Saturday, 14 March 2015

Creamy Chicken Shawarma Sandwich

Creamy Chicken Shawarma Sandwich        

Now  we all have had Shawarma once a while. And if you love it like I do, please try these easy to make chicken shawarma buns  loaded with veggies & cheese. This is a creamy & mild version of the shawarmas's available around. It will be a sure shot hit with the kids & many occasions ;)                   

Ingredients :                                                                                          Serves - 4

Long sandwich buns 8" - 12

For Marination - 

Chicken breast pieces - 500gm
Cream - 1 cup
Yoghurt - 150 gms thick
Olive oil - 2 tbsp 
Salt to taste

Spices for Marination - 

Readymade - 
Maggi Chicken Shawarma Mix - 1 packet
Falafel Spices Mix - 3 tsp
(Both available in Middle east grocery stores)

or 

Homemade Mixture - 
Fresh Garlic paste - 2 tbsp
White pepper - 1/2 tsp
Dry Onion powder - 1tsp
Lemon juice/concentrate- 2 to 3 tbsp

Arabic 7 Spice (Bokharat) Mixture recipe - 
Dry roast & grind the following spices if not available in powder form - 
Black pepper - 7 to 8 or  1tsp
Coriander - 1 tsp
Cumin  - 1 tsp
Paprika - 1/2 tsp
Nutmeg(Jaiphal) - 1/2 tsp
Cardamom - 5 to 6 or 1tsp
Cinnamon -  1" round stick or 1tsp
Bay Leaf powder - 1 big leaf

For Filling- 

White Onion - 2 Medium cut in round slivers
Onion - 1 Medium chopped
Tomato - 1 Medium chopped
Capsicum - 1 Small cut in 2" strips
Lettuce - Small Bunch
Shredded Mozzarella - 200gm
or 
Cheese Slices - 8
Mayonnaise - As per taste

Accompaniments : 
Tomato Ketchup
or 
Chilly Garlic Sauce 
Mayonnaise 


Method - 


1. First cut the chicken breast pieces in long strips & clean & wash it properly. 
2. Combine the above marination ingredients mentioned above - Cream, yoghurt & olive oil & mix it     well in a bowl with the help of your hands. You can use the same non stick pan which you will use     to cook the chicken.
    I live in the Middle east, so I I get the Arabic spices here easily. So I used the Maggi Chicken             Shawarma Mix & the Falafel spices mix & adjusted the salt. 
    You can get it in an Arabic grocery store, if you don't reside here. Or else , dry roast & grind the         the 7 spice mix I mentioned above in a coffee/all purpose grinder & combine with freshly grinded       garlic paste, white pepper, onion powder & lemon juice in the quantities mentioned above. Taste         the paste & adjust salt. You can add some hot chilly sauce if you like it spicy.
    If you don't have a few spices like nutmeg or paprika with you do not hesitate to go further with         the recipe. Just try it because it will be super yummy anyways ;)
3. Please do marinate the chicken the night before you cook it as it the chicken will become very             creamy & soft when cooked. Also, the spices will be absorbed properly with by the chicken.
4. Now that the chicken is marinated overnight, cook it in the nonstick pan on a medium to low               flame. Cover it with the lid initially so it absorbs the paste. Once the chicken is nicely cooked &         leaves some creamy paste, taste test if it the chicken is soft enough. Once done, take out the                 chicken pieces. The remaining paste will be used so don't worry. I assure you the chicken will be        just veryyy soft to chew!! :)  

                                          

                                            
5. Now add some olive oil & chopped onions in the creamy paste. Cover & cook for a while. Add a         little water & salt to cook the onions fast. Now add capsicum & let it cook for 5 mins. Now add           tomatoes & saute & cover the lid for 5 mins. Now turn down the flame & get ready to assemble the     sandwich buns.
           

6.  Cut the sandwiches into halves horizontally. I used Herfy 12" long sandwich buns as I like it's            bread quality.

7. Now wash the lettuce leaves & slice the white onion as shown above for the filling & side                   accompaniments as well.

8. Now add the lettuce & chicken over it. And spread the veggie paste over it. You can combine the       chicken & veggies prior as well but it is easier to place the chicken pieces individually according to     your desired intake.


9. Now add the mayonnaise as desired & white onions. You can experiment with mushrooms, olives       & corns. I wanted it this way today :)


10. And finally the mozzarella cheese as per your taste or cheese slices cut into 3 parts would also do.


11. Now you can grill it in the sandwich maker or melt the cheese in the oven & have it. I like it               grilled & compressed :) Just pour some oil on the grill & on the top of the buns while heating.




12. And VOILA!!! Your Shawarma sandwiches are ready :)  Have it with your favorite ketchup &           some lettuce & white oinons & mayonnaise. You will just love it ;)


Note: 
1.It will be a hit with the kids & also for you & your husband's quick work tiffins ;)
2.You can make it for weekend brunches, picnics or kid's parties.
3. You can include this chicken in your veggie salads or fill them in pita breads with the same filling I     used in the sandwich buns for a regular shawarma roll.

Please give your feedback in the comment box. Follow me for more updates &  hit +1 to recommend this recipe if you like. Cheers!!


#CuriousKitchen #Arabic #cuisine #shawarma #sandwiches #buns #creamy #chicken #cheese #veggies #gourmet #continental #kids #picnic #snacks #yummy #sunday #brunch #easy #quick #meals #tiffin





















Thursday, 12 March 2015

About Me

 A fashion post graduate blessed with creativity,  I am a happily married women who loves to be with her loved ones, explore the world & God and Man made amazing creations & spread love & happiness. 

A true piscean by nature & a creative soul, my passions include helping everyone & making & creating stuff.  I like to see everything around my home as an empty canvas & take it as an opportunity to turn into my own unique piece of art. I get inspired from anything interesting around.. it can be a photograph, a painting or a place I visited.. anything!! Also as they say, necessity is the mother of invention :)

My influences in terms of food & culinary skills, would come mostly from North Indian cuisine & also Mughlai cuisine as my husband & now me as well come from a Muslim background. 

If you have come to this blog expecting perfection, you got off at the wrong stop :) This blog will be laden with amateur photographs and writing but I promise it will be creatively fulfilling & will offer you some nice tips & tricks ;)

So buckle up your seat belts & go for a ride in my Curious Creative Cottage & enjoy my Curious Creations  :)
Cheers!!














Sunday, 8 March 2015

Customized Tissue Box


Customized Tissue Box 


Temporary Tissue boxes re purposed to make customized re usable tissue boxes 
with chocolate paper holders.







So whenever I see these brand printed tissue boxes around my house , I feel like making a permanent re usable tissue box. And I had a few ideas too. But when I had these date chocolate paper holders lying around.. I said why not use them for the surface of the box as it would give a nice texture to it. And hey I used the temporary box itself to make it! So you already have a base ;) And am loving this rich dark chocolate brown color of the box!! Ahh makes me wanna indulge in some chocolate affair :D

BEFORE
AFTER

Ok, So here's how you do it :)

Materials Required : 

1. Approx 22 Sweet/Cupcake paper holders 3" Diameter 
2.Tissue Box
3. Glue Stick
4. Cooking Oil
5. Scissor, Tape
6. Black Sharpie Marker

Design Process : 

Take an empty tissue box. Open it from one side. Refer to the picture below.


Start sticking the paper holders onto the box with a glue stick. I prefer to overlap the papers in the fish scale pattern.
Tip : If your paper holders are matte finished. Spread a drop of oil on each paper holder & they will absorb it & give an even shine in a few seconds. Get rid of any excess oil with a tissue paper or rub another paper holder against it ;)


You can cut into halves some of the paper holders to cover the base of the box if you are short of them like me.


And here is how you paste the papers on the side. Just use a double sided tape or roll a normal tape to stick the overlaping opening of the box. 


And you can insert the tissues from the opening. Yes, you might have to change the tape everytime you use it. But , hey you don't have to buy new tissue boxes every time form now on :D Just buy the tissue packs :) And save a buck you lil DIY Artist :D


So here is your own new proud creation your guests will appreciate on the diner table ;) & you won't see the Brand Logo on it any moree :D



Tips : 

You can use Ferro rocher paper holders or any pretty leftover cupcake holders. But a regular cupcake holder is 5" in diameter & it dsn't look that pretty. Smaller the better ;)

















Happy Women's Day

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! YAYY!!




She is happy go lucky. She is hopeful & fearless. She practices kindness. She prays for your wellness. The one that won't give up on you. She is full of sparkle & compassion. Her priorities revolve around her loved ones. She genuinely wants to make the world a better place. She will raise her voice for the right no matter what. But she will pick herself up every time she falls & come out stronger than ever. She will show up with a smile while dealing with a lot inside. She is talented, loyal, adventurous, versatile, supportive & surprising. She is a pro in multitasking & forgiving. She will nurture you , fight for you.She deserves nothing less from you.Know her & therefore Love her & Respect her.


Happy Women's Day, all ya Aowsum Women!!





 Sharing some quotes & thoughts in the honor of a wonderful & irreplaceable creation - Women
:)