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Lobster Biryani Masala {Daniel Boulud}
My husband and I are huge fans of Chef Daniel Boulud and his collection of restaurants, in particular DBGB in NYC, Bar Boulud in London, and Restaurant Daniel in NYC, for special occasions. Thus, when Chef Boulud’s book, Daniel: My French Cuisine, came out celebrating recipes from Restaurant Daniel, I couldn’t wait to get cooking. I already made the Fondue Ravioli (scrumptious) and the famous Duo of Beef with Tardivo & Sweet Potato Dauphine, both with huge success, so this time I set out to make his Lobster Biryani Masala.
It’s technically an appetizer, but in no way should be underestimated based on that distinction, since it is truly an elegant and exquisite dish in its own right. A tender fresh lobster tail is served alongside homemade fried, biryani-spiced lobster samosas, with grilled hearts of palm, coconut chutney and freshly dressed romaine lettuce. The spices are well balanced, and the rich fried samosas are complemented beautifully by the lightness of the lobster tail and salad. It’s contemporary in looks and taste.
I won’t lie by saying this recipe is easy or quick to make – in fact, it is indeed a full-on project, but if you are like me you will love taking hours out of your day scouring your local farmer’s market and fishmonger for fresh ingredients, and then slaving in the kitchen preparing a heavenly feast. Let’s get started…
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Curried Coconut Lentil Soup
This weekend I set out to recreate a delicious Curried Coconut Lentil Soup that I had while I was in Africa a couple weeks ago. While creating the recipe, I wanted to make sure that the soup had a distinct coconut flavor, lots of nutritious vegetables and grains, and a healthy dose of warm curry spices. This soup ticks all the boxes and makes for a delightful lunch or light dinner. It is full of flavor and thickens beautifully thanks to the red split lentils and creamy coconut. I added diced tomatoes and tomato paste for an extra flavor boost and bit of sweetness.
As you can imagine, the spices are extremely important for this soup, so make sure you use fresh and good-quality spices. For my spice mix, I used Daylesford Organic Curry Powder, which was a mix of Cumin, Coriander, Onion, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Garlic, Ginger, Yellow Mustard, Black Pepper, Chilli, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Cloves. It worked great, but you can certainly create your own curry spice mix as well if you have all of the ingredients!
Read on for the full recipe and step by step instructions for this warm and hearty soup…
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Curried Dhal with Grilled Eggplant
I had some extra red lentils leftover from when I made my Red Lentil, Carrot & Cumin Soup, so I decided to make another dish featuring these much-loved legumes. Prior to this recent lentil kick, I didn’t realize how high in protein lentils are. In fact, they contain 26 grams of protein per 100 grams and are also low in fat and a good source of fiber. All the more reason to enjoy lentils more often. Anyway, this is a delightfully tasty recipe for curried lentils topped with grilled eggplant. The lentils are cooked in turmeric and tamarind paste and then finished off with a healthy dose of curry powder, onions, garlic and ginger. The result is a sweet and sour taste with plenty of kick. The lentils are good on their own, but adding some grilled eggplant slices on top makes it a nice light meal. Enjoy!!
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Curry Garden Vegetable Soup
On these cold winter nights, nothing is more comforting than a bowl of homemade soup. This past weekend, my mom and grandmother set out to make a hearty, fresh and healthy vegetable soup with loads of flavor and a Thai-inspired ingredient list. Mission accomplished.
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Red Curry Chicken Kabobs with Minty Yogurt Sauce
Last night my boyfriend made me a delicious dish that has me dreaming of warm summer nights — Red Curry Chicken Kabobs with Minty Yogurt Sauce. This recipe is so easy to make and bursting with bold flavors. With the base of Thai red curry paste, he made a zesty marinade that coated the chicken beautifully. The dish is finished off with a refreshing and healthy mint and lime yogurt dipping sauce. We added a heirloom tomato side salad and a few grilled vegetables (corn on the cob and grilled onion and red peppers) to make a healthy, mouth-watering summer meal. This recipe is a summer-must. Enjoy!!
