Daily Archives: July 14, 2014

BEST of Andorra food : Escudella!

Escudella, which basically means soup, is considered the national dish of Andorra. This hearty dish is essentially a ham, chicken, sausage, potato, and al stew.

Escudella, the national dish of Andorra. Photo RoastedMontreal.com

 

Here’s the recipe I borrowed from EzineArticles.com :

The Ingredients:
2 cups dry white beans
1 small ham bone
1 marrow bone (veal or beef)
1/4 chicken (or used several pieces, according to your taste for white or dark)
400 g raw pork sausages, sliced or formed into balls
2 slices cured ham, cut in chunks
1 large potato, cut in eights (Desiree or white)
1/4 cup rice
1 cup of pasta noodles (or pasta shells)
1 cup of cooked chick peas (yes, you can used canned ones to save time)
Salt and pepper (according to your tastes)

The Instructions:

Gently cook the sausage pieces/balls in a cast iron Dutch oven with vegetable oil over medium heat until browned. If you don’t have Dutch oven, a pot or flame proof-Casserole dish will do just as well.
Rinse the dry white beans in cold water and tie the ham bone and marrow bone in cheesecloth.
Put the beans, bones in cheesecloth, cooked sausage and ham in the pot or casserole. Fill it up with 8 cups of cold water, and add salt according to taste.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the flames and let it cook gently, covered, for about 2 hours. A good test of seeing whether it is ready is to check that the beans are cooked, and whether the chicken is very tender.
Remove the bones and discard them. If you like eating marrow, and most people do, you can save it for later.
Remove the chicken pieces and put them aside.
If there is only a little liquid left, you can add a bit more water.
Bring it to a rapid boil.
When it’s boiling, put in the cabbage, potatoes, rice, noodles (or shells), cooked chick peas and add pepper to taste.
Turn the flames down to a medium heat.
Cook for 30 minutes. You can test to see whether it’s ready by checking on the softness of the rice and potatoes.
Before serving, put the chicken back inside. If it’s on a bone, and you don’t like bones, you can remove them from the meat before putting it back into the pot or casserole.
Cook for a few more minutes. This is so that the chicken in the stew/soup is heated back up.
Season to taste.
Serve warm.

Recipe Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5461538

BEST of Algeria food: Saffron and Raisin Couscous!

Couscous is a staple food in Algeria. Saffron and Raisin Couscous with Fresh Mint is Algeria’s national dish.

Photo Hotfreeads.com

Saffron and Raisin Couscous with Fresh Mint recipe from TheGutsyGourmet.net :

Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup water
3/8 teaspoon saffron threads
3/4 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
3/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup couscous
0.188 cup raisins
2 1/4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Directions:

1) In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add the saffron. Remove from the heat, cover, and let
stand for 30 minutes.

2) Return the pan to the heat, bring to a boil, and mix in the olive oil, salt, couscous, and raisins.
Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes.

3) Using a fork and your fingertips, fluff the couscous to separate the grains. Taste and adjust the
seasonings. Stir in the mint. Serve warm or at room temperature.

COUNTRY ROLL No 15 : Bangladesh, populous land of the Bengalis, where adventurous say Come visit before the tourists do!

Cox’s Bazar Beach in Bangladesh. Photo Saad Faruque

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