Tag Archives: Main Course

Creamy Chicken Curry

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Photography: Serge Oryan

Hello world! On my side of the continent, temperatures have been very low and our constant search has been lately exclusive for comfort food and soups. My curry recipe is very versatile. The version I’m sharing today is the one that my entire family approves, but I remember cooking this recipe sometimes for lent, using vegetable stock and coconut cream and omitting chicken, (which obviously makes it also vegan). I sometimes add, after blending, boiled cauliflower, pineapple pieces or unsalted cashew nuts. I also like sometimes to have it as a soup by adding one extra cup of stock before blending to have a thinner texture. It not only tastes delicious but it is also very aromatic and can be served on special occasions.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 2-3 chicken breasts, cut into pieces
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 200g pumpkin, diced (optional)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 2 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 banana, ripen and sliced
  • 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
  • 2 cups cooking cream or coconut cream

Preparation

  1. In a large pot, drizzle oil and place chicken pieces to cook. Season with salt, pepper and oregano. Continue to fry until fully cooked. Remove chicken pieces and set aside.
  2. In same pot, coat again with oil and add pumpkin and onion. Sauté until soft.
  3. Stir in ginger, curry powder, cumin and turmeric and continue to sauté for about 1 minute then add tomatoes.
  4. Stir in the stock and continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until it starts to simmer.
  5. Add banana and apple pieces and cook for another 10 minutes.
  6.  Off heat, blend the mixture with hand stick blender or by transferring it to a food processor. Blend until smooth. Return mixture to the pot with the cooked chicken and add the cream to heat just few minutes, without bringing it to a boil.
  7. Garnish with sesame, seeds or shredded coconut, and serve with Basmati rice.

Lamb Chops with Three Mustards

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LambChopsbyMayaOryan

Yesterday was the last Sunday before Lent, or Ahad Al Marfa3, and is traditionally celebrated in our and many families across Lebanon by a gathering over lunch. The food preparation included the entire family and each one showed up –and off– with one of his famous recipes.

There is no traditional food on this day, but the menu did include all kind of meat since most of us abstain from eating meat during Lent.

So we sat feasting on Kibbeh, grilled seafood, barbecued chicken and I offered to bring lamb chops cooked in three mustards.

Well the best part after eating was skyping with my brother and his family who, live in Canada, we raised our glass in a toast to them and together laughed our heart out.

Keep smiling and cherish life!

 

Lamb Chops with Three Mustards

 Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 6 tbsp spring onions, finely sliced (white part only)
  • 6 lamb chops
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp English mustard
  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
  • ½ cup fresh cream
  • Kosher Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation

1.Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until wilt and starting to brown.

2.Season the lamb chops on both sides with kosher salt and pepper. Place it in hot skillet, and cook for 1 minute on each side.

3.Add the wine and cook the meat for further few minutes until opaque or desired degree of doneness.

4.Add the 3 mustards and stir well to coat the lamb chops.

5.Stir in the fresh cream and cook until it starts to bubble. Do not allow to boil.

6. Arrange the lamb chops on dinner plates. Top with the sauce or serve on the side.

Beef Steaks in Herbed Marinade

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ImageGrilled steaks are perfect deals when I have little time to spend in the kitchen. Especially when I have them marinated overnight. The juicy flavor of the meat is enhanced with a marinade of Mediterranean herbs and olive oil.

And here below how I make it! It’s no more a secret recipe:)

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces / 200gms beef steaks
  • Pam spray

Marinade

  • 1 cup / 250ml olive oil
  • 3 tbsp grape vinegar
  • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs, plus 2 more for garnish
  • 1 handful fresh thyme
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1 fresh lemon, cut in 4 wedges
  • 1 tsp salt

In a shallow dish, combine all the marinade ingredients and soak steaks inside. Cover and let stand for at least 2 hours.

On a medium-high heat, oil a stovetop griddle or a grilling pan and place the slices of steak to grill. Cook around 5 minutes per side or to your liking, turning once only. Move to a serving plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Garnish with rosemary and serve with salad, potato mash or grilled vegetables.