“The most indispensable ingredient of all good home cooking: love, for those you are cooking for.”
Author: Sophia Loren
Here in Argentina the spices that I like are very difficult to find and when I do it is very, very mild. When my friends recently visited they brought me a bag full of spices. Yes it is true, I miss the spices that we have back in South Africa. Andrey always says that he battled to eat the food that I prepared in South Africa because it was too spicy. I suppose for a person who is not used to eating spicy food this can be a problem. It is not that I eat very hot food, in fact I don´t like hot food, but I do need a couple of spices to add flavour to my food.
I couldn´t wait to open all the bags and smell the aroma of spices! They did not disappoint and brought a great variety. The table was covered in packets! From curry to Aniseed! I must have had eyes like Puss in Boots (the cat from the movie Shrek) because it didn´t take long to convince them to cook me a traditional Malaysian curry.
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| A table covered in spices! |
Rika was in charge of the cooking and Monica was the assistant and recipe writer. Each spoon was carefully measured and thrown into a large black pot. It was amazing to watch the two in action.
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| Rika´s Lomo Curry Recipe |
In the mean time Andrey was busy to plan our route and had maps open on the computer and I kept myself busy with the music. What is cooking without music and I was in charge of the play-list! Now that I like to do!
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| My kind of music! |
Oh did I mention the wine? We chose a fine bottle of Malbec or maybe a little bit more. Every now and then I peeked underneath the lid to smell the delicious flavour. I wish I could cook like that!
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| Malaysian curry with South African flair |
Malaysian curry cannot be served on it´s own and they decided to make a garlic rice to go with it. I have never had garlic rice before and I was looking forward to try it.
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| Garlic rice to be served with the curry |
The food was ready!
I nearly fainted when I took the first bite. This was so delicious! I ate and ate until I couldn´t eat anymore! I think I must have been any cook´s dream because I couldn´t resist and asked for seconds. I made a real piggy out of myself!
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| It´s been a while! |
The verdict: The best Malaysian curry I have ever had! The next day I realized…..
“There is no such thing as a little garlic.”
Author: A. Baer
Recipe:
Beef:
- 1 union sliced, 1 cube (house) garlic friend in a little bit of oil.
- 6 gloves (wholes cloves), 3 bay leaves, 2 star aniseed, 6 green Elachi (Green-Cardamom), 1 cinnamon stick (break in smaller pieces) – add to opnio mix.
- Add meat – cut in squares/blocks/cubes and spice with Barbeque Spice (1/2 teaspoon).
Curry mix paste:
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon Lumin or Cumin (cannot read her handwriting -anyway have no idea what spices this is!)
- 1/2 teaspoon Paprika.
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon mild spicy curry powder
Mix with a little water to make a paste. Add paste to meat and add 1 cup of water and bring to boil. Add 1 tin of tomatoes and let simmer (boil slowly). Leave for an hour. After 55 minutes add 2 table spoons of Tumeric mixed with a little bit of water (paste).
Add potatoes and carrots as you see fit. Chops them before you add it to the pot.
Wait until it is cooked.
Rice:
- 1/2 chopped union, 1 cube of garlic fry in a bit of oil.
- Take a block of chicken stock de-solve in 2 cups of water and use 1 cup of rice.
- Bring to boil and let simmer.
Enjoy!!!
Ps. My friend knows I am a terrible cook so she described everything to me in great detail!
Date: 22 October 2011
Place: Santa Rosa de Calamuchita, Argentina.
Yummy but A-Ha????? oh boyA
Well yes, the next day is a different story…let´s just say approach the loo with caution :)))
Thank you Linda! I was dying to eat the curry…it´s been a while! If you are into spicy food then I can always forward you the recipe 🙂
A truly delightful post, Nelieta! I feel like I was right there at the party. Loved the photos and commentary — wish I could have tasted the food!!!
What a fab post, Nelieta…your joy is so tangible and the photographs wonderful as usual….I'm so glad you had fun – good friends, good food, good wine and good music – what more could one want. ♥
I am hungry….and I loved your description..have a great time,Nelieta.
Hi Linda, sorry I had to go hunting for the recipe. I have added it here to the blog in case people want to use it. Please give it a try and let me know if you liked it. The recipe they wrote were step-by-step for useless cooks like me 🙂
Thank you Martha, it was really good but yes I agree if you are not used to eating spicy stuff then this will not work. You can make it mild also, the trick lies in the amount of curry that you use. Glad you enjoyed cooking with us!
Thank you Corinne, written with love and I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life. We had such an amazing time together. I needed nothing more…like you say, I had it all 🙂
Me too Alpana, would love to cook this for us one evening! Thank you for the visit!
Sounds like a delicious meal you enjoyed with your friends! What a great idea , to bring you some spices. A little taste of home 🙂
Yumm!! I am a big fan of curry! Looks amazing Nelieta Thanks for sharing with us 🙂 I have a treat for you over at my blog, when you get a moment please stop by
Nelieta — I would love the recipe! Please send to linda@dangerouslinda.com and I will keep you posted on how my midwest American version turns out 😉
oh, Mr. C just caught a glimpse of this post and pictures over my shoulder and he's suddenly getting very excited about dinner … please hurry — haha!
The food sounds, and looks, delicious! Probably too spicy for me, though. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this sweet story and the photos. It made me feel as though I were right there with you!Blessings!
Good thing i have all the ingredients right how in my cupboard 🙂 I love Malaysian food and I still have two unopened jars of nonya sauces I bought from KL. Yummy!
Oh yumm! This looks so good…I can almost smell it! Brings back good memories of when I loved in Malaysia. Nothing beats sharing good food with good friends!
ahem…*when I lived in Malaysia*
I could smell that here…smells nice. Great tunes, excellent company, great tasting food and wine. What an amazing combo!!!
Good food good friends life at its best. Great post.
OMG Nelieta! My mouth is watering 🙂 The only history I have with anything curry is when I had the chance to meet Savira. It was wonderful!
It was really good Jessica! We are not many South Africans in Argentina and when we get visitors or when someone goes back home they always bring us something like spices or tea. It lasts a long time and you always have a supply at home.
Thank you so much for the award Debbie!! You took me completely by surprise. I will pass it on as soon as I get a moment! The meal was to die for! The company even better 🙂
Oh wow Claire! But now you have stopped to eat meat…is this a permanent decision?
I agree Cathy! I was wondering when somebody would comment about the playlist..lol…your type of music?
It was soooo good Becky! Malaysian food are really good but not all people like it. Like you say nothing beats good food with good friends!
Thank you Jan! It is true! I do miss that a lot here in Argentina. We don´t have that many friends…I miss that!
Thank you Anna! It was :))))
Glad you liked it Mary! Not many people like curry. I have an Indian friend back home who makes Briani (hope I spell it right). She makes it very, very hot and I cannot eat it. She always used to dish up for me first and then spice it for the rest of the people who like very hot food. The nice thing about curry is that you can adjust it for everyone 🙂 Only problem if it is too hot, you cannot make it mild again :)))
Absolutely love it! Sounds scrumptious 🙂
Food is yummy! And it would be yummier with A-ha as mealtime soundtrack! 🙂
It was yummy!!! Now what is a play list without A-ha???
Lamb is really nice but expensive here! I had an amazing time..so sorry it is all over now.
Lamb is my favorite..lamb chops, stew, curry and etc..Looks like you really had a good time..
Memories are still fresh, Jim. My friends visited me two weeks ago 🙂
Sounds wonderful….. It was great that your meal was as great as your memory. Sometimes we our memory expands on many things.