the kitchen espion: August 2015

Life is easy in Delhi with food stores , specially in Malls where you can shop your needs and buy groceries for your home . Living next to Select City Mall , Foodhall is my destination for all kinds of Kitchen necessities ( Right from Groceries , to imported fruits and Gadgets) . I often used to see their live demonstrations while shopping my grocery , then last week i got a call from Anushua Ghosh to attend one such live demonstration , which Foodhall had organised in association with American Pistachio Growers (APG). As I love to attend live demonstration of chefs , I couldnt refuse for the same . Foodhall's corporate Chef from France - Olivier Vincenot on last saturday ( 8th of August) demonstrated three of his best recipes using California grown Pistachios . You will find these American Pistachios in their rack now .
Talking about Pistachios , do you know it has some interesting names across the world . Pistachios in China is famous as " The Happy Nut" , while in Iran it is called as "The Smiling Nut " . "Smiling Pistachios" for Middle Easterns . These Happy Nut has some nutritional punch with protein , Magnesium , Thaimin , fiber and Phosporous . I like to have Salty and Crispy roasted Pistachios. Got some amazing recipes from Chef Oliver and I am going to try them in my Kitchen for sure . Let me share three of his easy-peasy recipes here for my readers .

Recipes ..

Pistachio Cannoli

Ingredients
serves - 35 ppl
Cooking time - 10 minutes
Preparation time- 20 minutes

For the Cannoli ( Waffle cone mix)
Diary Cream ( Amul) - 1/4 ltr
Vanilla Essence - few drops
Icing Sugar- 1/2 cup
Refined flour- 1/2 cup
Cinnamon powder- 1 pinch
Nutmet pd- 1/2 pinch
Corn flour - 1/2 tbsp
Refined oil- 1/2 tsp
Milk - 1tbsp

Method
In a bowl with a whisk, whip the cream with the vanilla until mousse like until slightly thicken ( it shouldnt form peaks)
Sift the remaining ingredients together and stir them into the cream to make a batter.
Let the batter sit or rest for 30 minutes
Heat the waffle cone maker and pour 1 tbsp of batter into it , close and cook till golden brown.
Fold immediately to form a hollow cylinder open from both ends. The Cannoli is ready for filling . ( Use a round handle about the thickness of the tom finger)
For the filling
Ingredients
Ricotta Cheese -1cup
Pistachio nuts - 1/4 cup
Pistachio Powder- 2 tbsp
Method
Place the ricotta cheese in a hand bowl and gently stir with a spatula to make in smooth.
Chop the pistachio nuts roughly and fold into the ricotta
With a piping bag, fill the waffle cannoli from both side and deep each end into pistachio powder .

Pistachio Blanc Mange

Pistachio Blanc Mange
Serve - 6
Prep time- 40 mts
Ingredients
Whole Milk - 2cup
Pistachio Powder- 1/2 cup
Caster Sugar - 1/4 cup
Gelatin leaf- 1tbsp of powder gelatin
Whipped cream- 3/4 cup
Method
To make pistachio powder: if only pistachio with skin are avilable , boil some water in a sauce pan and place in the whole pistachio, simmer for a few mts and then put them in a cold water bath to cool down quickly., remove the skin and let the pistachios dry on a kitchen paper. Best if this is done the day before.
To make the pistachio powder, put them into a blender or a food processor , a handfull at a time, and blend until a powder is formed.
Heat together the milk and pistachio powder and let infuse for a few mts at low heat. Do not boil. Remove from heat and cover with a cling flim for 20 mts so that the flavour doesnt evaporate.
Pass the milk and pistachio through a thin sieve back into a sauce pan and add the sugar , heat up on medium heat until the temperature reaches 82C. Remove from the heat.
Soften the gelatin leaf in cold water. ( If no gelatin leaf, use the gelatin powder) by mixing it with 100ml of the milk until dissolved and further melting it using a microwave
Add the gelatin to the milk, stil until fully dissolved and cool down to room temperature while stirring .
Whip the cream and fold together. The mix texture should be slightly thick, not quite liquid like water.
Pour to the glasses to set
Decorate the top with chopped pistachios

HUMMUS ..

Hummus

Hummus was served with Pita Bread sticks

Pistachio Hummus
Serves- 2
Preparation time- 15 mts
Cooking time- 10 mts
Ingredients
Pistachio shelled - 1cup
Boiled chick peas - 1/2 cup -optional
Water- 1/2 cup
Olive oil- 2 tbsp
Cloves garlic - 2
Whole lemon juice - 1
Salt as required
Tahini paste -2 tbsp
Method
Boil the pistachios in water , drain and rub to take out the skin
In a food processor place pistachio , olive oil and half water and blend to a paste

Add the boiled chick peas made into a paste , garlic, lemon juice , tahini paste, and remaining water slowly and process till the desired hummus consistency is acquired . Add more water if required .
Adjust the seasoning and serve with chips or veggies .

Some more photos of the event ..

Chef Olivier preparing for Hummus

Californian Pistachios

Making of Cannolis

Cannolis

Filling up of Cannolis with Ricotta cheese

Chef made all these Cannolis for us . :)

Corporate Chef of Foodhall Chef Olivier Vincenot with Foodhall and team-American Pistachio Growers (APG)

*The Kitchen Espion team wishes Food Hall all success into their venture and also want to thank Anushua Ghosh for inviting me for such exciting cooking event .

I was expecting little more messy

The much awaited Californian chain of Burger has been finally launched in New Delhi . Discovery of Margaret and Carl Karcher , this 70 year old brand made its grand entry into QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) food market in Delhi over the weekend with its huge range of Burgers (both Nonveg and veg) . Located in popular hang out spot in South Delhi, The Select City Walk, and like other American food chains ,Carl's Jr too has customised its menu to suit Indian Palate .

Carl's Jr specialises in Chargrilled Burgers which is being grilled in their special griller with high temperature . Their menu features 15 various Vegetarian and Non vegetarian Burgers with hand breaded chicken offerings . They also have a wide variety of hand scooped ice-creams shakes and Beer on tap .

Sana Chopra, the executive Director for the brand said " Carl's Jr. will satisfy Indian palate with their rich and intense flavours of chargrilled burgers and Beer on tap and soft beverages bar". As a meat lover , I am little dissappointed to see only chicken as a meat on their menu but talking to their Marketing Executive Mr. Sameer Chopra got to know that very soon they are going to add seafood and Lamb meat in their menu.
Their chargrilled burger section has a variety of options like "Star Burger with Moroccan spiced chicken with cheese , Mile High Burger with hand breaded onion rings topped with Santa Fe Sauce , Chargrilled Chicken fillet with Mango Jalapeno Pepper and many more . In vegerarian section , I saw the menu with Chargrilled Tandoori Paneer Burger , Paneer Tikka Masala with Mint mayo , 9 Jewel Burger , Fenugreek Burger and more . I must not forget to mention their "Wasabi-Fries" , this is one dish which i really liked . As wasabi is my favourite , i loved their idea to sprinkle Wasabi powder over fries instead of Indian Chaat Masala . Their onion rings are different from what we normally get in restaurant serving World's Cuisine .

According to Sameer Chopra , their target is to attract Young crowd with their unique marketing skills but I am wondering will their Beer-Burger combination stop "Adult Young Generation" ?

To reach
Carl's Jr Chargrill Burger
Select City walk, Souther part
(Back side of the mall ) .