Shakshuka

 

Shakshuka is a popular dish originally from North Africa, mostly in Tunisia. The dish is prepared using with tomatoes and bell peppers base, flavored with spices. Eggs are cracked and added to the fresh tomatoes mixture and cooked to prepare shakshuka. This dish is enjoyed as a complete breakfast meal or even as a nutritious lunch.

                                                                     

                                                                        Shakshuka

First cook onions

Add bell peppers

Add finely chopped tomatoes

Season with spices

                                                           Add coriander, and crack eggs and add to tomato mixture

                                                                                            

Cook the eggs

                                                                         

Shakshuka

Ingredients:

4 to 5 eggs

5 to 6 roma tomatoes

1 medium onion 

3 to 4 cloves of garlic

Salt to taste

1 medium red bell pepper

1/4 finely chopped green coriander 

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp black pepper 

1/4 finely chopped parsley (optional)

Olive oil 

Method:

1. Finely chop tomatoes, onions. Heat a big skillet, add 3 to 4 tsp olive oil. Next, add in onions, stir and allow them to get little translucent, add in bell peppers, continue cooking on medium heat. Add tomatoes, continue to stir. Add in finely chopped garlic.

2. Season with salt, cumin powder, cayenne powder , sugar and little black pepper. As the tomatoes mixture appears softened, lower the heat. Using a spoon, make 4 to 5 well like spaces. Break each egg and directly add to the space. Allow the eggs to cook for next few minutes. Sprinkle fresh coriander and parsley.

3. As the eggs appear done, closer burner and enjoy yummy shakshuka with some warm bread or pita bread.

Home made granola

 Oats are versatile and can come in different forms. You can make overnight-oats, oatmeal, oats dosa, etc.

Today I am making granola, a crunch snack using rolled oats and nuts.

Whole oats: They are the old fashioned oats, that are also called rolled oats. They are steamed and then flattened into large flakes.

Steel oats: These oats maintain the original form and need to be cooked longer to attain the creamy texture. They have been cut with steel blades.

Quick oats: These oats are similar to rolled oats , they are steamed and flattened into more thinner flakes for quick cooking.

All oats are loaded with fibre and make a perfect ingredient for healthy cooking.

I love preparing home made granola using rolled oats and bunch of nuts, coconut flakes and dry fruits, combined with some sweet ingredient like honey, maple syrup,  olive oil. This can be made in big quantity and stored to enjoy as a healthy snack or used to top over plain yogurt, oatmeal, etc.

The steps are very simple and the result is satisfying.

Home made granola 

Add and mix all ingredients in a bowl

Maple syrup, rolled oats and olive oil

Bake the granola

Ingredients

Serves 8 

2 cups organic old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup walnuts bits or chopped 

1/4 cup pecans (optional) 

1/4 cup coconut flakes

2 tsp pepitas seeds (pumpkin seeds)

2 tsp sweetened dried cranberries

pinch of salt

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp cardamon powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Method:

1. Using a medium sized bowl , add oats, walnuts, pecans, coconut flakes, pepitas seeds, salt, cinnamon powder, cardamon powder and stir these dry ingredients.

2. To this add in maple syrup and olive oil and stir well.

3. Line parchment paper onto a baking sheet and heat oven to 350 F. Add to bake for approx. 15 mins. Take out and mix again, bake for another 10 to 12 minutes and or till  granola appears light golden brown. Close and add dried sweetened cranberries or any other dried fruits of your choice. Let it cool to room temperature before serving.

Granola can be stored in an air tight container for more than 10 days. Enjoy, by adding a tablespoon of prepared granola along with yogurt, and berries, or just by itself.

Enjoy :) and do let me know if you make it any other way. Would love to know from you.