Sauce

1/4 c onion, chopped coarsely
2 cm galangal
2 cm ginger
1 tsp sambal oelek
1 tbs belachan (shrimp paste) (optional)
1 1/2 tsp garlic/oil
1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp chicken bouillon
4 tsp dark soy sauce
4 tsp palm sugar (grated from 1 round
palm sugar)
4 tsp lemon juice (squeeze from 1 lemon)
1 ¼ c coconut milk

Other Ingredients:

1 kg white fish sliced 5cm width.
¼ cup onion, chopped coarsely
2 celery sticks chopped in 1cm pieces
300 g orange & yellow carrots cut thin rounds
3 red chillies, cut in 3 cm pieces
3 green chillies, cut in 3 cm pieces
150 g cherry tomato, whole
1 can baby corn, each piece cut to three


Preparation

· Blend sauce ingredients, (on the list: from onion to salt), or use a pestle & mortar. Fry in oil for 4 minutes over low heat, add bouillon, soy sauce, palm sugar, lemon juice, adding the coconut milk (a little at a time) last. Cook sauce for another 7 minutes, or until it is hot but not boiling. Put it aside.

· Fry the ¼ c chopped onion in oil until translucent, add celery, carrots, chillies, cherry tomatoes and baby corn. Cook for 10 minutes or less, just until the vegetables are tender and crunchy, Add the sauce to the vegetables and keep warm.

· In the meantime heat up plenty of oil in a pan and fry the fish for the second time quickly. Take out fish and add fish to vegetables & sauce. Stir everything quickly and serve immediately while it is still hot. Serves 8


Fish Batter

1 whole egg
1 c flour
1/3 c potato flour or cornflour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper
3/4 c cold water

Preparation

· Mix all ingredients, except water. Pour water into the mixture a little at a time to make a smooth batter.

· Salt and pepper fish, then dip in the egg batter and fry only until very lightly browned, one batch at a time. Put aside.

Everything was great, but the fish was superb!


As you may have noticed there aren't many photos. Once again I forgot my camera and I had to resort to using my little phone camera.