::: In Exile :::

Years ago I was out with friends in Manhattan. We usually ended our nights in the city with a stop at Mamoun’s for falafel’s or a shwarma. But as it was early in the night we decided on just getting an appetizer from somewhere, a friend suggested we get an appetizer from Baluchi’s. My life has never been the same after I had the Chicken Malai Kebab. I’ve tried to reproduce although I haven’t really gotten close to the original everything i’ve made has been delicious.

I’ve altered this recipe to my own preferences feel free to play with it, like i’ve said i haven’t perfected yet either.

I generally don’t measure much, just eyeball things.. adjust to taste is my advice.

Chicken Malai Kebab - serves 4ish

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled grated
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic 3-4 cloves
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (lowfat is good.. greek yogurt if you can find it )
2 tsp paprika for color
2 tsp garam masala (ask my mom for some, go to your local indian grocers, or see the recipe here)
2 teaspoon salt (you may need more salt at the end )
Pinch saffron, soaked in 2 tablespoons lukewarm water (never used it .. give it a go)
Lime zest from 1 average sized lime
Freshly squeezed lime juice, from above lime
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces (unform sized pieces help with even cooking)
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream(optional)
Fresh lemon slices, for garnish
Fresh coriander, for garnish
Metal or wooden skewers

1. Create garlic paste with minced garlic and kosher salt (mortar & pestle) flat objects with a lot pressure help grind it up too. Get creative and have fun.

2. Combine incgredients except for garnish and chicken. Mix well so all ingredients are integrated. Add chicken. Leave covered in fridge for at least 2 hours.

3. Kebab it up. If using wooden skewers be sure to soak the skewers in water for an hour. Believe it or now i’ve made this without skewering. No real difference in flavor..

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place skewers on baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until large pieces are cooked through.

5. Unskewer serve on plate with garnish. Taste test and add salt if necessary.

I serve this with jasmine rice and a quick onion pickle (recipe below).

Onion Pickle

1/2 large red onion

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

handful fresh coriander leaves chopped

1 seeded serrano pepper minced.

Mix well and enjoy.

In an odd bit of coincidence here’s my post from last year.

200 Beers, 2nd Plate, Plate Party -> 4pm March 24th.

Suggestions for quote on the plate are welcome at this time.

That is all.

YUMMY

Originally uploaded by xetark.
*** UPDATE my own version of the Chicken Malai Kebab Recipe

The recipe is here.
i didn’t use the saffron or cashew paste and used lime instead of lemon as that’s what i had available. as usual i changed some spices up but pretty much stuck with the recipe. This is my 2nd time making it (first time was probably over a year ago). It was tasty the chicken was slightly overcooked and i know i can do a little better and can marinade the chicken a little longer for better flavor.
Overall pretty easy to make, quite tasty and not spicy but full of flavor.

Orange Filet Of Tilapia en Papillote
I took a class at the Viking Cooking School nearby and learned several techniques for cooking fish. This is one of them which i just made. Its tilapia with carrots, zucchini, orange zest & juice. The whole things is sealed up in a parchment pouch and baked to perfection. it comes out very aromatic, moist and tasty. I had a few problems but overall rather tasty. A little brown rice and sauteed mushrooms completed the dish.

Crystal was coaxed into trying some of Kevin’s crawfish platter at lunch today. Crystal has a natural aversion to anything with more than 6 legs so she dislikes shrimp and crawfish etc.. (she says it’s because of a scene from the Little Mermaid).

So this is video evidence of her trying a small fried crawfish with a remoulaude sauce.

Click here. ( i know it works in quicktime)

Dinner 1/13/06

Originally uploaded by ljv.

quiet relaxing night at home..

tonights meal consisted of
chicken breast, green beans, and garlic sauteed spinach and mushrooms..

the charles krug chard would have hit the spot ..

with cooking skills like this its a wonder i’m still single…

cookies

Perfect afternoon snack.. yeah it comes out of a package (unbaked) but it soo good warm out of the oven.

Tapas

this one is for mike and dov..

chorizo cooked in rioja with toasted bread..

not a bad way to start the day..

someone once called me with this bit of news (circa ‘99) - “I think i just got invited to a topless restaurant with a client.. you think i should go?”

After many months off the blog wagon due to a failed upgrade of movable type i’ve switched to WordPress. goodness it is soo much easier to install and get working. i still haven’t figured out everything or finished customizing but figured i should try to get a post in on the first day of 2006.

NYE was quite a treat as i got to hang out with some old friends and meet some new ones. Dinner was practically obscene as we dined at Morton’s for steaks.  sadly no pictures are available but i think i was high on prime beef.

Dinner for 6.. well it was supposed to be 6.. 5 with Nastr, Dr. dennis and Carter & kelly. Old friends, new friends and lively discussion the night was a success already but then the food arrived — and let me tell you it was some fine dining.
I dined on - broiled scallops wrapped in bacon, oysters, a prime dry aged porterhouse steak, asparagus, mushrooms, creamed spinach, several fine bottles of wine and chocolate cake.

Then we moved the celebrations to the saucer were the saucer diaspora minus mikehon convened a meeting of the minds and glasses. it was a madhouse and the service was spotty at best but we found a table and were together all was well.
Over dinner as i was getting acquainted with my new friends i ended up telling different stories about my life and i think the conclusion that we came to was that it would make a sad tragic soap opera. at least i was laughing at the stories in retrospect.
Funny how life is… i think in 2006 i’d like to see some more comedy and romance..

- that is all