A few tips that work for me
>> Saturday, 13 September 2008
Want to shorten the cooking time for some dishes without losing the flavour? Want to cook okra that’s not slimy? Do you want to cook shrimp with vegetables and not let them turn into little bits of rubber? Click here for the column and read on as I share with you some everyday tips I use in the kitchen that always work for me. I’m sure they’ll help you too.
The dish in this photograph is as a result of one of the tips mentioned in the column, see how the karaila (bitter gourd, bitter melon) is not all clung together?
A few weeks ago as I was channel surfing, I paused at the Foodnetwork Channel long enough to hear Ingrid Hoffmann (Simply Delicioso) give a break-teaser about making green plantain fritters as only they do in Puerto Rico. You all know by now my love for the green plantain and that I am always on the lookout for new ways to cook it. So I present to you Ingrid's Aranitas (Green Plantain Fritters). I absolutely love it! Crispy and crunchy with the delicate warmth of garlic and the subtle flavour of the cilantro (coriander) minced and sprinkled on top. These fritters are best served hot or warm. The following day I had leftovers and though they had lost their crunch they made a filling breakfast with a cup of tea. So good! Click here for the recipe which I followed exactly. Be sure to make a paste of the garlic and not just mince finely.
Amidst the storms, floods, high gas prices, high food prices, corruption and war, we have to Count our Blessings. That's this week's post at Forgive Me My Nonsense...
Have a good weekend everybody.
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80 comments:
Wow those fritters look delicious. I love plantains, they're so versatile! I've never even heard of that melon, but I also never use okra, it's just one of those foreign vegetables that I've never had and therefore am not inclined to try. Sorta like fennel and leeks, I've never use those either, I need to expand my horizons!
I still have to try Bitter Gurd... I'll have to visit my favorite Asian supermarket soon, I guess ;-P! Those fritters look extremely good and very pretty!
Cheers,
Rosa
Ditto on everything you said! Amidst! all this negativity in this world, there is always your fritters!
PLease accept an award from me, I am trying to pay the love forward!
http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/09/award-that-is-epitome-of-warm-bowl-of.html
Thanks for all those lovely tips. Your fritters look delicious.
What yummy fritters :-)
Fritter Anything. Love it Cynthia!
Thanks for the endorsement of Ingrid, heretofore I did not pay much attention, I will now check out her recipes.
Thanks for all those lovely tips. Your fritters look delicious.
Nice entry & Great Click..
I think your fritters are just what Ièm needing right now!
They look amazing :-)
I have never had fritters with banana like this, it looks so delicious.
Love the look of that bitter melon, Cynthia!
Loved the column Cyn! Those are some great tips... I never do the Karela one though, since I love the bitterness and don't want to lose any of it... :D I can have it a bit slimy, if that is what it takes :) I did try the salting and squeezing out the moisture part for Siv once though, and that was the only Karela dish he ever liked! So, as you said it is a great tip to introduce the dish to Karela haters :)
Looks pretty!
oooooooooooh I NEED these fritters :)
looks great and mouthwatering dishes...
thanks for the wonderful tips Cynthia! the bitter gourd curry and the platain fritters look heavenly. So mouth-watering.
I still didn't aquire bitter gourd taste yet! We asian love this gourd said to reduce heating in our body.But I don't mind grabbing few fritters from you!! lol!
I'm a fritter kinda girl and this looks so crunchy and delicious.
hi ya
this is my first here n I really liked ur blog.. awesome pics... wat cam do ya use??? i really liked the texture.
The bitter gourd (BG) curry looks yummy... even a BGphobic person like me is tempted to try it..Way to go!
Fritters look welcoming. Awesome looking curry.
Cynthia I'm hungry :) I want to eat them all :)
Oh ye, bittergourd hardly turn out nice after they are cooked. Yours looks amazingly perfect!
I have been cleaning, and I am hungry .. would love to have a bite of those fritters right now :)
Useful tips and what a lovely fritters :)
I like very much your blog, is beautiful! Kiss fron Canary Island.
Those fritters look soo tempting Cynthia.
Yummy fritters! I love plantains!
I have very recently started kinda liking Karela.. not too much though ;)I have an award for u over at my blog, I do hope u will accept it.
i seldom eat bitter ground and the fritters look tasty
Those fritters look lovely!
Delicious fritters and helpful tips..thanks for sharing them
This is a lovely post, Cynthia. I love the bitterness of bitter gourd, though the other two in my house really don't. The light green variety of bittergourd is much less bitter than the darker one.
I discovered the air drying okra by accident. I left the cut okra in the kitchen and came back to cook it after and hour, and no stickiness! So that's what I do now.
Adding lemon juice or some tamarind extract to okra while cooking also takes care of the sliminess.
Have something for u in my blog..
thanks for the wonderful tips, cynthia. I especially like the one about salting, squeezing, and drying the bitter melon. Even though I love the bitterness of bittermelon, I'll give your tip a try.
Mmmmm, Those fritters are perfection! All crunchy and golden!
As always I learn a new culinary taste, bitter melon/gourd. As usual you've peeked my curiosity Cynthia.
Oh my, those fritters look wonderful! I am a sucker for plantains. And fried things, lol.
Frankly, I never did like bitter gourds:p
But even I have to admit your fritters look so tempting in the photos...hahaha:)
those fritters looks so fabulous. must try them in my appam pan.
Thanks for the tip on the okra. The slime has always kept me from cooking with it, but I've tasted it when other people have cooked it in a non-slimy way, and I actually liked it.
Hi Cynth,how are u?
we have bittergourd fries to day.. :)
Great pics...and you know, I'm sooo in love w/Ingrid!
Those look lovely! I would love them for breakfast with a cup of tea to start my day off with a bit of fritter comfort!
Bitter guard looks so yummy...& the tips are so useful
wow! delicious fritters! a good recipe with bitter gourd!
I've like bittergourd only when it's dryfried, then I can't taste its bitterness!
This is the first time to ur blog! Fritters luks yummy n picture luks awesome!
Very nice post--and those fritters look INCREDIBLE!!
Your fritters look delicious and thanksfor all those wonderful tips :)
Rosie x
I love these fritters. plantain and coriander has to be a winner - love both. I might go looking for plantain next time I am in London.
The tips were all very useful, Cynthia. And these plantain fitters look so delicious. I can imagine how yummy & crispy they would be fresh out of the hot oil!
those fritters look really yummy cynthia .. lovely pic
Yum! Those fritters look fantastic and so carefully made too.
Bitter gourd is the one I dont buy,still ur dish looks juicy:)
I love fritter anythings :). I like to watch Ingrid to she always has such a flare that suits me..
Thanks for lovely tips.Fritters look awesome and tempting.....
Hi Cynthia
Seeing you in a long time.. I do make bitter gourd at times and we have a lot of variations for it.. We stuff it too at times...
This version too looks great..
Those plantain fritters look so good-- I always love anything made out of green banana
Your food always looks so fantastic, Cynthia!And it almost time to eat here. :-)
I love the look of the green plantain fritters, they are making me soooo hungry. I have made Ingrid Hoffman's tostadas and they were very good (My first time using plantains)
I did not have good luck with the bitter gourd when I tried one months ago - I think I am scarred for life by it's bitterness!
cynthia
the tips are really worth taking with a pinch of salt..very helpful, indeed !
oh my! those fritters look soooo yum, Cynthia! now on to ur kitchen tips :)....
Hi Cynthia
The tips article was very useful and informative! The fritters look so crunchy and delicious.
I never tried bitter melon and it looks good. I have to try those fritters too.
Have a great weekend!
Ah, bitter gourd (called ampalaya here) is too much for me, but those fritters do look delicious!! :)
Cynthia, it looks delicious! :) I have never tried bitter melon yet... I always want to try, when I see them on the market, but then the word "bitter" scares me off ;)
But it looks so good on your photo that I may finally try it.
Yesterday for lunch we made fish stew with fig (green bananas) and yam (replacement for dasheen that is hard to find).... it was so good that Michael went out to buy some more fish, and he made it again for dinner! :)))
Hope you will enjoy your weekend, Margot
I never warmed up to okra because of it's "slimy" character. Thanks Cynthia!
Ohh those fritters!! YUM. Those are dangerous to be around...I would eat so many of those little jewels.
Everytime I click on your blog Cynthia I wish I could come and eat a banquet in your house. Your food is always so gooood! :-)
The bitter gourd is delicious and good for you--I have eaten it stir fried with homemade roast bake for breakfast--YUM--
these fritters I must try--I love cilantro and a squeeze of lime is sooo devine.
Have a great weekend too Cynthia.
Melanie
I am so pleased to learn that, at least, one of Ingrid's recipes is noteworthy. But maybe it was this particular cook that made those fritters so good...
Have to try this...another great find Cynthia.
How interesting, I didn't know some people use lime to cleanse there foods i.e. fishes and meats! I too rinse my fish in water and then pat dry! Very good article Cynthia!!
And those fritters.. yummm! :)
Cynthia really you love it I'm very happy. I love always your foods too :) And I want to buy your book. xoxo
Thanks for the article of cooking tips, I used to love the bitter gourds back in India, the ones grown here in US are way too bitter .
Banana fritters look crisp and perfect for snacking.
thanks for the link! Definitely a lot of helpful things there.
Ha ha. I just read Sue's comment!
We know how she feels about Ingrid.
Glad they worked out for you.
this is my first visit here. you have a fantastic blog. loved the pics...and of course , the tips :-)
I saw that episode too..your fritters look fabulous!
Wow,cynthia,aranitas of puerto rico.I have seen that show and made them.Only diff between them and normal plntain fritters from india is that these are grated,but another non-grated version is also there(tostones).nice post
Those fritters look so delicious. Im definitely going to have to try them! That savoury bread looks amazing too, you might be hearing from me soon!
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