Blog Archives
Afghani / Kabuli Pilau
We had Afghan Pilau for the first time a couple of years ago at a local Afghan restaurants. My husband loved it so much we had it on a number of occasions at a restaurant but never attempted to cook it myself. It was only when I researched the recipe that I found it was actually very easy to make. A lot of pots and pans were used in the process but very easy to assemble! When I saw the lamb shanks in our butcher I had to buy it (was £14.50 each and we bought two) and I knew already what I was going to make with it. So, this will definitely a dish that we will only make it a couple of times in the future, unless we get lamb shanks on special!
Kabuli pilau is considered a festive and important dish due to the price (of the meat) and quality of the ingredients as well as its tradition of being Afghanistan’s national cuisine. It’s usually served on special occasions. The dish is traditionally placed in the centre of the table surrounded by other foods. Top tips, don’t let your rice get sticky, it should be fluffy and the grains of rice should be “loose”. This is a very rich and tasty dish, don’t skimp on the oil!
For the meat:
- 2 – 3 large lamb shanks, you can use large lamb or mutton pieces as well
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1 black cardamom pod
- 8 green cardamom pods
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon whole black pepper corns
- 1 tablespoon jeera seeds
- 5 cloves
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon salt or to taste
For the carrot topping:
- 4 tablespoon oil for frying
- 2 medium sized carrots, peeled and julienne cut
- 1 large handful raisins or sultanas
- 1 large handful almond slivers
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the rice:
- 4-5 tablespoon oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cups basmati rice, ideally you want to use a long grain basmati rice.
- Soak the rice in boiling water to cover whilst the meat is cooking.
- 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste
Method:
- Add all the ingredients for the meat into a large pot and cover with enough water to cover all the meat. Bring to a boil and then cover, simmering for 1.5-2hrs, till the meat is tender but not falling off the bone. Top up with water if needed. Check after 1.5 hours to see if the meat is soft.
- Meanwhile, heat 3-4 tablespoon of oil in a pan, add your julienne-cut carrots. Sauté the carrots on medium heat for 5 minutes, till they are tender, don’t overcook you still want the crunch of the carrots. Add the raisins, stir fry for an additional 5 minutes, till the raisins begin to swell up. Finally, add 1 tablespoon sugar and the almond slivers, stir fry a further minute. Turn off the heat, cover with foil, set aside and keep the carrot mixture warm until needed.
- When the meat is tender, strain out the liquid stock using a colander and discard the whole spices. Reserve the stock.
- In a heavy based pot, heat 4-5 tablespoon of oil, add the cumin seeds, garlic and the onions. Sauté this on medium-high till the onions become lightly brown. You can sauté them more if you prefer a darker shade. How dark or light your onions are will affect the colour of the end result for your rice.
- Once the onions are to your desired colour, add the meat without the stock. Sauté the meat and onions for 10 minutes.
- Add the reserved stock. Bring to a boil.
- In a colander, rinse your rice until the water runs clear. Add the basmati rice and salt onto of the meat. Add more water if necessary, the water should just cover the rice.
- Cook on high heat till the water begins to boil, and then reduces, until there is very little water left in the pot. Stir once or twice using a fork, being careful not to break any rice pieces.
- At this point, reduce the heat to the lowest possible, allow it to steam like this for 10-15 minutes.
- To serve, plate the rice on a large platter topped with the meat. Scatter the raisins, nuts and carrots mixture on top.
- Serve on its own, like we did, or with a garlic yoghurt sauce.
Boneless Chicken Breyani
This quick boneless chicken Breyani will not only save you time but it will score you brownie points with your family. It’s delicious, quick and easy.
Salwaa’s Boneless Chicken Breyani
Salwaa’s Cape Malay Cooking
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
In a bowl put in the following and mix well
750 gram boneless, thigh pieces cut in pieces
2tsp salt
3 TBSP Breyani masala
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
3 bayleaves
3 allspice
3 cloves
5 cardamom pods
2 pieces stick cinnamon
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp peppercorns
1/2 tsp bariship/fennel seeds
1 Tablespoons garlic and ginger paste
A few tablespoons of oil
1/2 sliced onion
2 green chillies slit optional
1/2 cup of yoghurt optional
Put in fridge to marinate for a few hours or for at least a hour
Cook above for about 30 minutes. Add water as desire it should be saucy, more on the dry side not runny. Put aside.
In a bowl add 2 cups of basmati rice / long grain white rice and cover with boiling water and let it stand for 30 minutes
In the pot you going to use to cook your Breyani.
Add 2 TBSP oil
1 sliced onion
Teaspoon of garlic & ginger paste
1/2 of each robot peppers sauté for a few minutes.
Add 1 tsp salt and 1-2 cup of frozen green peas, handful of chopped coriander and a handful of chopped mint optional
Switch pot off and remove into a bowl.
Cook a few potatoes in the microwave with a little turmeric untill 3/4 done or deep fry in oil just as you like “.
Now layer your Breyani. The different aromas is the magic of making Breyani.
Layer with the potatoes at the bottom
Half of the rice without the water.
A sprinkle of salt
Followed by the marinated chicken
Now add 3/4 the onion and pepper mixture
Add the last of the rice followed by the last bit of onion and pepper mixture
Dot with butter as much or as little as you like
Add 2 cups of warm water and cook on high heat for 5 minutes.
Turn heat down to low and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Switch heat off and leave to steam for a further 10-15 minutes before serving.
If you follow this process you should get a nice fluffy and delicious loose rice.
Serve with dhai or tomato & onion salad.
Cookstip: the type of spices you use for curries and breyanis make all the difference to the taste. So make sure you buy a good quality of Breyani masala or even better mix it from scratch yourself to ensure deliciousness.
Enjoy!
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Fresh Fruit & Cream Sponge Cake
Weekend Baking Inspo…
Fresh Fruit & Cream Sponge Cake
This vanilla cake is quite an easy cake to make. A simple yet delicious 2 layer sponge cake which can be used for any occasion. I used homemade strawberry compote to sandwich the cake and for the topping.
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Ingredients:
1 cup castor sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup cooking oil
2 tsp vanilla essence
1½ cups cake/plain flour
1 cup self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ cup milk
300ml fresh cream, whipped (1 tub)
Strawberry compote**
Fresh seasonal fruit
Method:
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Grease 2 x 20cm baking tin with butter or oil, dust the baking tins with flour or line the tins with greaseproof paper.
Cream eggs, sugar and oil until light and fluffy or until sugar has dissolved. Add vanilla essence. Add flour and baking powder and stir well. Stir in milk and mix to combine until the mixture is a smooth dropping consistency. Divide the mixture between the two prepared tins and bake for 20 – 25 minutes. To check if cake is done insert a skewer in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean it is done. Allow to cool slightly, turn out into a cooling rack to cool down completely. Sandwich the cakes together with strawberry compote and some of the whipped cream. Pipe fresh cream around the edge of the cake, fill the centre of the cake (inside the cream)
Decorate with slices of fresh fruit. I used strawberries, figs, passion fruit, kiwi and blueberries.
To make the strawberry compote
1 Tbsp maizena /cornstarch
3 Tbsps warm water
500g strawberries, hulled and sliced in half (you can also use frozen, no need to thaw)
zest and juice from ½ small lemon
¼ cup sugar
Method:
Mix the maizena with the warm water until dissolved.
Add the strawberries and all the other ingredients in a pot.
Simmer for about 10 minutes over low heat.
Cool completely before using. It will thicken up as it cools down. Store in an airtight container for 1 week in a refrigerator.
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Three Ingredient Scone
Three Ingredient Scones
Make these fluffy, moist scones from scratch using only 3 ingredients – self raising flour, cream and lemonade. The secret ingredient is the lemonade. Go on give it a try and let me know what you think of this recipe. I served my scones with apricot and strawberry jam and of course we must not forget the butter 😊
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Ingredients:
3 cups of self raising flour
1 cup of cold fizzy lemonade drink
1 cup fresh cream
Method:
Preheat your oven to 200° and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Sift the self raising flour into a large bowl and add the lemonade and cream.
Use a butter knife to bring the mixture together until it combines.
Tip the scones mixture onto a floured surface and gently shape into a rectangle.
Use a cookie cutter or glass to cut out your scones and place them onto the prepared tray. Repeat until you have used all of the scone dough.
Place your three ingredient scones into the pre-heated oven and bake for 12 minutes or until golden and cooked through – they will sound hollow when tapped. Makes 10-12 scones. Serve whilst warm.
Vanilla Sponge Cake
Here’s a delicious cake to treat your family with. My recipe uses minimal store cupboard ingredients. This cake can either be filled and topped with fresh fruit, jam or homemade fruit compote.
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Ingredients:
1½ cups cake flour
2½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ caster sugar
180g soft butter
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
Filling:
600ml fresh cream
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
Strawberry / apricot jam (optional)
Topping:
Left over cream from the filling
Canned apricot / peaches slices or fresh strawberries
Method:
Pre-heat your oven to 170°C.
Grease two 18cm round cake pan and line bottoms with greaseproof paper.
In a bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt.
Using another bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light, fluffy and creamy.
Beat the eggs in one at a time.
Slowly fold in the dry ingredients. Stir gently until all the ingredients are incorporated.
Do not overmix.
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pan.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Take out of the oven and leave to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning the cakes out onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
Filling:
In a clean bowl whip the fresh cream, sugar and vanilla essence until the cream hold a stiff peak.
When the cakes are cool, sandwich together with a layer of jam, if you’re using it and a third of the whipped cream.
Spread the remaining cream over the top and sides.
Garnish / dip the sides with crushed peanuts or roasted desiccated coconut.
Top with slices of canned apricot, peaches or slices of fresh strawberries.
Alternatively, sandwich the cakes together with strawberry compote and some of the whipped cream. Pipe fresh cream around the edge of the cake, fill the centre of the cake (inside the cream) with strawberry compote.
Decorate with slices of fresh strawberries.
**To make the strawberry compote**
1 Tbsp maizena /cornstarch
3 Tbsps warm water
500g strawberries, hulled and sliced in half (you can also use frozen, no need to thaw)
zest and juice from 1/2 small lemon
1/4 cup sugar
Mix the maizena with the warm water until dissolved.
Add the strawberries and all the other ingredients in a pot.
Simmer for about 10 minutes over low heat.
Cool completely before using. It will thicken up as it cools down. Store in an airtight container for 1 week in a refrigerator.
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Rille Gebak
Rille Gebak is similar to spiced doughnuts made into a distinctive diamond shape. The texture inside is moist and soft whilst the outside is crispy. Rille Gebak can be dipped in sugar syrup or dipped in cinnamon sugar. I dipped mine in cinnamon sugar. My Aunty Labeba kindly shared her recipe with me, I only made half of the recipe and got out approximately 25 rille Gebak. She tells me the last time she made it was when my grandfather was alive!
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive for the past 10 years!
Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
200g butter
4 Tbsp oil
2 large eggs
500g self-raising flour (small packet)
Pinch salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp fine ginger
2 tsp fine cardamom
2 tsp fine cinnamon
2 tsp fine naartjie peel (dried satsuma peel) see cook’s note below
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 – 1¼ cup milk
Oil for deep frying
Cook’s tip
You may use brown sugar or yellow sugar
I keep all my naartjie peels, dry in the air fryer or oven then grind in a spice grinder.
As a guide, I only use 250ml measuring cups
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Rafiekah Jardine says; “I had this at least 30 years ago when my great aunt, ghalati (I really should find out what her name was) made them.”
Adri du Pont says; “The last time I had the honour and pleasure of having authentic, honest rillebak was in 1991 in Paarl ❤️”
Spiced Fruit Loaf
Salwaa’s Spiced Fruit Loaf
A treat when freshly baked and spread with butter, served with my Ingelegde Vis (pickled fish)
This absolutely delicious Spiced Fruit Loaf not only tastes amazing but the aroma, gently wafting from the oven, makes the whole house smell incredible. Cinnamon and bread filled with tasty dried fruit, baking together.
Who needs air freshener when you can bake this wonderful Spiced Fruit Loaf.
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
Spiced Fruit Loaf Served With Pickled Fish
In a large mixing bowl add the following:
3/4 cup lukewarm milk
2 eggs
3 TBSP of soft butter
1/2 tsp salt
3 TBSP brown sugar
1 TBSP mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1TBSP finely grated orange peel
1 TBSP finely grated lemon peel
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup raisins
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 packet yeast
Spiced Fruit Loaf
Method:
Mix together to form a dough.
Knead for about 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave to rise until double in size.
When it is risen knock down lightly and decide into 10 equal balls.
Grease a large loaf tin with butter.
Put the balls of dough into the baking tin and leave to rise again for about 30 minutes.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for about 20 – 25 minutes.
For the glaze
Boil together juice of one orange and 3 TBSP of honey / golden syrup until sticky. Brush over warm loaf as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Enjoy!
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Spiced Fruit Loaf and Pickled Fish
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Spicy Rice
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Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights - Salwaa Smith 
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