Egyptian Cuisine

More recipes from SBS Food

tips

Preparing a new Tajine

To prepare a new tajine before cooking; soak overnight in water (the bathtub is a good place). Then fill with water, add same salt and a few bay leaves and a few cardamom pods. Heat over a low gas flame, until boiling to infuse the herbs into the porous terracotta. If your tajine is used regularly this won't need to be redone. Tajines can be used on the barbecue, charcoal or low gas flame but are not recommended for electric cook tops or in the oven.

Washing rice

Rinsing long-grain white rice before cooking removes excess starch, thus helping the rice cook more evenly and be less sticky. Some specialty rice, such as basmati, is always rinsed and soaked before cooking to obtain separate, perfectly cooked grains. However, other rice, such as Arborio, prized for its starchiness in risotto, is never rinsed.

Toasting spices

Toasting whole spices in a dry pan can help to bring out the essential oils and the flavour in the spice, however be careful to taste as you add the spice to your dish as the flavour will have changed and you may need less. Toasting pre-ground spices is a little trickier and it can ruin the flavour of the spice altogether.

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