Tag Archives: food

Hearty shepherd pie

Posted on January 19, 2017 | Leave a comment

In a previous post, i shared the recipe of batata soufflé, explaining that is the lebanese variation of the french dish “hachis parmentier” and the british dish “shepherd pie”.

Et voila the shepherd pie, a great comfort food recipe that’s easy to make! For Lebanese people or to the one who knows the traditional lebanese dishes, you will notice that it’s a mix of “batata soufflé” and “bazella w riz” but instead of the rice it’s served with potato purée on top.

This recipe is so versatile, some add cheese or herbs and some add more veggies, gravy or broth. For marmite et ponpon recipe you will need: (serving 4-6 people)

2 medium onion, medium diced
1/4 cup celery and leek, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
250g minced beef
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
2 large carrots coarsely chopped
1 cup water
1 cup or almost 250g peas (frozen or canned)
salt to taste
1 kg mashed potato (purée style with milk and butter)
dry mint to sprinkle on top
1 cup grated parmesan

Cook onion, celery and leek with olive oil until tender and fragrant. Add mince beef and cook together until the meet is browned. Stir in tomato paste, carrots and water then simmer for 20 minutes. I you are using frozen peas, add them to simmer for another 10-15 minutes but if you are putting the canned ones, you only need to simmer for another 2-3 minutes as they are already cooked and you don’t want them to melt in.

Pour them in a baking dish to cover with the mashed potato. Sprinkle some dried mint (almost 1 tsp) and grated parmesan and bake on 180°C for 15 minutes or until cheese is melt and golden.

You don’t need to be expert or love cooking when you have a foolproof recipe. It’s an easy and flavorful dish, if you have kids i am sure they will love it. Don’t hesitate to try one new dish each week, food is always a great pleasure!

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Turkey and red fruits jam with brie dip

Posted on January 17, 2017 | Leave a comment

Cold weather is the perfect excuse for eating, especially comfort food that warms the body and the heart. At the end of the day and when kids go to bed, all i want is to relax on the couch, enjoy a nice dinner with hubby while watching tv.

By this time i am out of energy, i need a quick dinner served with no preparations. Turkey, red fruits jam, brie and basil olive oil… did i grab your attention? All you need is 5 minutes of preparations, and this is exactly the time you spend to make a sandwich.

How to do?

Roll out a ready puff pastry into 2 circles (almost 8″ or 20cm).
Place the first circle of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Brush the surface lightly with red fruits jam leaving the center, the size of your brie cheese.
place the cheese in the center and lay around turkey slices, i chose turkey with herbs, my favorite.
place the second circle on top, after cutting off the circle, the size of the cheese.
divide the dough into 16 equal parts, starting from the edge till the center, without touching the cheese.
twist each two parts in different directions to meet. Take each pair of twisted slices and press the ends together firmly to seal the dough.
brush the surface with olive oil
make several cuts in the cheese to not burst in the oven
sprinkle some basil
bake on 180°C for 15-20 minutes or until the surface is golden brown

Is your stomach rumbling by now? Don’t wait till the night, you can have it as an appetizer for your lunch, it could also serve as a breakfast too! i hope you get the chance to try it.

Dip in the cheese and savour!

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Chicken pesto with spaghetti

Posted on August 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

It’s a one great pesto recipe to whet your appetite. I love to see heaping dishes getting relished, one of the best days when i cook to my family and leave them with a big smile and clean plates. It means it was a memorable meal!

A Spaghetti dish with chicken and especially pesto that comes to boost the flavor quotient and intensify the pleasure. You will need to prepare it: (yields 4 servings)

For the pasta:

1 pack of spaghetti
1 cup pesto sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup garlic oil
salt to taste

For the chicken:

4 big chicken breasts cut lengthwise
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp garlic oil
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp pesto sauce

roasted pine nuts for garnish (1/2 cup almost)
parmesan or emmental cheese for garnish (1 cup almost)

Boil spaghetti as per pack instructions and sauteed it with olive oil, garlic oil and pesto.

Marinate the chicken with the olive oil, garlic oil and garlic powder and cook them until nicely golden. Add the pesto sauce and combine well.

Put a generous bed of pasta, top it with chicken (as per your taste), garnish with pine nuts and cheese.

Serve it warm and enjoy the symphony of flavors. Who is counting calories? i personally don’t, i am just counting memories! Enjoy your precious time with your family and make the best out of it.

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

Zaatar (thyme) and cheese straws

Posted on July 12, 2016 | 9 comments

These savory straws are perfect as appetizers, quick and easy to make and most of all they are addictively tasty. Yes i am hooked on these flaky sticks.

The most common recipes call for cheese, but being Lebanese and fond of our man’oucheh zaatar (thyme), can’t but give it a try using this frangrant and flavorful herb!

Man’oucheh style straws, and it’s heavenly delicious!

To make Zaatar straws you need:

a sheet of puff pastry (250g) makes 10-12 straws
egg wash (one egg +1 tbsp cold water)
1/3 cup ground zaatar (prepared with sumac and sesame as for man’oucheh )
pinch of salt

1-zaatar(thyme) and cheese straws |marmite et ponpon

2-zaatar(thyme) and cheese straws |marmite et ponpon

Roll out the defrosted puff pastry on a lightly floured board until almost 25×30 cm. Beat the egg with one table spoon of cold water and brush the surface of the pastry. Sprinkle the zaatar and salt and with the rolling pin press gently the zaatar into the dough. With the knife or pizza wheel cut the puff pastry into (1.5-2cm wide) strips. Twist each strip and lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to bake for 15 mns (in a preheated oven to 200°C) until browned and puffed then turn them to bake for another 10 minutes.

To make cheese straws you need:

a sheet of puff pastry (250g) makes 10-12 straws
egg wash (one egg +1 tbsp cold water)
1/2 tsp garlic salt
pinch of black pepper
1/4 cup shredded gruyere
1/4 cup grated parmesan

4-zaatar(thyme) and cheese straws |marmite et ponponI

5-zaatar(thyme) and cheese straws |marmite et ponponI

Roll out the defrosted puff pastry on a lightly floured board until almost 25×30 cm. Beat the egg with one table spoon of cold water and brush the surface of the pastry. Sprinkle the garlic salt, pepper, gruyere and parmesan. With the rolling pin press gently the flavorings into the dough. With the knife or pizza wheel cut the puff pastry into (1.5-2cm wide) strips. Twist each strip and lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to bake for 10 mns (in a preheated oven to 200°C) until browned and puffed then turn them to bake for another 10 minutes. Don’t over bake to not burn the cheese, they are more delicate than the zaatar straws.

You’re gonna sooooo love these melt in your mouth deliciousness. Try it with a glass of wine or bottle of beer, and enjoy!

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

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Posted in appetizers & salads

Tagged appetizer, cheese straws, flaky, food, gruyere, how to do, marmite et ponpon, parmesan, puff pastry, recipe, thyme, zaatar, zaatar straws

Shrimp orzo salad with tropical fruits

Posted on April 27, 2016 | 1 comment

As the weather is getting hot and hotter, all you need is a refreshing meal; I can say salads and summer goes really well.

Salad is a versatile option served as appetizer, side dish or even main dish. In the last case, the salad should be filling, featuring carbs or meat.

Usually salads are no fail recipes, they leave you the room to be as much creative you want to be in the choice of ingredients and mixing them together. Beside of having a quick meal, ready on your table within 20 mns, you will be enjoying a sustaining dish full of nutrients.

For the salad you need

1 kg shrimps cooked
1 cup orzo pasta cooked
1 medium mango cut lengthwise
1 small golden apple cut in medium cubes
2 cups pineapple cut in medium cubes
a handful coriander leaves

For the dressing you need

3tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 tsp lemon juice

You can serve it cold from the fridge or at room temperature, but in both cases you are going to indulge in a symphony of flavors.

If you like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.