Thursday, February 14, 2013

Cambodia

This weeks stop is in Cambodia. Nestled between Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodian food is known as Khmer cuisine. This is one of the world's oldest cuisines. Khmer food is very uncomplicated. It relies on food that is both fresh and local. Like other Asian cuisines, Khmer cuisine relies on rice as a staple food. The use of spices is minimal.

To represent Cambodia, I chose to prepare Khmer beef, and Poat Dot, or, Cambodian Grilled Corn. I had some thinly sliced beef that I purchased from a Korean grocer. It was perfect for this recipe. If you use a whole piece of beef eye round, you may want to put it in the freezer for a bit. This will make it easier to slice thinly. Heat a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil, using medium high heat. Brown the beef for no more than a minute. 

Peel and thinly slice an Asian pear. Add this to the skillet, along with six sliced scallions, five cloves of minced garlic, four tablespoons of soy sauce, a tablespoon of agave syrup, two tablespoons of homemade curry powder (recipe to follow), and dry chili flakes. Stir fry for two to three minutes.

If you choose, you can serve this over rice. 

Homemade Curry Powder:

Combine the following in a small grinder, and grind for one to two minutes:

4-5 tsp Ground Coriander
2 tsp Turmeric
1-2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/2 tsp Black Peppercorns
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 tsp Ground Cardamon
1/2 inch Cinnamon Stick
1/4 tsp whole cloves
1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
  

    

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Burundi...Beef and Greens in Peanut sauce

It's been a while; but I continue my trip around the world through my own TARDIS...my kitchen. This week, I found myself once again in Africa. This time, in the country of Burundi. The dish I chose is as simple as it is delicious.

Beef and greens in peanut sauce is part soul food, part Thai, and 100 % African. You can use any type of greens you choose...collards, kale, turnip greens, or something else along those lines. I chose kale.I boiled the greens for about 20 minutes, after taking off the stems and any tough veins. You may want to shred the larger leaves.

In a large saucepan, heat some vegetable oil, and brown the meat. Add the greens, a couple of table spoons of smooth peanut butter, and some hot sauce.

The meat and greens are simplicity itself. Add to this the peanut butter earthy sweetness, and the heat from the hot sauce, and you have a taste treat without having to fly to the Mother land.

INGREDIANTS:

1 lb. Beef Cubes
1 large bunch of Greens
2 Tbs Smooth Peanut Butter
2 tsp Hot Pepper Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste