lamb shank and basmati rice

9-10-2015 Thu. hot, clouds.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- tomato and cucumber 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- braised lamb shank and basmati rice | sauteed cauliflowers with tomato | sauteed bitter melon | salad | wine

 

• bitter melon from Japanese store, a good variety

new potatoes and fresh chard

7-19-2015 Sun. very hot, sunny.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and cheese | watermelon | plums 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- cocktail shrimp | sauteed chard | new potatoes | wine braised lamb shank | salad | wine 

 

•  deep  in the summer

lamb shank qabili pilau

1-24-2015 Sat. chilly, flurry. 



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread and french cheese |  grapefruit | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | simmered fresh peanuts in shell
DINNER --- qabili pilau | sauteed mustard greens | wine 

 

• the domestic lamb shank got this time is fattier and less flavor than that of Iceland or New Zealand

quabili pilau

10-11-2014 Sat. chilly, rain.  


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and cheese | grapes | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea |  cookie | grapes
AFTER-CONCERT-DINNER --- sauteed manila clams and mustard greens | quabili pilau | salad | wine 

 

• one of the best combinations of ingredients

lamb stew and shrimp wonton

12-27-2013 Fri. chilly, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee |  Norwegian pancake | apple 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | tangerine 
DINNER ---  shrimp and celery wonton soup | spicy lightly pickled cucumber |  lamb shank stew with potato in sofrito | sauteed Chinese greens with shiitake | wine 

 

• all cooked on spot, no more leftovers

eat like a king

5-25-2013 Sat. mild, sunny.  



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | croissant | bread and blue cheese | apple | strawberries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea 
DINNER --- steamed artichoke with citrus dipping sauce | lamb liver with ginger, leek and lemon | spiced lamb shank stew with barley | wine 

 

•   king size artichoke, queen size lamb shank. lamb liver is delicate and not as dense as pork liver.

Aushak and Qabili Pilau

03-04-2012 Sun. chilly, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | Norwegian pancake | apple | orange bread
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- Kadu Chalou ( Afghan style simmered pumpkin ) | Sabzi Chalou (Afghan simmered spinach)| Aushak (Afghan chive dumplings with ground beef and yogurt sauce) | Qabili Pilau ( Afghan baked rice with lamb shank) | wine || mini cheese cake

Norwegian pancake



Kadu Chalou


Sabzi Chalou


Aushak



Qabili Pilau

• Three chefs and three diners, a busy and happy evening of celebrating Afghan food in home cooking
  

Qabili Pilau

01-07-2011 Sat. mild, cloudy.



WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | homemade orange bread | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- Qabili Pilau ( Afghan baked rice with lamb shank and carrots )| sauteed green chard | steamed manila clams with sake, ginger, chive and lemon zest | wine

manila clams

Qabili Pilau

• homemade food so much better than most of eating-out.
  

homemade three course Afghan dinner

10-23-2011 Sun. mild, sun.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | milk and egg | pear
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- Pakowray Kachalu Afghan-style fried slices of sweet potato | Qabili Pilau Afghan baked rice with lamb shank | Chalow Sabsi Afghan-style sauteed baby spinach with garlic, onion | wine

• so simple and delicious, Afghan cuisine
  

Tender is the Afghan night

8-20-2011 Sat. hot, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread with Icelandic soft cheese | scone | honeydew
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apricot
DINNER --- Cuabili pallow (wine-braised lamb shank with spiced basmati rice and carrots) | Sabsi ( fresh spinach cooked with onions and garlic ) | avocado and lettuce salad | wine

• Afghan cooking is often very good example of slow cooking, highlighting the best quality of ingredients. the spinach is creamy, the lamb is tender, the rice is a savory with meat juice ,raisin, caramelized onion and carrots.
  

Afghan baked rice with lamb shank

6-18-2011 Sat. hot, cloudy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | coconut cream bread | ciabatta with Norwegian goat cheese | Hami melon | lychee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- ( at J.P.'s ) east coast oysters | Taxes beer
DINNER --- sauteed yellow and green zucchini, red pepper, and shallots | Afghan baked rice with braised lamb shank ( qabili pilau) | avocado and fennel salad | rose

lamb shank braised in wine with spices

lamb meat and rice baked in oven

• qabili pilau, an Afghan rice and lamb dish, so delicious worth of the long and multi-step cooking process.
  

Quabili Pilau

12-24-2010 Fri. cold, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | toasted Limpa bread | apple
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | Chinese fried rice cake
DINNER --- sauteed bitter melon and red pepper | Afghan baked rice with wine braised lamb shank, resins and carrots ( quabili pilau ) | wine

• Quabili pilau turned out very well, flavor and texture just right.
  

Afghan food

12-03-2010 Fri. cold, cloudy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee | LU chocolate cookie
LUNCH --- pasta with ragu sauce ( leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- clementine
DINNER --- ( at F. Afghan restaurant ) Aushak ( scallion-filled dumplings topped with yogurt and meat sauce) | Pakowray Kachalu (fried slices of sweet potatoes ) | Bulanee (turnovers stuffed with spiced scallions and herbs ) | quabili pilau (braised lamb shank with carrots, raisins and basmati rice ) | fine-chopped sauteed spinach | wine | rice pudding | baklava ( phyllo dough with chopped nuts ) | espresso

bulanee, pakowray kachalu, & quabili pilau

• warm and hearty Afghan food in the neighborhood restaurant.
  

a Culinary visit to the Middle East

7-18-2010 Sun. hot, cloudy to thunder storm.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- middle eastern yogurt | water melon | scallion pancake | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | green risen
DINNER --- Lebanese green olive and egg salad | Afghan baked rice with braised lamb shank (Qabili Pilau) | Armenian sheep cheese | fennel and lettuce salad | pale ale beer

olive and egg salad of the Bekaa Valley


Qabili Pilau

• slow food, whole food, learning the essential elements of middle eastern cuisine.
  

Qabili pilau

1-29-2010 Fri. freezing cold, cloudy

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried shrimp and vegetables ( leftover from yesterday's dinner)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---green tea | Mandarin orange | Pocky chocolate pretzel stick
DINNER --- steamed Brussels sprouts | sauteed five-spice eggplant | Afghan baked rice with braised lamb shank (Qabili Pilau)| wine

• The lamb shank was braised in wine till the meat separated from the bone. Basmati rice was mixed with meat juice, then baked in the oven with lamb meat embedded in the rice. Qabili Pilau has most of the distinguishing characteristics of Central Asian cooking.
  

Qabili Pilau: Afghan baked rice with lamb

with humble ingredients, this is one of the best rice and lamb dishes in the world, figured out by Afghans.



for braising lamb:

• 2 lamb shank with bones
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 cup red wine
• 3 tbs soy sauce
• 4 star anise
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp black pepper
• water

for baking rice:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup dark raisins
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 pinch saffron
• pepper and salt
• cooking oil

1. in a pot add lamb shanks and all the ingredients for braising, add water to just cover the shanks. bring to boil, then reduce to low heat, braising the meat for at least 2 hours or till the meat falling loose from bones
2. remove the shanks from the pot, pick the meat off the bones and set aside.
3. strain and save 2 1/2 cups of the braising broth
4. add 1 tbs oil to a saute pan, add onion and cumin, saute over medium heat till caramelized.about 15 minutes. then puree the cooked onion.
5. add 1 tsp oil to a saute pan, add carrots and raisins, saute over medium heat till soft. about 2 minutes
6. add rice and 3 cups of water to a pot, bring it to boil over high heat. boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat and drain the water.
7. in a wide casserole, mix rice, braising broth and onion puree, add crushed saffron, carrots, raisins, and lamb meat.
8. heat the oven to 300 degree, bake the rice in the covered casserole for 45 minutes.
9. serve the rice with lamb meat buried underneath