Ostrich Sosaties

Ostrich Sosaties

Sosaties are a traditional South African dish of meat (usually lamb or mutton) cooked on skewers. The term derives from sate (“skewered meat”) and saus (spicy sauce). It is of Cape Malay origin, used in Afrikaans, the primary language of the Cape Malays, and the word has gained greater circulation in South Africa. Marinated, cubed meat (usually lamb) is skewered and barbecued shish-kebab style.

So the task was set by Mediterranean Delicacies to create a locally inspired dish using their range of amazing products. You can go have a look at their website to see the full range. Given that South Africa has become this melting pot of diversity and culture, I had the option to go many ways. I could of gone very Cape Malay and made an amazing curry, or very retro and stuck to making stunning canapes and snacks, but nothing screams South Africa, like Braai…we even have a day set aside for it each year, it’s a staple in most households, and every one claims to do it best. The #AfroChic element to this, is that it’s a different take on “meat on a stick”, served with a gorgeous cous cous salad and bursting with flavor.

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Processed with VSCO with e1 preset

Using these four products from the range, two as a marinade, one as a dipping sauce and the other as part of the salad, you really don’t need loads of prep-time, its easy to pick up on your way home from work, or even to add to the trolley over the weekend, because you can find the range in allocated fridges in most supermarkets, including Pick ‘n Pay, Checkers and Spar.

The key element to making this a success is the marinade. You’ll have the earthy punch of coriander pesto, with the spicy kick of the chilli and garlic relish. Make the mix and generously coat your ostrich pieces, leaving it covered in the fridge for about 2 hours. (If you are pressed for time, half and hour would be cool, but have patience….make it amazing)

 

The cous cous salad can be made with rice, Bulgar wheat, or even pasta, but the addition of cous cous to this recipe makes it simple and easy!

Ok, so here is the run down.

  • Scroll to the end of this post and print the recipe
  • Go get all your ingredients
  • Light your fire, or grill.
  • Do your preparation
  • Put someone on Sosatie duty
  • Watch as your family and friends devour your yummy food!

Also, tag @medideli on social media so that they can see what you are making and creating with their awesome range!

Ostrich Sosaties

  • Servings: 7-8 sticks
  • Print

For the Sosaties

  • 500g of Ostrich cut into cubes
  • 2 TBSP of Coriander pesto
  • 2 tsp of Chilli and Garlic Relish
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Sosatie/Kebab sticks (if you are using wooden ones, soak them in water for half an hour, this prevents them burning on the flames)

For the salad

  • 2 cups of cooked Cous Cous (follow instructions on the box)
  • 1 jar of the Artichoke Salad, chopped
  • a handful of soft herbs, chopped (I used coriander and parsley)
  • 1 cup of baby roma tomatoes, cut
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Olive oil

To Serve

  • 1 tub of tzatziki
  • lemon wedges
  • extra coriander to garnish
  1. In a bowl, add your ostrich, and marinade mix, and season well with salt and pepper, as said before, leave aside to soak up all the yumminess. Once you’ve allowed marinading to happen, skewer the meat onto your prepared sticks and set aside.
  2. In a separate bowl, add your cous cous, chopped artichoke salad, herbs, tomatoes and season well, with salt and pepper, and copious amounts of Olive oil.
  3. Once your fire/grill is ready, brush the sosaties with olive oil, and place them onto the grill. I gave mine about 5 minutes of the first side and then 3 once i flipped them, giving me the perfect medium.
  4. Prepare a big board or platter, layering your cous cous salad and topping them with the grilled Sosaties, topping those with tzatziki and fresh coriander stalks.
  5. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over all of this amazingness and serve immediately.

 

Sosatie Defintion from Wikipedia

 

 

 

Deliciously delightful 

Deliciously delightful 

We are kicking 2016 into gear, and tying to make changes, stick to our resolutions and follow through with working out, eating healthier, and trying to leave all of our 2015 mistakes in 2015. 

#NoMeatMonday is a hashtag that you’ve probably seen around, on Instagram or Twitter, and even though I cater mainly for a vegetarian, I try to adapt my eating pattern to being strictly “meat free” one day a week, sorry, but some Monday’s don’t always work for me….because, life. 

  

I am constantly on the look out for inspiration and adaptations with recipes that are vegetarian. These GORGEOUS and tasty Veggie Burgers are filled with everything that’s good for you. Serve them like I have, wrapped in spinach or on fresh burger buns. They can also be served as a side to grilled fish or made smaller and served with a fresh rocket salad, with loads of roasted corn and fresh avocado. I actually had mine with salmon sashimi and a corn and avocado salsa, with loads of sriracha and olive oil, it was DELICIOUS! 

  

The recipe is simple enough and you can adapt the pulses to any that you have in your pantry. I used chickpeas, but you can use black beans or lentils. The most amazing aspect of this recipe is that you can grill them on the bbq, because they are firm patties and serve them straight off, onto fresh buns with loads of fresh toppings. 

  

Veggie Burgers

  • Time: 10 mins
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

 

  • 1 cup of cooked brown rice 
  • 1 cup of raw almonds 
  • 1/2 white onion, chopped 
  • 1 tsp, each of, chilli powder and smoked paprika 
  • 1 TBSP of coconut sugar or brown sugar 
  • 1 1/2 cups of cooked chickpeas 
  • 1/3 cup of Panko crumbs 
  • 4 TBSP of vegetarian BBQ sauce 
  • Salt and pepper to season 
  • Coconut oil to fry 
  1. Heat a pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the almonds and leave to toast, tossing occasionally to prevent burning. You want a deep golden color on them. 
  2. Once you have them at the perfect color, transfer them to an oven tray to cool. 
  3. In the same pan, add a splash of coconut oil, and the chopped onion. Cook the onions until they are soft and translucent. Season then with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and place to one side. 
  4. Once the almonds are cool, add then to a food processor with the spices, coconut sugar, and blend until you have a fine meal. 
  5. To a large mixing bowl, add the rice, the chickpeas, almond mix, Panko crumbs, BBQ sauce, and mix with a spoon. You can use your hands and mash the chickpeas slightly, while you combine all the ingredients. 
  6. This mix gives you 6 burger patties, so divide the mixture and then shape the patties, keeping your hands slightly damp while doing so.  
  7. Heat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large frying pan, over a medium heat and place your patties in the heated oil, frying them until golden brown on each side. 
  8. I “seal” them in the pan to give them color and then heat them in a preheated oven of 200C before I serve them. 

 

  

❤️🍴

Quick brown rice sushi bowl

Quick brown rice sushi bowl


I love sushi and sushi salads, and although it’s generally healthy for you, most places cover and coat everything in sweet chili sauce (high in sugar) or that amazing tasting (but not good for you) Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie). 
So this quick and easy thrown together recipe is the perfect “at home” sushi eating option. Serve it with grilled fish, or sashimi, toss in some prawns or flaked chicken if you want, the list of options and ideas are endless because this base is such a good and tasty salad!

Brown Rice Sushi Bowl

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

1 cup of brown rice (cooked to the packets instructions and kept warm)

Salad

1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into cubes

1 carrot, peeled and cut into cubes

1 cup of cooked edamame beans*

1 tspn each of white and black sesame seeds

4 kale leaves, stalks removed and cut into bite size pieces

A good handful of coriander and mint, chopped

2 TBSP of olive oil

Pink Himalayan salt, only if needed for seasoning

Dressing for rice 

100ml of Rice wine vinegar

2 TBSP of sugar

Dressing for salad 

Juice of 1 lime

2 tablespoons of tamari or regular soy sauce

Method

Add all the salad ingredients into a bowl and mix

In a small pot, add the two ingredients for the rice, bring to the boil and make sure the sugar is dissolved. Mix this into your warm rice. The warmth helps absorb the mixture.

Leave to cool.

In the salad bowl, pour over your lime juice and tamari, and mix well, scrunching up the kale, check for seasoning. You might need to add a pinch of salt!

Now mix the rice and the salad base together and VIOLA! Done!

Serve as you please! Even on its own!

❤️🍴

*edamame can be found in any good grocery store or Chinese specialty shops,  but if you can’t seem to track them down, you can add peas, or chopped up fine beans. If you can only find the edamame pods, cook them as per instructions and just removed the little gems from the inside!

Spinach Wraps 

Spinach Wraps 

Who doesn’t love a good wrap. Either filled, or toasted for a dip, or even topped with cheese in the oven? 

I’ve tried so many of these recipes, and this is by far the best one. I found others to have to much spinach, some didn’t have enough flour, others were really tacky and didn’t seem to actually want to hold their shapes….get what I mean. Annnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyway!!!!!!

This recipe takes some time, but it’s worth it, the wraps are light, so nutritious and so yummy!

Spinach Wraps

  • Servings: 8 wraps
  • Difficulty: Relatively easy
  • Print

Ingredients 

2 cups of gluten free flour

1 cup of whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 heaped teaspoon of salt

1 cup of blached baby spinach (that you have ringed out competely in a clean dish cloth, to get rid of all the excess water)

5 TBSP of coconut oil

2/3 cup of water

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and spinach on a food processor. Pulse thoroughly to finely chop the spinach.

Add your coconut oil, and pulse the mixture until it’s resembles bread crumbs. With the processor running, add the water in a slow stream, until it starts to combine.
I picked up that you don’t need more water, the dough is stunningly moist, and if you take some into your hand, you will notice that it forms a ball easily.


Transfer onto a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes.

Divide into eight equal pieces.


Cut and then shape into balls.

Cover with a clean dishcloth and leave to rest for 10 minutes.

Heat your pan.

Working with one ball at a time, while keeping the others covered, roll them out into circles, about 30 centimeters in diameter,


Carefully transfer the rolled wrap to your heated skillet, and cook each side for about 10-20 seconds, do not over cook as the wraps will then become stiff.

Immediately transfer the cooked wraps to a plate and cover with a damp kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough balls. Lowering the heat as to prevent burning.

Just stack each cooked wrap onto the previous one. This will help keep them soft.

You can store them in the fridge, wrapped in plastic, but they generally won’t last that long.

The best is to have all your ingredients toll them ready and serve as they come out of the skillet, let everyone fill their own wraps as the like. It becomes a fun filled dinner or lunch!

❤️🍴


Hectic schmectic 

Hectic schmectic 



What a week! 

I’ve been so out of touch with my little blog due to a huge dinner I had at work! Well not HUGE, but it was an important evening for my boss, so it was big! 

6 courses, choice in each….me, myself and I. 

I wouldn’t change it for the world though, I thoroughly enjoy what I do and it’s always fun to be able to do these dinner because then I can experiment and push my boundaries a bit more! 

Also, I got to cook for new friends on Saturday, which was such a fun evening. 

Filled with good food, wine and loads of conversation, and not forgetting the amazing coffee that the was made and had! (Chemex) 

I made a Greek lamb with my kale pesto pasta salad with loads of sides and yumminess! 

Marinade for Greek lamb 

2 lemons, zested and juiced 

3 table spoons of ground cumin 

1 handful of mint and fresh oregano or marjoram – chopped 

1 bulb of garlic – peeled and chopped 

1 deboned leg or shoulder of lamb 

Salt and pepper 

Mix all ingredients to form a paste 

Slit your lamb all over (so that the marinade can soak into it) and rub rub rub 

Season loads 

Leave for 2 hours in the fridge, remove and let it come to room temperature- takes about 45 minutes, pop into a hot oven or on the braai until it falls apart. 

Serve with warm pita breads, homemade tzatziki and hummus, minted onion jam and a fresh rocket salad! 

❤️🍴