Saliq Recipes

RESTAURANT-STYLE SALSA

Steps:

• Combine the diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, cilantro, onions, garlic, jalapeno, cumin, salt, sugar and lime juice in a blender or food processor. (This is a very large batch. I recommend using a 12-cup food processor, or you can process the ingredients in batches and then mix everything together in a large mixing bowl.)
• Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you'd like. I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
• Refrigerate the salsa for at least an hour before serving.

SALIQ

Steps:

• Simmer meat, onions, cilantro, cardamom pods, salt and pepper in 1 cup water in a covered saucepan over low heat for 1 hour or until tender. Add water if pot dries. Remove meat, set aside and keep warm.
• Add 2 cups water and milk to stock in which meat was cooked. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice, cover and cook very gently over low heat until the rice is nearly cooked, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to steam 10 minutes longer.
• Place rice on a large serving platter and pick out the cardamom pods. Arrange pieces of meat on top. Pour melted butter over rice and meat. Serve with a vegetable salad.

AL SALOOQ - TRADITIONAL ARAB CARDAMOM PASTRIES (DEEP FRIED)

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder & ground cardamom into a fairly large mixing bowl.
• Add the melted ghee / butter / oil & using a wooden spoon, mix it into the flour intil you have a crumbly mixture. Slowly add the milk & mix until you have a soft dough. Knead the dough until it is smooth.
• Take walnut sized pieces of the dough & with lightly floured hands, roll them into fat sausages & then shape them into moons - you can also form them into slightly flattened rounds & then push your thumb upwards in the centre to make the moon shapes.
• Heat enough of the sunflower oil for deep frying & fry the cresecent moons in batches until they are a golden brown colour.
• Drain well on paper towels & toss them in confectioners sugar. Just before serving, I like to give them another light dusting of sugar (using a sieve for even coverage).