LIGHT AND REFRESHING!!
Tzatziki
Soupa Avgolemona
Moussaka
Dolmas
Tzatziki
Prep time 20minutes
Hung yoghurt 100gms
Olive oil 15ml
Vinegar 5ml
Garlic (finely chopped) 2 cloves
Sour cream 50ml
Cucumber 125gms
Dill leaves 5gms
Salt to taste
Peppercorns (crushed) 4nos
Method:
Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined. Using a whisk, blend the yoghurt with the sour cream. Add the olive oil mixture and mix well. Finally, add the finely diced cucumber and chopped fresh dil. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Tips:
- If tzatziki is slightly runny, add in 2tbspn of fresh bread crumbs.
- It’s advisable to hang yoghurt overnight.
Soupa Avgolemona
Prep time 25minutes
Chicken stock 800ml
Rice 20gms
Eggs 1nos
Lemon 1nos
Seasoning to taste
Garnish:
Freshly ground black pepper 6-8nos
Thinly sliced lemon 4pcs
Method:
Boil chicken stock. Add rice and simmer until rice is cooked. Beat the eggs until fluffy. Add lemon juice, beating until combined. Add ¼ of stock mixture to egg mixture in a constant slow stream while continuing to beat with a whisk. Add 1/4th more stock to the eggs and then return entire egg mixture back to the remaining broth in the stock pot. When reheating, do not re-boil, heat slowly until very warm or the eggs may curdle.
Tips:
- After adding the egg, do not boil the soup, the egg will coagulate.
Moussaka
Prep time 2hours
Brinjals (small sized) 4nos
Potatoes 250gms
Beef mince 300gms
Chopped onions 1nos
Garlic (finely chopped) 4-6 cloves
Chopped parsley 20gms
Ground cinnamon 1stick
Tomato concasse 200gms
Sugar 5gms
Egg white 1no
Oil to shallow fry
Salt and pepper to taste
Bread crumbs 30gms
Cheese 40gms
BECHAMEL SAUCE-
Butter 10gms
Refined flour 10gms
Milk 300ml
Nutmeg a pinch
Method:
Slice brinjals into ¼ in slices. Place in a colander and salt them. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Squeeze out the excess of moisture. Dip brinjals in the beaten egg whites and then dredge them in the bread crumbs, coating both sides. Shallow fry on both the sides till done. Peel, slice the potatoes into ¼” slices. Boil, drain. In a large saucepan, brown the beef mince until pink colour disappears. Add onions and sauté for 5 minute. Add garlic, stir for a minute. In a pan, add in cinnamon, parsley, concasse and sugar. Cook for about 10-15 minutes so that excess liquid can evaporate. Add to the mince. Lightly grease a large deep baking pan. Sprinkle the bottom of pan with bread crumbs. Place a layer of potatoes at the bottom. Top with a layer of egg plant slices. Add meat sauce on top of brinjals and sprinkle with 1/4th of the grated cheese. Top with another layer of egg plant slices and sprinkle once again, with 1/4th of grated cheese. Pour the white sauce over the egg plant and be sure to allow sauce to fill the sides and corners of the baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheese. Bake in a moderate hot oven for about 45 minutes and allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Tips:
- Beef can be replaced with lamb mince also.
Dolmas
Prep time
Cabbage/wine leaves 8nos
Raw rice 50gms
Currants 25gms
Onions 50gms
Garlic 5-6cloves
Mint leaves 10gms
Tomatoes 125gms
Bell pepper 25gms
Yellow capsicum 20gms
Red capsicum 20gms
Seasoning to taste
Mixed dry herbs a pinch
Olive oil 20ml
Stock 100ml
Method:
Wash the cabbage leaves, blanch in salted water, drain and refresh. Wipe with a cloth, keep aside. Boil rice (draining method). Blanch, deskin and deseed tomatoes, finely chop and cook for 10 minutes in a pan. Heat olive oil, sauté onion, garlic, diced capsicum and bell pepper. Add in concasse, mint, herbs, currants and boiled rice. Add in seasoning. Stuff the leaves with the prepared mixture, neatly place on a baking tray, add few ladles of stock and braise in the oven for about 15 minutes. Dish out and serve hot.
Tips:
- Dolmas can also be prepared using filling of mince meat.
- Dry white wine may also be added along with the stock.
- After stuffing the dolmas may be tied up with a thread. The stuffing will not come out.