Dawat Recipes

 

Appetisers:

 

Appetisers are quite an exciting part of the meal. It’s like the first time you meet someone, and how the impression they leave on you lingers on long after they’re gone. Here are a few options to help you out:

 

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Fish Cakes

 

These are little kebabs of oceanic goodness, often mastered by culinary masterminds such as mothers, which are yet to enter the buffet table. That blend of mashed potato with Rui fish, encrusted in a mix of eggs and breadcrumbs is something that is coveted by more than one would like to guess. The best thing about this appetiser is that there is so much room for creativity! You could use your preferred fish, be it saltwater or freshwater.

 

What you need:

 

½ kg fish fillet, boneless

5 large potatoes, peeled

3 tbsp onions, chopped

2 eggs

1 tbsp water

Salt and pepper

 

What to do:

 

Cut the potatoes and place them under cold water with the fish in a pot. Next, boil till the potatoes are soft and the fish is cooked, drain off the water, and mash them all together. Mix in the chopped onions, eggs, and water. After thoroughly mixed through, ball up the mixture into patties. Season the patties with salt and pepper, and fry in a well-oiled pan until golden brown on both sides.

 

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Chicken Shashlik

 

Another classic and easy appetiser is chicken shashlik. Again, there is just so much one can do within this window, and mould the taste to you and your guests’ preferences. Instead of the boring and overdone tomatoes and onions, you could add in slices of avocado, potatoes, and other ingredients that would change the perception of the dish entirely:

 

What you need:

 

2 tbsp natural unsweetened yogurt

4 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp ginger, peeled and finely grated

½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground cumin

¼ tsp salt

2 tsp tomato puree

4 boneless chicken breasts, chopped into equal cubes

1 onion, cut into chunks

2 tomatoes, cut into quarters

1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks

2 tbsp mustard oil

 

What to do:

 

In a bowl, mix the yogurt, garlic, ginger, black pepper, coriander, chilli powder, cumin, salt and tomato puree together. Add the chicken, mix well, coating all the pieces. Cover and refrigerate for three hours. Then pierce the chicken into skewers, alternating the meat with chunks of onion, tomato and green pepper. Brush with oil, grilling in a pan till rich, golden brown.

 

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Entrées:

 

This part of the meal is like the chorus of a song; it either makes it or breaks it. This is also the part where one could stray from the done-a-million-times biriyani and pulao, and really get creative.

 

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Spicy Rice 

 

This is a very healthy and diverse alternative to plain fragrant rice. It involves incorporating spices and various common vegetables into your rice to make a flavour-explosion of a dish, which really could go with anything:

 

http://pinchofnom.com/recipes/syn-free-nandos-spicy-rice-slimming-world/

 

What you need:

 

What to do:

 

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Lamb curry

This one is for the ones out there who do not shy away from experimentation, especially when they know it can’t go wrong. Of course, it’s understandable if one does want to stay in their comfort zone of beef-and-chicken, but know this: if cooked properly, not many meats can beat the taste of lamb. Here’s a basic and delicious recipe:

 

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/indian-lamb-curry-27864

 

What you need:

 

What to do: 

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Desserts:

Now for the grand finale! This is perhaps the highlight of a meal for many of us. Being Bengali, we have an undeniable sweet-tooth and, most often, we indulge it.

 

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Shahi Tukra

This is a classic and simple dessert that any person living in Puran Dhaka would be aware of. However, this delicious bundle of bread that is fried and then soaked in sweetness is not common in the wedding scenes of Bangladesh. The best part about this stack of bread pudding is that it is delicious regardless of whether it is served warm or chilled.

 

http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/shahi-tukra-recipe-shahi-tukda/

 

What you need:

 

What to do:

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Faluda

Lastly, an option for those of us who love simplicity. Hopefully, no one is a stranger to this perfect blend of “noodles,” sabudana, milk, and gelatin. The most wonderful thing about faluda is how you can be creative with it through various ingredients. The fruits that are recommended, however, are apples and banana slices.

 

http://www.spiceupthecurry.com/falooda-recipe/

 

What you need:

 

What to do:

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These were six recipes which could easily be modified to show a variety in your cooking this season. Happy eating!