Happy new year!!!

Hi my dearest friends and my lovely followers! Happy new year for everyone!!! I wish you all, that your most precious and brightest dreams come true this coming year! Wish you all, health, happiness, joy, luck and lots of love!!! May you all be happy and joyful all the time!!!
I hope this coming year will be successful for all of us. I love you all and once more a very very Happy New Year!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo!!!!

Loviyali ugra (Noodle soup with black eyed peas)

"Loviyali ugra" is very nourishing and thick soup. Noodles for this soup are usually made at home, just as here: http://uzbekcooking.blogspot.com/2009/12/tovuq-shurvali-ugra-home-made-macaroni.html, but if you want to make it easier, you can use ready made noodles. Ready made noodles won't taste as home made noodles though:) "Loviyali ugra" can be made with meat (lamb, beef) or with chicken. I prefer to use chicken:)
Ingredients:
50 ml of vegetable oil or 50 grams of melted lamb's tail fat
300 grams of meat or chicken, cut in walnut sized chunks
1-2 medium sized onions, peeled and sliced
1 medium capsicum, seeded and cut in small cubes
1-2 medium sized tomatoes, finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and cut in medium sized cubes
1 potato (optional) peeled and quartered
1 cup of cooked black eyed peas
Half a cup of peas for serving
1 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of crushed or grind coriander
Salt to taste
Fresh chopped greens (I use dried basil)
Less than half of a portion of "Ugra" (as given in recipe)
Heat up oil and brown the meat or fry chicken over high heat, until nice golden color (constantly stirring). Add in onions, fry until onions are transparent, then add in capsicum and carrot and fry until they are half done. Add in tomatoes, spices and potato and fry until vegetables are "clear" or when oil will start to separate out. Add in 1.5 liters of water and bring to boil. Lower the heat, scoop out any foam and let it simmer for about 30-40 min. Add in black eyed peas and cook for another 10 minutes. At the end, add in salt and add in noodles. Cook until noodles are soft, for about 2-3 min.
Serve in individual bowls, topping with some peas and greens.
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Tvorogli pechenye (Cottage cheese biscuits)

This biscuits remind me my childhood, we used buy them at school's cafeteria and enjoy during break times:) I don't know about the origin of this recipe, but I decided to post it in this blog, as this recipe is very popular in Uzbekistan. These biscuits are soft inside, a little crunchy outside, flavorful and soo yummy!!!
I made them out of my own cottage cheese, but you can always use ready made cottage cheese from the market. In case, if you are interested in my cottage cheese recipe, it is here.
Ingredients:
200 grams of cottage cheese
200 grams of butter
1 egg
Half a tsp of baking powder or baking soda
Pinch of salt
About 2 cups of plain flour
Sugar
Finely grate cottage cheese, using the smallest eye of the grater. Chop up soft butter with cottage cheese, then add in egg and mix well. Add in baking powder, salt and mix again. Gradually add in flour, just to shape soft, but not sticky dough. I can't tell the exact amount of flour, as it depends on the size of the egg and the texture of the cottage cheese, so just pay attention that dough is soft enough, but not too sticky-it must be comfortable to work with. Wrap the dough and put in fridge for an hour. Then, divide the dough in three-four parts and roll out each piece separately. Cut out circle shapes using cookie cutter or just regular glass. Layer some sugar on a flat plate. You can use white or brown sugar, doesn't matter. In Uzbekistan we mostly use white sugar, but I prefer to use brown sugar. Layer one circle on top of the sugar, softly press with the palm of your hands, then fold the sugary side in, then again fold, again sugar side in, at the end, sprinkle some sugar on top.



Bake in preheated oven, using medium heat, until nice light golden in color. Mmmm, yummy!

Enjoy with your family and friends!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Besh barmoq (Squared noodles with meat)

"Besh barmoq" is very popular and loved dish in all Central Asian countries. Especially it is popular among Kazakh people, who also claim that "Besh barmoq" is their national dish. I would like to mention that, this dish is also famous among Uzbek people too. I think Kazakhs and Uzbeks are closely connected to each other with common history and culture.
"Besh barmoq" is usually made of fresh lamb and horse meat sausages (or with horse meat). My version is cooked without horse meat sausages, as it is not found, where I live.
Ingredients:
600 grams of meat, lamb/mutton, (preferable fatty and bony parts)
2-3 medium sized onions, peeled and sliced
1 tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of fresh crushed coriander seeds
1 tsp of fresh ground pepper
2-3 bay leaves
Salt to taste
For dough:
2 eggs
60 ml of water
1 tsp of salt
Plain flour as needed
1-2 onions, peeled and sliced, for serving
Put meat in deep pan with 2 liters of cold water and bring to boil over high heat. Scoop out all of the foam, lower the heat and let it simmer for at least 3 hours. Then, add in onions and spices, simmer for another half hour. At the end, add in salt. If you are using horse meat, it must be cooked together with lamb, if you are using horse meat sausages, they must be cooked beforehand and are served at the end, just slice and put on top of cooked dough, along with meat.
While soup is simmering, prepare your dough.Whisk eggs with water ans salt. Gradually add in flour, until you will get medium hard dough. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 20 min. Roll out the dough and then cut it in medium sized squares, you can see the technique here. Open up all squares and let them dry for a while.
When soup is ready, take out all of the meat and set aside. Set the heat on high and cook squared dough pieces in this soup, for about 4-5 min or until soft. Put half of the given portion of dough at once. Take out cooked dough and layer in big plate. Put meat pieces on top and sprinkle with fresh sliced onions. Serve and enjoy!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

"Graffskiye razvalini"-(Duke's ruins)

I couldn't find the information about, from where this recipe is originated, but I can surely tell that, it is very popular and very favorite cake among Uzbek people. I am posting it by request of my readers:) I cooked this cake a long time ago, I was sure that I had photos with the cooking process, but it is so pity I couldn't find them:( Thanks God, I have the main photo, with a ready cake:)
The base of "Graffskiye razvalini" can be made of fluffy sponge cake or with a meringue. If you want it to be more crunchy and light, you have to choose meringue base. I prefer to make it with a sponge cake.
Small meringues on top, can be plain white as well as light brown, using a little cocoa powder. I used bigger baking pan, so, my fluffy base is thinner and "ruins" are not so high. If you will use smaller pan for baking, you will get higher cake. Mine was 10 inch round cake pan.
Ingredients:
If you want to make meringue base:
3 egg whites
1 cup of sugar
A pinch of lemon acid
For regular sponge cake:
6 eggs
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of plain flour
Syrup for sponge cake:
1 tbsp of sugar completely dissolved in 150 ml of water+a pinch of vanilla(vanilla is optional)
For small meringues:
3 egg whites
1 cup of sugar
A pinch of lemon acid
1 tsp of cocoa powder (optional)
For cream:
1 can (400 gr)of condensed milk
400 ml of whipping cream
200 grams of soft cream cheese (optional)
Pinch of vanilla powder
For topping:
200 grams of chocolate
For meringue base, beat up egg whites until stiff peaks. Add in sugar in 3 approaches and whisk for 3-4 min more. At the end, add in lemon acid and whisk for 10 seconds. Pour this mixture in to baking pan, layered with a parchment paper and cook in preheated oven, at a lowest temperature, for a longer time. My teacher used to say "don't bake your meringues, DRY them". And the important secret is - don't change the temperature in the oven. If you have fan oven, that would be perfect for cooking meringue base. Usually it takes 5!!! hours.
Small meringues are made in the same way, but, you have to pipe or spoon small portions onto baking tray, layered with parchment paper and bake for shorter time. (About 1.5-2 hours). If you want to add in cocoa powder, it should be added at the end, along with lemon acid. I use my pastry bag, with a medium sized "star" former, to shape my small meringues.
For sponge cake:
Whip egg whites until stiff peaks, add in sugar in 3 portions and whisk for another 1-2 min. Add in egg yolks, one by one and mix carefully. Now, add in flour and again mix carefully. Pour cake batter in baking pan, layered with baking paper and put in to the cold oven. Bake for 40 min in medium heat. Baking time can vary, as ovens are different. I baked mine for 1,5 hour:) (My oven is just a disaster!!!)Just check up with a wooden stick. If it will come out clean when inserted, than cake is ready. Take out and let it cool completely. Peel of baking paper, cut the cake in two halves and set aside.
Beat up cream, when it will just to start to thicken,gradually add in condensed milk and beat until thick and smooth. At the end, add in cream cheese and vanilla, beat for 1 min more. Don't over beat the cream! You can skip cream cheese, but I like it's taste and that's my favorite cream:)
To assembly the cake, put one piece of sponge cake on a big flat tray, sprinkle with a syrup and evenly spread cream over the top. Put on the second half and spread more cream on top. Now, start placing small meringues on top of the cake. For that, just spread some cream at the bottom of meringue and stick it to the cake. You can arrange your meringues to your taste, but usually it is done as in attached photo. When you done with meringues, fill the spaces with a cream. Also decorate the sides of the sponge cake.
Melt chocolate on a double boiler and immediately pour over the cake. Cake also can be sprinkled with some coconut powder.
Although, the recipe is long and it seems to be quiet difficult, preparing is easy and fun. It just takes a little time:) I am sure, that you will love the result! Enjoy your gorgeous and heavenly tasty cake!!!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Baliq Palov (Pilaf with fish)

"Baliq palov" is famous in those regions, where fish is commonly used for everyday dishes. I know that, this kind of pilaf is very popular among fishermen in Khorezm region. Maybe it is cooked in some other regions too, I just don't have that information, but I'll try to find out. "Baliq palov" can be prepared out of carp or fresh water catfish or any other "meaty" fat fish.
Ingredients:
500 grams of fish (I used my favorite carp)
500 ml of vegetable oil for frying
2-3 onions, peeled ans sliced
3-4 medium sized carrots, peeled and flaked or cut in thin long strips
350 grams of rice
1 tsp of crushed coriander seeds
2/1 tsp of fresh ground pepper
Salt to taste
Cut fish in medium sized chunks. Heat up oil and deep fry the fish over medium heat, until nice golden color. Take out and set aside.

Very carefully pour out all of the oil, but 130 ml. Put in onions and fry over high heat, until onions are transparent, but not browned. Put in carrot flakes, fry for about 10 min, add in all spices and salt, pour enough water to half cover vegetables. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 20 min (until almost all water is evaporated). Finely wash the rice and layer evenly on top of the vegetables. Pour enough water to cover the rice for half an inch. Set the heat on high and let all the water evaporate. Check for saltiness. Now, mix only the top of the rice, place fried fish chunks on top, cover the lid and cook over very low heat, for about 10-15 min.

Open up the lid, again, carefully mix only the top of the rice and cook for another 10-15 min or until rice is finely cooked.
At the end, take out fish chunks and finely mix the entire pilaf. Serve with fresh vegetable salad and a pot of green tea, enjoy!

Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Ma'jun palov (Pilaf with carrot juice)

"Ma'jun palov" is one of the oldest and almost forgotten recipes of pilaf. It is always cooked with chicken (which is perfect for me:) According to our great ancestor Abu Ali Ibn Sina, this kind of pilaf is very useful and healthy, as it is cooked with carrot juice. In our folk medicine "Ma'jun palov" is used as a cure for anemia and for diabetics. Besides, it is really really tasty and nutritious. I just loved it!
Ingredients:
100 grams of any vegetable oil
500 grams of chicken
2-3 onions, peeled and sliced
1.5 kg of carrots
1 tbsp of ground or crushed coriander seeds
1 tsp of cumin seeds
350 grams of rice (I used basmati, but i think any type of rice will go well)
Salt to taste
Peel all of your carrots. Use red and juicy, sweet type of carrot, mine were dark red carrots.

Make juice out of all carrots, but 2-3 pieces. 2-3 carrots must be cut in thin long strips.

Wash up your rice and add in 1 tbsp of salt, then pour very hot water over rice to completely cover it. Mix slightly and set aside.
Now heat up the oil in heavy crock pot and put in sliced onions. Fry over high heat, until onions are transparent, then add in chicken and continue frying until chicken is nice golden in colour. Add in carrots and fry continuously stirring, for about 5-6 min. Add in some carrot juice, just enough to half cover chicken and vegetables.

Lower the heat, half cover the lid and simmer for about 30-40 min. At the end, add in all of spices and some salt to taste.
Finely drain rice and evenly layer over vegetables. Pour carrot juice over rice, enough to cover it for about a half inch.

Set the heat on high and let all of the juice to evaporate. Check for saltiness, add some salt if needed.

When all of the juice is evaporated, lower the heat on very low, slightly mix up only the top of the rice, cover the lid and cook for about 15 min. Then, open up the lid, again mix only the top of the rice, cover the lid and cook for 10-15 min more or until rice is completely cooked.
When pilaf is ready, finely mix the entire pilaf and serve it in a big flat plate. You will see how beautiful and tasty is this pilaf, orange-red in color and rich in flavor! Serve some fresh salad on side. Enjoy your yummy "Ma'jun palov" with your family and friends!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

How to make different shapes for buns

This post is about how to make those different shapes out of dough, to make your buns look beautiful and tempting:) These are just some varieties, but you always can "invent" your own way. These are not my own inventions, I have learned them from different sources:)
So, how to make this gorgeous heart?

This is how: Roll out small portion from the dough, grease the surface with butter, sprinkle some poppy seeds or cinnamon and sugar.

Now roll it around itself:

Fold this log in half and cut the middle:

Open up the edges to outer side, and voila! You have your heart shape:

How to make a rose:

Roll out the small portion of dough, grease with butter, put poppy seeds or any other filling you like right in the middle. Cut 4 lines around it:

Start folding the edges, making sure that center part is open, just fold them one on top of another:

Spirals:

Make the same log as for rose. Don't fold it. Just cut the log along lengthwise:

Now fold these two parts, making spiral:

Now you know how to make all these beautiful shapes!

Yarim qovurma karam shu'rva (Half fried cabbage soup)

I love thick and flavorful soups! "Yarim qovurma karam shu'rva" is just the right one for me:) It is thick, healthy, nutritious and just yummy! You can skip the part, where I mash potatoes and keep them whole, I mash them because I like to make my soup smooth and thick.
Ingredients:
Half of chicken
60 grams of butter
1 big onion, peeled and sliced
1 carrot, peeled and cut in thin strips
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
Half of medium sized cabbage, thinly shred
2-3 potatoes, peeled and cut in medium chunks
1 tsp of ground or crushed coriander
Half tsp of cumin seeds, crushed
2-3 bay leaves
Salt to taste
Fresh chopped greens
Put chicken in cold water and bring to boil. Scoop out all of the foam, lower the heat and let it simmer for about an hour. Add in potato chunks and cook until potatoes are soft and mushy. Take out all of potatoes and set aside. In another pan, melt 20 grams of butter and fry onions, until slightly golden in color. Add in garlic and carrot strips and fry until carrot is soft, but not mushy. Set aside. Separately melt 40 grams of butter and put in all of the cabbage, cover the lid and cook over low heat until cabbage is finely cooked.
Finely mash potato chunks, until smooth, adding some chicken broth. When it is smooth and without any crumbs, add it back into the soup. Now, add in all of the fried vegetables and spices. Cook for about 10 min, add in salt and take from heat. Cover the lid for 5-7 minutes and then serve sprinkling some fresh chopped greens over the soup. Chicken is served separately. Enjoy!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Guruch Lagmon (Rice with gravy)

"Guruch Lagmon" is prepared just as regular "Lagmon", but instead of noodles, it is served with rice. The gravy which is often called "Say" is easy to cook, but so yummy and flavorful. If you can find, you can also add fresh baby bean sprouts, that will give an extra special flavor to the gravy. Today I cooked gravy without cabbage and turnip, as I couldn't find them at home, but that didn't affect to the taste. So enjoy the recipe!
Ingredients:
2 cups of rice
1 tsp of clarified butter
300 gr of meat (lamb, beef or chicken)minced or cut in long thin strips
80 ml of vegetable oil
2 small onions, peeled and sliced
50 gr of cabbage, shred
1 tomato, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp of tomato paste/sauce
1 turnip, peeled and cut in thin strips
1 carrot, peeled and cut in thin strips
1 capsicum, cleaned from seeds and cut in long strips
Fresh chopped coriander and dill
4-5 cloves of garlic, cut in small cubes
Salt to taste
1 tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of fresh ground pepper
1 tsp of ground coriander
Put the rice in to the boiling water and cook until soft, but not mushy(stir occasionally). Drain all the water (if there is any) and add in salt, 1 tsp of clarified butter and mix well. Set aside.
Heat up oil and fry meat(I used chicken)over high heat,until nice golden color. Add in onions and fry until onions are transparent. Add in carrot and capsicum, fry for about 1 min, then add in tomato, tomato sauce, garlic and spices. Fry for about 5-6 min. Add in 450 ml of water. Bring to boil and then lower the heat. Let it simmer for 20 min, add in salt and take from heat.
Serve putting some rice and topping it with gravy, sprinkle some fresh chopped greens and enjoy!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Ku'knori urug'lik kulchalar (Poppy seed buns)

I love poppy seeds! Pity that, you can't find it where I live, so I brought them from Uzbekistan, use them rarely and usually for a special buns:) Today I am posting the recipe of my favorite poppy seed buns and hope you will enjoy!
Ingredients:
500 ml of milk
50 ml of vegetable oil
2 sachet of dried yeast (2 tbsp)
1 tsp of salt
2 tsp of sugar
Plain flour as needed
1 cup of sugar
100 grams of butter
1 cup of poppy seeds
1 egg
Heat up milk, add in salt and sugar, mix until sugar is completely dissolved. Add in oil and add in yeast. Start adding flour (sifted twice) until you will form soft and a little bit sticky dough. At the end, oil your hands and knead the dough for about 5 min. Cover and let it rise for 1.5 -2 hours.
Take the dough and divide a portion. Roll this portion on a oiled surface in to narrow oval shape. Now, grease the entire surface with a soft butter, sprinkle some sugar (to your taste) and at the end, sprinkle poppy seeds. Softly press down the surface with the palm of your hands.

Roll it around itself forming a log and evenly cut it out into 1-1.5 inch pieces.

Put these pieces on their flat side and grease with an egg yolk. Cover with a cotton towel and let them rest in warm place for about 10-15 min.

Bake in preheated oven until nice golden color.
You can make different shaped buns, and cinnamon also can be used for the sprinkling.
Some more photos of my buns:
Heart

Rose

Cinnamon and poppy seed spirals

Sabzavotlar bilan dimlangan baliq (Fish, baked along with vegetables)

"Sabzavotlar bilan dimlangan baliq" can be cooked with different types of fish, especially it is yummy with carp or salmon. I used (if I am not wrong) herring. Fish fillets without any bones would be perfect, especially when you are cooking for children.
Ingredients:
If it is small fish take one fish for one serving, otherwise, use 2-3 pieces of fish for each person
1 lemon juice (2-3 tbsp)
1 onion, peeled and sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 capsicum, sliced or cut in strips
3-4 potatoes
1 tsp of cumin seeds
Half a tsp or less fresh ground pepper
Salt to taste
3-4 cloves of garlic (optional)
4-5 tbsp of vegetable oil (I used sesame oil)
First of all we have to marinate our fish in lemon juice for at least 2 hours. Just rub lemon juice, salt and spices inside and outside of the fish, cover and put in fridge.
Cut out big piece out of foil, evenly put onion slices on top, put tomato and capsicum slices on top of onions, sprinkle some salt and spices. Put fish on top of vegetables. Place all of potato pieces around and between fish and drizzle with oil.
Finely wrap up the foil.

Bake in preheated oven for about an hour. Check up carefully opening the foil, fish must be cooked well.

Serve and enjoy this yummy, useful and easy to cook meal with your family and friends:)
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Tovuq qanotlaridan qovurdoq (Fried chicken wings with potatoes)

"Qovurdoq" is high calorie and very nutritious meal. Try to use fresh chicken wings for this meal. You can use lamb's tail fat if you want richer taste. Garlic and red chilies also can be added.
Ingredients:
500 ml of vegetable oil
600 grams of chicken wings
2 medium sized onions, peeled and sliced
2 medium sized capsicum,(I took one green and one red)seeded and cut in long thin strips
2 small tomatoes, finely chopped
4-5 potatoes, peeled and cut in medium chunks
1 tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of crushed coriander
Salt to taste
Fresh chopped greens
Heat up 500 ml of oil in deep and heavy bottomed pan. Put in all of potato chunks and fry over high heat until nice golden color. Take out all potatoes and very carefully pour out the oil, leaving about 150 ml in pan.

Put in chicken wings, fry until golden color and add in onions. Put in all spices and continue frying until onions are transparent. Set the heat on medium, add in capsicum, fry for about 5 min, then put in tomatoes. Fry until oil will start to separate and color is bright. Now, put in potatoes, fry for 5-8 min more, add in salt and take from heat. Serve on a big flat plate, sprinkling fresh greens over. Enjoy!
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!

Macaron shu'rva (Soup with noodles)

"Macaron shu'rva" can be made using different type of meat-beef, lamb, poultry. As I don't eat red meat, I made it out of chicken:) In original recipe it is done with lamb's tail fat, but I replaced it with corn oil. If you want to make it with lamb's tail fat, then melt about 50 grams of it in preheated thick bottomed pan, take out all of shrunk fat pieces and continue as in recipe below. (Recipe will feed 3-4 people)
Ingredients:
6 tbsp of corn oil
2 chicken breasts, cubed
2 onions, peeled and sliced
2 tomatoes, finely chopped or cubed
1 medium sized carrot, peeled and cubed
1 tsp of crushed or grind coriander seeds
3/4 cup of bow shaped (or any other small)noodles
Salt to taste
Fresh chopped coriander or any other your favorite greens
Heat up oil in heavy bottomed pan and put in cubed breast chunks, fry over medium heat, until nice golden color and add in onions, fry until onions are transparent. Now put in carrot cubes and fry for about 5-6 min, then add in tomatoes and coriander. Fry until tomatoes are mushy, bright in color and oil will start to separate. Add in 1 liter of water, bring to boil over high heat. When it comes to boil, reduce the heat on medium and scoop out a little foam, that will float to the surface. Half cover the lid and let it simmer for 30 min. At the end, add in noodles and cook for another 10-15 min or until noodles are finely cooked. Take from heat, add in salt.
Serve in individual bowls, sprinkling freshly chopped greens. You can also add in half a tsp of fresh cream, to make the soup richer in flavor.
Yoqimli ishtaha!!!