بقلاوه

There you go, the recipe in English. Can you guess what it is about? :)) Of course, you are a smart human being. Now, that you know, I must tell you that this recipe is not mine, it is as old “as time” and very popular around the world. I knew about it before I cooked it. But, when I decided to try it, I said I would find the one I am comfortable doing it. In the Practical Encyclopedia of Easteuropean Cooking, 1999, there it was. My mum had a recipe, I had neighbours who did it, friends and so on. But it happened that I wanted to do it later, when I was abroad and I am content with what I found. This is mine, in a way. And now I want to share it with you. You probably say, why? Aren’t there enough already? And I say: why not? :))

Baklava

24 pieces

Ingredients:

• 175 g/ 6 oz/, 3/4 cup butter, melted (remember, go with 80-82% fat)
• 400 g/ 14 oz packet filo pastry, thawed if frozen
• 30 ml/ 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 60 ml/ 4 tbsp lemon
• 50 g/ 2 oz,  1/4 cup caster sugar (or any sugar you have in the kitchen)
• finely grated rind of 1 lemon
• 10 ml/ 2 tsp cinnamon
• 200 g/ 7 oz, 1 3/4 cups blanched almonds, chopped (replace almonds with nuts if you don’t have them)
• 200 g/ 7 oz, 1 3/4 cups walnuts, chopped
• 75 g/ 3 oz/ 3/4 pistachios or hazelnuts, chopped (again, replace with more nuts :))
• chopped pistachios, to decorate (or go nuts :)) )

Syrup

• 350 g / 12 oz/ 1 3/4 cups caster sugar
• 115 g/ 4 oz/ 1/2 cup clear honey
• 600 ml/ 1 pint/ 2 1/2 cups water
• 2 strips of thinly pared lemon rind

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 160 °C, 325 °F, Gas Mark 3. Brush the base of a shallow 30×20 cm/ 12×8 in loose-bottomed or Swiss roll tin with a little of the melted butter.
• Using the tin as a guide cut the sheets of filo pastry with a sharp  knife to fit the tin exactly. In case you don’t have a similar tin, or you want to use all the pastry, remember that you have to add more ingredients. Do your maths.
• Place one sheet of pastry in the base of the tin, brush with a little melted butter, then repeat until you have used half of the pastry sheets. Set the remaining pastry aside and cover with a clean dish towel
• To make the filling, place the lemon juice, honey and sugar in a pan and heat gently until dissolved. Stir in the lemon rind (half of it), cinnamon and chopped nuts. Mix thoroughly.
• Spread half the filling over pastry, cover with 3 layers of the filo pastry and butter then spread the remaining filling over the pastry.
• Finish by using up the remaining sheets of the pastry and butter on top and brush the top of the pastry liberally with butter.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully mark the pastry into squares, almost cutting through the filling. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until crisp and golden brown.
• Meanwhile, make the syrup. Place the caster sugar, honey, water and lemon rind in a pan and stir over a low heat until the sugar and honey have dissolved. Bring to the boil, then boil for a further 10 minutes until the mixture has thickened slightly.
• Take the syrup off the heat and leave to cool slightly. Remove the baklava from the oven. Remove and discard the lemon rind from the syrup then pour over the pastry. Leave to soak for 6 hours or overnight. Cut into squares and serve, decorated with chopped pistachios.

Iyi iştah!

Tip (for the lazy ones, myself included): use baking paper in the tin and brush it with melted butter. This way, you will have a cleaner and easier to wash tin.

Scrieri si scriituri. Aferim!

Mi-a fost dor sa scriu iar pe blogul meu drag si iubit. L-am cam parasit eu o vreme dar ma intelege el. Scrierea poate fi o forma de terapie, de eliberare si recunosc ca ma ajuta. Plus ca am si un motiv bun. Chiar imi place sa scriu si mai ales cand consider ca am ce. Bine, mai bat campii cu gratie dar blogul meu e intentionat ca sa fie parcurs cu placere si sa aduca informatii pe care poate unii nu le cunosc sau care cred eu ca sunt folositoare. In fond, e si acesta un mijloc de informare, chiar daca blogul are putini cititori. L-am pornit de la inceput cu intentia de a ma axa pe retete de hrana a trupului (pentru ca am avut ocazia intr-o perioada a vietii mele sa gatesc foarte mult si am descoperit nu numai ca sunt buna – so they say, ask the ones who tried what I cooked ;)), combinat cu alte postari despre ce imi place si consider util, frumos, interesant, placut pentru a se regasi aici. Cine il citeste, ma bucur, cine nu, nu e obligat pentru ca eu cred foarte mult in liberul arbitru. Ah, sa nu uit de consecinte. Vin si astea. So, choose wisely! 🙂 Cat se poate, pentru ca de multe ori la momentul respectiv asa credem ca e cel mai bine. In timp se va dovedi daca am ales sau nu bine si asta se cheama experienta.

M-am gandit ca foamea vine mancand si pentru ca in vacanta am mai mult timp, sa incep incet-incet sa completez cu alte retete pe care le-am incercat de-a lungul anilor si care mi-au placut, sau sa introduc retete facute de mine. Au ramas destule nu numai nescrise dar si nefacute in dosarul cu retete. Ma gandesc cu drag ca va veni momentul si pentru acestea, candva. Daca faci ceva cu placere si destul de mult timp, incepi sa si creezi. Eu nu sunt un geniu si nu stiu de la inceput sa fac totul insa in timp am avut niste sclipiri si ma bucur ca pot sa spun ca am si eu ceva facut de mine. Cred ca orice femeie mai ales, care sta mult timp la bucatarie, este un creator. Si in general in viata, creem cu totii. Daca esti curios/ curioasa, uite-te, poate te inspira sau iti dau vreo idee despre ce sa mananci azi/ intr-o zi cu soare si apoi trecem mai departe: fusilli a la Elena, puiul meu, de Paste numai de bine, 2 F Words. Sunt putine deocamdata. Acum, scriind, incepe sa imi revina inspiratia (are efect) si ma gandesc ca mai am cateva retete, foarte usoare, pe care nu le-am adaugat inca. Cum termin postarea aceasta, ma apuc de ele cat pot de curand si adaug link-urile. Va urma.

Ce ramasese nescris? Uitandu-ma prin hartii, am dat peste o reteta de baclava. Da, stiu, o sa spui: alta? Dap. De ce nu alta? La cate sunt, am citit si am ales una care m-a atras pe mine si am si facut-o de cateva ori deja. Reteta e scoasa din The Practical Encyclopedia of Easteuropean Cooking, 1999. Nu stiu acum daca o voi adauga si in engleza (copyright reason may be or just plain laziness or poor English from my part or all of them) dar ramane de vazut. Deocamdata iata o reteta de baclava turceasca pe care imi face mare placere sa o gatesc. Cartea recomanda cafeaua amara sa o insoteasca si cred ca zice bine. Acum tu decizi si poate ai alta preferinta. E buna si aceea, de gustibus non es disputandum.

M-am gandit sa adaug acum la ingrediente, la reteta in limba romana, toate masuratorile pentru ca poate ai unul sau alt instrument de masurare, si esti obisnuit intr-un fel si e la fel de corect. Cum de nu m-am gandit mai de demult? Mi-aduc aminte destul de clar si daca ma straduiesc cred ca gasesc si articolul mai pe la inceputuri in care explicam ca nu le voi adauga pe toate pentru ca unii se incurca dar acum mi-a cazut fisa si m-am gandit ca am facut o greseala. Nu e fatala dar … 🙂 Daca esti in strainatate si te-ai si obisnuit cu masuratorile lor, ce faci? Poti transforma dar de ce sa nu fie toata info data de la inceput?

Baclava

24 portii

Ingrediente:

• 175 g/ 6 oz/, 3/4 cana unt topit (defect profesional ca ma repet, unt de 80-82% grasime)
• 400 g/ 14 oz pachet de foi de placinta, dezghetat in caz ca a stat la congelator
• 30 ml/ 2 linguri suc de lamaie (daca nu uiti, spala coaja – eu mai uit dar inca nu am murit, glumesc. La cate prostii bagam in noi, ce mai conteaza cateodata? Nu sunt absurda dar daca uiti, e ok)
• 60 ml/ 4 linguri lamaie
• 50 g/ 2 oz,  1/4 cana zahar caster (sau obisnuit daca nu ai)
• coaja rasa de lamaie (ei, acum ca iti trebuie si asta parca iti vine totusi sa speli lamaia inainte 🙂 )
• 10 ml/ 2 lingurite scortisoara (minunat condiment)
• 200 g/ 7 oz, 1 3/4 cana migdale decojite si maruntite (reteta cere, insa stiu ca migdalele nu sunt tot timpul la indemana noastra asa ca poti sari peste, linistit/a)
• 200 g/ 7 oz, 1 3/4 cana nuci maruntite (poti dubla cantitatea inlocuind migdalele cu nuci)
• 75 g/ 3 oz/ 3/4 cana alune de padure sau fistic (ce delicatese, Doamne), maruntite (le poti inlocui cu buna si delicioasa noastra nuca)
• fistic maruntit (sau nuca :)) ) pentru decor

Sirop

• 350 g / 12 oz/ 1 3/4 cana zahar caster (sau necaster ;)) )
• 115 g/ 4 oz/ 1/2 cana miere
• 600 ml/ 1 pint/ 2 1/2 cana apa
• 2 fasiute de coaja de lamaie (sau mai multe sau deloc, daca nu ai)

Preparare:

• Incalzeste cuptorul la 160 °C/ 325 °F/ Gas 3. Unge o tava cu fundul detasabil de 30X20 cm/ 12X8 inch sau o tava de dimensiuni asemanatoare, cu putin unt topit.
• Foloseste ca masura tava si taie foile de placinta sa incapa perfect. Din cauza cantitatii exacte a ingredientelor din reteta nu te-as sfatui sa cauti o tava in care sa se potriveasca foile decat daca esti dispus/a sa maresti cantitatea corespunzator. Te las sa faci calculele.
• Pune prima foaie de placinta in tava, unge cu unt topit si continua operatiunea pana folosesti jumatate din foile de placinta. Restul acopera-le cu un prosop curat si lasa-le deoparte.
• Intr-o tigaie pune sucul de lamaie, mierea si zaharul si lasa la incalzit pana se topeste si se omogenizeaza totul. Adauga apoi jumatate din cantitatea de coaja de lamaie rasa, scortisoara si nucile maruntite. Amesteca bine.
• Pune jumatate din aceasta combinatie in tava peste foi, adauga 3 foi de placinta unse cu unt si apoi restul combinatiei. Mda, cred ca ti-ai castigat dreptul de a gusta,  stiu ca nu ai rabdare.
• Pune ultimele foi de placinta in tava, ungandu-le pe fiecare cu unt si la sfarsit, unge cu generozitate cu untul ramas ultima foaie de placinta.
• Cu un cutit ascutit (eu am o problema cu cutitele, recunosc, nu sunt suficient de ascutite pentru mine niciodata), taie in patratele baclavaua dar nu pana la capat, ci mai mult pe deasupra, abia intrand in stratul de nuca. Pune tava in cuptor pentru o ora sau pana se rumeneste deasupra.
• Intre timp, fa siropul. Intr-o cratita pune zaharul, mierea, apa si cealalta jumatate de coaja rasa de lamaie si amesteca pana se omogenizeaza toate ingredientele, totul la o temperatura joasa. Da focul tare si adu-l la punctul de fierbere apoi lasa-l asa pentru 10 minute pana se ingroasa.
• Ia siropul de pe foc si lasa-l sa se raceasca. Scoate baclavaua din cuptor. Strecoara siropul pentru a scapa de coaja de lamaie si toarna peste minunatie. Lasa-l sa se imbibe bine pentru 6 ore sau mai bine peste noapte. Taie in forma de patrate si decoreaza cu fistic macinat. Gata.

Pofta buna!

Tip: in tava poti pune o foaie de copt pe care sa o ungi cu unt, daca vrei. Te ajuta sa speli mai usor la final, neprinzandu-se de fundul tavii.

 

 

 

Imam bayildi

Long time ago I was curious about this recipe and I wanted to find out if I would faint too. It is a Turkish recipe that means “the Imam fainted” or “Imam Bayildi” in Turkish, because they say that he was overcome by this delicious meal. I discovered it in  “Coriander – A Book of Recipes” from 1997 in London. It was 2006 when I tried it out and I have to say that it was exquisite. Plus it is made with one of my favourite vegetable. It is not a difficult recipe and smells heavenly. For a special treat and something vegetarian, go into the kitchen and try not to faint.

Imam bayildi

Vegetarian Stuffed Aubergine

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 aubergines, halved lengthways
• 60 ml (4 tbsp)olive oil, plus extra if needed
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 green pepper, seeded and sliced (or any other favourite colour)
• 400 g (4 oz) can chopped tomatoes
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) granulated sugar
• 5 ml (2 tsp) ground coriander
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) fresh chopped coriander
• salt
• ground black pepper
• crusty bread, to serve
• coriander sprigs, to serve

Method:

• Using a sharp knife, slash the flesh of the aubergines a few times. Place them in a colander, sprinkle the cut sides with salt and leave for about 30 minutes. Rinse well and pat dry. From my experience, there is hardly any juice left and they turn quite dark so rub the flesh of the aubergines with lemon juice after you halved them.
• Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375 °F, Gas 5.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the aubergines, cut-sides down and fry for 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs and place in a shallow ovenproof dish.
• Add the onions, garlic and green pepper to the pan, with extra oil if necessary and cook for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
• Add the tomatoes, sugar and ground coriander with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture has reduced. Stir in the chopped coriander. Now it smells divine.
• Spoon this mixture on top of the aubergines. Cover and bake for about 30-35 minutes.
• Serves it hot with crusty bread or naan bread and Greek-style  yogurt or chilled with just the bread and garnished with coriander springs.

Bon appetite!