Bang Bang Shrimp | Ramadan Snack Recipes

Assalam 'o' Alaykum everyone!
Shrimp is one of my favourite seafood. If you are a shrimp lover like me then you'll definitely enjoy this recipe!

Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
Shrimp

• 1 cup plain flour (see notes)
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 690 lb or 300g shrimp peeled, washed and deveined
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
• Oil for shallow frying

Bang Bang Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 tsp sriracha sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare Sriracha Sauce: 

In a large bowl combine mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and sriracha. Mix well with a whisk until everything is well combined. Set a side for later. 

Prepare Shrimp: 

In a bowl combine cornmeal and flour. Whisk well then transfer in a large flat plate. 

Next add salt and black pepper to the beaten egg. Mix well. 

Take the washed shrimps and dip them first in the beaten egg and then in the flour and cornmeal mixture. 

To get a crispier bang bang shrimp do a second coating. Dip them back in the beaten egg and then in then flour mixture. 

In a large pan add some oil for shallow frying. Once the oil is hot add in the coated shrimps. 

Fry each side of the shrimps for 2 minutes or until golden brown. 

Once golden brown remove from oil and transfer onto a paper towel to remove excess oil. 

Prepare Bang Bang Shrimp: 

Take the fried shrimp and add that to the prepared bang bang sauce. Toss to mix well. Make sure all the shrimp is fully coated with the sauce. 

Serve immediately!

Mini Apple Pies | Ramadan Snack Recipes

Assalam 'o' Alaykum everyone!

My dad bought a lot of apples and there were too many that we couldn't eat them all. So I had two options: I could either make a jam out of them or bake apple pies. My sister loves my pastries so it was decided.  You can either bake them or use an air fryer.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 medium size apples, finely diced
• 50g butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 6 tbsp cold ice water
• 150g frozen butter

DIRECTIONS:
 

In a large pan add 50g butter, apple, sugar, cinnamon and salt.

Mix well and stir fry for on medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until the apples are soft and reduced in size. Stir occasionally.

In a large food processor add flour, butter, sugar and process well until it tuns into crumbs. Add ice water and blend until you obtain a dough like consistency.

 Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

Cut dough in half. Working on the first half dough, roll the dough flat with a rolling pin. Make sure it's not too thick nor too thin. Half inch thick flat dough is what you want. Use a circular stamp to create mini circles and then use a small heart-shaped stamp (or any other shape you like). These will be the top part of the mini pies.

Roll the second half dough flat and use circular stamps to make the base of the circle mini pies. Place a table spoon of caramelized apple filling on the base of the mini pies.

  Cover each base with the heart-shaped top part.

 Seal the edges of the mini pies with a fork. This is also a great and easy way to decor your pies.

Egg wash the pies and sprinkle with some brown sugar.

Airfry apple pies for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy warm. I have a shared a short video on Instagram to help you understand the steps more! 

A post shared by Rabi in the kitchen (@hungryforgoodies) on Apr 16, 2018 at 12:01am PDT

25 New Ramadan Recipes Ideas 2018 - Iftar Recipes 2018

Assalamualaikum everyone! Ramadan 2018 is just around the corner and to celebrate it, I have 25 Ramadan Recipe Ideas to share with you. Yes, that's right! I'll be uploading 25 food recipe videos to celebrate this blessed month! You can find delicious recipes such as finger foods, refreshing drink ideas, sweets and much more. There are many recipe ideas, I hope you will feel inspired and be able to find what you are looking for in this blog post. I made a master-list with links of all the recipes down below.

This Ramadan Series is actually one of my goals and challenge for 2018. I've been working on this series with my sister since January. My plan was making 30 recipes at first, but I ended up making less. However, there is a saying that goes: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars". I believe to have achieved something great. Even though I didn't reach my original goal, I am completely satisfied with the outcome. My aim was pretty high to begin with, considering that I have a full time job and only make recipes as a part-time passion. I pushed myself to work hard, beyond my expectations just because I set a goal. So, enough talking and let's go check the recipes!

25 Ramadan Recipes

25. Chicken Chapli Kebab

Easy yet delicious, this chicken chapli kebab has a minty fresh taste that makes it unique. It's a perfect finger food to serve when hosting your Iftar party.

24. Veggie Casserole

If your looking for something healthy you can't go wrong with this veggie white sauce casserole. Made of carrots, green peas, broccoli and potatoes it will keep your family full the rest of the night!

23. Baked Fish Masala
Sometimes you need a break from meat and have fish instead! This is a very simple yet healthy baked fish recipe. You just have to make a fish marinade and pop it in the oven.

22. Stuffed Dates
This is an ultimate collection of my stuffed and coated dates. We served these to our guests and they were  all surprised to see colorful looking dates

21. Mini Apple Pies

A great snack idea to munch after Iftar. I remember when I used to stay the whole night awake, waiting for Suhoor; I would always eat snacks at night and I definitely would have love to eat these, because there are so delicious!

20. My Style Chicken Shawarma

This is how I like to make my chicken shawarma. I like using tortilla wrap but if you want you can use pita bread instead. The sauce and filling are so juicy and delicious that it will make your mouth water.

19. Rice Pakora

When you have leftover rice, make some rice pakora. It's so quick and easy and it fills your stomach. This is a great side snack idea to have with your main dish.

18.  Lady Finger Kurkure
Another great snack for Ramadan. I personally love lady fingers, and if you give me crisps made out of them I would seriously be the happiest person on earth. 

17. Malai Chicken Boti

Whenever you don't feel like cooking ask your dad or husband to grill some bbq for you. 'these are the best malai chicken boti that I've ever had. I seriously don't like going to restaurants as I believe that nothing can compare to my dad's cooking. 

16. Healthy Refreshing Smoothies

These 3 are my favourite smoothies Blueberry, Orange and Avocado smoothies. They are really healthy and delicious.

15. Mini Chicken Pies
These mini pies are perfect for Ramadan as they can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the freezer for at least 1-2 weeks. Bake them right before Iftar and enjoy!

14. Chicken Popcorn

I know that fried food is not the best meal to have during Ramadan. However, I personally feel that if you have a craving it is alright and healthy to enjoy deep fried food at home rather than indulging in greasy takeaway where you have no idea what kind of oil or meat is used.

13. Easy Refreshing Drinks

These are drink ideas that you can serve during Iftar. These will definitely make you feel refreshed and hydrated.

12. Baingan Bharta

Baingan bharta is a typical Pakistani dish. The eggplant is smoked slowly to give the curry a distinctive, but savoury flavour and aroma. It can be served with chapatis, rotis or even parathas.

11. BBQ Chicken Biryani
Here's a different way to cook your chicken biryani. A dish full of spices and barbecue aroma, you should definitely try it!

10. Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani

For this recipe you will be needing a lot of spices and a lot of patience, but the outcome is worth it. Biryani is one of my favourite dishes, I probably eat it 4-5 times a month. There are so many variations and types of biryani, here I'm sharing how to make the Hyderabadi style.

9. Chicken Bindi

I know it's another lady finger recipe, but I just love lady fingers, so I had to put this recipe in this list. I think this is a recipe simple salan to make and I just love how juicy this looks.

8. Crispy Chicken Wings

Chicken wings have always been my favourite, I remember the times during my trip to Pakistan I would always ask my dad to buy me and my sisters fried chicken made by 'bhaiya ji from the bazaar near our house'. However, I think these homemade chicken wings are 10x better, they are crispy outside and tender inside. Go check my dad's recipe.

7.  Sweet and Sour Spicy Noodles

I learned this recipe from my dadi ami. Whenever she would make this for us, we would each have 2 plates full of noodles. It has the right combination of spicy and sour with a hint of sweetness which makes this one of my favourite noodles.

6. Pizza Pinwheels
This is another way I like to eat pizza. It basically have all my favourite pizza toppings in it and it's so yummy and filling.

5. No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

I learned this recipe from my mom, she loves making desserts like me. This doesn't require any baking, so if you don't have an oven don't worry, you can still make a cheesecake and serve it to guests.

4. Cheesy Pasta Casserole

I am guilty for loving cheese so much. I grew up in Italy so it's no secret that I use cheese in a lot of my recipes. If you're like me then you will love this dish, because who doesn't love melted cheese with pasta?

3. Stuffed Beef Rolls
This is a Filipino dish that my mom makes only once or twice a year, so it's really special and I asked her to show you guys how she makes it. It's basically a bunch of vegetable stuffed inside beef stakes and the sauce that my mom makes is one of a kind.

2. Lamb Karahi
This a traditional Pakistani dish that I love eating with roti. This was one of the first Pakistani dishes I first tried when I was a kid.

1. Bang Bang Shrimp
Shrimp is one of my favourite seafood. If you are a shrimp lover like me then you'll definitely enjoy this recipe.

Homemade Chicken Popcorn | Ramadan Recipes

Assalam 'o' Alaykum everyone!

It's the beginning of Ramadan and I am sure your cravings for fried food must have started to kick in by now as mine already has. So, today I am sharing with you my homemade chicken popcorn recipe.

I know that fried food is not the best meal to have during Ramadan. However, I personally feel that if you have a craving it is alright and healthy to enjoy deep fried food at home rather than indulging in greasy takeaway where you have no idea what kind of oil or meat is used.

Nevertheless if you don't enjoy fried food, no worries! You can transform this dish in a healthier version by baking it rather than frying it.

To prepare this chicken popcorn I took some chicken breasts and cut them into small bite size pieces. I then seasoned them with delicious ingredients I already have at home and coated them with breadcrumbs to make them super crisp.

The best part of this recipe is the last one where I was inspired by My Food Story 'KFC style spicy popcorn chicken' to dust the fried chicken popcorn with a homemade spice mix.

Delicious chicken popcorn your kids and family will love. I served mine with homemade mayo/siracha sauce.

Homemade Chicken Popcorn Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

Chicken popcorn:

• 550g chicken, cut into bite size pieces
• 3/4 tsp salt or to taste
• 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp ginger, crushed
• 1 tsp garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Egg
• Bread crumbs (as needed)

Spice Mix Powder:

• 3/4 tsp powder sugar
• 1- 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Siracha Mayo Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp siracha
• 1/2 tsp sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare Sauce:

In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, siracha and sugar. Mix well and set aside.

Prepare Spice Mix Powder:

In a small bowl combine powder sugar, paprika, garlic powder and dried oregano. Mix well and set aside.

Prepare Chicken Popcorn:

In a large bowl combine chicken cubes, salt, red chilli powder, dried oregano, ginger, garlic, cornflour, soy sauce, vinegar and egg. Mix well until thoroughly combined. 

Dip chicken pieces in breadcrumbs and coat well. Deep fry coated chicken pieces in hot oil and fry on medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove and transfer onto a paper towel to remove the excess oil. 

In a large bowl immediately combine the fried chicken pieces with the prepared spice mix powder. Toss to mix well. 

Serve and enjoy warm with Siracha-Mayo Sauce!

Notes:

The spice mix is optional. Skip it if you are not a fun of sweet and salty food. The chicken popcorn will taste amazing with or without the spice mix powder!

Crisp Chicken Chapli Kabab Recipe

Last month my sweet dad made this Crisp Chicken Chapli Kababs. 

When I tasted it I instantly fell in love with it. So, today I decided to share his recipe with all of you.

(ehm ehm... can you see how generous am I ^-^)

 This recipe is quite an easy one and perfect for Ramadan which is right around the corner. 

The reason I called it 'CRISP' Chapli Kabab is because it really is crispier than traditional chapli kababs. My dad used cornmeal and gram flour to give extra crunch which made this kabab super delicious!

To get that perfect round chapli kabab shape make sure you chop your onion really finely.

I recommend serving the kababs with mint chutney or sweet chilli sauce.

You can serve it with rice or just at it is!

To find how I make my own sweet chilli sauce from scratch click HERE

Other chutney recipes: mint chutney, mango chutney, pineapple chutney, tomato chutney

Crisp Chicken Chapli Kabab Recipe

Serves: 4 people
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 600g chicken, minced
• 1-1/2 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
• 1 inch (1 tbsp) ginger, minced
• 4-5 (1 tbsp) garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp green chilli, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 3/4 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 egg
• 3/4 tsp paprika powder
• 2 tbsp cornmeal
• 2 tbsp gram flour (besan)
• a hand full fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• oil for shallow frying

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients except oil. Mix well until everything is well combined and set aside.
2. Take a large frying pan and add enough oil for shallow frying. 
3. Wet your palm with some water and take about a tablespoon of the meat mixture and shape into a large and flat chapli kabab shape (just like a patty shape).
4. Once the oil is hot add in the chapli kababs. 
5. Over medium heat fry each side of the kababs for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Once golden brown remove from oil and transfer onto a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
7. Serve with mint chutney or sweet chilli sauce.
8. Enjoy warm!