Lentil soup

Lentil is a popular side dish in Mauritius, a typical dinner plate would consists of plain rice, a vegetable dish, curry and lentils, black, red or yellow. This is a delicious lentil soup with carrots, celery, red onions,garlic and loads of parsley. It's a very comforting soup on those long winter nights.

Christmas Treats....

The "Napolitaines" was a sweet treat to share for Christmas. I truly hope my colleagues at work liked them as much as I did enjoy making them !

Quesadillas with left over chicken

Spice up your Friday night dinner with this simple yet delicious mexican chicken, black bean and cheese quesadillas. Served with some refreshing mango salsa. Hurra !!!

Birthday dinner at home....

Roast Beef , Mash potatoes with chives, Portobello mushroom gravy, spinach salad with grapefruit, honey and mustard dressing

Thai dinner...

Tom yum Soup, stir fried baby bok choy, Thai style seafood fried rice (Kao Pad)

Birthday cake

A birthday cake for my husband! One of my creations which I am the most proud of. White chocolate cake with white chocolate filling and mixed wild berries inside.My first attempt at using Fondant used on top to create the base as well as leaves.

Tandoori fish pakora

Fenoos

Who does not like this traditional mauritian sweet called "Fenoos" ! Made with milk just before it turns into curd and sugar. One of my husband's favorite sweets! Fenoos certainly brings back lots of childhood memories when I would literally pray for the milk to go sour so that my mum could turn it into fenoos. Nothing is wasted in our country where milk is still one of the most expensive basic needs....

Suji ka halwa...sweet semolina dessert

Can be enjoyed warm or cold, as a dessert on it's own or with hot puris for a breakfast feast !

Mussels in creamy garlic sauce

For all the seafood lovers out there ! Mussels in a creamy garlic sauce topped with parsley and accompanied with crusty french baguettes ......Faut gouter pour croire !!! A french delight for a casual saturday night dinner.

Dhal Puris

Le festival des délices mauriciennes continues in "my kitchen" !!! Who doesn't love this popular street food , the famous DHAL PURI (paper thin flat bread stuffed with split peas)! served with a typical rougaille pomme d'amour (tomato based sauce) and carri gros pois (Lima bean curry). The "green chillies" are a must for one to enjoy the dhal puri to it's fullest !

Gateaux Piments

The perfect example of the blend of different cultures which make Mauritian cuisine so unique.....Here , indian inspired "gateaux piments" traditionally served with french baguette and butter ! Every mauritians looking at this will have some sweet memories coming back !Even though the name says "piments" , the main ingredient for this savoury snack is dried yellow split peas, soaked overnight in water and ground coarsely.

"Massepain"

I have tasted many different cakes but nothing compares to the mauritian style "massepain". Not quite sure about the origin of the name, but the taste is absolutely divine, moist inside and just a little bit crusty on the outer layer.

Rustic Pear Pie

Rustic pear pie. Creamy custard filling with pear slices and a crumbly,pie base

crepes

Crepes filled with cream and topped with a peach and strawberry coulis .

Biryani

Biryani.....translated into a mix of rice, meat , potatoes, spices,saffron and herbs all perfectly blended together and cooked in one pot to create the royal dish that came from the Mughals who got it from Persia. It was subsequently entrenched in the Northern part of India ,places like Lucknow and Hyderabad. Today, almost every community around the world has it's own version of the biryani. This is the mauritian version of the delectable dish. Served on special occasions like Eid, or any wedding.In Mauritius we have specially designated chefs called "bandaris" who are trusted with the important and honorable task of making biryanis for hundreds of people on weddings or big gatherings.

Bol Renversé

One of the most popular Mauritian dishes: "Bol Renversé" translation : "Upside down bowl ". Not quite sure about the true originin of this local dish which was first introduced in Mauritius by the chinese community. Now adopted by all communities in the country which has turned it into a real "mauritian speciality" Vegetables, chicken or shrimp stir fried in a special sauce, topped with rice and a fried egg on top. Not only does this dish tastes great but it gives a unique visual effect on the plate as well ......

Melting moments

Melting moments ....that's the name of the cookies :) Buttery, melt in your mouth cookies filled with rasberry jam in the centre. Perfect with a cup of tea after a hard day's work or to share among friends for a tea gathering.

Thai coconut soup

The finished Thai coconut and shrimp soup ! The taste is absolutely outstanding , a blend of sweet, sour hot and salty all perfectly balanced. The galangal used (pls see previous picture) is a common ingredient in thai cuisine, very similar to ginger it has a more subtle taste. Lemon grass , kafir lime leaves, lime and tamarind used give it the ... sour taste without overpowering the soup. THe red chillies for some heat, fish sauce for the saltiness and finally coconut milk and palm sugar to balance with the sweetness. There are many variations to this soup which can also be made with chicken. Tomatoes are optional, I just like to add it at the very end to give a splash of color amidst the green of the baby bok choy and the white effect of the coconut milk

Ingredients used to make Thai coconut soup

Only fresh ingredients used in the making of one of my most favorite soups : Thai coconut shrimp soup. From top clockwise: Baby bok choy, kafir lime leaves, red chillies, fresh shrimps, galangal, tomatoes,lime and lemongrass for that authentic thai flavor !

Beef with oyster sauce - Broccoli with sesame seeds

Mauritian style chinese stir fried noodles (Mine Frire)

Beef steak fajitas in sun dried tomatoes tortillas with sour cream on top !

Easiest dish to make with left over steaks or roast beef ! Turn a regular week day night dinner into a mexican fiesta !

Les Napolitaines de L'ile Maurice .....

These "pretty" looking cookies are very popular in Mauritius, commonly known as Napolitaines. Short bread dough , filled with strawberry jam in the middle and topped with icing. Be it at a party or casual afternoon, you will always be treated with a napolitaine on special occasions.