June 14, 2011 by lamyaalmas
I have gone through many a recipe for this, but believe I am settling on my version. Pretty easy and DELISH! The ingredients are for 3-4 servings.
You will need:
1) Half a packet of angel hair pasta [am not a big fan of pasta, so this is just perfect for people like me] half cooked, so al dente.
2) 1 cup of ground beef
3) 2 medium potatoes –cut into thick round slices
4) 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
5) 1/4 tsp of cumin powder
6) Salt to taste
7) 1/2 medium onion finely sliced
8 ) 1 tblsp of tomato paste
9) 1/2 cup of shredded Mozarella cheese
10) Half a ball of fresh Mozarella cheese, sliced into thin rounds
11) 1 tbslp of Olive Oil
12) 2 cloves of minced garlic
For the Bachamel sauce:
1) 3 tblsp of flour
2) 2 cups of milk
3) 1 tblsp of butter [and 1 tsp of ghee optional]
4) Salt to taste
5) Pepper
6) little nutmeg–just a pinch
You will be making 3 separate parts, that you will finally assemble. First make the Bachamel sauce. So in a saucepan melt the butter under medium heat and then add the flour and whisk until it turns into a thick creamy mixture. Then slowly add the milk and continue whisking, and let cook whisking continuously until it turns into a thick mixture–thick that it coats a spoon if dipped inside. Add the pepper and nutmeg and mix in. Take off the heat and leave aside.
Now time for the ground beef and potatoes. In a frying pan, add the olive oil and meat and cook under medium heat, until the water evaporated. Then add the potatoes, and brown the meat with the potatoes. Add the onions, garlic, pepper, cumin and salt. Let cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the tomato paste, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pick out the potatoes and leave aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Time to start assembling. In a small oven dish–like the one in the pic–layer like so:
1) a thin layer of the Bachamel
2) half of the amount of pasta
3) all of the meat
4) layer the potatoes
5) shredded Mozarella cheese
6) rest of the pasta
7) all of the rest of the bachamel sauce
8 ) fresh Mozarella
Cover with foil [don’t let the foil touch the Mozarella], and place in oven. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and let cook and brown on top. If you like you can sprinkle some plain bread crumbs for an extra golden layer on top, and place in oven for a few more minutes. Serve hot. Here’s what it looks like served up [click image to enlarge].
Posted in Pasta | 4 Comments »
June 11, 2011 by lamyaalmas
This biryani is one of my favorites –my guests loved it too. For six people you will need:
1) 4 pounds of lamb–cut into medium sized pieces.
2) 3 medium onions thinly sliced
3) 5 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
4) 4 tblsp of Oilive oil
5) 1 tsp of minced garlic
6) 1tsp of minced ginger
7) optional 1-2 green chilly peppers–cut lengthwise
8 ) 2 medium tomatoes finely diced
9) 3 tblsp of chopped cilantro, the more the merrier–for garnish
10) 2 tbslp of yogurt [plain–whole or fat free]
11) Shan Mutton Biryani mix [can buy at your local Indian or Middle Eastern store].
12) A few threads of Saffron
13) 3 cups of rice–half boiled.
Boil the meat in water–you can add a bay leaf to it if you like–until almost tender. In a deep pan add the oil, and once warn sautee the onions until golden brown. Then add the potatoes and let cook for 2 minutes. Add the lamb, 2 tblsp of the Shan mix spice, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, green chilly pepper, yogurt, and 1 tblsp of the cilantro. Let the flavors blend under medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then add a cup and a half of water, and let simmer for another 3 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Place in an oven dish, big enough for the sauce and the rice. Place the sauce at the bottom, layer the rice on top, sprinkle with the saffron and about 1/4 cup of water. Cover well with foil, and place in oven for 20-30 minutes when the rice is cooked through. Garnish with the rest of the cilantro and serve with yogurt and cucumber salad, chutney [blend a tomato, green chilly pepper, 3 tblsp of cilantro, lemon juice and salt] and a green salad.
Enjoy
Posted in Red Meat, Rice | 5 Comments »
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