Sultan's Kitchen

[Henia 11]

mmmmm....that's making me hungry! I may just make that for dinner tonight! Thank you Henia

You are very welcome! Everyone liked these when I made them ... so hopefully everyone there will too!

[tanyakaraman 0]

Haha...I might be in there again tonight, now that I've printed Henia's recipe for the Yellow Sqash Fritters and am in need of some harissa I've never had harissa before. Hubby likes spicy, but I like spicier stuff than him! They have a spicy tomato paste in Turkey too...I wonder if its similar? The prices were really great. Most of the things I bought didn't have a price tag that I noticed, but I think I only spent $20 in there and I got 2 pretty big bags of stuff!

As far as mosques, we haven't been to one in the US yet. I IM'd my husband with the address for the one in Smyrna and I think he's really interested. So thanks for sending the info!!

WOOHOO!! I told you the big guy in Lasani's rocks my socks!! He really has anything you could want and if he doesn't he will order it! He's also a halal butcher so all the meat in there is 100% halal!! I am so glad that you found it and I think it will save you a lot of trips to Paterson. We save Paterson for special occasions because of the length of the drive and just go to Lasani for most other things. I don't know if your hubby likes spicy but he has the best Harissa I've found (Tunisian hot tomato paste like sauce) and his prices can't be beat for most things! Just be careful with some of the grains/rice/couscous I did find a small bug one time but in truth the bag was totally sealed ( I checked it ) so it must have gotten in there before he got it, so for that I can't totally blame him.

We are going to go up this weekend to get some things for Ramadan so I'll wave if I see you in there

Who hasn't gotten lost going to Paterson? Those roads are hopeless... I hate Jersey driving, but it's worth getting lost.

I only tried Smyrna Pizza one time and it was okay but I'm forever loyal to Bella Villa Ernesto and Tina are old school buddies so I have to go in there.. Jihed's in love with their food at Trevis I just wish it wasn't sooo expensive!! But Bella Villa is much cheaper and Momma knows my orders without me having to speak!!

There is supposed to be an Islamic society / mosque in Smyrna but I never checked it out?

Masjid Uz Zumar

Rt 1, Nbr 500

Smyrna - Delaware - 19977

Have you? We mostly stick to the one in Newcastle off Churchman's Road, by the German club.

I know all about the job frustrations and their frustrations at how slow things move here I hope that things work out and that he can get a position he enjoys really soon inshallah!!

Sorry I didn't get a minute to reply until now....

Well...Lasani's was awesome & I'm SO glad you told me about it!!! Much thanks! I found so many things in there that I have been looking for...everything from henna to chopped pistachios to the kunafa food coloring...and lots of other very interesting things I want to try . They didn't have the nabulsi cheese, but the guy called his supplier & ordered it for me on the spot! He said that if I stop back in a day or 2, they should have some in stock.

Soo...I made a trial run of the kunefe using a mixture of mozarella, ricotta, and half & half and it was very good! Not exactly like Antakya, but very good anyway. My kids and husband loved it. I can't wait to try it again with the correct cheese. Also, not sure if they do this anywhere else, but in Turkey, they serve the kunefe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Sooo delish!!

Yes, you're right, it is Paterson LOL my bad....yes I love it there too. If only it weren't such a haul. One time we went up there in the winter, just after a fairly heavy snow. We stayed until after dark and got on the highway to come back home only to find the highway shut down because of ice! We totally lucked onto another route after driving aimlessly for an hour or so. As much as I love visiting there, I wasn't too happy over the prospect of having to spend the night...

Yeah, I know what you mean about Smyrna...there is a very small population but its definitely more "obscure" than other places. There is a Turkish family that owns Smyrna Pizza (they love Ozzy & give him free pizzas LOL...I sent him there to "buy" dinner last night), and I think a Pakistani guy who owns the 7-11, but that's it that I know of. Ozzy was really frustrated over the job search too. He did finally land a position in Sears, but he was/is just very frustrated in general about how slowly the wheels seem to move around here....

[Henia 11]

Well the NA harissa isn't like those spicy tomato sauces in Turkey ... since they contain no tomatoes buuut if you wanted you could sub it for!

Maybe Ash already posted recipe for Harissa but if not here is mine- fast and easy. It keeps well in frig .. just pour some oil (olive oil) over the top!

100g dried hot chilies

8 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tbsp. Cumin powder

1 tbsp. Coriander powder

1 tsp. salt

Place the chilies in a bowl, bring some water to the boil and pour over the chilies Leave them to soak for 30-45 minutes. Then remove the chilies from the water and discard their stems. Reserve the water they were soaked in.

Place all the ingredients if a food processor or blender and puree adding as much of the chili water needed until you have a smooth paste or grind them together in a mortar and pestle.

Here is another recipe using Harissa. People here love this!

Harissa spaghetti

3 medium cloves garlic, peeled

a big pinch of fine grain sea salt

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons harissa (paste)

8 ounces (1/2 pound) whole wheat spaghettini

1 small bunch kale, well-washed and deveined

1/2 cup oil-cured black olives, pitted

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

zest of 1 lemon

Bring a big pot of water to a boil. In the meantime, place the cloves of garlic on a cutting board and sprinkle then with a big pinch of salt. Crush with the flat side of a knife. Now crush and chop, crush and chop until you have a garlic paste. Alternately, you can use a mortar and pestle. In a small bowl whisk together the garlic paste, harissa, and olive oil. Set aside.

Generously salt the boiling water, add the pasta, and cook per package instructions. Just before the pasta is done add the kale to the pasta water, count to six, drain and set aside.

Heat half of the harissa dressing in the now empty pasta pot Add the pasta and kale, black olives, pine nuts, and lemon zest. Stir over the heat for a minute or so, then turn everything

Lamb Manti with Harissa

I am sure you know what mantis are Tanya, since your hubby is from Turkey!

For the filling

200g lamb mince

1-2 tablespoons harissa (depending on how hot you prefer)

sea salt

2 shallots, finely diced

1 clove garlic, finely minced

¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder

For the dough and to assemble

300g strong flour (use Tipo “00” flour), plus extra for rolling

1 teaspoon sea salt

3 eggs, lightly beaten

¼ teaspoon finely ground cardamom seeds

Harissa

Cover the chillies with warm water until softened then drain, discarding the water. Mix the salt, garlic and chillies to a smooth paste in a food processor or with a mortar and pestle. Grind the dried spices until smooth and add to the chilli mix then gradually stir in the olive oil. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to use. Harissa keeps well but will gradually lose its pungency over time. Makes around ½ cup.

For the filling

Combine all the ingredients. Fry a small piece of the lamb to check the seasoning, adjust if necessary then refrigerate the filling until ready to use.

For the dough and to assemble

Combine the flour and salt on a clean work surface or in a food processor. Work in the eggs to form a dough. If using a food processor, tip the dough out on to a clean surface. Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until silky smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and leave to rest for 1 hour. Cut off ¼ of the dough and re-wrap the remaining dough.

Start rolling the dough through the thickest setting of a pasta machine, using a very light dusting of flour to prevent sticking (not too much as it will affect the consistency). Feed the dough through the thickest setting several times, each time folding it over on itself, as if folding a business letter. Once the dough is beautifully smooth, start feeding it through the smaller settings of the pasta machine until the dough is as fine as you can get it.

Trim the dough into 6cm squares. Place a small walnut-sized ball of lamb on each square. Wet the edges of the squares with water then join the corners of the pasta together to form a star-shaped parcel. Pinch all of the edges to seal well so the manti don’t leak during cooking.

Place the manti on a lightly floured tray and refrigerate until ready to cook. Continue with all the dough and lamb filling until finished.

To serve

½ cup thick Turkish or Greek yogurt

¼ cup harissa, thinned with 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ cup coriander leaves

sea salt

Boil the manti for 3 minutes in small batches in plenty of salted water. Drain well. Serve on a dollop of yogurt, drizzle with harissa and finish with coriander leaves and a sprinkling of sea salt.

[RAKASA 0]

Well the NA harissa isn't like those spicy tomato sauces in Turkey ... since they contain no tomatoes buuut if you wanted you could sub it for!

Maybe Ash already posted recipe for Harissa but if not here is mine- fast and easy. It keeps well in frig .. just pour some oil (olive oil) over the top!

100g dried hot chilies

8 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tbsp. Cumin powder

1 tbsp. Coriander powder

1 tsp. salt

Place the chilies in a bowl, bring some water to the boil and pour over the chilies Leave them to soak for 30-45 minutes. Then remove the chilies from the water and discard their stems. Reserve the water they were soaked in.

Place all the ingredients if a food processor or blender and puree adding as much of the chili water needed until you have a smooth paste or grind them together in a mortar and pestle.

Mmmmmmm... I'm going to make some Harissa this weekend! Hubby will be so excited! It's another bread-making weekend as well. Preparing for Gustav, you can never have too much bread!

[chavacana 0]

does anybody here knows how to make CHICKEN BARYANI(not sure the spelling) I need the recipe pls.. I miss that food so so much. thanx

[Henia 11]

Mmm fresh baked bread ... HEAVEN! What kind ya making?

Chavanca: Enjoy!

Chicken Biryani

10 oz( about 1 1/2 cup) basmati rice, rinsed

oil

2 onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tsp finely grated fresh ginger

4 chicken breasts or thighs (but thighs gives more flavour)

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp ground cumin

For garnishing (optional, only if you want to make it special):

1 tbsp fried onions

2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

1 tsp ground coriander

a pinch of nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp turmeric

6 fl oz natural yogurt

1 tsp sugar

3 tbsp raisins or sultanas

salt and black pepper to taste

Boil the rice in 3 pts water with a little salt for 8 minutes, stirring once and keeping the water at a rolling boil.

Drain and reserve. Meanwhile, thinly slice the chicken.

In a large pot with a tight fitting lid heat the oil and fry the onion, ginger and garlic for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the chicken, raise the heat and stir fry for 3 minutes.

Add all the ground spices and stir again for a few seconds.

Add the yogurt and stir for one minute, then add the sugar and raisins or sultanas and stir again. Check seasoning.

Put the rice on top then cover the saucepan with foil or a damp tea towel and put the lid on tightly.

Reduce the heat to low and cook undisturbed for 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and rest, still covered, for 5 minutes.

Uncover, sprinkle with the garnishes and serve.

[chavacana 0]

Oh wow!! Thanx a lot Henia! I appreciate it! cant wait to make it Im sure hubby will be suprise hahaha

[Henia 11]

No prob! Anytime! Real easy dish, festive, fit for king! You can just as easily use goat, mutton, , shrimp, beef or even combination of meats in this dish! And if you use ghee/smen you would get more of an authentic taste (if that's what you like)

[chavacana 0]

biryani with toasted almond is super!!and you're right chix tighs is more tastier.. Some biryani i ate has like a yellow color what do you think they use?

[Henia 11]

Traditionally they use turmeric for the colour ... but if you don't like the musty taste ... and can spring for it use saffron!

[chavacana 0]

Traditionally they use turmeric for the colour ... but if you don't like the musty taste ... and can spring for it use saffron!

on my first try i'll just use turmeric then saffron next time so I can kinda compare, Just getting excited to make biryani on sunday, am sure my hubby will praised me again hah!

Henia your a sweetie Thanks again! you have a nice weekend there!

[Henia 11]

Mrouziya

Ingredients 2 pounds of lamb chunks

2 cups of water

2 teaspoons Ras El Hanout

1/4cup of honey

1/4cup of olive oil

1/2 cup of whole blanched almonds, toasted

1/4 cup of raisins

Bring the oven temperature up to 350 degrees.

Coat the lamb with Ras El Hanout spice.

Place spiced lamb in a 5-quart pot covered with a lid.

To the pot, add the water, honey and olive oil Bake for about 2 hours until the meat softens.

Remove the meat from the pot and keep warm. Remove extra oil.

To the pot, add the raisins.

Boil until the raisins are fully cooked.

Return the lamp to the stew. Boil for about 2 minutes.

Decorate with the toasted almonds.

Serve with warm bread, or with cooked Saffron rice, Raisins and Almonds.

[Henia 11]

BTW the served Mrouziya traditionally on Eid al Kebir!

[RAKASA 0]

Mmm fresh baked bread ... HEAVEN! What kind ya making?

L'khobz!

[Tunisia216 2]

I apologize in advance but I went today before I saw this post and just about cleaned Lasani out of harissa.. There is about 6 cans left I think - go grab them They are on the opposite side of the shelf directly behind the check out counter.. The shelf that has the shamiya, hena, soaps and hair products, on the other side at the far end (nearest the meat counter) is the canned harissa (on the top) and also some rocking Moroccan sardines that my DH eats so fast I can't keep them in the house!!! My step dad, brothers, and cousins are so turned onto the harissa now that they keep shoving money at me and saying get me some more!!! The stuff he sells is in a yellow can, arabic writing on top and then english under it - It's packaged in France but it's Tunisian, and comes in from Cap Bon (Nabuel, Hammamet, etc) and then through to France and then the USA. So it's as authentic as it comes. Henia is right, you can definitely make your own and though it's more work, you can adjust the spice of it (hotter or more mild) depending on your taste buds. Her recipe is good but I did also post one a few pages back if you wanted to check that out. I have a few from Jihed's mom as well, for how she makes it that I'll have to post up and share with you!

So I was in there today, around 1:30 pm and I didn't see you at all Actually I was the only girl in there besides the check out girl surrounded by like 20 men looking at me like ####### you doing in here? LOL I spent about $40 Good lord .. But we're all stocked up and ready to go for Ramadan. Dates are uber expensive... But Jihed likes the Algerian ones the best (can't find/ get Tunisian here) and he prefers them over the ones from Saudi which I seem to find a lot of here... So have to pay the high price to shut him up!

Like I said, not sure about that mosque, but let me know what you find out when your hubby checks it out. They didn't have a website or phone number but maybe if you google them some more, some more contact information will come up. I'm just shocked because I spent all of my life in Delaware, most of it in Smyrna and I never saw it there before...

I hope it turns out to actually be there and be active!

Happy Labor Day.. have a good holiday weekend!!

Haha...I might be in there again tonight, now that I've printed Henia's recipe for the Yellow Sqash Fritters and am in need of some harissa I've never had harissa before. Hubby likes spicy, but I like spicier stuff than him! They have a spicy tomato paste in Turkey too...I wonder if its similar? The prices were really great. Most of the things I bought didn't have a price tag that I noticed, but I think I only spent $20 in there and I got 2 pretty big bags of stuff!

As far as mosques, we haven't been to one in the US yet. I IM'd my husband with the address for the one in Smyrna and I think he's really interested. So thanks for sending the info!!