S for Sumatra (Indonesia)

 Rendang Beef 

Serves 6

Ingredients:-

1Kg of braising beef diced

2 tbsp of sunflower oil

2 cinnamon sticks

12 cloves

2 bay leaves

600ml of coconut milk

Paste:-

6 Shallots peeled and chopped into quarters

2 Lemon grass stalks roughly chopped

6 Garlic cloves peeled

Ginger root (2 inch piece) peeled and chopped

1 tsp of ground ginger

1tsp of ground cumin

1 tsp of black pepper

1tbsp of ground coriander

            2 tbsp of water

Method:-

Make the paste by adding all the past ingredients to a blender and blending until fine paste

Heat the sunflower oil in a pan or wok

Add the cinnamon sticks and cloves and fry for 1 min

Add the coconut milk and paste and fry for about 2 mins

Add the coconut milk and stir in thoroughly

Bring to a simmer and simmer for 2 ½ hours stirring occasionally.

Serve with rice

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Chilli Stir fry prawns on noodles

Serves 4 

Ingredients:-

500g or fresh raw peeled prawns

¼ a pepper sliced into strips

2 medium spring onions sliced at an angle

5 Medium to large mushrooms sliced

2 tbsp of sunflower oil

2 tbsp of soy sauce

Handful or coriander leaves chopped roughly

Handful of mint leaves chopped roughly

Chilli paste:-

1 medium red chilli sliced

1 tsp of fish sauce

2 tbsp of lemon juice

A pinch of brown sugar

2 garlic cloves peeled and sliced

1 inch of fresh ginger peeled and sliced

1 tbsp of coriander leaves

1 tbsp of mint leaves

Method:-

For the paste add all the paste ingredients to a pestle and mortar and mash for 3 mins until slightly chunky paste

Add the prawns to a container and mix in well the paste

Leave to marinade for at least an hour

Heat the sunflower oil in a pan

Add the spring onions, pepper, mushrooms and soy sauce and fry for 2 mins

Set aside in a dish

Add the prawns to pan and fry for 2 mins

Add the veg back in pan

Then add the coriander and mint leaves (a splash of extra sauce and fish sauce is optional for taste)

Serve on your favourite egg noodles

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Us at Blackheath (At a pub surprisingly) 4th June 2011

Mint and Coriander (I just liked the photo)

Some resources for Sumatra

Food and recipes:-

http://www.sumatra-indonesia.com/sumatranfood.htm

Facts and Info:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatra

R for Romania

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Duck with black olives

Ingredients:-

1 Whole Duck cut into various size pieces

1 lb of baby onions peeled and left whole

2 Parsnips sliced

2 Carrots sliced

300g of black pitted olives

100g butter

500ml of Duck, Chicken or veg stock

1 Bay leaf

1 Bunch of chopped parsley

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

A splash of red wine

Method:-

Melt the butter in a large pan

Add the duck pieces and brown them and then set them aside

Add onions to pan and brown them

Add the stock, carrots, parsnips, bay leaf, parsley, salt and Duck

Bring to simmer and cover for 1 hour

Add the red wine, black pepper and olives

Cover and simmer for 30 mins

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Mamaliga

Ingredients:-

1/2 Corn meal (coarse) or Polenta

2 cups water

1 tbsp salt

1 ball mozzarella diced

200g cottage cheese

Chopped parsley

You can use any other cheeses too or other herbs left over.

Method:-

Bring 2 cups of water to the simmer

Add the salt

Whisk in corn meal in small amounts to avoid lumps

Simmer and stir regular for about 40 mins

Once thick and coming away from side of pan its ready.

Stir in the mozzarella till it starts to get stringy

Stir in cottage cheese 

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Duck with black olives