Culture on a platter

When I think about a recipe I don’t think about going to restaurants having a fancy meal. I don’t think about dressing up and walking in high heels through a fancy lobby. I don’t think about fine dining, ou la la, and a seven course meal served by hard working people.

When I think about a recipe, I think about serving love on a silver platter. I think about pouring harmony into a glass. I think about passion on a fork and being cosy and understood by other people, by family and friends, maybe even by strangers.

The below recipe is my personal Christmas recipe transformed into a menu to make it more exciting. I know it is not Christmas yet, however feel free to use whatever course, whenever and howe ver you want 😊

I remember my family Christmas dinners very clearly.

As a child and actually most of the Christmas nights, I got always so excited when Christmas was on the door step. I remember picking up my grandma from home and walk with her through the snow. It was cold and my grandma was slow, but I enjoyed it very much. I remember running upstairs carrying my grandmas basked full with presents, so she could take her time up the stairs.

It would always smell of home cooked food and cookies. The heating was on full power, the music was playing Christmas songs. My families favourite song would play on the record, Michael Jackson – Little drummer boy.

These are my memories.

There are trillions of memories out there and each one is as valuable as you want it to be.

Bear in mind us “Germans” are very creative and hard working. It is basically a must for us to explore different cultures and try new things, this is why the below has three courses.

Each one of us contributes a dish to create one big meal. We are also very conscious about being healthy and having the right diet… well…. Most of the time.

Enjoy the below food! A fantastic creation and guaranteed success to an amazing dinner!

Start with your “Russian” - Здравствуйте

Smoked Salmon

On blini with sour cream and cavier

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Impress with some “Indian” – हेलो

Okra curry

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Continue with your “French” - Bonsoir

Chicken a lemon

Potatoes, broccoli and carrots

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Finish off with some “Italian”- Arividerci

Tiramisu

Amuse bouche – Smoked Salmon on blini with sour cream and caviar (6 portions)

The Salmon and caviar contain valuable fats and proteins the body needs. I cant afford real caviar either so please feel free to use fake caviar! 😊

What you need

6 slices of smoked salmon

6 blinis (bought in)

2 teaspoon of love

200 gram of sour cream

6 ½ tea spoons of Cavier

How you make it

Lay the blinis on a plate, roll the salmon and place on the blinis.

Mix the love with the sour cream and place little drops on top of the salmon. Put some caviar on each salmon and serve the amuse bouche to the guests. You will hear some “uuuh” and “aaah” until everyone got their piece in their mouths. Don’t forget the garnish – The dill! A little bit of dill wont kill!

Starter – Okra curry (6 small portions and some left over for your guests to take home)

Namaste, my friends. This is a vegetarian option. Here are some facts: chilis is good for bowel movement. Okra is known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods.

The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of West African, Ethiopian, and South Asian origins

What you need

500g

2–3 tbsp olive oil

¼ tsp asafoetida

2 onions, finely sliced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground coriander

2 small green Cry-babies (chillies), finely chopped

handful chopped fresh coriander

1 tsp Kashmiri curry masala

pinch of something I was never be able to pronounce (jeera masala)

How you make it

Firstly prepare the okra. Wash the okra under cold running water and dry each one individually using kitchen paper. Top and tail the okra and cut into 1–2cm/ ½–¾in pieces.

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan or frying pan. Once hot, add the asafoetida and fry for a minute, then add the onions and okra. Fry over a high heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring continuously, before adding the salt.

Stir in the ground coriander and chopped chillies and continue to fry over a high heat for a further 2–3 minutes while stirring constantly.

Stir in the freshly chopped coriander leaves and cook for a further few minutes until the onions start to brown and caramelise. Add the Kashmiri curry masala and cook for another 2 minutes.

Remove from the heat and finally sprinkle over a generous pinch of jeera masala. Stir through the curry and serve at once.

Main – Chicken a lemon

Chicken is a valuable source of protein. Broccoli is good for bowel movement and carrots deliver Vitamin A. Lemons are great for the immune system and garlic good against colds.

What you need

6 chicken thighs with skin

2 lemon

2 broccoli

1 bunch of fresh carrots

2 garlic gloves

1 tsp salt

Pepper

Potatoes

How you make it

Place chicken thighs on a baking tray with baking paper. Brush slightly with oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Chop the garlic gloves and put along with lemon juice inside the thighs. Also put some salt and pepper inside.

Cut the carrots and potatoes very thin and place on baking tray. Season and sprinkle with oil and lemon juice. Place broccoli in boiling water and bring to boil until soft. Add some seasoning.

Place some lemon slices along with Chicken, potatoes and carrots and leave in the oven at 180 degree for 20- 30 minutes, or until golden crispy on top.

When done put on plates with the broccoli and serve to your guests.

Believe me.. you don’t need sauce with your chicken. The chicken and sides will be nice and juicy!

BON Appetit!

Dessert – Tiramisu

Okay this is a bit of a naughty one. But hey, after such a success full evening you certainly deserve it. However feel free to add some fruit or replace with reduced fat mascarpone. You do not have to use alcohol if not wished.

568ml pot double cream

250g tub mascarpone

75ml marsala

5 tbsp golden caster sugar

300ml strong coffee, made with 2 tbsp coffee granules and 300ml boiling water

175g pack sponge fingers

25g dark chocolate

2 tsp cocoa powder

Put the double cream, mascarpone, marsala and golden caster sugar in a large bowl.

Whisk until the cream and mascarpone have completely combined and have the consistency of thickly whipped cream.

Pour the coffee into a shallow dish. Dip in a few of the sponge fingers at a time, turning for a few seconds until they are nicely soaked, but not soggy. Layer these in a dish until you’ve used half the sponge fingers, then spread over half of the creamy mixture.

Using the coarse side of the grater, grate over most of the dark chocolate. Then repeat the layers (you should use up all the coffee), finishing with the creamy layer.

Cover and chill for a few hours or overnight. Will keep in the fridge for up to two days.

To serve, dust with the cocoa powder and grate over the remainder of the chocolate.

That is it with the recipes. Whether you fancy to bring in some harmony it is up to you. Spice up the evening with some champagne, prosecco, wine, beer or even some mocktails, if you are the designated driver.

This is not a formal fancy dinner. This is a celebration of friends, family, strangers and every culture with every belief you can think of.

Enjoy and have fun!

spokoynoy nochi! bonne nuit! shubh raatri! Buena notte! Gute Nacht!