2 Ingredient Flat Breads

We have been experimenting with lots of different flat breads - pita, naan, flour tortillas - that can be cooked on the stovetop. This recipe may not be that authentic but if you want fresh flat breads in under 30 minutes no other recipe beats this!

And once you've had these you will never eat those tasteless  store-bought discs of cardboard again. 

They are definitely best cooked on a cast iron pan but I have done them in non-stick frying pans too.

Ingredients

2 cups self-raising flour

2 cups full fat Greek yogurt

Salt

Method

Mix minimally with a fork.

The dough must still be sticky when you turn it out onto a floured board. Knead it gently with flour on your hands until it's no longer sticking to your fingers.

Don't work it too much and add as little flour as possible.

Divide into balls the size of a large egg or small lemon. 1 cup if flour will make 6 small breads.

Roll each ball into a think flat disc. Your rolling pin ( or empty wine bottle because self catering accommodations never provide a rolling pin but somehow there's always an empty wine bottle around) and board must be well floured.

Preheat the pan to a medium heat. You may want to grease it lightly to prevent sticking but it's not usual for them to stick.  

Cook about 60 seconds on one side- you may see some bubbles forming on top- then turn over for about 30 second on the other side. Both sides should have a golden toasty colour.

Thai Fried Rice

https://rachelcooksthai.com/thai-fried-rice/

Sunday Brunch in Luderitz

The view from our apartment is far better than anywhere else in town and we are sheltered from the wind that blows constantly along this coast. So we are staying in. 

We are at the sea but that's where any similarity between Luderitz and Phuket ends. Still we hanker after Thai Fried Rice. This recipe is a rather basic and Westernised version but that makes it easier to recreate wherever you are.

My improvisations are based on what ingredients I had. 

Fresh garlic, ginger and lemongrass as well as vegetarian green curry paste.

Cabbage, carrots, onions and red pepper were the veggies I had.

I used basmati rice and 4 eggs which I always cook separately to prevent stodginess. 

I added some leftover tinned crushed pineapple.

I fried everything using a mixture of vanilla oil and coconut cream.

Neil adds his chilli fish sauce - brought from Thailand-to his plate because of my allergy.

So my recipe included aspects of two versions of Thai Fried Rice that I love and order often in Phuket if I can get them done without fish sauce or seafood.

Green Curry Fried Rice is great with chicken and Kaab Gluay Restaurant opposite Patong Loft Condominiums does the best in Phuket.

Pineapple Fried Rice has fresh pineapple, tumeric and raisins added and is baked and served in a pineapple shell. This one is from Song Pee Nong in Patong.

Pinacolada Pancakes

Here's the recipe I based my Pina Colada Pancakes on... Very loosely based so I added some notes below...

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a47167/pina-colada-pancake-recipe/

The Pancakes

I used self raising flour and no baking powder. I used tinned coconut cream. I used 2 eggs instead of 1. 

I didn't add the pineapple or rum to the batter but added it to the sauce instead.

Because this is an American recipe, these are actually more like crumpets not thin pancakes so I added water to the mixture to make the batter thinner. I got the texture and thickness of a "Harries Pancake"- lighter than a "boere pannekoek" and thinner than a "crumpet."

The Sauce

Butter 2tbs

Castor Sugar 1tbs

Coconut Milk

Tinned Crushed Pineapple

Dessicated Coconut

Rum -added at the end

Boiled in a saucepan on the stovetop.

 

Pina Colada - a favourite of mine in Phuket

Italian Tomato Sauce

Whether it's on a dusty African roadside or a Parisian boulevard, I love visiting outdoor food markets. Don't these tomatoes look awesome? They are Italian. Italian tomatoes do make the best tomato sauce and some would say that the canned Italian ones are better than fresh and local anywhere else in the world. I usually make sauce with a mixture of both and it's always better than anything store bought for pasta or pizza or whatever. The secret is cooking it for hours to intensify the flavours. Here's a simple recipe -

https://www.thepetitecook.com/classic-italian-tomato-sauce/

English Muffins

English Muffins

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-english-muffins-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchen-106360

We have been trying lots of different breads and baked goods that don't need to be cooked in an oven because when you are camping  or staying in self-catering accommodation in the bush you don't have access to an oven. 

We have made pitas, rotis and pot breads and now English Muffins.

This recipe worked well but you do need quite a few hours because there are three different risings. The first rise is just a starter and you can use your sourdough starter if you have one. 

Eggs Benedict and Hollandaise Sauce

Eggs Benedict

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gordons-eggs-benedict

Basic Hollandaise

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/basic-hollandaise

Saturday 6 February 2021

Lockdown Day 317

We have been staying in Sanparks chalets or tented camps in various National Parks for over a month now. The accommodation is very comfy and clean and generally well appointed for short stays in a game reserve. We have only had an oven in one place so far so you have to cook everything on a 2 plate stove. In cabins that have electricity you generally get a microwave, kettle and toaster. A 2-sleeper room literally has only 2 of everything; crockery, cutlery and glassware. There's always only one sink so you have to rinse your dishes in a roasting pan or salad bowl. Due to Covid regulations (?) the places are not serviced. And we are cooking all our meals; no restaurants. Sometimes we just do a quick braai and salad or sometimes we cook up a storm. Today we cooked Eggs Benedict.

1. English muffins from scratch, and they required three different risings before cooking. ( Handy because they are cooked on a griddle like crumpets, Welsh cakes, pita breads or rotis.)

2. Hollandaise Sauce over a double boiler. 

3. Poached eggs done in silicon muffin cups.

4. Fried bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms.

We had a LATE brunch but we had fun. Along with laundry done in the hand basin it feels like we have been working all day.