Meatless Mondays – Abakado ma’Taheena

Wandering though the green grocer this weekend, I noticed a number of close to ripe avocados. These “alligator pears” have a number of health benefits to include lowering cholesterol levels, are natural sources of potassium, B vitamins, Vitamin E and K, plus they are just down right tasty…

Of course the first things that pops into one’s mind is guacamole but EVERYONE does guac, some mediocre, some worse, so I’ll not follow the thundering herd in that direction, the next suggestion that bubbles up from the depths of memory is an avocado salad, and that is just so booor-ing, I might cry..

These are subtropical fruits grow in a very few specific areas where the soil and climate conditions are right, particularly in southern Spain, the Levant, South Africa, Peru, parts of central and northern Chile, Vietnam, Indonesia, parts of southern India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida.

Hmm, the Levant, traditionally, the Eastern Mediterranean at large. Think the northern portions of the Arabian Peninsula, all the way up to Turkey and as far west as Egypt. Home to warm weather, and high humidity near the water, perhaps a wonderful fit for the miserable steam baths we are having this week. And they have been surviving and thriving in this type of weather since the beginning of recorded history, so I’d say they have a clue as to how to “eat to beat the heat:.

I’ve not done Mideastern for a while … Perhaps an avocado hummus. A dish that is unlike guacamole, the dish / sauce is smooth and thick like hummus. It makes a great dip for pita bread or vegetables. Something that can be part of a evening mezze, (meze = starters) that will provide an assortment of cool / cold appetizer dishes to be eaten in place of a whole meal.

I will of course add my own twist, in the form of either chili’s added or a dolop of zhug in the center fo the serving plate.

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Baba Ganoush

I’ve been running crazy, and have not had the chance to cook for my wife. To make up for that sin, I’ll have to make her something special. Several years ago, (We will not discuss how many), she had a chance to taste Baba Ganoush and still complains she can not find a decent one anywhere. I suppose I’ll have to correct that…

Background

Baba Ganoush is a Middle Eastern spread and dip is similar to hummus, but uses eggplant rather than chickpeas. This is a vegetarian/ vegan recipe and is particularly hummus-like, since it uses some chickpeas for a thicker texture. For a RogueChef twist try chili and lime spiced baba ganoush, (Sorry have a bunch left over from Thai food …)
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Clarified Butter for Indian Dishes (Ghee)

We all know I tend to rummage from end of the spectrum to the other, and that it takes very little to set me off on a different tangent. Wwll, I’ve been asked to lay out some tips for Vegetarian / Indian dishes. Please note, Vegetarian dishes contain no meat, Vegan dishes contain no animal products at all..

Anyway off we go with some basics..

Background
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in the Indian subcontinent, and is important in South Asian (Indian and Pakistani) and Middle Eastern cuisine (Levantine and Egyptian).

Ghee is made by simmering unsalted butter in a large pot until all water has boiled off and protein has settled to the bottom. The cooked and clarified butter is then spooned off to avoid disturbing the milk solids on the bottom of the pan. Unlike butter, ghee can be stored for extended periods without refrigeration, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation and remains moisture-free. Texture, colour, or taste of ghee depends on the source of the milk from which the butter was made and the extent of boiling. In India, ghee is usually made with water buffalo’s milk as it tends to be whiter than cow’s milk.

Ghee can be generally found in the Ethnic section of any big grocery store or on any Indian/South Asian store. When buying Ghee, be sure to buy Ghee from animal such as cow. Do not buy an artificial ghee made by hydrogenating vegetable oil that being basicly disgusting, nauseating, and overall unhealthy.

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Spicy / Sweet Noodles

I seem to be on an Asian kick today, maybe I need to order in “take-out” ….

Again a fairly simple, quick meal, with an asian kick.

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Tofu …

Tofu is the underdog of protein, face it even Vegetarians hate the stuff, but is just so damned ubiquitous in asian cooking it needs to be examined.
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Sweet / Spicy Chili Paste Dipping Sauce

A sweet sauce with a punch of heat and a mild bite of lime. Perfect “drizzle” sauce for cold noodles, or a dipping sauce for satays.

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Chili Paste / Nam Prik Pao

This is a traditional Southeast Asian pepper paste that is very tasty and can be a warming experience depending on the peppers and amounts used .. Again, making your own condiments is fun, healthy, and tasty. One can also vary the contents to meet specific goals. Like burn the hairs off a friends …. ah, “nose” …

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Rice Noodles / Thai style pesto

Ok, talk about a punch! The flavors of the “pesto”, the fresh chili sauce , plus the slivered peppers and ginger dressed with a bit of lime and sesame oil. Absolutely brilliant!

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