Dalgona Coffee

Ingredients: Instant Coffee (2 teaspoon; you can add more if you like your coffee stronger) Sugar (2 teaspoon) Warm water (2 teaspoon) Milk (You can use non-dairy substitutes) Nutmeg Powder/Cocoa Powder/Cinnamon Powder (optional; for dusting) Direction: In a bowl add the instant coffee, sugar and warm water and using a whisk or an electric whisk…

Poached Pear (Belle Helene)

Ingredients: Pear (2-3 cored and peeled) Sugar (2 1/2 cup) Cinnamon (1 stick) Vanilla essence (1 teaspoon) Nutmeg (grated) Dark Chocolate (1/2 lb, chopped into smaller pieces) Vanilla Ice-cream Cocoa powder (optional; for dusting) Direction: In a pot bring water to boil and then add the sugar and let it melt. Add the vanilla essence,…

Palak Paneer

Ingredients: Spinach (10 oz) Paneer (1 lb, cut into 1/2 inch cubes) Onion (1 medium sized diced) Garlic (3-4 cloves finely sliced) Ginger (1/2 inch finely chopped) Turmeric Powder (1/4 teaspoon) Chili Powder (1/2 tablespoon) Garam Masala (1/2 tablespoon) Kasuri Methi (1/2 tablespoon) Lemon Juice (1/2 lemon) Ghee Heavy Cream (for serving) Salt (to taste)…

Butternut Squash Ravioli

Ingredients: Butternut Squash (1/2 cut into 1/2 inch cubes) Onion (Diced) Garlic (4 cloves) Brown sugar (1 tablespoon) Ricotta Cheese (1/4 cup) Flour (2 cups) Eggs (4) Sage (10 leaves) Butter (3 tablespoons) Lemon juice (1 tablespoon) Parmesan Cheese Olive oil Direction: In a baking sheet, place the butternut squash, onion and garlic. Drizzle olive…

Baba Ghanoush

Ingredients: Eggplants (2 -3) Tahini (2-3 tablespoons) Garlic (1 crushed) Lemon Juice (1 1/2 lemon) Cayenne Pepper (1 teaspoon) Yogurt (2 tablespoons) Mint leaf (2 leaves shredded) Parsley (chopped) Aleppo pepper (to taste; or use red pepper flakes) Olive Oil Salt Direction: Wash your eggplants and poke it several times with a knife so that…

Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mushroom Garlic Sauce

Ingredients: Chicken Thighs (Bone-in & skin on 3-4 pieces) Mushroom (8 oz, sliced; you can use any variety of your choice) Garlic (1 tablespoon minced) White Wine (1/2 cup) Chicken Stock (1/2 cup; you can also use water if times are tough) Heavy Cream (1/2 cup) Parmesan Cheese (1/2 cup) Onion (1 medium sized finely…

Fondant Potatoes

Ingredients: Russet Potatoes (3-4 large) Thyme Butter (2-3 tablespoon) White wine (1/2 cup) Chicken stock or broth (1/2 cup) Salt & Pepper Oil Directions: Preheat the oven to 400oF. Cut off ends of russet potatoes, stand potatoes on end, and peel potatoes from top to bottom with a sharp knife to make each potato into…

Mantu (Afghani Dumpings)

Ingredients: Flour (2 cups) Egg (1) Minced Pork (1 lb; you can use any meat and if you’re looking for vegetarian options use finely chopped mushrooms or leeks) Onion (1 large finely chopped) Chili (1-2 finely chopped) Cilantro (finely chopped) Split chickpea (Chana dal; 1 cup) Tomato paste (1 tablespoon) Turmeric powder (1 teaspoon) Cumin…

Portuguese Octopus Stew

This is a friend’s family recipe. I made a few improvisations to the original recipe and I hope you like it. Ingredients: Octopus (Remove the eyes which are located at the top of the head. Cut it into 1 1/2 inch pieces) Onion (2 finely sliced) Garlic (3 cloves finely chopped) Tomatoes (3 -4 diced…

Beef & Aubergine Fatteh

Ingredients: Pita Bread (4 cut into triangles) Ground Beef (1 lb) Aubergine (1 large cut into small cubes) Aleppo pepper (1 tablespoon) Cumin seeds (2 teaspoon) Coriander powder (1 teaspoon) Onion (medium sized finely chopped) Yogurt (2 cups) Tahini (3-4 tablespoon) Lemon juice (1 lemon) Garlic (2 minced) Pine nuts (50 grams/ 1.7 oz toasted)…