In India, one fruit has gained more more importance over the years. I am speaking of the Indian Gooseberry, which is commonly known as Amla all over the country. The Amla Berry has been popular among Indians for ages, but not for its culinary uses but mostly for its medicinal Ayurvedic properties. The benefits are countless, yet the fruit never achieved a … [Read more...]
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Coco Loco Brain Juice [Halloween]
As you have already realized, Halloween is nearing and some of us, including me, are all busy creating new Halloween Food Idea. If you click on the link, you 'll be able to see our Halloween Pinterest Pin board, already stuffed with great creative and spooky Halloween goodies from the Food Blogger community. Head over for some … [Read more...]
Orange Blossom Tea
In the last years, I have changed my habits from prepacked tea bags to homemade teas. The reason for the switch was the fact, that homemade teas are healthier. You know what's in it and that's the case wih this orange blossom tea too! The herbs and spices are mostly grown in our Gardens, and lucky as I am, we got one on 2 continents. Yet, my knowledge all … [Read more...]
Esterhazy Torte
We grew up with french pastries and Desserts at home all the time. My mother had some knowledge of Austrian cakes and cooking and would present us some of her creations every once in a while. However our food at home was a 90% French. I had studied Hotel management in college and learned THE Austrian/ Middle European food. This of course leased my … [Read more...]
Apple Tart
It's Time to bake some Apple Tarts! What do you think? Apples are falling and besides that, other fruits are ready to be harvested. Again, I wished I were in Europe now. Just to be able to pick what I had planted and to preserve the surplus fruits. Occasionally, we even make juice of certain fruits. My parents belong to the local gardening club there, … [Read more...]
Herb Infused Vinegar DIY
Who knew that making homemade herbal vinegar dressing was that easy. You'd be surprised too by the lovely flavors and intensity of the fresh herbs infused for a lovely herbal vinegar. Learn how to make this DIY herbal vinegar step by step. Furthermore, learn about the herbs used in this recipe and their health benefits further below. A punch of sweet … [Read more...]
Rhubarb Tart
Our house is a real treasure cove, with useful old things and precious collectables. Whenever the time allows it, (which doesn't happen often) I like to search through forgotten attic boxes and cellar cupboards. I had picked up that habit as a kid one fine afternoon when I was alone at home. Precisely, I had actually started to rummage through the house when I … [Read more...]
Detox Herbal Tea
Some time back I had introduced you to a creative home made Dandelion flower jelly, and back then I had promised to share a few other healthy culinary uses for the plant. Before the Austrian alps were commercialized, folks of the mountains had ways and secrete family recipes to their disposition. The chosen ingredients were commonly available products, such as wild … [Read more...]
Egg Liqueur Cake
We Europeans love Egg liqueur! It's an omnipresent treat at family meeting, feasts and the such. It is served and used simply as a digestive drink after a meal or as an improve in desserts such as ice cream or even cake dishes. The creamy yellow goodness is a smooth, egg-based alcohol type, which can be easily reconstructed in your own home kitchen. … [Read more...]
Zunna Berry (chunna) - Ziziphus Rugosa
We love berries don't we? The best part is to collect them in the wild and either take them home or even better to indulge them here and there in the forest/jungle. We don't feel like it is a waste of time! It's an urge, like a desire deep from our subconscious selves, telling us “Come on, it is fun and tasty at the same time!”. Granted, I for once don't … [Read more...]
Tindora Salad with Coconut Vinegar Dressing
This Ivy Gourd salad was created by me after falling madly in love with the ivy gourd fruit/vegetable. As you may remember, I had posted last month a Veg Goan tendli bhaji recipe, where I explained all the uses of this delicious fruit/vegetable. By the way, I am intending to take seeds back to Europe, so I'll be able to report its growth here online. It would be … [Read more...]
One Pot Pork Fillet with mushrooms and potatoes
This is my first pork dish here., and it has been a while. It is very rare that I cook pork at home and in general its not a meat which everybody enjoys. I myself, I am quite difficult and choosy when I cook and eat pork Nowadays I have seen more useless cuts of pork meat around than ever before. Another factor is the fat content, and I am the type of person who … [Read more...]
Green Mango Pickle
Its the Mango season, the time when you indulge the fruity gems in masses, the time when you end up eating only fresh mangoes the whole day and the time when you have to be aware that some of your house tiles might get jammed by falling fruits. What would we do without the juicy, refreshing goodness? It is unimaginable, so deeply rooted and needed are the mangoes. … [Read more...]
Cold Tomato Orange Soup with Buffalo Mozzarella
A cold tomato orange soup prepared with fresh peeled tomatoes, orange juice and enriched with chunks of soft buffalo mozzarella and basil leaves. 📕 What is this soup? A simple, flavorful cold summer soup to beat the heat. This soup is like a Spanish cold gazpacho soup. It's served cooled. This soup doesn't require cooking it, it can be prepared within 20 … [Read more...]
Blanquette de veau a l'ancienne
The other day my husband bought some excellent veal belly which he found in a corner at market. Usually, these kinds of meats are uncommon or asking for their prices. I have to confess I wouldn't know where to buy veal or other meats such as lamb, buffalo, or even deer. The later meat will not be available. Game meats such as deer boar, tortoise, and … [Read more...]
Java Plum Juice
Finally, I am feeling a bit better after that vicious food poisoning attack last weekend. My husband did eat the same dish as I, but he was barely effected, luckily! Definitely I am not looking forward to weakening my body again, no Idea why I thought that I could eat prawns in the summer heat. My taste buds were crying for some seafood flavors, for a change of … [Read more...]
Tropical Mix Fruit Jam
By the end of last week, I had my bomb of fresh Fruit Salads with curds, and I am excited to announce that I got used to the heat. Some days ago it rained a bit early morning and since that it's even hotter, (38 Celsius and I guess the humidity is easily over 80%). My husband is still in the fruit salad craze because he can't get used to the validity. … [Read more...]
Fruit Skewers and Coconut Yogurt Dip
Rainbow colored fresh Fruit Skewers and a coconut yogurt dip to serve along. This is a fun adult-only fruit snack to entertain your guests. When the days get hotter, and you are hosting some friend, make these refreshing fruit skewers. Colorful and inviting, they are a fun way to enjoy a get-together. Pick a set of colorful fresh fruits, cut them into chunks, … [Read more...]
Strawberry Dumplings
We Austrians life for our Knödel. Seriously we wouldn't be able to think those round dumplings away from our lives, simply because they are so versatile and because we enjoy them savoury and even sweet. There are so many versions, you would be surprised! I am aware that many people out there in the world don’t even know the existence of Knödel, our floury middle … [Read more...]
Goan Choriz Sausage
Some years back when our restaurant used to be open in the monsoon, we had one young couple which would come every day, and they would sit there for hours speaking with each other. They were Russians and they didn't know much English. The first time they sat in our place they got attracted by the word “sausage” in the choriz sausage bread and so ordered it. The … [Read more...]
Basilico Italian Restaurant - Anjuna Goa
Sadly Basilico closed down in 2021. I'm keeping this up in memory of all the good times that we had there. Thank you, Susanna and Selwyn! Susanna shared her Passatelli recipe lately. So maybe we can have a tiny bit of Basilico at home. You know the days when you crave for authentic Italian food, the anti Pasti surprises, the delightful thin crust pizzas, the satisfying … [Read more...]
Wheatgrass Shots with Fresh Wheatgrass
You can make a fresh wheatgrass shot at home from scratch. Here is how it's done! You love sprouts? Here is a guide to sprout mung beans. What is a Wheatgrass Shot? A wheatgrass shot is made by processing wheatgrass that grows from seeds into a concentrated punch. Wheatgrass, sometimes spelled wheat grass, is the young green grass that grows out of your wheat. … [Read more...]
Fresh Moroccan Mint Tea
Moroccan mint tea is a simple yet refreshing blend of green tea and fresh mint leaves, lightly sweetened for a perfect balance. It’s a fragrant and flavorful tea that’s perfect for unwinding or sharing with friends. TL;DR We have long been enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Moroccan mint tea at home, and our love for this herbal brew only increased over the … [Read more...]
Candied Sweet Potatoes (Daigaku Imo)
When guests come to visit us, I usually get excited. I start to go through my mind, thinking what treats I could try serving my unsuspecting companionship. My husband tends to get nervous at this times. He is normally my testing bunny these days, if he doesn't like something then I better leave it or improve it. So in my mind I had decided on a little … [Read more...]
Indian Spiced Stuffed Eggplant
Occasionally I just don't know what to do with my Vegetables at home. I like vegetables but not in masses and I mostly enjoy them in combination with any meat and some carbs such as bread. As a kid, I had a lot of Veggies and already back then I was never much a fan of them and neither my stomach, who gets very unsatisfied at the prospect of Vegetables. It's so … [Read more...]
Beef Dumplings (Bratknödel)
Some months ago I had posted a dish called Pressknödel. Knödel are dumplings and there are many different variations, from savory to sweet, from round to flat. Sometimes you enjoy them with a soup or sometimes they fit better with a salad. Today I thought of a savory bread Knödel version to share with my readers called Bratknödel. Knödel are so-called … [Read more...]
Apple Beet Carrot Juice (ABC Juice)
Beet Carrot Apple Juice is one of my favorite juice combinations out there. I came across this wonderful fresh “ABC” juice in my travels to India, where it is often served. TL;DR I came across the ABC juice in Goa, India. Back in the 2000s, popular juice bars would freshly prepare this juice combination, and it was already a hit back then. Paul and his family got … [Read more...]
Contact
You can contact me by sending an email to helene @ masalaherb. com (email without space please) Contact me if you have a question regarding the content (recipe, travel Qs) or if you are a brand representative (sponsored posts) and you are looking to collaborate. I don't entertain guest posts, spam and scam related emails. You can also reach out … [Read more...]
Onion Pakora
I had mentioned in my previous posts, sweet lassie day and warm ginger lemon honey tea, how I had landed in India and how I managed to keep myself over the water level. If you want to see India by backpack traveling the country, you have to know as a foreigner that eventually, you'll get stomach sick. Once you had your tummy ache you are free of future food … [Read more...]
Goan Kulkule and Nankatai Cookies
We are in the Christmas season, preparing cooking and baking for a merry Christmas at home to enjoy with our loved ones and the ones we care for. Advent is the time of the year when we realize to the other year is over and that time seems to be passing away, remembering the good and bad times. Goa celebrates Christmas with their traditions, their own way. That's the … [Read more...]
Bora Berry: Jujube Date
It took me 4 years to discover certain fruits, and the Bora berry was one of them. When you come to Goa for a vacation, you end up mostly on the beach hanging out or partying. Your head is all over the place, you get Sussegad and dreamy, enjoying the sun and culture. I was definitely not a foodie when I first landed in Goa, we'll back then I was enjoying my … [Read more...]
Beef Liver with Pulao
I am a total liver lover, any animal lover, but especially I enjoy beef. I was surprised to know that many people felt repulsive towards it. The idea of eating animal organs is not that appetizing to some. Those who feel like that, let me tell you, you are missing out a big deal by not trying at least some. The liver has a smooth, tongue melting texture if … [Read more...]
Pan-Fried Spiced Bombay Duck Fish (Bombil)
A homemade bombay duck recipe prepared with fresh fish. This fish is briefly dried and then pan cooked in oil with spices. 📕 What is Bombay Duck? Bombay duck, also called Bombil or Bummalo or Bombay dak in Western India, is a small fish with a large jaw. They are called that way because their habitat is the Mumbai area, and they are also native to the Gujarat and … [Read more...]
Sapodilla Fruit Smoothie
My sapodilla fruit smoothie prepared with fresh sapodillas, aka chikoo, chiku, sapote/sapota fruit. This smoothie tastes like a fruity caramel, and this recipe includes milk. I show you how to use this tropical fruit in this recipe. Sapodilla is that brown inconspicuous round oval fruit the size of an egg, which you might have encountered on your travel to … [Read more...]
Goan Fish Curry Rice with fried Mackerels, pumpkin bhaji & Aubergine Pickle
Fish Curry Rice is considered the Goans traditional dish, cooked and prepared in every household, poor and rich. Mackerels are the most common fish eaten with rice and curry, for one it is a cheaper fish, easy to clean with fewer fish bones, and a very tasty one indeed. Fish curry and rice are prepared nearly every day in local houses and most of the time extras such as … [Read more...]
Soursop Fruit (Guanabana)
Today I wanted to share an exotic fruit with you, the soursop fruit. 📕 What is the Soursop fruit? Soursop, also known as guanabana, graviola, or Brazilian pawpaw, is a tropical fruit with a green leathery and spiky skin, making it look like a plump little dragon. It is related to the custard apple and has a similar texture. Behind the rough facade hides … [Read more...]
How to peel and devein fresh Shrimp
I show you how to deshell and devein raw and fresh shrimp. This applies to small and large ones. You won't need special kitchen tools for this. 🔪 Why clean shrimp? Shrimp need to be cleaned for food safety reasons and because the shell isn't edible. When someone says they are cleaning a shrimp (or prawn), they mean to say that they are removing the head, shell, … [Read more...]