Quick and easy homemade recipes from Mauritius!

One mauritian dessert I absolutely love is Maize pudding,also known as Polenta pudding or corn pudding(simply known as "Poudine mais" in Mauritius). I was never used to cooking in home, but now that I am in China, I terribly miss these simple foods. So, today I decided to try "poudine mais"!My mom sent me the recipe and it turned out really good!

Ingredients:

250g fine corn powder

50g sugar

25g coconut powder

vanilla essence

sultanas(dried raisins)

1/2 litre of milk or 6 tbsp of milk powder mixed in 1/2 litre of water

Steps:

1.Soak corn powder overnight or at least 30 mins.Throw the water and all the impurities floating.

2.Add some more water to the corn powder and allow to boil,stiring continuously to avoid the corn powder from burning.Add water if needed.

3.Add the sugar, milk, vanilla essence, sultanas and continue stirring until mixture thickens.

4.Sprinkle some coconut powder on a plate and pour the corn mixture into the plate.Sprinkle some more coconut powder over the mixture.

5.Allow to cool and when cool enough,place in the refrigerator for at least 30 mins.

6.Slice to your choice.

Chicken eggs,duck's eggs,goose's eggs....chinese people just love eating them,whether fried, roasted or boiled.Some very "popular eggs" ( you know what I mean :P) are the Century eggs, Soy eggs, Tea_eggs, Balut, Salted Duck eggs and Lutefisk.
Century eggs("dizef cent ans") and soy eggs("dizef rotis") are particularly very popular in Mauritius.For every Chinese New Year, we must all eat century eggs.Also, if it is your birthday, then eating century eggs will ensure you a long life according to the traditional myth.
Soy eggs are very easy to make and usually Chinese eat them as snacks or for breakfast along with jook(rice porridge).

Ingredients:
10 boiled eggs
1tbsp chinese 5 spices
1tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp soya sauce
300 ml cooking wine

Steps: put all ingredients to simmer in a pan about 20 minutes

Today morning I was thinking what I was going to eat for my lunch when I suddenly remembered that I had some uncooked red beans left.
It had been long since I ate beans too,so decision made!Beans masala for lunch!It is a very easy and quick recipe.You can soak your beans
for about 1 hour,but I usually just pressure cook it for a little while longer.It is a very healthy recipe and is full of proteins.

Ingredients:
Cumin seeds
1 finely chopped onion
1 tbsp garam masala powder
2 tbsp ginger/garlic paste
1 tbsp coriander powder(dhania)
3 medium tomatoes
2 small chillies(slit)
2 cups red beans
1 tsp methi powder
coriander leaves
salt to taste

Steps:
1.Wash the red beans and put in pressure cooker.The amount of water used should be twice the amount of beans.I always add a little more,because I don't want to take any risk of the water evaporating and my beans burning.
Pressure cook for about 15-20 mins.Open and check the beans as well as the amount of water.If needed,add more water.

2.In a separate pan,pour some oil.When the oil is hot,put the cumin seeds and allow them to crackle.Add the chopped onions and until golden brown.

3.Add the garam masala powder and give it a quick stir.Spices can burn very easily,so add some water from the red beans to the pan.

4.Add the coriander powder and the slit chillies.Stir.

5.Add the finely chopped tomatoes and mix all well.Add some more "red bean water".Cover and let cook for 3 mins until a nice paste is produced.

6.Add the red beans and let cook for another 2 mins.

7.Garnish with coriander leaves.

You can serve this dish with rice and a fresh crisp salad.

This recipe is very popular in Mauritius.In home,we usually serve it along with a "rougaille poisson salee" (salted fish curry) or with a "vindaye poisson" (fish vindaloo),along with some "chatini coco" (coconut mint chutney). I will be posting recipes for these dishes later on:)

Lentils with spinach is a very healthy dish. Check out their health benefits: lentils and spinach.

I don't usually measure ingredients when I cook.With practice,I just got to know how much I need to put.But for beginners' sake,I put the measurements.And here is the recipe:



Ingredients:

200g lentils

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp chilli powder(or u can just put chilli)

1/2 tsp ginger/garlic paste

1/2 kg spinach,washed and chopped

oil

1 medium sliced onion

garlic

2 medium tomatoes,chopped

1 tsp cumin seeds



Steps:

1.Wash the lentils first,like you would do for rice.Then,place it in a pressure cooker,along with the turmeric,chilli,garlic ginger paste,some salt and 3/4 litre of water.Pressure cook for about 10 mins.



2.After 10mins,uncover and check the lentils.If you find that water is not enough,add some water.The lentils should be almost cooked now.Add the spinach,and continue cooking until the spinach has wilted.Remove from heat.



3.In another pan,add oil.When the oil is hot enough,add the cumin seeds.When they start to crackle,add the onion and garlic.Let them fry until crispy.



4.Add the fried onion and garlic to the lentils..Add tomatoes.Continue cooking on medium heat until tomatoes are also cooked.



5.Serve!





Tips:Spinach should be washed very carefully since dirt tends to collect on the stems and leaves.Before washing,cut off the roots and separate the leaves and stems.Then,place in a bowl of clean water and swish around the leaves.Throw the water and repeat the process until no dirt remains.

3 medium potatoes

1 onion,cut in slices

coriander

salt

dried red chilli(optional)

Steps:

1.Boil the potatoes.

2.While the potatoes are boiling,fry the onions until brown crispy.If you want to add chilli,then fry the dried red chillies too.

3.When the potatoes are soft enough,peel them and put in a bowl together with the fried onions,chilli and chopped coriander.Add salt to taste.

4.Mash the potatoes,while mixing it with the other contents too.Use hand as the flavour will come out better.

Serve as a side dish.

You could also add some peanuts or cashews to it.