Monday, March 12, 2012

Thinking Middle Eastern, Marsala Recipe!!


My oh my how time flies, it has been several weeks since my good friend and fellow chef, Chefette Paige, asked me something about Indian Cuisine. I am no authority on middle eastern cuisine but I do enjoy cooking it as much as I do eating it. There are many misconceptions around Indian Cuisine, often I will ask someone if they like Indian Food and the response is one of  "No, I do not like curry". For certain curry is a part of this healthy flavorful cuisine but not everything Indian is Curry. I often have wondered if it is from a possible cab ride in the city that one thinks this. A skilled Middle Eastern Chef or Tandor Chef knows more about spices than I will ever know and understands that we are what we eat, they understand that each spice has a different medicinal use as well so I guess one could argue that they are speleologists as well. Here is a basic Thiki Marsala blend. I will apply this to a recipe in the very near future.

4 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 ½ tsp black cumin seeds (shahjeera)
1 ½ tsp dry ginger
¾ tsp black cardamom (3-4 large pods approx)
¾ tsp cloves
¾ tsp cinnamon (2 X 1” pieces)
¾ tsp crushed bay leaves

I like to lightly roast all the ingredients in a cast iron skillet before I use this in a recipe.
As I said I will be back to explore more on Indian Cuisine in the near future. Until then, Stay Well!!!!

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