Mirjs Hungarian Thai Salmon Recipes

MIRJ'S ULTRA-RICH SWEET CHALLAH

Steps:

• In the bowl of your mixer, or in large bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla.
• Mix it around a bit.
• Melt the margarine, or heat the oil a bit in the microwave.
• Add it to the stuff in the bowl and start mixing.
• Toss in the yeast, keep mixing.
• If you are using an electric mixer, go slowly.
• If you are kneading by hand, you should get a good workout.
• Heat the soy milk until it's warm.
• It should not be boiling hot!
• Slowly, with the mixer running, add the soy milk a little bit at a time, until the dough has reached the consistency of bread dough.
• It shouldn't be cakey and it shouldn't be too sticky.
• Knead the dough in the mixer for about 7-8 minutes, or by hand for about 15 minutes.
• Place the bowl in a warm spot and let the dough rise until doubled in bulk.
• Hint: if you put the bowl of dough in the microwave and nuke it on high for 10 seconds it will speed up the rising process.
• You can also let it rise overnight in the fridge, just keep it in a knotted plastic bag so it doesn't"escape".
• When the dough has risen and doubled, punch it down.
• It's a very satisfying step!
• Knead the dough by hand for another minute or so to work out the air bubbles.
• Cut into three even pieces.
• Each piece is enough for one small loaf of challah.
• Cut each piece into three or four, roll into ropes and braid.
• The best braids are made by starting in the middle and working your way to the end, then turn it around and braid the other end.
• Pinch off the ends.
• After you have shaped your loaf (you can also swirl it, or braid and swirl it, or just shape it into a natural loaf shape), place it either in a greased loaf pan, cake pan, or just on a greased cookie sheet.
• If you bake your loaf on a sheet it will spread a bit as it rises again.
• If you put your braided loaf into a loaf tin, it will just rise upwards.
• I have also made round challahs by putting them into bundt pans, or fluted round cake pans.
• Let the shaped loaves rise for another half an hour.
• You can brush a little beaten egg on the tops for a glaze, I prefer my challahs"naked".
• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C (about 350 F).
• Bake the loaves for about 30-40 minutes.
• Time will vary based on the shape of your loaves and the pans they are in.
• If the tops start to brown too soon, just place a sheet of silver foil over them, resting lightly on the tops.
• The challah is done when you turn out the loaf, give it a knock-knock on the bottom and it sounds hollow.
• Let it cool.
• If this recipe makes too much for you, you can either freeze the dough, or the baked challahs.
• Best eaten with sweet butter, also makes the most amazing French toast.

MIRJ'S INCREDIBLY RICH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Break the chocolate up into small pieces.
• Melt them either over a double boiler or in the microwave.
• Add the eggs yolks, one at a time, and incorporate thoroughly into the chocolate.
• You have to stir fast so the chocolate doesn't cook the yolks.
• Add the brandy.
• Whip the whites until stiff.
• Slowly fold them into the chocolate mixture.
• Pour into individual dessert glasses, or into one large serving bowl.
• Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
• Note: You can also pour it into a prepared pie crust and freeze it for Mirj's Incredibly Rich Chocolate Mousse Pie.
• Note: This is a very basic recipe, which can be doubled, trebled, quadrupled, etc.
• Just remember, use 2 eggs for every 4 ounces (100 grams) of chocolate.

MIRJ'S FOOLPROOF MICROWAVE RICE - PERFECT EVERY TIME!

Steps:

• Put rice in a micro-safe bowl.
• Add water.
• Swirl for 2 seconds.
• Add salt.
• Swirl again.
• Cover with vented plastic wrap or a loose plastic cover.
• Nuke on high for 12 minutes.
• Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Dump rice into a strainer and rinse under cold water.
• Place in micro-safe serving dish (or back in the rinsed out bowl), add seasonings to taste (onion soup mix, salt and pepper, hot chilles, whatever you like in your rice) and heat on medium for 5 minutes until it reaches desired serving temperature.
• If the rice is going to be part of a salad, you can use it straight away.
• This makes perfect,"every grain separate" rice, every time!

ONE-PAN THAI GREEN SALMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Put the oil in a deep roasting tin or dish about 30 x 25cm and toss through the shallots, chilli, potatoes and lemongrass. Roast for 10 mins until fragrant, keeping an eye on the shallots to ensure they don't burn. Remove from the oven and stir in the curry paste to coat everything. Return to the oven for 2 mins until its aroma is released before mixing in the coconut milk and 200ml stock. Put back in the oven again for 15-20 mins until the sauce is slightly thickened and the potatoes are turning tender.
• Season to taste with the fish sauce and sugar, then stir through the courgette ribbons and spinach. Add another 50ml-100ml stock now if the sauce is too thick, but be aware that the courgette and spinach will release some water as well. Nestle the salmon fillets in the sauce and bake for a further 10-15 mins until the salmon is cooked to your liking.
• Add the lime juice and taste the sauce for a balance of sweet and sour, adding more lime juice and fish sauce, if you like. Scatter over the spring onions, if using, along with the herbs and chilli. For a more filling meal, serve with rice or noodles and the lime wedges on the side.

THAI SALMON

Steps:

• Marinade salmon overnight.
• Boil rice for roughly 15 to twenty minutes.
• Grill or barbecue salmon until edges become crispy and salmon is firm to the touch, unless preffered rare in the center.
• Create the sour chilli dipping sauce.
• Plate up, serve meal and enjoy.

MIRJ'S SIMPLE CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Place the spinach in a microwave-safe bowl and nuke for about 8 minutes, until cooked through.
• Add the cream cheese, mix through and nuke for another 2 minutes.
• Add the salt, pepper and red pepper, and mix through completely.

MIRJ'S HUNGARIAN/THAI SALMON

Steps:

• While the salmon is still partially frozen, cut into serving pieces.
• I usually serve this as an appetizer so the pieces are smallish squares.
• Place the salmon in a large pot and cover with water.
• Throw in the handfuls of paprika and lemon grass.
• Add the salt and pepper.
• Bring the whole thing to a rolling boil and let cook for 20 minutes.
• Don't treat the fish delicately, it can take it, don't worry.
• Turn off the heat, let sit for about 10 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon.
• Chill for at least two hours and serve.
• Note: You can substitute a whole[b]washed[/b] lemon, cut into slices, if you don't have lemon grass at hand.