Category: Meat

This time yet another variation of shakshuka. This time with ground beef at the bottom.

I seasoned the ground beef with this fragrant spice mix for madhi rice I bought in Kuala Lumpur by Chef Ammar. And then season with salt and pepper. It consists of coriander, cardamom, cumin amongst other spices.

For the tomato sauce, I used capsicum and mushrooms.

And then all it took was simply putting the minced beef at the bottom followed by sauce and then cracking the eggs in. I served with Greek honey yogurt and lots of chopped coriander. I also had four good quality fried sausages so I just placed them around the dish.

And that was my May Day brunch for the family. 🙂

Lately, I’ve been pretty much obsessed with tomatoes. So one weekend, I decided to make beef stew, but wanted it to be with a tomato-based. So instead of just regular water, I poured it lots and lots of tomatoes. Jar, packet, tin…you name it, I’ve got ’em all in whate’er packaging it can come in. It’s really idiot proof, really, and the photos will show exactly how it’s done. Just a matter of browning the meat, and then putting it back inside and adding in all the veggies and tomatoes. Leave it to simmer till beef is tender. And voila! A meal for the entire family. The only thing was I forgot to brown the onions, so I did it separately in another pan. Don’t forget to season. I just used sea salt, black pepper and a pinch of Italian dried herbs.

Tomatoe, TohMahToe

Brown garlic, add bay leaves

Brown beef cubes

Add potatoes, carrots, onions

Add sauce and simmer

Simmer till beef is tender

Add a sprig of basil just because. Serve hot with bread.

There’s a small nondescript halal butchery run by this Italian man in my MIL very heartland neighbourhood. He sells good but expensive meat. The Boy went in and immediately asked for steak and fries for his dinner. So I bought four pieces.

But when we were on the way to the in laws I thought why not just cook all so everyone can enjoy some good steak.

And with good steak there’s really nothing much to it. Salt and black pepper. Some olive oil to a hot pan and because the in laws don’t use butter, some margarine then into the pan.

The result we like. Looks like Mr Italian butcher guy will have a repeat customer!

I have learned that in cooking there is no need for exact measurements and recipes because this is unlike baking, which is a science. Yes, I have turned into my mother. And all Malay or Asian mothers. My daughter is so going to hate me when she wants to learn how to cook.

Lamb shanks. I had three beautiful pieces. Pasatta. I had a big jar of about 700 g glass pasatta from my favourite pasatta brand a Cirio. Nando’s hot marinade. I had a bottle of this too. And very important for depth of flavour – caramelised onions bought from a cheese gift shop.

The steps:

1. Use a very heavy bottom Dutch oven.

2. Add oil and a sprig of rosemary. Brown lamb shanks.

3. Remove browned lamb shanks and set aside. Add garlic and the 700g jar of pasatta.

4. Add 3/4 bottle of the Nando’s hot marinade.

5. Add a cup of water, salt and black pepper with three sprigs of rosemary.

6. Place all three lamb shanks into the liquid and cover the pot to simmer and cook lamb shanks till fork tender and meltingly good. It took 2.5 -3 hours of slow simmering for today. Add cut potatoes at the 2 hour mark.

7. Add a small bottle of caramelised onions for depth of flavour because without this step, the sauce is just too insipid and sourish.

8. Simmer and taste. Adjust seasoning. I added one teaspoon of sugar and one more teaspoon of salt and ground more black pepper.

9. Serve.

10. Optional. I added boiled colourful carrots to serve.

Disclaimer: 3 lamb shanks is not enough when you have guests. Buy a bigger Dutch oven to fit 6 lamb shanks. 😁