Inspired by Sri Lanka – Prawn and Yellow Lentil Curry with Cheats Pol Sambola

Luckily the oven roasted spice mix makes enough for two curries, as you will want to make this again and again! Filling, earthy flavours with the added zing of the ‘Cheats Pol Sambola’ to really tickle your tastebuds.

Serves: 2, or 4 if you add rice

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 30 – 40mins

Ingredients: For the Sri Lankan Spice Mix, 1 tsp. black peppercorns, 1 tsp. cumin seeds, 2 tsp. mustard seeds, 2 tsp. fennel seeds, 2 tsp. coriander seeds

For the lentils: 1 cup of red or yellow lentils, 3 cups of cold water, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick

For the curry: 1 can of full fat coconut milk, 12 – 16 King Prawns (depending on size and how many you want!), 2 garlic cloves, 1 thumb sized piece of ginger peeled, 1 red chilli, 1 tsp of coconut oil, (can use vegetable oil), 1 tsp. tumeric

For the ‘Cheats Pol Sambola’: 1/2 small red onion finely sliced, 1.1/2 tbsps. of natural desiccated coconut, 1/2 tsp. of dried chilli flakes (more of less depending on how much heat you like), juice of 1/2 a lime, 1 tsp. fish sauce.

Method:

1. First pre-heat your oven to 200F, place all of the spice mix spices in a roasting tin and roast for 8-10 minutes until starting to brown
2. Rinse your lentils and add to a pan with 3 cups of cold water, the cloves and cinnamon stick
3. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10-15mins until softened, drain and remove the cloves and cinnamon stick and put to one side until ready to use
4. Now make your ‘Pol Sambola’, by mixing all ingredients together and then placing in the fridge until ready to use
5. Once your spices have cooled a bit give them a good bash in a pestle and mortar or a quick blitz in a food processor
6. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan and add the garlic, chilli, turmeric and ginger, fry for a few minutes then add half of your spice mix, save the rest in an air tight container for another time!
7. Fry for a further 2 – minutes before adding the cooked lentils and coating well in the mixture
8. Add the coconut milk and simmer for 10mins
9. Add your prawns and cook for a few minutes longer to heat through
10. Serve with ‘Pol Samba’ and enjoy!

Three decades of civil war and the tsunami in 2004, have left the children of Sri Lanka extremely vulnerable with many of them still suffering from both emotional and physically scars. The tsunami killed tens of thousands of people and flattened towns and villages. Save The Children have since rebuilt 21 schools, safe places for children to play and provided emergency aid and education to 130,000 children. They are also working with local organisations and government to reunite children with their families and develop Early Children Care and Development programmes to give children a better future. To find out more please visit:

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/asia/sri-lanka

Remember all recipes are created for you not only to enjoy, but to also raise awareness of the struggles these countries face on a daily basis, so if you would like to make a donation to Save The Children who are working everyday to support children around the World, please visit my just giving page by clicking the link Just Giving for more information.

Thanks x

Advertisement

Inspired by Kenya – Ginger Drizzle Sponge Cake

Ginger is used widely in Kenyan beverages from Kenyan Ginger Tea to Ginger Beer, often drunk with a sweet donut called ‘Mandazi’, so I wanted to create something that combines the love of ginger with a sweet treat – I hope this hits the spot!

Makes: 12 Squares

Prep: 15mins

Cook: 40 – 45 mins

Ingredients: For the Ginger Syrup, 50g of fresh ginger, 1 tbsp. brown sugar, 300ml of cold water, 85g icing sugar

For the Ginger Sponge: 115g butter, 115g caster sugar, 115g self raising flour, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. dried ginger, a little fresh ginger (optional).

Method:

1. Make the ginger syrup first by adding 50g of roughly chopped fresh ginger to a pan with one tbsp. of brown sugar and 300ml of water
2. Bring to the boil and leave on a simmer for 20mins until the liquid has reduced by half, stirring occasionally so that all the sugar dissolves
3. Take the liquid of the heat and allow to cool, once cooled, place through a sieve to remove all of the ginger and leave to one side while you prepare the sponge
4. Pre-heat your oven to 160F
5. First mix together the butter and sugar until all combined and fluffy, now add your eggs and mix well
6. Add your dry ingredients, flour, baking powder and ginger powder, folding until all combined into a thick batter
7. Line a baking tin (I used an 18cm x 24cm rectangular tray, but you can use a round one)
8. Pour your mixture into the tray, spreading evenly and pop in the oven for 20 -25 mins until golden brown
9. Meanwhile add 85g of icing sugar to the ginger syrup and mix well so there isn’t any lumps
10. While your sponge is still cooling prick the surface with a fork many times and pour over your ginger syrup, making sure to cover the whole surface of the cake
11. Leave to cool and infuse completely then cut into 12 squares
12. Serve with an extra sprinkle of sugar and grated fresh ginger if you wish
13. Enjoy!

Although Kenya is one of the most developed countries in Africa, they still face many challenges. Save The Children are working in Kenya to support those who find themselves in the refugee camp Dadaab, from Somalia, and are working with nomadic communities to ensure they are better equipped for future disasters such as the severe droughts that Kenya is prone too. They are also working tirelessly to decrease the number of child, newborn and maternal deaths. To find out more, please visit:

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/africa/kenya

Remember all recipes are created for you not only to enjoy, but to also raise awareness of the struggles these countries face on a daily basis, so if you would like to make a donation to Save The Children who are working everyday to support children around the World, please visit my just giving page by clicking the link Just Giving for more information.

Thanks x

Inspired by Jordan – Oven Baked Fragrant Rice with Crispy Chickpeas and a Parsley Lemon and Cucumber Sauce

Healthy, filling cheap and delicious! Try out this Jordanian Inspired Baked Rice…makes great lunch box left overs too!

Serves: 4 as a main course

Prep: 15 -20mins
Cook: 1 hour

Ingredients: For the rice – 2 cups of basmati rice, 1 white or brown onion (thinly sliced), 1 courgette (diced into small cubes), 1 garlic clove (thinly sliced/crushed), 1 tbsp. olive oil, 8 cherry tomatoes, veggie stock cube, 1 tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp. dried thyme, 1 tsp, dried oregano, 1 tsp. sesame seeds, rind of 1/2 lemon

For the Crispy Chickpeas – can of chickpeas (400g before draining), 1 tsp. olive oil pinch of salt

For the Yogurt Sauce – 150g natural yogurt, small bunch of chopped parsley, 1/2 grated cucumber, juice of 1/2 a lemon, pinch of salt, grated/crushed clove of garlic.

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 200f
2. Heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a lidded oven proof pan, add to this the turmeric, thyme, oregano and sesame seeds
3. Heat for a few minutes then add the garlic, onion and courgette and cook for a further 2-3 minutes
4. Add two cups of basmati rice, mix well then add 4 cups of water and mix in a veggie stock cube
5. Pop the cherry tomatoes on top and the rind from 1/2 a lemon, turn off the heat, pop the lid on and cook in the oven for one hour
6. While the rice is cooking prepare your chickpeas and make your yogurt sauce
7. Drain and rinse the can of chickpeas and leave to one side to make sure they are without any excess water
8. Combine all the ingredients for your yogurt, mix well and leave in the fridge until ready to use, adding salt to taste
9. Mix the chickpeas with a little oil and a pinch of salt, place on a baking tray and 20mins before your rice is ready pop in the top of the oven
10. After 20mins the chickpeas should be nice and crispy and the rice ready
11. Assemble your dish by plating up the rice, adding the yogurt on top and scattering over the crispy chickpeas. The rice should have formed a nice crisp on the bottom of the pan so be sure you add this to your dish too
12. Dig in!

600,000 Syrian people are currently living as refugees in Jordan, with around half of them children. Save The Children are working in Jordan to ensure that they are receiving food, protection and education. To find out more please visit:

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/middle-east/jordan

And if you would like to have a look at my previous recipes for Syria please click on the links below:

Inspired by Syria – Garlicky Roasted Courgette and Carrot, Honey, Cumin and Pine Nut Dips

Syrian Inspired Aubergine Dip with Honey and Pistachios

Syrian Inspired Fruit Salad

Remember all recipes are created for you not only to enjoy, but to also raise awareness of the struggles these countries face on a daily basis, so if you would like to make a donation to Save The Children who are working everyday to support children around the World, please visit my just giving page by clicking the link Just Giving for more information.

Thanks x