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Affichage des articles du octobre, 2014

IKRA - Russian eggplant caviar/Russian aubergine caviar

Someone was looking for a "soft aubergine/eggplant spread with tomatoes" and I knew exactly what they were talking about. There's a dish in Russia, our Eastern neighbour, which is called IKRA or fake caviar. I got this recipe from Russian friend Galina back in Edinburgh sometimes around 2000. Still makes a regular appearance in our kitchen.  It's lovely on a slice of toast, or as a condiment or spread on a mezze-table. Russian aubergine spread IKRA 1 large aubergine/eggplant 1 large onion 2 garlic cloves 2 tomatoes 1 Tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar or lemon juice salt and freshly ground black pepper fresh parsley or dill Prick the aubergine with a fork here and there, then place into a preheated 200C/400F oven and bake for about 60 minutes, until fully cooked and slightly charred on the outside. Flip over once or twice during baking. Remove from the oven, let it cool. Then cul half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh. Place into a cutting b...

Home-made granola recipe

This was originally posed in January 2009. I'm reposting this with new photos.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to make my own granola to sprinkle on yogurt for breakfast, considering how incredibly easy it is! The recipe below is a mixture of various ideas, and it's pretty simple. I'm especially fond of the addition of malt extract* that I got from Moosewood granola recipe included in the Moosewood Restaurant New Classics - it adds a lovely, well, malted flavour to the end product. I've used a mixture of chopped apricots, seedless raisins and dried cranberries to 'buff up' my granola, but the choice of dried fruit is obviously yours. What do you do? Make your own granola/müsli or buy from a shop? If you buy, then what's your favourite brand/type? Just curious :) Home-Made Granola ( Kodune krõbe müsli ) Makes enough for 2 persons for a week 100 g old-fashioned rolled oats (about 1 cup) 3 Tbsp dark muscovado sugar 5 Tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes 1...

Gravlax with sea-buckthorn berries

Sea-buckthorn is a popular autumn berry here in Estonia. I'm afraid it's not so widely known in the US where most of my blog readers are based. However, given that Doctor Oz has been touting sea-buckthorn as one of the superberries , this may change :)  Sea-buckthorn berries have a pleasant, but very tart flavour. They can be used instead of lemons - and here sea-buckthorn juice is used as a replacement for lemon juice in curing some nice salmon.  Use highest quality fresh fish to make this dish.  Gravlax with sea-buckthorn ( Õrnsoolatud lõhe või forell astelpajuga ) Serves four to six 500 g fresh salmon filet 2 Tbsp natural/unsweetened sea-buckthorn juice 2 Tbsp kosher salt or Maldon sea salt flakes 1 Tbsp caster sugar 1 tsp freshly ground black or white peppercorns handful of sea-buckthorn berries Remove any bones with pliers. Brush with sea-buckthorn juice.  Combine salt, sugar and pepper, spread the curing mixture over the fish and rub it gently in. Cut the filet...