Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
Ingredients:
400g deboned chicken breasts (about 2 chicken breasts)
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 green pepper
2 large onions
1 Tbsp oil (olive or normal cooking oil)
½ – 1 tsp crushed red chillies
1 tsp jeera /cumin
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
@capemalaycooking
1 tsp freshly crushed black pepper
200 strong cheddar cheese
2 tsp lemon juice
Method:
Cook the chicken breasts in a little water.
Add water as needed but don’t add too much, just so it does not stick or burn to your pot.
Meanwhile chop the peppers and onions finely.
Once the chicken has cooked removed it from the pot and allow to cool.
Shred the chicken breasts into small pieces.
Heat the oil in the pot, add the onions and peppers,
sauté for about 5 minutes.
Add the rest of the spices, stir and cook a further 5 minutes, don’t add water.
Cool completely before adding the shredded chicken, cheese and lemon juice.
Fill your samosas as you normally would. Serve with a chutney dip. Delicious 😋
Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights has entered for the category “Best Food Blog”
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On Sunday, 7th June 2015, my Cape Malay & Other Delights Cookbook was launched at the Grassy Park Civic Centre.
The launch of my cookbook was the result of more than 20 years of dreaming and preparing for this, my first published work. I started collecting recipes in my teens, scribbling recipes from mother, family members and friends on pieces of paper. About 20 odd years ago we bought our first computer and I started to type up all my recipes I collected mostly from my mother, the late Zainunesa Francis (nee Adams). My mother was a great cook and baker, she in turn was taught by her mother (my grandmother) who made the most amazing tarts and pies I am told. She made this pies and tarts, which she sold at factories, as a means of helping to maintain the family. My mother, may her grave be filled with light and may she be elevated to the highest place in heaven, baked the most wonderful bread. (It would have been her birthday today 1st July) Although my mom stopped cooking and baking long ago due to her having a stroke people would still talk about the raisin bread, egg loaf, rolls amongst other stuff she made. At one time my mom baked cakes for a small bakery as well, supplying them with freshly baked cakes and delicacies every day.
My journey with Cape Malay Cooking started in earnest during 2001 when we moved to the UK. In the UK I had access to many ways and methods of researching how to compile and to produce a cookbook. I began by researching how to produce a family heirloom recipe book and self-publishing. All these methods needed lots of monetary investments. For a few years I forgot all about it. In the meantime I was lucky enough to go on many courses. I did various courses from Community Parenting to Business & Administration Diplomas. During 2007 whilst working at the Birmingham City Council I went on an Empowerment for Women course. During that 5 days I learned a lot about myself and my goals in life. On the last day of the course the instructor asked us to close our eyes and visualise the next 5 years of our lives and what we would like to achieve at the end of the 5 years. For me that was visual journey was very emotional and I came to realise that I still wanted to compile a cookbook.
My first granddaughter was born in November 2009 and I resigned from work to take of her whilst my daughter completed her education. The next year and a half was spend caring for my granddaughter. In the meantime my daughters were telling me about Facebook to keep in contact with my family in Cape Town. I opened a Facebook account in February 2011, naming it Cape Malay Cooking. I started posting pictures of food I made every day. Ever since we moved to the UK I continued cooking our traditional Cape Malay foods, bredies, frikkadel, breyanis, etc. The first message I received was from a lady who said “motjie, don’t ever stop with this page, I was looking so long for something like this”. From then onwards it all took off. Within months I reached my 5000 friend limit (I didn’t know about fan pages then, I learned as I went along). Another person advised me to open a second account, I reached my friend limit very soon on that one as well. It was only after I reached my friend limit on my third page that I found out about fan pages! I researched some more and finally merged all my Facebook accounts into one, Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights. For 3 ½ years I was known only as Cape Malay Cooking, very few people knew my true identity. The reason for this was I wanted to remain anonymous for as long as possible, I didn’t start this page for name and fame, I simply did it for the love of my culture and tradition, my sole wish was to preserve our unique way of cooking for my children and future generations.
Many of my followers started requesting recipe books. I compiled 5 PDF Ebooks, but people still wanted the hard copy. I had a few copies printed at a local printer but the quality wasn’t very good. From then onwards I started researching again, this time in more earnest. I approached a large publishing house, who agreed to print my cookbook but due to unforeseen circumstances the contract was cancelled. This was in fact a blessing in disguise. Towards the end of 2014 my husband, Aghmad Smith, decided to finance my project. Alghamdulilaah he worked very hard to enable me to realise my dream.
But the real struggle was still to come. I learned so much the past year. Through research I learned how to style food, take food photography, the layout, publishing, graphic designing, marketing, web designing amongst other things. But I’ll be the first to admit I still have lots to learn as everything is not perfect yet. This journey has finally came full circle with my self-published cookbook being received with wide acclaim from most people, especially people who knows about publishing, cookbooks and literature. I am humbled by the response and feedback I have received thus far. I have to admit my cookbook has a couple of spelling errors but as my brother, Mustapha Francis (who was MC at my launch) pointed out in 30 years time this cookbooks will be a sought after collector’s item! In Sha Allah (God willing)
A few facts about my “Cape Malay & Other Delights Cookbook”
My book was launched at the Grassy Park Civic Centre on 7th June 2015
Over 500 people attended my launch
My foreword was written by Mogamat G Kamedien, independent slave scholar & community heritage activist who also delivered the key note speech on the day of my launch
My cookbook is self-published
My desire to write a cookbook started over 20 years ago
Members of the oldest Malay Choir, Young Men’s Malay Choir, entertained guests
My cookbook launch was covered by Abidah Dixon Mohamed for TVs “Proe” program
The Weekend Argus, covered my story in their 13th June 2015 edition
The Cape Times as well as the Argus included recipes from my book in the Ramadan supplement
Chanel Islam International radio covered my story
Voice of the Cape radio station reviewed my cookbook
My story featured on southafrica.net
Capetownmagazine.com featured my story as well
In addition to the Cape Town launch I had a launch in Birmingham, UK as well as in Bosmont, Johannesburg
Stockist of the new Cape Malay & Other Delights Cookbook are:
– Shaikhs Exotics
crn of Repulse and Belgravia Road
Belgravia…
0745838129
Koesisters – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights – Salwaa Smith
Traditional Sunday morning breakfast. Spicy version of doughnuts, this recipe makes 30 koesisters
Cape Malay Koesisters
Ingredients
500 grams cake flour (4 x 250ml)
1 teaspoon dry ginger powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
2 teaspoons aniseed powder
Rind of 1 naartjie / satsuma, dried and ground (optional)
1 packet instant yeast
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 dessert spoon butter
1 medium egg
milk as needed
750ml vegetable oil for frying
Method:
Using a measuring jug, melt butter and sugar in hot water. Stir in egg. Add enough milk to make 1/2 litre. Mix flour, spices and yeast into a mixing bowl. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and mix to a soft dough. Set dough aside, covered, to rise until double in size. Dip our fingers in a little oil, just to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers. Divide dough into approx 30 small balls on a slightly oiled surface. Allow the koesisters to rise until double in size. Meanwhile heat oil in large, deep saucepan. Once the oil is very hot turn your stove down to medium to high. Gently pull the balls of dough one by one into an oblong shape and gently lower it into the hot boil. Fry each side until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper. Cool completely.
Sugar syrup:
500ml water
250ml sugar
Boil water and sugar until sugar is dissolved and syrup is slightly thickened and sticky. Add drops of water if syrup becomes too sticky. Add the cold koesisters into the syrup a few at a time. Cook for a minute or so turning all the time so the whole koesister is coated with sugar syrup, remove from the syrup onto a serving plate. Sprinkle with desiccated coconut or make a slit in the middle of the koesister taking care not too go right through. Drop a teaspoonful of glazed coconut in the centre.
Cook’s tip:
Wash and dry the naartjie rind. Leave it out in the sun to dry out or if there’s no sunshine leave it in the oven on a very low temperature to dry out completely before grinding in a spice grinder.
To make the coconut filling
1 cup sugar
1 cup desiccated coconut
¾ cup water
3 cardamom pods
1 piece stick cinnamon
Boil all the ingredients together until all the water is evaporated and the coconut is glazed and sticky. About 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn as coconut burns very easily. The coconut mixture should be dry not watery. Remove cardamoms and stick cinnamon before using.
Little balls of dough before frying
Dip our fingers in a little oil, just to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers. Divide dough into approx 30 small balls on a slightly oiled surface.
Frying one side
Allow the koesisters to rise until double in size. Meanwhile heat oil in large, deep saucepan. Once the oil is very hot turn your stove down to medium to high. Gently pull the balls of dough one by one into an oblong shape and gently lower it into the hot boil. Fry each side until browned, about 2 minutes on each side.
Frying
Koesisters draining on kitchen towel after frying
Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on absorbent paper. Cool completely.
Sugared koesisters
Sugar syrup:
500ml water
250ml sugar
Boil water and sugar until sugar is dissolved and syrup is slightly thickened and sticky. Add drops of water if syrup becomes too sticky. Add the cold koesisters into the syrup a few at a time. Cook for a minute or so turning all the time so the whole koesister is coated with sugar syrup, remove from the syrup onto a serving plate. Sprinkle with desiccated coconut or make a slit in the middle of the koesister taking care not too go right through. Drop a teaspoonful of glazed coconut in the centre.
Koesisters covered with desiccated coconut
To make the coconut filling
1 cup sugar
1 cup desiccated coconut
¾ cup water
3 cardamom pods
1 piece stick cinnamon
Boil all the ingredients together until all the water is evaporated and the coconut is glazed and sticky. About 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn as coconut burns very easily. The coconut mixture should be dry not watery. Remove cardamoms and stick cinnamon before using.
Dried naartjie / Satsuma peels
Wash and dry the naartjie rind. Leave it out in the sun to dry out or if there’s no sunshine leave it in the oven on a very low temperature to dry out completely before grinding in a spice grinder.
Spring rolls are a large variety of filled, rolled appetisers. Here is a recipe for crispy vegetable spring rolls. Dip hot, fried spring rolls in sweet spicy sauce.
Ingredients:
1 cup mixed vegetables, chopped long and slim/shredded (carrot, beans, cabbage, peas, corn, green, yellow, red peppers, etc)
1 onion, sliced
1 teaspoon ginger & garlic paste
1 tablespoon soya sauce
1 chopped green chilli
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon oil
20 sheets filo pastry
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onions until transparent and pink.
2. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for another minute.
3. Next add the vegetables and green chilli, sprinkle some water and cook closed until soft, yet crunchy.
4. Turn heat to high and add the soya sauce. Mix well for a minute on high.
5. Lower heat. Mix in salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.
ADD CHOPPED, COOKED CHICKEN MINCE FOR VARIATION
Filling and rolling:
Defrost the pastry to room temperature before separating the sheets.
Lay out one sheet; add about 2-3 tablespoons (depending on the size of your spring roll sheets) of the vegetable filling towards one corner. Fold in the end of the corner first and then both sides.
Fold in the end of the corner first and then both sides.
Once these ends are firmly placed, start rolling towards the other end until fully done.
Deep fry until golden brown.
Cook’s notes:
– Add cooked, shredded chicken pieces.
– You can use any mix of vegetables you want. However, cabbage and peppers really enhance the taste.
– Arrange spring rolls in a single layer on a medium baking sheet. Brush with vegetable oil. Bake in preheated oven @ 200C for 20 minutes, until lightly browned. For a crispier spring roll, turn after 10 minutes.
Chilli Sauce Recipe – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=205809582791310&set=a.204968582875410.48230.183695408336061&type=3&theater
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