Cucumber Raita

A raita is a refreshing condiment or a salad of sorts that is usually served with biryani or Pulau. Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between raita and tzatziki.

Nigella's Chicken and Pea tray bake

Nigella Lawson's  Chicken and pea traybake caught my eye on Instagram during this lockdown. Even though the strict measures are easing down, you still don't want to let your guard down. 

One thing I always store in my freezer is some form of chicken along with the usual fresh tuna fillets, frozen peas, and cheese. 

Animal cookies

So when Rafeedha from the Big Sweet tooth announced the  Kids delight : cookies event I  decided to enter a cookie recipe for her event. This recipe is quite a nostalgic one as its a recipe I grew up making. We had this cookbook that our Father brought for us when he went abroad and it is a well-loved, well-used cookbook. In those days some of the ingredients weren't available so made do with what we had. 

Breadfruit tacos

Even if the lockdown is easing I haven't stepped out of the house. Been two months since I have been outside. How is everyone else in other parts of the world? 

The breadfruit series continues. Since its the season and literally people going crazy over breadfruit these days thought I would post one more breadfruit recipe.

Dhelonugithi ( Spicy breadfruit mix)

The first time I heard about this was when my aunt shared a local poem about this particular dish. The whole poem is basically a description of how to make it.

Breadfruit is a large round fruit, similar looking to jackfruit and durian but fewer spikes when its ripe. Its usually found in some parts of  Asia, Caribbean islands,Africa, and also in the Maldives. 

Since its breadfruit season here in the Maldives I decided to make this.

Cream crackers Kottu

                                  
I know what you are thinking, I have probably gone crazy in the head. But take a look at the picture, doesn't it look delicious, you won't believe it is made using cream crackers , frozen vegetables and leftover curry gravy and  a can of tuna!. There are families who live in tiny spaces and with the economy going down who knows what can happen. So I thought about what can be an easy recipe but still on a small budget.

I grew up eating cream crackers with curry for breakfast. My mum was never one who made the local flatbread for breakfast, so it was either bread and jam and eggs or cream crackers with marmite and margarine or leftover curry and cream crackers for breakfast.

Kehki Fani

I  actually posted this recipe a long time back but for some reason it was taken down, most probably because it is also featured in my book but with the day being a gloomy day and I am feeling pretty anxious with the lockdown easing.

Hokkaido milk bread

This is one delicious soft bread that I found while searching for a  new way to make bread. I remember using a flour paste when I made the sausage flower bread a long long time ago.
The difference between this bread and the bread I made earlier is the difference in texture.

Oreo Pudding

I know what you are thinking, oreo pudding? I did hear about it during the previous Ramadhan but it was during my trip to N.Holhudhoo where I tasted this dish. The lady who made our meals made this for us and I have to say I actually like this better than I liked the Magnum pudding. She had even added some chopped cashew nuts for crunch. You can use other nuts like chopped almonds or even  kanamadhu.

Indian style tarka Dal

I was wondering what to serve with my baked chicken recipe and thought why not make something like an Indian style dal.  I looked up a few dhal dishes and let's say this is my take of an Indian style dal.

It went nicely with my baked chicken, along with a nice leafy salad and plain cooked rice. It is also great with some roti canai or naans. 

Spicy Baked Chicken

Its the last week of Ramadhan, usually I look forward for Eid but this year it doesn't feel like Eid is here Usually we would have breakfast downstairs in my mum's space while along with my sisters and their families and then head for lunch at my inlaws along with all my husband's siblings and their kids. This year I am not sure if I am even allowed downstairs as my husband works in the hospital and the fear of coming  home with the virus  is there. 

Anyway I though a lot about the current restrictions in Male' city and tried to come up with simple dishes for this Eid. 

For me traveling introduces me to a lot of new flavors and recipes. My trip to islands is always a joy to me especially when I get to eat food prepared by locals. One such trip was our trip to N. Holhudhoo last year, where we had our meals with a lady called Mariyam who loved to cook.