Buran - Eggplant/Lamb Recipe from the 13th century Arab World

 

In these perilous times, in this part of the world, what we hear about Islam and Muslims in general is rather negative. And yes, it's understandable, given the wars we are in. But does anyone realize that, at one time, the tables were turned and while Europe was in the throes of its dark ages, the Islamic world was at the height in terms of science, culture, and government? Not only that, while Medieval western man was dining on rancid meat, in the Arab world, they were dining on savories cooked with spices from China and India and exotic fruit from Central Asia. In the West they subsisted on salted pork, roots plants and fermented ale, if they were lucky. In the Arab world they were using rosewater in their cooking and enjoying truffles from the Arabian Desert.

One of the earliest cookbooks comes from this period. It dates from the 13th century, and its author is a famed gourmet of the time, al-Baghdadi (his whole name is Muhammad ibn al-Hassan Ibn Muhahad ibn al-Karim al-Katib al-Baghdadi). His recipes reflect the times: they are full of spices from the East and are replete with frying, mincing, boiling, staining and stewing, usually all in one pot. Al-Baghdadi's masterworks are lamb recipes. He cooks lamb with rice, with chickpeas, even with noodles. But the recipe given, Buran (my favorite) is simply lamb kabobs  served with friend and mashed eggplant.

So, tonight, imagine you're in the court of the Caliphs, you're the prince or princess of Persia and you're dining on Buran, a gastronomic Arab delight.

BURAN

1 medium eggplant, about 1 1/2 pounds, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 pound ground lamb
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Cook the eggplant in boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and let stand at least 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, use wet and oily hands to shape the lamb into small meatballs (about 20 to 30 kabobs). Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet and fry the meatballs over medium-high heat until well browned (about 10 minutes). Cover with water, bring heat to low and simmer until most of the water has evaporated and only some of the oil is left. Set aside and reserve.
3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet (or use the same skillet from before), and fry the eggplant over medium heat until golden on both sides. The frying may be done in several batches with more oil being added as needed. Place the eggplant in a bowl and mash with a ladle or large spoon. Add salt, coriander, yogurt, garlic, and mix well.
4. Transfer the eggplant to a serving dish, arrange the meatballs on top, sprinkle with cumin and cinnamon, and serve.
    Yield: 4 servings.

Eggplant Parmesan/Provencal

Back in Spanish Harlem, in our family's repertoire, one of the standby dishes was Eggplant Parmesan. Although we didn't call it that. We are vociferous eggplant eaters, and the dish was just another version which we knew as eggplant Italian style because we added grated cheese. To us, back then,  any dish that had Parmesan cheese in it was considered Italian; just like any dish that had soy sauce was considered Chinese. It was the innocence of the meat and potato days of yore.

What made our version delectable is that it contained crispy friend eggplant, which we loved. Add a little tomato sauce, grated Parmesan, some good crusty bread and you has a great meal. Later in life, I discovered the French Eggplant Provencal, which was the same damn thing minus the cheese. You just add some capers to it and baked the eggplant instead of frying. Also, to the French, Eggplant Provencal is normally served as an appetizer. Whichever method you use, if you're an eggplant lover, you'll savor the meal. And, even if you don't like eggplant, you just might change your mind.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

1 medium-sized eggplant (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup olive oil or vegetable oil (or more for frying)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup canned tomato sauce, heated

1. Blend flour, salt, pepper  and oregano on a plate or piece of wax paper and coat each eggplant slice well with mixture.
2. Heat half of the olive oil in a heavy skillet, and fry as many slices of eggplant as can be accommodated without crowding until crisp and brown on both sides. Transfer slices to a shallow heat-proof platter or pie plate, and keep warm.
3. Add remaining oil to skillet and brown rest of eggplant slices. Sprinkle half of browned eggplant in platter with a tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese. Add remaining slices and second tablespoon of cheese.
4. Pour hot sauce over and around eggplant. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, place under a hot broiler from 3 to 4 minutes, and broil briefly until cheese melts and is slightly brown.

EGGPLANT PROVENCAL

1 medium-sized eggplant (about 1-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/2 cup canned tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground  black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup capers

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Dip eggplant slices in olive oil, and arrange on a flat baking pan or dish (I prefer cast-iron). Bake 10-15 minutes or until tender.
 3. Crush garlic and brown lightly in a little olive oil in a small saucepan. Add tomato sauce and cook until hot. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper and oregano.
4. Pour sauce over eggplant, sprinkle with capers and serve hot or cold.

For both recipes the yield is about 4 servings.

Shallow Fried Fish

The Chinese Lunar New Year is upon us. The year of the Golden Rabbit. Chinese New Year has always featured traditional foods which are served to commemorate the event. In the south of China it's stir-fried lettuce and Cantonese shrimp; in southern Taiwan it's crab rolls; in northern China it's fried dumplings. Always every meal includes a fish dish. One of my favorite fish meals for this time of year, or any time for that matter, is shallow fried fish. It's very easy to make and includes a technique called "shallow frying." This type of cooking has been popular in China, I'm told,  for many years. So, tonight, give tradition its due, and pay homage to friends and ancestors, with an entree that's bound to please everyone.

Be aware that this recipe calls for a whole fish. That's right: whole---with head intact. Almost any variety of fish can used: blue fish, tilapia, mackerel, flounder, mullet, tilefish, red snapper, stripe bass, etc. Just make sure the fish is scaled, gutted and clean (but with  head kept on). For this kind of cooking, a wok is perfect; but any large skillet or pan can also be used. Note that this fish goes well with steamed rice or noodles.

SHALLOW FRIED FISH

1 whole fish, 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
1 teaspoon salt per pound of fish

2 tablespoon peanut oil (or olive oil)
1 teaspoon sugar

1 piece of ginger, approximately about an inch, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce (preferably light soy sauce)
2 tablespoons dry white wine, or dry sherry
2 tablespoons water
2 stalks scallions, finely chopped

1. Rinse the fish under cold running water and dry with paper towels. Rub it well inside and out with salt.
2. Heat the wok at a high temperature. Add the oil and tilt the wok until all the bottom is covered with oil. Lower heat to medium-low.
3. Add the fish, and tilt the wok at different angles to let the fish catch the heat evenly. BE PATIENT and cook for about 10 minutes. Additional drops of oil may be added, if needed, to prevent the fish from burning and sticking to the bottom of the wok. Turn the fish and cook the other side for about 10 minutes. When the fish is well browned (that means its done), carefully take out the fish, and clean the wok with paper towels.
4. Heat wok again, add sugar, ginger, soy sauce, wine, water, and scallions. Add fish and tilt the wok to let this mixture surround the fish. Cook on medium heat for 1 minute. Turn the fish and cook the other side for 1 minute. Remove from wok and serve, spooning the sauce over the fish.
    Yield: 4 servings.

Stuffed Plantain Balls

I love plantains, especially green plantain, the type that we prepare in fritters called tostones. But you also have ripe plantains; essentially green plantains that have ripened to a deep, dark yellowish color. Some people prefer the ripe plantain since they give a sweeter flavor. In my family we prefer tostones. Although once in a while we cook ripe plantains with eggs for breakfast; or in a traditional dish called pinon (pronounced peen-yon) , a layered casserole of ripe plantains, beef and kidney beans.



Another of our favorite uses of ripe plantains is cheese-stuffed plantain balls. Think of it as fallafel balls but with cheese inside and a luscious, sweet exterior. Believe me, once you've had these plantain balls, you'll be hooked. They can be served as an appetizer or as a main entree accompanied by rice---a perfect vegan dish.


CHEESE-STUFFED PLANTAIN BALLS


6 ripe plantains, unpeeled and cut in half widthwise

8 cups water

Salt to taste

1/4 cup butter

2 tablespoons cornstarch plus cornstarch for shaping balls

1/2 pound cheddar cheese, shredded

Oil for deep frying (vegetable oil, corn oil, canola oil, olive oil, etc.)


1. Drop the plantain halves into boiling salted water and cover. Cook rapidly for 20 minutes. Drain. Peel the plantains and mush the pulp. Add the butter and 2 tablespoons cornstarch and mix well. Let cool enough to handle.

2. To shape the balls, coat the palms of the hands with cornstarch. Pick up about 1 tablespoon of the pulp (or 1 teaspoon, depending on the size desired) and flatten slightly between the palms. Add a portion of the cheese and mold the plantain around it, shaping the whole into a ball. Repeat until all the balls are formed. Be aware that you can make the balls as large or as small as you desire. In the Rivera family we like big plantain balls. Other folk may prefer smaller variations similar to Swedish-type meatballs.

3. Heat the oil for deep frying. Drop the balls into the oil and cook until golden. Remove and drain on paper towels.

    Yield: 8 to 12 balls, depending on size.

Caldo Gallego

Great. Back to recipes. Today it's Caldo Gallego  For those of you who've been to Spain recently, this will probably be familiar. For those who haven't been to Spain, then you're in for a treat.


Caldo Gallego (Cal-doh Gah-jeh-goh) is a dish that is very popular in Puerto Rico. Even in Ponce, in the southern part of the island, where my parents hail from, the measure of a good restaurant is not its arroz con pollo or mofongo, it's the quality of  its Caldo Gallego. This is a vigorous soup that was brought over from Galicia, a historic region in northwest Spain. I'm told that in Galicia the base for this rich broth is an aged bacon called unto (oon-toh). Since you may not find it here, lean cured ham and/or salt pork can be used instead. Also, in Spain the soup is cooked in a large earthenware pot and is served in earthenware bowls. For those who don't have  earthenware, any heavy pot or kettle can be used, like a caldera  (a heavy pot made from cast-iron or cast aluminum and found in any Caribbean store). And, yes, regular soup plates will do. Add a loaf of good bread, and you have the perfect repast. Simple, delicious, and filling.


Let me add that the recipe is from my first cookbook, Puerto Rican Cuisine in  America (Thunder's Mouth Press). The soup needs long, gentle cooking time ( about 3 hours). But it's worth the wait.


CALDO GALLEGO (Galician Style Broth)


1/2 pound dry white beans

3 ounces lean cured ham or salt pork, washed and diced

1/2 pound smoked ham, washed and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 small onion, peeled and sliced in rounds

1 pound potatoes, peeled and quartered

3 turnips, rinsed and quartered

1 10-ounce package frozen turnip greens

Salt and ground black pepper to taste


1. Rinse beans under cold running water and drain.

2. Place beans in a large kettle or Dutch oven. Add water to cover, cured ham, smoked ham and onion. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours.

3. Add remaining ingredients and gently stir to mix. Bring to a second boil, cover and simmer on low heat for 1 more hour. If needed, you can add more water during last hour of cooking. It depends on how "soupy" you want it.

    Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

The Trouble with Google

This is my first post of the new year and, honestly, it wasn't what I expected to write about. But recently I've encountered a problem which, I've discovered, is not unusual to those of us who blog and comment and make use of the internet. My problem, in essence, is with that gargantuan entity, Google. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not a blanket condemnation of the service. Google, for all intents and purposes, is a marvelous tool that, yes, has made our lives easier and more productive. I would be among the first to acknowledge that. It has changed the way we think and interact and, for the most, we are better for it. My concern is that this marvelous search engine, in all its encompassing growth, may have deviated from of its original goal to help, to assist, to "do no harm."

My problem began on December 10th, when I received a notice from Google that there was "unusual activity on my account." The notice stipulated the steps I would have to follow in order to rectify the situation. Accordingly, I followed these instructions in order to reset my account. Part of it was using a reset number during the procedure. After receiving confirmation that all was well, I went back to my usual tasks on the computer. However, I discovered I could not access my blog. Try as I might, I could not sign in. My blog information had simply disappeared. I contacted the Google help number (650 253-000). I was informed (by a recorded message) that I would have to go to www.google.com/support for assistance. Which I did. I wrote in on the line asking what the problem was by stating that my blog had disappeared and I couldn't access any of my material. The answer I received was that my problem "did not match answers in the accounts help." I kept on trying, keeping my notes as short as possible, still, nothing matched the "accounts help." In one instance I was forwarded to another site where they would take a look-see at my account, but for a fee of $35.

The end point is that Google was no help whatsoever in solving my dilemma. I had to contact my tried and true tech guy (www.hardrivedoctor.us/) who had to literally hack into Google in order for me to acquire my blog material going back two years. A twelve (12) hour job, and very expensive. Subsequently, checking on various sites  I have discovered that I am not the only one who has encountered this problem; and, in all cases, no assistance was forthcoming. Truthfully, I was appalled by the lack of consideration and/or access via Google. So, I wrote them a scathing letter, stipulating that a copy would be forwarded to the Federal Communications Commission. And guess what? The following day my tech guy calls me up and states that my blog had magically re-appeared---and he couldn't figure out why or how. Had Google just gotten my blog back in  a timely manner I would have been spared a lot of aggravation and expense.

Now, I know I'm not the only one who's had this kind of hassle. But, man, if this keep up, Google may suffer a black eye, at least in PR terms as it moves forward in the corporate arena.

Also, I would love to hear from anyone else who has had this kind of incident with Google. Again, my aim is not to disrupt or cast aspersions on anyone. As stated, in the first paragraph, Google does a marvelous job (most of the time). I just would like to hear and catalogue whatever comes along.

A happy new year to everyone. And thanks all for the great response to my pasteles video.

Making Pasteles for those special occasions

Dec 5, 2010

from Oswald at Large by Oswald Rivera

As previously promised on this Blog .. MORE Videos !

This time, it is the Art of Making Pasteles.
These Pictures will take you to the YouTube Videos

Cooking with Oswald Rivera: Pasteles Part 1



Cooking with Oswald Rivera: Pasteles Part 2



Please enjoy the Videos .. More to come at a later time.

Special Thanks to Holly and the Hard Drive Doctor.