Middle eastern rice (Hashwe)

I haven't eaten rice in probably 8 months, but due to my dietician telling me I needed more carbs in my life and that she would like me to eat brown rice as part of a low FODMAP lifestyle I have been having it in small amounts this past month.

This is an Arabic rice dish that is accompanied by roasted chicken, a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a green salad dressed with lemon juice, salt and olive oil. But it is just as good all on its own!

Ingredients:

150g minced beef or lamb
1.5 cups brown rice
2.5 cups water
1 Tbsp mixed spice (check to make sure it has no onion powder in it)
1 Tbsp Himalayan pink sea salt
1 Tbsp black pepper
1/2 cup flaked almonds

Directions:

1. In a bowl add in the brown rice, minced meat and all the spices
2. With clean hands combine all the ingredients so the meat is evenly distributed
3. Place the mixture in a pot and add the water. You may wish to add extra salt to the water but I prefer to under-salt than over-salt
4. Once the water boils turn down the heat and simmer for 30 mins or until the rice is cooked
5. In a frying pan add the flaked almonds and allow to cook on high heat until they start browning - watch them carefully you do not want them to burn
6. Serve by placing Arabic rice in a plate and drizzling with a small handful of flaked almonds

Labne (yoghurt) cheese

This is the easiest cheese you will ever make in your life. A bold statement but it really can't be simpler. This is a Middle Eastern cheese made purely from yoghurt. There are only two ingredients needed for this - full fat yoghurt and salt. I can eat a small bowl of this in a few days it's so moreish but super healthy.

 

 

You will need a cheesecloth or if you don't have one a white pillowcase turned inside out will do.

Directions:

1. Get a bowl and colander, and place colander on top of the bowl
2. Place cheesecloth in colander and spread it open 
3. Pour a tub of full fat natural or greek yoghurt (or you could have a mix of the two) into the cheesecloth.
4. Add half a tsp of salt to the yoghurt and give a small stir
5. Tie up cheesecloth
6. Add something heavy on top of the cheesecloth like a brick or some heavy books
7. Leave for a day so the water drips out of the yoghurt
8. After a day, untie the yoghurt and you can either place in a tupperware or if you plan to not eat it as quickly as I do, fill a sterilised jar up with olive oil and make small balls out of the cheese and drop them into oil. This will preserve it for ages

You spread this cheese like you would any cream cheese and sprinkle with some paprika, it is honestly delicious.

Until next time, happy eating!

Family recipe with a twist: Bamyeh (okra stew)

The twist for this dish is I serve it with buckwheat groats instead of rice. Buckwheat is a great source of fibre and is gluten free and wheat free. It replaces most of my former carb intake, which consisted of pasta, rice and wholemeal bread. The perfect thing is it doesn't bloat you, it doesn't raise your blood sugar levels and it slowly releases energy keeping you fuller for longer.

Bamyeh is a traditional dish from the Middle East that my mum used to make all the time growing up. I hated vegetables at the time, but for some reason okra never registered as a vegetable to me as it was so ingrained in my everyday.

So here's the dish, please let me know if you have any questions.

Ingredients:

200g okra (also called lady fingers)
150g cubed lamb shoulder (you can cut these into smaller pieces if you like)
1 x head of garlic
1 Tbsp mixed spice
1 Tbsp Himalayan sea salt
1 Tbsp white pepper
1 x lemon
2 Tbsp tomato concentrate
1 x tin of organic chopped tomatoes
1 Tbsp dried coriander
2 Tbsp of olive or rice bran oil
4 cups of water
150g Buckwheat groats - (to be cooked just like rice)

Directions:

1. Boil buckwheat groats with water and a pinch of salt as if you were cooking rice, once cooked set aside
2. For the stew, crush a whole head of garlic and chop okra into smaller pieces if they are too big
3. Cut up lamb shoulder or whatever cut you like (can even make it with beef) and add to a pot to quickly sear it
4. Add okra with half the garlic to the pot and add mixed spice and pepper
5. Pour water over it and let it boil for a bit
6. Skim off any scum on top of the water to make sure the broth is clear
7. Cook for around 10 mins then add a tin of tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of tomato concentrate
8. Let cook for another 20-30 mins.
9. In a fry pan cook the remaining garlic with lots of olive oil and a tablespoon of dried coriander (you could also use rice bran oil)
10. Add to the pot of okra stew
11. Add salt to taste
12. Serve with buckwheat groats and a lemon wedge as lemon brings out the flavour