Brown Basmati Rice and Peas – HmF – Virtual

Crack cardamom pods open by crushing with the side of a knife.

Put oil in a medium saucepot and heat on medium-low heat. Add cumin seeds and cardamom pods and stir for 20 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn. Remove cardamom pods with slotted spoon.

Add onion and cook for 5-7 minutes until lightly browned. (**If using ground spices, sauté onion first and then add spices.)

Add rice to the pot and stir, cooking for about 3 minutes to toast.

Add the stock and salt and bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender, about 40-45 minutes. Do not stir!

In the last 2 minutes, add the peas to heat through.

Turn heat off and fluff with a fork to incorporate peas.

Chana Masala – HmF

Place the tomato, jalapeno and ginger in a blender and process until smooth.

Place the olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat.

Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, chili powder and garam masala.

Cook for about 2 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the onion and cook for about two minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the salt, garbanzo flour, garbanzo beans and stir until blended.

Add the tomato/jalapeno/ginger puree to the pan.

Add the water and stir.

Simmer for about 30 to 40 minutes and serve topped with yogurt.

Chicken Karai (Chicken with Tomato Sauce)

Place a medium sauce pan over high heat.

Place the olive oil in the sauce pan.

Add the chicken thighs and cook for 4 minutes.  Stir frequently.

Reduce the heat to medium.

Add the cinnamon, cloves, red pepper flakes, garam masala, and paprika.

Cook for 2 minutes. Stir frequently.

Adjust the heat to lower so the spices don’t smoke or burn.

Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir continuously.

Add the diced onion and cook for 4 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the salt, tomatoes, and water.

Reduce the heat to medium high and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Cover and simmer over low medium heat for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the cilantro leaves, stir, and serve.

Chickpea Karai (Chickpeas with Tomato Sauce)

Place the olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat.

Add the cinnamon, cloves, red pepper flakes, garam masala, and paprika.

Cook for 2 minutes. Stir continuously.

Adjust the heat to lower so the spices don’t smoke or burn.

Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir continuously.

Add the diced onion and cook for 4 minutes. Stir frequently.

Add the salt, tomatoes, chickpeas (with liquid) and water.

Reduce the heat to medium high and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Cover and simmer over low medium heat for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the cilantro leaves, stir, and serve.

Easy Brown Rice – Virtual

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

Rinse the rice under cold water in a colander.

Put the rice and water in a medium sauce pot on medium-high heat. Stir.

Bring the liquid to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the rice.

Simmer the rice for about 30 minutes. At that point, taste the rice to see if it is still crunchy. If so, check for water on the bottom of the pot; add ¼ cup of water if all the water has been absorbed and continue to cook. If it is cooked and the water is absorbed, turn off the heat.

When the rice is a good consistency, turn off the heat and keep it covered for 10 minutes.

After sitting, fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

Khara Bath

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

In a dry saute pan, dry roast rava on medium low heat, stirring frequently until fragrant, light, crispy, and dry. DO NOT BROWN rava. Remove from heat and set aside.

Pre heat a saute pan over medium heat. Add the oil and preheat. When the oil is hot, toast the mustard seeds until you hear cracking, then add dals and cashews. Fry until dal is golden brown. Add curry leaves and ginger. Once fragrant, add the onions and cook until they are translucent and soft.

Add chilis, bell pepper, carrot, peas, and tomatoes, and cook ~3 minutes or until slightly tender. Add vangi bath powder, turmeric, and salt. Stir to combine.

Add water. Bring the water to a boil and reduce heat to medium low.

Using one hand to pour toasted rava, gently pour rava into the hot water in a steady, slow stream while constantly stirring pot with the other.

Stir vigoriously to break apart any lumps. Cover and simmer until water is completely absorbed, about 2 – 3 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes. As the khara bath cools, the texture will become light and fluffy.

Top with cilantro, grated coconut, and lemon wedge. Serve with coconut chutney.

Coconut Chutney

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

In a dry pan over medium heat, toast dals until fragrant and brown. Once golden, turn off heat and add cumin seeds. Allow to cool and then add to a blender with the coconut, ginger, chilies, salt, and 1.2 cup water, cilantro with 3 – 4 tablespoons of water. Blend until thick and smooth. If your mixture is to thick add awater 1 Tbsp at a time to reach a thick but fluid consistency.

Heat oil in a small pan. Add musard seeds, dal, cumin and red chilies. Once seeds pop and crackle and dal is golden brown, add curry leaves and hing. Once curry leaves become crispy, remove from heat. Pour over chutney and stir to combine. Serve.

Cape Malay Curry

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

In a saute pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil over high heat. Add shrimp shells and cook over high heat, stirring frequently, for 2-4 minutes or until spotted brown. Add water and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, strain, and set aside the broth, discarding the shrimp shells.

In a large saute pan, heat 1 Tbsp of oil over medium heat. Saute onion for ~ 5 minutes or until tender and starting to brown. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry powder blend, coriander. Saute for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add tomatoes, potatoes, and reserved shrimp stock. Cover and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Stir in coconut milk. Add shrimp, fish, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until fish is cooked through. Serve.

Bo-Kaap Cape Malay Curry Powder

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

Place the cloves, coriander, fennel, mustard, fenugreek, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a frying pan and dry roast for a minute or two, until they become pungent and release their fragrance.

Add the remaining ground spices, including the chilis and the curry leaves, to the roasted spices.

Place them in a food processor or coffee grinder and pulse until they are finely ground – or grind them with a mortar and pestle.

Store in an airtight jar or tin in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Mussels in Curry Sauce

Gather all ingredients and equipment.

For the Bread

Preheat broiler or grill to 350°F (180°C).

Slice the rolls on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick pieces.

Brush the slices with the olive oil and sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper.

Grill or broil the slices of rolls on either side until golden brown, about 1 minute per side.

For the Mussels

Place the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat.

Add the garlic and shallots and cook for 3 minutes.  Stir frequently.

Add the wine, bay leaf, and curry powder.

Bring the liquid to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 minutes.

Increase the heat to high and add the mussels.

Stir to combine, then cover and steam for 2 minutes.

Stir everything again and steam for 2 to 3 minutes more. The mussels are finished cooking when the shells open.

Using tongs or a slotted spoon remove the mussels and divide into 4 bowls.

To finish the sauce, whisk the butter into the broth and stir in the chopped herbs.

Pour the broth over the mussels.

Serve with the grilled bread.