Pineapple Curry

Pineapple Curry

Ingredients
1/2 Tin Pineapple
1 Cup Pineapple juice (Can)
1 teaspoon Turmeric
1 teaspoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Chilli powder
1 teaspoon Ginger paste
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 an onion chopped


Place all ingredients in a pan except the pineapple.
Cook for 10 minutes.  Place aside.

In a separate pan place Pineapple, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon crushed chillies,
5 dates chopped and  10 - 15 raisins chopped.  Cook for 5 - 10 minutes.  Then add mixture with onions and spices.

ChickPea Curry with Ginger Chai

Thank You Kshitija for supplying this recipe

Ingredients

For cooking chickpeas (this recipe works best when using the dried chickpeas, so the flavour of the tea infuses into the dish):

1 cup of dry white chickpeas

Pinch of soda bicarbonate

1 black cardamom

1" cinnamon stick

4-5 black peppercorns

3 cloves of garlic crushed

1 tsp of Chai Mamma's chai tea blend/ginger blend tied in a muslin cloth

For the curry:

2-3 tbsp oil (any vegetable oil will do)

1/2 tsp of cumin seeds

1/2 tsp of dried mango powder or dried pomegranate powder

1/2 tsp of chilli powder

1 slit green chilli

1" piece of ginger (julienned)

Salt to taste

Pinch of soda bicarbonate

Method:

1. Soak the chickpeas overnight (or for at least 6-8 hours) in water to which salt and a pinch of soda bicarbonate has been added.
2. Rinse the chickpeas in cold water and put in a pressure cooker/pan.  Add enough water to cover the chick peas, salt to taste, pinch of soda bicarbonate, black cardamom, cinnamon stick, black peppercorns, crushed garlic and the muslin bag containing the Chai Mamma tea blend. Cover and cook until the chickpeas are thoroughly cooked. Remove muslin bag containing tea blend.
3. Add the dried mango or pomegranate powder to the cooked chickpeas. Mix well and keep aside.
4. Heat oil in a wok over a medium flame. Once hot, add cumin seeds, split green chilli, julienned ginger and chilli powder to the oil.  Add chickpeas to this tempering and mix well. Serve steaming hot with naan or other flat breads of your choice.

Note:

Spices can be adjusted to taste.

Turmeric Tea (Milk)

Turmeric 1/2  Teaspoon
1 glass (your choice of milk)
Honey 1 teaspoon
Ginger  (Pinch)
Black pepper (pinch)

The black pepper helps to absorb the Turmeric.

Tea

“If you are cold, tea will warm you;
if you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.” 
― William Ewart Gladstone

Pol Sambal or Coconut Sambal

An accompaniment to rice or stringhoppers.  Pol Sambal is made from a mixture of coconut, onion, dried fish pieces, dried chillies, salt and lemon.  If you omit the Coconut you have Lunu Miris which is like a chilli paste.  Lunu Miris is often eaten with kiribath which is  a mixture of overcooked rice and coconut milk moulded together.

 

Grilled Eggplant Salad

Saffron Chai

Saffron and Mint Tea

Cinnamon

Cinnamon

Have difficulty sleeping?  Add I raw banana to Cinnamon and boiling water then strain and drink.

Cinnamon is also known for having anti inflammatory properties, ease muscle spasms, help in lowering blood sugars and in losing weight.

Golden Paste

Golden Paste

Use it in your cooking

Anti Inflammatory
Anti - Carcinogenic
2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil
1 Tablespoon of Turmeric Powder
1/2 Tablespoon of Ginger Powder
3-4 turns Cracked pepper.
Combine and Use 1 Teaspoon for Cooking.

Okra or Lady Finger

I think of Okra as a South Asian Vegetable however it also seems to have African origins.  The Okra is also called a Lady Finger.  It is beneficial and contains antioxidants, fibre, calcium, vitamin c and folate.

Okra Curry:  Ingredients Onion, Curry Powder, Turmeric, Curry leaves, Chilli and Salt to taste.

The seeds of the Okra when roasted can be used to make caffeine free coffee.

Helping Others Quote Dalai Lama

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.  And if you can't help them at least don't hurt them.

Dalai Lama

Spice Chocolate Chai

So having made Bolivian Chocolate I decided one morning to make a Spice Chocolate Chai using my Spiced Chai and Chocolate.  First I made a black spiced Chai, then added pieces of the chocolate and finally Soy Milk.  It tasted delicious.... My favourite drinks for winter are my Spiced Chai Chocolate and Tumeric Tea.

Cacao Tea Or Cacao Tisane

Cacao Tea can also be made from the shells of the Cocoa Bean.

Cacao Plant takes 3-5 years to grow and Cacao Pods take 5-6 months to open.  Its amazing what teas or Tisanes can be made.

Bolivian and Peruvian Chocolate

The Peruvian and Bolivian Chocolate was amazing.  Cacao originated in Central America.  Peru is the largest exporter of Cacao beans while Bolivia is a large producer of Organic Cacao...  I was lucky enough to taste both chocolates.  You can also make a tea out of the Cacao Shells.

Coca Tea or Mate De Coca

Coca tea is a herbal tea made from the leaves of the Coca plant.  Hot water is poured over the leaves and allowed to steep.  Native to Peru and Bolivia this Tea along with oxygen are given to those people suffering from altitude sickness.

But BEWARE this Coca Plant contains alkaloids which when extracted chemically is the base for cocaine.  (The coca alkaloid content of coca tea is such that the consumption of one cup of coca tea can cause a positive result on a drug test for cocaine).  So don't drink it in excess. 


(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_tea)

Peruvian Vegetables

The Staple diet in Peru is Potatoes, Corn and meat.  As I don't eat meat I survived on Vegetables Empanadas, (which are pastries fried or baked) Corn and Potatoes.  Now look at the colour of the potatoes and corn...

Pisco Sour

I have been on holidays in South America and though I would share some of my food memories with you.

So what is Pisco?  It is a yellow coloured brandy from the wine making regions of Chile and
Peru.  The difference between Chilean and Peruvian Pisco Sour is that the Chilean version does not have any bitters.  Pisco sour originated in Lima Peru and is made from egg white, lime juice syrup and bitters...
Now that I am back in Melbourne I will have to go in search of some great Pisco Sour...

Chai Lassi Recipe

Chai Lassi


2 Cups Chilled Yogurt

2 Cups Cold Chai

Sugar to taste

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ginger

(Fruit to taste) Optional


Method:  Mix Yogurt and Chai in blender.  Add Cinnamon, Ginger and Sugar.  When Frothy pour in to glasses add fruit and cinnamon to garnish.

Chai mamma Artisan Teas

Its Not Just about Chai.... look out for my new blends Coconut, Cinnamon, English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Green Tea.  

Also Coming Australian Daintree Blends....