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Chick Pea Salad

January 25, 2012 by lamyaalmas


This has been inspired by an Indian/Pakistani street food Channa Chaat –the only difference is that I added pomegranate seeds to the mix, which although it made it more vibrant and colorful also lent it great taste. I usually freeze my pomegranate seeds for times when they are not in season.

You will need:

1) 1 cup of uncooked chick peas, soaked overnight and cooked. Do not overcook them or else you might as well just turn them in Hummus.
2) 2 big boiled potatoes, peeled and chopped. Do not over cook, so that they hold their shape when you cut them.
3) 1 green chilly pepper finely chopped
4) 1 tsp fresh ginger finely chopped
5) 1  medium red onion chopped
6) 2 tblsp lemon or lime juice
7) 1/2 tsp fine sugar  of better “Jaggery” which you can buy from South Asian [Indian] stores .
8 ) 2 tblsp of coriander leaves chopped
9) 1 medium tomato chopped
10 ) sea salt [coarse if available] to taste

11) 1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds

12) Chaat Masala that you can buy from any Indian [South Asian] store  or you can make your own. If you would like to make your own here are the ingredients: 

Roast each of these separately: 1 tblsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tspn ajwain seeds (optional), 1 whole red dried chilly, 1 tblsp coriander seeds.  Then add  3-4 black peppercorns, 1 tblsp of garam masala, 1 tblsp mango powder (called Amchur and is sold in Indian Stores), 0.5 tblsp black salt (also sold in Indian Stores], 1 tsp  chilli powder, 1/8 tsp of asafoetida powder, 0.5 tblsp of sea salt, 1 tspn cloves, 1 tspn nutmeg, 1 tspn cardamom powder or seeds, 1 tspn cinnamon powder.  Grind them in a spice grinder and store in a jar.  

Mix ingredients 1-11 together and then add 1/2 tsp of the spice mix and keep on tasting until it is to your “heat level’–if you add too much it will be too hot for you to eat.Refrigerate for a couple of hours, and serve cold.

This makes for a wonderful snack.

Posted in Appetizers, Snacks | 1 Comment »

Naqee’e Al Zabeeb [Raisin Infusion] — نقيع الزبيب

January 22, 2012 by lamyaalmas


In a hadith narrated by Ad-Daylami: “We came to the Prophet (Peace and Blessing be Upon Him) and said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you know who we are, from where we are and to whom we have come.’ He said: ‘To Allah and His Messenger.’ We said: “O Messenger of Allah, we have grapes; what should we do with them?’ He said: ‘Make them raisins.’ We then asked: ‘What should we do with raisins?’ He replied: ‘Steep them in the morning and drink in the evening, and steep them in the evening and drink in the morning. Steep them in skin vessels and do not steep them in earthen jar, for if it is delayed in pressing, it becomes vinegar.’ [Sunan Abu Dawud]

Of raisins the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) said,  “What an excellent food raisins are; they relieve fatigue, cool away rage, strengthen the nerves, ameliorate flavor, treat phlegm, and clear skin color” (Al-Dhahabi). It is also noted by Al-Bukhari that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) would often soak raisins in water and drink it. This is a Sunnah maintained by people from Yemen. In the Old City of Sana’a “Naqee’e Al Enab” is sold as it is in many restaurants around the city. Yemen is known for its grapes that have become proverbial among Arabs.

There are a number of ways that you can make this drink.

Method One [the one that I used]: 

1) 3 cups of water

2) 3 tbsp of sugar [more or less depending on how sweet your grapes are]

3) 1 cup of black raisins . If you do not have Yemeni raisins which are among the best in the world, then you can use Chilean Fire Flame Raisins sold at your local organic store like Fresh Market or Earthfare]. You want some good quality raisins. Make sure you wash them.

Bring water and sugar to a rolling boil. Turn off add the raisins and cover immediately. When cool, refrigerate for 2 days and no longer than that. Sieve into glasses and serve cold.

Method 2: 

1) 3 cups of water

2) 1 cup of black raisins .

Boil water. Add raisins and cover. Leave in refrigerator for 1-2 days and enjoy.

Method 3: 

1) 3 cups of water

2) 1 cup of black raisins.

Boil water. Add raisins and cover. Leave in refrigerator for 1 day. Blend water and soaked raisins in a blender and then run through a sieve and serve. This will have a thicker consistency and darker color.

* Will be trying other  colors of raisins soon and posting Insha Allah.

Posted in Cold Beverages | 1 Comment »

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