Mediterranean Reminiscin'

What to say about today? I would love to tell you something interesting about my day but there's nothing to tell...besides that I am glad it's finally Thursday and I get to sleep in tomorrow. Yay! 

I am going to share a couple of recipes with you which I have grown up with and still love to this day. I hope you grow to love these dishes as much as I do! 

Hummus:

1-2 clove garlic chopped
1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved 

4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini (which is sesame paste)

1 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Method: 

1. In a blender, chop the garlic. Pour garbanzo beans into blender, reserving about a tablespoon for garnish. Place lemon juice, tahini, chopped garlic and salt in blender. Blend until creamy and well mixed.
2. Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with pepper and pour olive oil over the top. Serve with pita bread or crackers. 

Curried Lentil Soup:

1 large onion (diced)
4 Tablespoons oil
3 garlic cloves roughly chopped
1 inch of ginger chopped
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon ground coriander
1 Tablespoon garam masala
1 bay leaf
2 potatoes -diced
3 carrots- diced
4 tomatoes- diced
2 cups green lentils – well rinsed
5 cups good chicken or vegetable stock
Salt to taste
1 cup of coconut milk
The juice of one lime juice
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves -minced


Method:

1. Sweat onions, garlic, ginger and oil on a medium heat until the onions are translucent.
2. Add the spices, potatoes, carrots and diced tomatoes and then cook for about 10 minutes – stirring well and often.
3. Add the lentils and stir.
4. Add enough soup stock to cover veggies by 5 inches.
5. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook until lentils and veggies are really soft.
6. Add coconut milk and simmer for about 5 minutes.
7. Add lime juice and chopped coriander, let stand on heat for another 30 seconds or so to allow the coriander and lime juice to infuse.

8. Serve hot. 

Bitter mood makes bitter food! So fucking smile! :D