Around The World On Your Plate

Serves:  2-3 Total Time: 20 minutes This recipe has been modified from the original version. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of chilli paste 1 teaspoon of soy sauce 1 teaspoon of vegan oyster sauce 4 eggplants diced 3 Thai red chilli sliced 4 cloves of garlic 1/2 cup soy granules soaked and drained Salt to taste Oil as needed 1/2 cup chopped basil Method: Soak soy granules for 15 minutes in water and once it has soaked well, squeeze out the water and set aside. Heat oil on medium high and add the eggplants and saute them until they are soft and have developed color. Once done, set aside. Next, in the same oil add crushed garlic and chillies and saute. Next add the chilli paste and mix well.  Add in the eggplant and mix.  Adjust salt to taste. Next add the soaked and drained soy granules and mix everything well. Garnish with chopped basil leaves and serve hot.

Serves:  4 Total Time: 15 minutes This recipe has been modified from the original version. Ingredients: 5-6 Thai chillies or to taste 8 cloves of garlic 1 onion sliced 1 bell pepper sliced  2 tablespoons of oil 1 tablespoon each of soy sauce and vegan oyster sauce Salt to taste 2 cups of soy granules soaked and drained 2 tablespoons of water 1 cup roughly chopped Thai holy basil Sugar (optional) Peanuts to garnish (optional) Method: Soak soy granules for 15 minutes in water and once it has soaked well, squeeze out the water and set aside. Using a mortar and pestle or a grinder, make a paste of garlic and chillies. Heat oil in a pan and saute the garlic chilies paste.  Next add the vegetables and saute until just cooked.  Add the soy granules along with both the sauces, water and adjust salt to taste and mix well. Let this mixture cook on low heat for a few minutes.  Add in chopped basil and mix well. If desired, you c...

Serves:  2-3 Total Time:  5 minutes Ingredients: 1-1/2 cup of yogurt 1 small cucumber peeled and diced Salt to taste 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder or to taste 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder or to taste 2 sprigs of cilantro Method: Whisk yogurt and add all the ingredients and mix well.  Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

During my travel, I came across a packet for fried pasta and it tasted delicious, its perfect for a rainy day or any day since it is so easy to make.  Here is my take on this recipe. Ingredients: 200 grams pasta of your choice Water as needed to boil the pasta Canola oil as needed to fry the pasta. Seasoning options: 1.  Salt and pepper. 2.  Salt and paprika. 3.  Salt, garlic powder, and pepper. 4.  Salt and sweet paprika. 5.  Salt and a pinch of sugar. Method: Bring a pot of water to boil and add in the pasta.  Cook according to the packet instructions and drain immediately.  Do not run the pasta under cold water.  Place the drained pasta on a paper towel and gently pat it dry. Meanwhile, heat some oil on medium and line a tray with more paper towels.  Keep all the seasoning ready.  Deep fry the pasta in batches until light golden brown in color and drain it on to the kitchen towel. Sprinkle se...

Ingredients: 2 cups dry coconut flakes 1 cup sweetened condensed milk 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup all purpose flour Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by greasing it or line it with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine coconut flakes, salt and flour.  Stir in the condensed milk and mix it well.  Use a spoon or your hands to form golf sized balls and place it on the baking sheet. Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until its light golden brown in color. Cool it on a cooling rack and serve. Note: All purpose flour here is just a binding agent so the quantity may vary.

Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour and extra as needed 1/4 cup semolina or corn meal 1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup olive oil 2-1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast 1-1/3 cup warm water 1-2 teaspoons sugar Vegetables and cheese of your choice 2 cups pizza sauce or as needed Fresh basil to garnish Cheese of your choice Method: Begin by adding yeast and sugar to warm water and set aside to activate. Mix the dry ingredients well.  You can also use cornmeal instead of semolina. Once the yeast has been activated, add it to the flour along with olive oil and knead into a soft smooth dough.  The dough may get sticky depending on the flour you use, add extra flour as needed and knead until its smooth and less sticky. Grease a bowl and place the dough in it and brush the top with some oil.  Cover and set aside to rise in a warm spot in your kitchen. This may take anywhere between 1 hour to 1-1/2 hour. For the filling you can use a combination of veg...

Ingredients: 2-1/4 cups of bread flour and extra as needed 1-1/4 cups of milk 2 tablespoons of butter 1 teaspoon sugar 1-1/2 teaspoon of yeast 1 teaspoon of salt Method: Melt butter and mix with 1 cup of milk and set aside. Mix salt and flour and set aside. Warm 1/4th cup of milk and add yeast and sugar and set aside to active. Once the yeast has activated, add to the flour along with milk and butter mixture and knead into a soft dough. The dough maybe a little sticky, but add little flour and keep kneading until everything comes together into a soft, smooth dough. Place it in a well greased bowl to double in size in a warm spot. Once doubled in size, punch down the dough and divide into 10 equal portions and roll it into a ball or shape it into a cylinder.  Once all of them have shaped, using a sharp knife, slit sightly and place for second rise in a warm spot covered. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and milk wash them before baking. ...