Lamb Kebabs … and how to make quick pickled onions and a yogurt dip.
Course: Starters / AppetizersCuisine: MediterraneanDifficulty: Easy4
servings15
minutes30
minutes300
kcalA quick and easy Lamb kebab recipe that you can whip up in a jiffy, succulent and full of flavour
Ingredients
- Lamb Kebabs
500g lamb mince
Salt, to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
2 chillies, finely chopped
3 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1-2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
Oil, for frying
- Quick Pickled Onions
1/2 onion, sliced
Salt, to taste
1-2 tbsp Lemon juice
- Yogurt Dip / Spread
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
Salt, to taste
1/2 tsp sugar, or to taste
1/2 clove of garlic, finely chopped
A few mint leaves, finely chopped
Directions
- Quick Pickled Onions
- Separate the half rings of the onion slices.
- Sprinkle salt and lemon juice over the onion and mix well to let the seasonings get to all the onion slices.
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. - Yogurt Dip / Spread
- Mix all the ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Lamb Kebabs
- Mix all the ingredients and shape into kebabs.
- Heat some oil in a pan.
Fry kebabs for a couple of minutes on each side, or till you get a beautiful golden brown colour on each side and till its cooked through to your liking.
Serve hot.
Recipe Video
Notes
- To make the wrap, I use some homemade, whole wheat chapatis, layer some salad greens on top, add a couple of the kebabs, smear some yogurt dip over and top with some pickled onions. Wrap up and enjoy.
Moong Dal Khichdi
Moong Dal Khichdi
Course: MainsCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy2
servings20
minutes20
minutesA hearty blend of rice and lentils mildly spiced and easy to put together, making it the perfect lunch for a cold, wet day.
Ingredients
1/3 cup basmati rice
1/3 cup moong dal
1 tbsp oil
1 chilli, cut into large pieces
1/2 medium sized onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
Fresh coriander, chopped (leaves and stalks)
- For the tempering –
1 1/2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) (For a vegan version, use a dairy free option)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
Directions
- Wash the rice and the dal separately. Repeat this process a few times, till the water runs clear. Soak the rice and the dal separately. The rice needs to soak for about 20 minutes and the dal for about 10 minutes. (So I soak the rice first, and 10 minutes later, I soak the dal). Drain the water in each of the bowls and run some fresh water through and drain again.
- Heat the oil in a vessel on medium heat.
- Add the chillies and saute for a few seconds.
- Add the onions and saute till they have softened and are a little translucent.
- Add the pepper and turmeric powder and stir well, to coat the onions.
- Add the rice and the dal and stir through.
- Now, add 2 1/3 cup of water. (I use a 1:3.5 ratio. That is, 1 part rice to 3.5 parts of water. Towards the end if you feel the need to add some more water, you can. I added another 1/3 cup towards the end. So this time I used a 1:4 ratio. The quantity of water will depend on your rice. So start off using 3.5 parts)
- Add salt to taste and stir through. Once the salt has dissolved, you can taste the liquid in the pot and see if it is seasoned to your liking or add more salt, if needed.
- Bring the water to a boil. Then cover the pot, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the rice and lentils cook off till tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. (At this point if you feel the need to cook it further, add a little more water and continue cooking as stated above.)
When done, take off the heat and start working on the tempered spices. - For the tempering –
- In a small vessel, melt 1 1/2 tbsp ghee.
- Add the chopped garlic and stir around. Let this cook gently till a little of the rawness of the garlic goes away.
- Then, add the cumin seeds and gently cook a little more. This will infuse the ghee with beautiful flavors. Make sure to watch carefully, as you don’t want the garlic to take on any colour or burn.
- Add this to the pot of khichdi and stir through.
- Finish off with some chopped coriander and stir to distribute well.
Serve hot. Garnish with a little extra coriander and serve with a pickle of your choice. I recommend a Mango Chundo / Chunda (a sweet and slightly spicy Mango pickle).
Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Goan Prawn Curry with Okra

Goan Prawn Curry with Okra
Course: Mains, SeafoodCuisine: Goan4
servings30
minutes30
minutesIngredients
500g prawns, shelled, de-veined and washed a couple of times
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 chillies, split lengthwise
A couple of pieces of Kokum / Aamsol (dried souring agents)
6-8 okra pods, trim off the stalk and cut into approx. 1 inch pieces
Salt, to taste
1-2 tbsp oil
A small ball of tamarind (about half a walnut in size)
- For the masala (spice paste) –
1/2 cup grated coconut
6 Kashmiri chillies
3 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/8 tsp black pepper corns
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
Directions
- Sprinkle a little salt on the prepped prawns and set aside.
- Soak the tamarind in a little warm water in a small bowl and set aside.
- Grind all the ingredients for the masala into a fine paste using a little water, as needed
- Heat the oil in a large vessel.
Add the onions and saute till they soften. Add the kokum / aamsol. - Add the ground masala / spice paste to the pan and let it fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add a cup of water to the mixer and swirl around to pick up any of the remaining spice mix and add to the pan. Add more water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.
- Add the chillies and bring to a boil. Season lightly with a little salt (The prawns also have some salt on them so add salt accordingly). Lower the heat to a simmer and add the okra.
- Cook gently till the okra is almost cooked. Check for seasoning. Mash the tamarind up and discard any pieces of fibre or shell and add some of the tamarind paste, to taste.
- Add the prawns. Continue cooking just till the prawns have cooked through. (This usually just takes a couple of minutes depending on the size of the prawns.) Do not overcook the prawns.
- Check for seasoning and adjust, if needed.
Serve hot.
Recipe Video
Chicken in White Sauce Pasta

Chicken in White Sauce Pasta
Course: MainsCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Medium4
servings10
minutes30
minutesThis creamy pasta dish is full of flavour and comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight meal.
Ingredients
A single Chicken breast fillet, cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup green capsicum, diced
1 cup of broccoli florets
1/2 cup corn kernels
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Salt, to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Chilli flakes, to taste
1/2 – 1 tsp Mixed herbs, or to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1-2 tbsp vegetable stock / water
Pasta (enough for 4 servings)
A little parsley, to garnish
A little Parmesan cheese, grated
-
For the white sauce – 1 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salt, to taste
Directions
- Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. I bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook till done. Drain and reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
- While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Mix well.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan. Add the chicken and cook through, stirring occasionally, till the chicken has cooked through. Remove the chicken in a bowl and set aside.
- In the same pan, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and quickly add the garlic.
Stir through and immediately add the green capsicum. Still through and let the capsicum cook for about a minute. - Next add the broccoli and saute well. (See note*)
- Add the corn and stir through.
- Season with salt, pepper, chilli flakes and mixed herbs, to taste.
- Add 1-2 tbsp vegetable stock (you can also use water), stir well, cover and let the veggies steam and cook for a minute or two or till they are done to your liking. (If you are adding cooked broccoli to the pan, you can leave this step out. )
- Add the cooked chicken to the pan and stir through. Set aside and cook your white sauce.
- To cook the White Sauce / Bechamel Sauce –
- Add a tsp of olive oil to the pan on medium heat.
- Add the butter and let it melt.
- Add the flour and stir briskly, making sure the flour incorporates well with the butter and oil and that no lumps are left.
- Cook this roux off for about 30 seconds to a minute or till the raw smell of the flour has gone. (Do not let it develop any colour.)
- Add half the milk to the pan and stir through well, making sure no lumps remain.
- Add the remaining milk and whisk well.
- Cook the sauce till it has thickened to your liking, whisking well.
- When the sauce is done, lightly season with a little salt.
- To assemble the pasta –
- Add the white sauce to the chicken and veggies in the pan. Stir well. Add the cheese and mix through.
- Check the sauce for seasoning and adjust, if needed.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir through.
Serve your pasta in some serving plates. Finish with a light sprinkling of parsley and a grating of parmesan cheese.
Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Notes
- Our broccoli is fairly tender and cooks very quickly. If your broccoli takes longer to cook, blanch or steam it before adding to the pan.
- For detailed instructions on how to make a great white sauce, check the recipe video.