Biryani

B is for Beef Biryani

I enjoy trying out dishes that are not the usual food we prepare at home.  I had this Beef Biryani at the Persian Grill.  This got me curious as I usually see meat as a topping---this dish has a rice topping, meat was underneath.  The yellow basmate rice was cooked with saffron.  I'm not an expert on biryani but I'd say this was pretty tasty.

Biryani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually basmati) and meat, fish or vegetables.  The name derived from the Persian word beryā(n) which means "fried" or "roasted".  The spices and condiments used in biryani may include, but are not limited to ghee, nutmeg, mace, pepper, cloves, cardamon, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, mint leaves, ginger, onions, and garlic.  For a non-vegetarian biryani, the main ingredient that accompanies the  spices is the meat—beef, chicken, goat, lamb, fish or shrimp. The dish may be served with dahi chutney or Raita, korma, curry a sour dish of eggplant (brinjal), boiled egg and salad.

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Monday Mellow Yellows
 ABC Wednesday

K/ABC Wednesday

K is for Kebab or Kabab

Kebab (or kabab, kabob) is a wide variety of meat dishes originating in Persia (modern-day Iran), and later on adopted in the Middle East, Turkey, South Asia and Asia Minor, that are now found worldwide. I thought kebabs were only served on a skewer---I was wrong.  Kebab includes grilled, roasted, and stewed dishes of large or small cuts of meat, or even ground meat; it may be served on plates, sandwiches or in bowls.  The traditional meat for kebab is lamb, but depending on local tastes and taboos, it may now be beef, goat, chicken, pork, fish and seafood, even vegetarian.  Like other ethnic foods brought by travelers, the kebab has become part of everyday cuisine in many countries around the globe. 

I learned to appreciate kebabs and other Mediterranean food from a Middle Eastern client who visited Manila a few times over the years.  My friend J and I grabbed some chicken and beef kebabs from this stall at the Mall of Asia just before closing time.  Turned out, the owner, an Indian national, was J's classmate in grad school.  He gave us a 50% discount!  Nice guy!:p

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