Rice Aubergine Casserole and Lebanese Cold Cucumber Soup

A great weekend this time... It was a very very nice meet of the food bloggers on Saturday... Did not get time at all the update about it since then.. But my dear friend Priyanka was so fast and enthu. She has already updated with the meets agenda. I personally met a few them first time. Really had a very good chat and tips from all. The surprises were great. I too got a surprise ingredient from Nupur and will try very soon. A big thanks to Lakshmi for arranging this event. Waiting to meet all again.

A wonderful Saturday night special...

Rice Aubergine Casserole
A Complete Continental meal by itself.
Serves 4
Ingredients

1 Cup rice
2 bay leaves
1 tsp black cumin (shah jeera)
1 large round brinjal or aubergine (bharte waala baingan) cut into 1" pieces
1 large capsicum -cut into 1/2" pieces
oil for frying

Red sauce
2tbsp oil
1 1/2 onions chopped
4 large tomatoes pureed
1 tsp oregano
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp sugar

Cheese Sauce
1tsbp butter
1tbsp plain flour (maida)
2 cups milk
2 cubes cheese-grated
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Method
1. Srpinkle 3/4 tsp salt on the brinjal pieces. Mix and keep aside for 1/2 hour to sweat. Pat dry the aubergine pieces on a paper napkin or kitchen towel. heat oil and deep fry till golden brown. keep aside.
2. To boil rice, boil 5-6 cups of water with salt, bay leaves and shah jeera. Wash and add rice. Cook till tender. Strain excess water. Run a fork through the hot rice to separate the rice grains. keep aside.
3. To prepare the red sauce, heat oil. Add chopped onion. Ciik till it turns light brown. Add the pureed tomatoes. Add sugar, salt, pepper, red chilli powder and oregano. Cook for about 5 minutes till slightly thick. Remove from heat.
4. For the cheese sauce, heat butter in a clean pan. Add maida and stir on low heat for a minute. Add milk and stir continuously till it comes to a boil. Cook for about 2 minutes till it coats the spoon well. Remove from heat. Add cheese, salt & pepper. The sauce should be thin.
5. To assemble, spread half the cooked rice in a oven proof dish. Spread half the aubergines, and the chopped capsicums. Sprinkle with half the red sauce and then the white sauce.
6. Again spread the remaining rice, followed by aubergines then red sauce and then white sauce and lastly the capsicums. Cover with aluminium foil and bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes at 200degree C. Uncoveer the casserole and bake further for 5 minutes. Serve hot.


Lebanese Cold Cucumber Soup


Serves 3-4 Ingredients

2 small cucumbers grated (1 cup)
1 1/2 cups thick fresh curd
1 cup full cream milk
2-3 tbsp raisins (kishmish)
2-3 tbsp walnuts chopped
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper powder
a tray of ice cubes
2-3 tbsp mint leaves finely chopped to garnish

Method
1. Soak the raisins in water for 5-10 minutes
2. Peel and grate the cucumbers (check that they should not be bitter)
3. Place the curd in a large bowl and blend well with an electric beater or a whisk till smooth. add 1 cup milk and blen well again.
4. Add walnuts, cucumber, salt and pepper.
5. Drain raisins from water and add to the curd mixture. Add ice cubes and chill covered for 2-3 hours. The ice cubes melt and thin down the soup. Serve in bowls garnished with mint.