Monday, August 24, 2009

Third Day Ramadan - Spicy Squid and Sweet Carrots (Halwa)

I know some of you might have been waiting for me to update my site and showcase my breakfasting meal on this third day of Ramadan. Well, today is the first time I am fasting and working in the office. The first and second day of Ramadan have been smooth. I was not hungry or weak or anything of those sort. But today, having PL/SQL code to squeeze out of my brain, I was so tempted to cancel my fasting ritual. It did not help when my co-worker stopped by at my desk and brought for me some Gulab Jamun. I always love this sweet treat from Indian dish. She told me to eat just one ball at a time and store in the fridge of the rest.

For today's menu, I am having spicy sambal squid for dinner.
Ingredients:
1 lb squid. Clean and cut into bite size.
5 roasted cherry peppers. Remove seeds.
1 big red onion
2 tablespoon garlic
1 tablespoon chopped lemongrass
1/2 inch grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoon olive oil

Method:
Clean and cut the squid into bite size.
Chop onion.
In a medium pot, heat olive oil on medium heat.
Add onion , garlic, roasted hot cherry peppers.
Stir until brown.
Add grated ginger and chopped lemongrass.
Add squid.
Add soy sauce, and sugar. Stir.
Cook for about 5 minutes or until the squid turn whitish.
Turn off the stove.
Serve warm with white rice.

I control myself very hard not to think about food when I was at work and just concentrate on the project at hand. When I got home, I quickly peel the carrots that I dug out from my garden yesterday. I am using about 6 medium size carrots for this quick and easy recipe.
I searched in my un organized pantry and found a can of sweetened condensed milk. This condensed milk is already sweet so this recipe for Carrots Halwa is a breeze.

Ingredients:
6 medium carrots
1 small can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup raisins

Method:
Peel the skin off the carrots. Cut it into chunk and ripped it in food processor. You could use grater if you like. But the carrots must be grated so that you will get the soft texture of the carrots and hardly visible in the dish. Not to dice or small chop.
In a medium pot, heat on medium heat.
Add carrots.
Stir for 2 minutes.
Then add the whole can of condensed milk.
Stir and let it boil and bubly for about 5 minutes.
Test to make sure the carrot is soft.
Adjust the sweetener. I don't have to add any sweetener. Plus, I was fasting. No tasting for me today.
Add raisins and let it simmer on low for another 5 minutes.
Turn off the stove and let it cool.
This sweet carrots will help me overcome the heat from the spicy squid.

For honey, I served him my homemade fried chicken.
It was an easy recipe and I can hear the crunch when honey took a bite into it.

Ingredients:
4 chicken thighs
1/2 tablespoon powdered cumin
1 tablspoon powdered turmeric
1 tablespoon coriander
1 tablespoon salt
Some ground black pepper
1/2 cup rice flour
Olive oil to fry the chicken.

Method:
Clean and wash the chicken. Honey loves the chicken skin so I leave it on.
Sprinkle salt on both sides.
Sprinkle turmeric, coriander, cumin and ground black pepper on the both sides of the chicken.
Lastly, sprinkle the rice flour on both sides. Seasoning with some salt.
Heat olive oil on medium heat.
Fry the chicken until golden brown. I make sure the meat near the bone is cooked and no blood running out of it. I make sure I cook at least 15 minutes before I dish the chicken out.
Above is the picture of the Gulab Jamun, an Indian sweet treat given by my co-worker. She said she didn't make this. I have not get the chance to taste this sweet treats yet. My tmmy is full from the rice, the squid and Sweet Carrots. As for drink, I am having diet mountain dew.
My Sweet carrots is very sweet that I add some of my left over canteloupe in my glass.

Selamat berpuasa! Enjoy your fasting day!

4 comments:

  1. Happy Ramadan Zue....wah sedapnya you masak. Wish I was there to eat too, he!he!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vg, long time no hear! How are you? Yes, jemput la ke rumah. Can help me finish my food. It is hard to cook so much but I am the only one who eat it. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Zue,

    My hubby loves sotong!

    Regarding the fried chicken, I was wondering whether it is possible to be just as crunchy if I were to bake it in the oven.

    ReplyDelete
  4. sedapnya sotong tu. my mom dulu selalu masak sotong cam tu.
    ada new indian resturant kat sini gulab jamun dia sedap giler. im so going later to get some. :)

    ReplyDelete