Tabbouleh Wrapped In Romaine Leaves Food

LEBANESE TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Place the bulgur in a bowl, and cover with water by 1/2 inch. Soak for 20 minutes, until slightly softened. Drain through a cheesecloth-lined strainer, and press the bulgur against the strainer to squeeze out excess water. Transfer to a large bowl, and toss with the garlic, lemon juice, parsley, mint, tomatoes, scallions and salt. Leave at room temperature or in the refrigerator for two to three hours, so that the bulgur can continue to absorb liquid and swell.
• Add the olive oil, toss together, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with lettuce leaves.

TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Place the bulghur in a large bowl, pour in the boiling water, and add the lemon juice, olive oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Stir, then allow to stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Add the scallions, mint, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper; mix well. Season, to taste, and serve or cover and refrigerate. The flavor will improve if the tabbouleh sits for a few hours.

AUTHENTIC TABBOULEH

Steps:

• Wash and rinse bulgur until runoff water becomes clear. Place prepared bulgur in a large bowl. Add tomatoes to bowl; stir to combine. Allow mixture to sit until bulgur absorbs tomato juice and expands, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Add onion, parsley, mint, and green onions to bowl. Stir to combine.
• Mix together tomato paste, vegetable oil, and lemon juice in a bowl, stirring until thoroughly combined. Add dressing to salad; mix to coat. Season with salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

TAMALES WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover pork with water and add 1 garlic clove, 1 onion quarter and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until the pork is tender, 45-60 minutes. Shred the meat, reserving the stock.
• Heat a comal or iron skillet over medium heat. Place the chiles in the hot skillet, using a spatula to press them against it slightly. Turn them so that both sides begin to change color. This will take 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn them. Place the chiles in a bowl, cover with warm water and soak for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the tomatoes on a comal or griddle and grill until the skin is charred. Alternatively, put the tomatoes in a baking pan lined with foil and broil until skin is blackened, turning once. Peel and purée in a blender.
• Roast the other onion quarter, 2 cloves garlic, marjoram, peppercorns and cloves. Drain the chiles and transfer to a blender. Add the roasted onion, garlic, marjoram, peppercorns, cloves and 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) of reserved stock, then purée until smooth.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the lard in a skillet and sauté the chile purée in it for 5 minutes. Add the puréed tomatoes and sauté for another 5 minutes; add the pork, stir and cover. Lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes.
• Hold the banana leaf directly over the heat for 5 seconds. Cut into 5-in (13 cm) squares.
• Knead the masa with 2 tablespoons (1 oz/30 g) of the lard for 5 minutes.
• Use the remaining lard to grease one side of the banana leaf. Place 3-in (7.5-cm) square of masa on the lard and top with 1 1/2 tablespoons of pork mixture.
• Fold the opposite edges of the leaf toward the center, then do the same with the same outer edges to form a closed rectangle. To secure tie the tamales with narrow strips of leaf.
• Place 2 cups (16 oz fl oz/500 ml) water in a pressure cooker, then cover the steamer basket with a layer of flattened banana leaves. Add the tamales to the steamer basket and cover with another layer of leaves. Place the lid on the pan and cook 20 minutes. If you use an ordinary steamer, follow the same procedure but use 4 cups (32 fl oz/1 L) water and cook for 1 hour.
• Serve warm, with frijoles refritos (refried beans).

TABBOULEH (LEBANESE PARSLEY AND LEMON SALAD)

Steps:

• Wash the bulgur wheat in a colander. In a medium bowl, soak the bulgur in very hot water for 15 minutes. Drain very well in a colander and then squeeze the bulgur wheat by hand to get rid of any excess water. Put aside.
• Chop the parsley very fine. Put in a bowl.
• Chop the mint very fine and put it in the bowl mixing it with the parsley to prevent the chopped mint from turning to black.
• Chop the tomatoes into small cubes and pour them with their juice on the parsley-mint mix.
• Mince the onion very fine. Season with pepper and salt. Leave it for 30 seconds then squeeze the chopped onion by hand to get rid of its water. Put over the tomato mixture.
• Add the bulgur and season with salt.
• Now add the lemon juice and olive oil and mix.
• Usually, tabbouleh is tasted before being served to see whether it needs more salt or lemon based on personal preferences.
• For best results, cover the tabbouleh and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Transfer to a serving platter.

FISH STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Add the chilli powder, turmeric, salt, sugar, mustard oil and green chillies to the fillets.
• Mix well to coat evenly.
• (Don't be afraid to use your hands.) Marinate fish for 20-30 mins.
• Now add the ground mustard and immediately wrap each fillet with a little extra marinade on top into individual pouches with the banana leaf.
• Steam for 20 mins in a steamer.
• Enjoy.

TABBOULEH WRAPPED IN ROMAINE LEAVES

Steps:

• Soak bulgur wheat in boiling water to cover by 1/2 inch for 20 to 40 minutes and then place in sieve to drain.
• Shorter time the more chewy the bulgur.
• Combine minced onion with allspice, pepper and salt in a large bowl.
• Add parsley, scallions, tomatoes, fresh and dried spearmint and preserved lemons.
• Add cucumber peas and or chickpeas.
• Gently fold in the soaked or rinsed wheat.
• Stir lemon juice and oil together and stir into salad.
• Refrigerate to chill before serving.
• Check seasoning and adjust to taste.
• Garnish with Olives and feta cheese.
• Surround salad with small romaine leaves.
• Use them to scoop up the salad.

FALAFEL WITH TABBOULEH AND TAHINI SAUCE

Steps:

• For the falafel: To the bowl of a food processor, add the chickpeas, cilantro, parsley, chickpea flour, ground cumin, salt, baking soda, onions and garlic. Pulse until the mixture is a coarse paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and then pulse again to make sure the ingredients are fully combined. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and set aside to rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the sesame seeds, baking powder and cayenne. Mix to combine.
• Scoop the mixture using a 3-ounce cookie scoop and place onto a sheet tray. Roll each falafel into a ball and then lightly squish into patties. Dust each patty with chickpea flour.
• Fill a large high-sided pan with 1 inch of canola oil and add the olive oil. Turn on the heat to low and gently heat the oil until it shimmers. Test the oil with a pinch of flour; if it sizzles, the oil is ready. Working in batches, fry the falafel, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, season immediately with kosher salt, then transfer to a sheet tray lined with a rack. Repeat with remaining falafel patties.
• For the tabbouleh: Add the bulgur and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil into a large, heat-resistant bowl. Mix with a spoon to coat the bulgur with the oil. Cover the bulgur with the boiling water, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to steam for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the soaked bulgur through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the water. Spread the bulgur onto a quarter sheet tray to cool.
• Add the garlic paste, lemon zest, lemon juice and remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil into a large bowl and whisk to combine. Put the cooled bulgur, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, scallions, parsley and mint into another large bowl. Fold the dressing into the bulgur mixture and season with kosher salt to taste.
• For the tahini sauce: Add the tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and kosher salt to taste into a bowl. Whisk to combine. If the mixture is too thick, you can thin it out with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.
• To serve, plate the romaine lettuce and top with the falafel. Serve alongside the toasted pita bread, tabbouleh and top with a drizzle of tahini sauce.

MINCED GARLIC CHICKEN SERVED IN LETTUCE LEAVES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken and minced green onions. Add the kosher salt and pepper, and mix together well. Form into a large patty. Mix together the rice wine vinegar, wine, soy sauce, and hoisin sauce in a bowl or measuring cup and set aside.
• Heat a wok over high heat, or an electric wok to 400 degrees. Add the oil and when smoking, carefully set the ground chicken patty in the wok. Brown on one side, then carefully break up and add the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Continue to stir until the chicken is thoroughly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the rice wine vinegar mixture and cook, stiring, until the liquid has just about evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Stir in the cilantro or if desired, mint.
• Cut away the base of the lettuce and remove the outer leaves. Use the smaller inner leaves for cups. Place 2 or 3 cups on each plate, or line a platter, top with salad and serve.

PRAWNS STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Put the chillies, ginger, spring onion and lemon grass in a food processor and process until the mixture forms a paste (or grind in a mortar and pestle).
• Put the mixture in a bowl and stir in the sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, sesame seeds and coriander.
• Mix well.
• Add the prawns and toss to coat them.
• Cover and refridgerate for about 2 hours.
• Soak the banana leaves in boiling water for 3 minutes to soften them.
• Drain and then pat them dry.
• Cut the banana leaves (or baking paper or foil) into 18cm/7" squares.
• Divide the prawn mixture into eight.
• Place each portion onto a banana leaf.
• Fold the leaf up to enclose the mixture and then secure with a bamboo skewer.
• Cook the parcels in a steamer over simmering water for 8-10 minutes.