Spicy Middle Eastern Shrimp

YOU NEED:

1 pound peeled, raw shrimp

1 teaspoon coriander, turmeric, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes for spice

2 cloves minced garlic

1 small onion, diced

juice of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon oil to fry

cilantro or mint as garnish

1. fry up onions and garlic, briefly, in oil

2. add in shrimp, fry until pink with veg

3. top with herbs

3. add in spices and herbs

Minted Lamb Burgers/Pitas

Oh wow! This is a zesty and flavourful take on a burger. Best ever. 

YOU NEED:

pitas or burger buns

500 grams ground lamb

1 egg

a bit of breakdcrumbs

3 cloves minced garlic

a handful chopped mint

salt, pepper, cumin to taste

TOPPINGS:

tomato

onion 

feta or goat cheese

fresh mint

make patties. 

grill or fry.

assemble burgers on warm bread

serve!

Vicky's Improvised Morrocan Lamb Curry

I fuck around a lot in class. Everyone thought this turned out phenomenal... it was supposed to be a generic lamb curry but I took it to the next step!

NOTE: for vegetarians, or lamb haters, this would also be great with chickpeas, or cauliflower, chicken, seafood, whatever. enjoy!

YOU NEED:

1 pound chunks of lamb, shoulder is fine

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons grated ginger

3 tablespoons curry powder

4 chopped tomatoes

tomato juice and water just to cover

cardamon pods

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons tomato paste

some cinnamon, allspice, turmeric,  salt, and pepper to taste

1 or 2 large onions, chopped finely

fat rendered from lamb or ghee

red pepper flakes or hot sauce, to taste

1. start by browning the lamb in a pan in a bit of ghee [butter]

2. remove, keep fat if you want, add in chopped onion, garlic, and ginger, then lamb back in.

3 toss in mix of spices. add more as you need. add tomato paste.

4. add in some tomato juice, stock, or water until lamb is almost covered.

5. let cook for an hour until reduced, tasting and adjusting as you go.

serve on rice with chopped mint!

Sweet Italian Shrimp

1. get shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined

2. make a marinade: 3 tbs brown sugar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tbs tomato paste, dried oregano, basil, thyme, 2 large cloves minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice.

3. coat shrimp, grill!

Pan-Fried Redfish

Doesn't have to be red fish, any fish will do really. 

YOU NEED:

2 clean filets

1 bowl flour

1 bowl egg

1 bowl breadcrumbs

seasoning for the breadcrumbs: garlic powder, salt, pepper, dry parsley, dry thyme, lemon zest

oil,to fry

coat fish. you can leave the skin on.

fry until golden. if not super thin, then put in the oven for 10-15 mins. 

Rice, Chorizo & Shrimp Fry

YOU NEED:

1 cup cooked basmati rice

1 choruzo sausage, sliced

12 shrimps, peeled and deveined

1 packet taco seasoning [cumin, paprika, etc]

oil

garlic,minced

lime juice

salt, pepper,

a chili pepper

diced tomatoes

diced onion

fresh cilantro

1. get all ingredients prepped.[cook rice too]

2. fry sausages. remove from pan. use fat to sautee oniion, garlic, and chili. remove chili and discard. 

3. add in shrimp and tomatoes. fry until pink and soft, add rice. 

4. add taco seasoning, a bit of water, some lime juice and simmer until mostly evaporated. 

5. serve with fresh cilantro. 

Spicy Sausage Spaghetti

A nice spicy pasta. Spaghetti will never be the same!

YOU NEED:

2 sausages, spicy italian, andouille, or merguez

1 can tomato sauce of your choice

onion, sliced

1 chili, thinly diced

1 cup cooked spaghetti

fresh basil, or other herbs

garlic

salt and pepper

1. fry sausages, cut into slices. remove, keep fat. 

2. fry onion, garlic and chili in fat until soft. add in cooked pasta

3. right before serving add herbs, salt and pepper.

Meditteranean Fried Fish with Greek Salsa

This is a great way to use up some bland fish. 

YOU NEED:

fish: firm, and white: tilapia, cod, haddock, snapper, etc

greek seasoned flour: 1 cup flour with dried oregano, garlic powder, dry basil, salt, pepper, thyme. 

olive oil for frying

GREEK SALSA:

1 chopped tomato

half a chopped cucumber

1 smal chopped red onion

a bunch of chopped kalamata olives

fresh chopped parsley

feta cheese

1/4 cuplemon juice

a dash of oil

1 clove minced garlic

oregano

salt, pepper

fry fish until crisp, pop in the oven for 10-15 mins to finish.

Merguez & Shrimp Pasta

A medditeranean inspired pasta dish. 

YOU NEED:

shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined

merguez or lamb, or another sausage,  sliced

green onion

boiled pasta

olive oil, salt, pepper, turmeric [for yellow colour] lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes.

1. fry chorizo, add shrimp, then onion once almost done. 

2. boil pasta, drain. 

3. add pasta, season.

Shrimp Tostadas with Adobo

OH. Easy.

1. bake flat corn or flour tortillas until crisp, about 10 mins with a bit of oil.

2. sautee shrimp with onions and pepper, add adobo sauce 

3. top crispy tortillas with shrimp. add whatever

[lettuce, green onion, beans, sour cream, salsa, cheese]

Creamy Shrimp & Sausage Pasta

mmmm. 

YOU NEED:

• 2 cup cooked penne or farfalle or any pasta
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 sausages
• 1/4 cup shallots, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• milk or cream [add flour if using milk, or corn starch to thicken, or use sour cream]
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach
• 25 or so shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 tablespoons cajun seasoning

1 chili pepper, 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 tablespoons chives, chopped fine

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al-dente. Drain, coat with half the oil to prevent sticking. Cover and keep warm. • Mix sausage meat in a bowl to combine. Form mixture into bite-sized meatballs • Heat a skillet over high heat. Add meatballs and cook until no longer pink in center and light crust formed on outside. Remove to plate with paper towel, cover to keep warm. Pour out grease in skillet • In same skillet, heat over high, add remaining oil. add shallots. cook until translucent. Add garlic. Cook an additional 15 seconds. Add wine and lemon juice away from heat. add tomato paste and chopped chili pepper. Cook until almost dry, scrapping bits from bottom of pan • Add heavy cream, or milk and flour/corn starch and sausage. Cook until cream reduces in half. • Meanwhile, heat a dry non-stick skillet over high heat under high ventilation. Toss shrimp in cajun seasoning to coat, shake off excess. Cook shrimp just until no longer translucent • Add spinach, pasta, and half the Parmesan to the sauce. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook an additional 30 seconds or until spinach wilts • Divide among 4 bowls. Top with remaining Parmesan, chives, and shrimp. Serve with crusty french bread

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

Eggs are SOOOOO BORING.

Step it up.

YOU NEED:

butter

eggs

some kind of cheese

some kind of seasoning

optional: bread and meat

LIKE?

Greek: Eggs, onion, feta, tomato

German: emmental, ham, eggs, on a pretzel bun

American: cheddar, bacon, eggs

Western: bell peppers, ham, cheddar, onion, eggs

French: dijon, ham, green onion, gruyere emmental or swiss, eggs

Spanish: chorizo, peppers, tomato sauce, goat cheese

Spicy: BBQ sauce, chicken, blue cheese

Swiss: Ham, Mushrooms, Swiss cheese

Italian: pepperoni, mozzarella, basil, tomato

Scrambled Eggs with Herbed Croutons

Easy breakfast.

YOU NEED [for 2 or 3 people]

6 eggs [use half, or only egg whites if you're looking for a low fat and cholesterol friendly meal]

milk

2 slices stale bread

olive oil

garlic

salt, pepper, oregano, basil [dry]

chives as garnish

OPTIONAL: swiss, emmental, or gruyere

butter

1. warm butter.

2. add in eggs, scramble. once half-done, add in some milk.

3. fry up slices of bread in olive oil, dry oregano, basil, garlic. 

4. slice chives.

5. salt and pepper on eggs.

6. toss in croutons.

7. top with chives as garnish, and cheese is optional.

Chorizo & Salsa Pasta

Strange but GOOD.

YOU NEED:

1 spicy chorizo sausages, sliced

1 cup cooked pasta

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 chili pepper [habanero for hot, jalapeno for milk] finely chopped

1 red onion, chopped

3 cloves minced garlic

2 tablespoon tomato paste

2 tablespoon lime juice

cilantro, finely chopped

cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne seasoning

a bit of water

1. fry up chorizo in some oil. remove from pan, use the rendered fat to fry onion, peppers, garlic.

2. add in tomato paste and lemon juice. 

3. toss back in chorizo, add seasoning such  as cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne

4. toss in pasta with a bit of pasta water to make a sauce. 

Andouille Tacos

Oooh. a strange yet delightful taco!

YOU NEED:

andouille sausages

tortillas

coleslaw, seasoned with lime juice, garlic, and red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and veg oil, sugar

radishes, thinly sliced

red onion

cilantro

OPTIONAL: sour cream, salsa, avocado, beans

ASSEMBLE!

Fiery Chorizo & Chicken Tacos

Hope you like spicy!

YOU NEED:

1 chicken breast, sliced

1 large [spicy] chorizo, sliced

spicy taco seasoning

peppers [ WARNING: habanero is for SPICY FIENDS. Jalapenos are ok, and bell pepperes will add a touch of sweetness.]

tortillas

cheese

avocado

sour cream

salsa... as if you need more spicy

lettuce

tomato

cilantro

beans? 

The best thing is you can adjust the spiciness to taste! Most people can't even handle a chorizo on its own.

Shrimp, Feta & Coleslaw Fajitas

Mexican food. So easy, so good.

YOU NEED:

FOR SHRIMP:

shrimps, raw, peeled.

fajita or taco seasoning

onion and pepper, sliced, optional

veg oil to fry

lime juice to season

COLESLAW:

cabbage mix

onion, diced

cilantro

salt, pepper

mayo

lime juice

vinegar

to taste!

TOPPINGS? 

avocado

cheese!

sour cream

salsa!

Indian Fish Curry

 

 An easy dish. Healthy for a curry as well.

YOU NEED

2 fillets fish: tilapia works well, as does haddock, cod, snapper, or catfish
2 tablespoons garlic paste or 4 cloves minced garlic
2 inches ginger, grated

3 teaspoons mustard seeds
4 bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon coriander powder
5 medium shallots or 2 medium onions
7 red chilies
1 tablespoon cumin seed
3 teaspoons turmeric powder
3 tablespoons salt
2 big tomatoes
oil, to deep fry fish
3 cups water

TO MAKE:

1 In a grinder grind the onions, ginger, 2 bay leaves, red chili, mustard seeds, cumin seed all together. [make a paste]
2 keep about a cup of onion unprocessed.
3 Cut small pieces of tomatoes.
4 Make small pieces of fish fillets, about 3 inches in length.
5 Take a big plate, put the fish in it and sprinkle 2 teaspoon of salt, two teaspoon of turmeric powder and the garlic paste.
6Mix all of them properly.
7Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour.
8Take a pan or a wok (preferable), heat it and put oil to fry the fish.
Once the oil is much hotter, fry the fish, 3-4 pieces at a time, 3-4 minutes on each side.
9Keep all of them in a separate plate.
10When all the pieces are fried, clean all the black residues from the oil in the wok with the spatula and put 2 tablespoon of fresh oil in the it. 

11 Then put a pinch of cumin seed, a pinch of mustard seed, 2 red chili, 2 bay leaves, a pinch of aniseed (all together is called panch-phoran) and allow them to splutter.
12Then put the cut onion pieces and allow it to just a little brown.
13Then put all the ground paste,tomatoes,left over turmeric powder and salt to taste.
14Keep stirring it until the paste becomes a little brown (it takes around 10 minutes).
15You can also identify it by looking at the wok, that the paste will start leaving the oil and paste will now no more stick on the wok.
16The paste is now perfectly fried.
17Now pour 3 cups of water to it, or as much thick gravy you want.
18Once the gravy comes to boil, start dropping the fried fish pieces and allow to boil for 15 minutes.
19 serve with fresh cilantro!

Croque Madame

YUM BEST BREAKFAST EVER.

YOU NEED:

2 slices bread

bechamel sauce

1/2 cup gruyere or emmental or swiss

2 large slices ham

1 egg

chives, salt, pepper

1. preheat oven to 400 F.

2. bread should be topped with prepared bechamel, ham, and cheese.

3. put another bread on and do the same. 

4. add more cheese, ham, and egg, and bake for 20 mins. 

5. add a fried egg and chives, salt and pepper.

 

Cheesy Asparagus Chicken Wraps!

Oh yum! Really quick and easy to throw together. 

YOU NEED:

8 chicken filets, thin [like schnitzel]  or, turkey.

asparagus, blanched [partially cooked, boiled about 5 minutes]

cheese

seasoning

breadcrumbs

1. lay out chicken fillet.

2. blanch asparagus

3. cool slightly after draining.

4. put aspargus on one end of chicken, top with cheese, roll up.

5. dip in seasoning, then egg, then breadcrumbs

6. bake for 30-40 mins on a greased baking dish at 400 F

MORE SPECIFICALLY:

for a meditteranean style chicken, stuff with feta or goat cheese, and season with some lemon juice and oregano and garlic

for a french style, use gruyere, swiss or emmental cheese, and coat with dijon and tarragon

for something zesty, use blue cheese and BBQ sauce.

for a classic italian, stuff with mozza and even coat in tomato paste for a sort of chicken parmesan-style dish.