CRISPY, BUTTERY SMASHED POTATOES WITH GARLIC AND CHIVE CREAM DIP

THESE ARE SO GOOD!! YOU CAN USE MEDIUM SIZE POTATOES AS WELL IF YOU PREFER A LARGER SCOOP. THESE POTATOES SHRINK WHEN BAKED.SERVE THEM AS CANAPES WITH CREAM CHEESE PIPED ON TOP, SERVE THEM AS A CHIP AND DIP OR AS A SIDE WITH A GOOD ROAST. IF YOU USE ONLY OIL AND A CREAM CHEESE SUBSTITUTE THIS DISH IS VEGAN.

 

 

SERVES 4-5

INGREDIENTS

400 GRAMS BABY POTATOES (MIXED COLORS IF YOU CAN FIND THEM)

SALT AND WHITE PEPPER TO SEASON

1/4 CUP VEGETABLE OIL

2 TBSP BUTTER MELTED OR JUST USE OIL

METHOD FOR POTATOES

WASH THE POTATOES AND STEAM THEM USING A PRESSURE COOKER OR STEAMER UNTIL THEY ARE JUST TENDER ENOUGH TO BE PIERCED BY A FORK.

DRAIN THE POTATOES COMPLETELY AND LINE THEM ON A BAKING TRAY.

PREHEAT OVEN TO 375F AND PREPARE MIDDLE RUNG.

USING A POTATO MASHER SMASH EACH POTATO UNTIL JUST BROKEN.  THIS SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN ONE BASH. THE AIM IS TO FLATTEN THEM A BIT AND OPEN THEM UP. DONT MASH THEM.

BUTTER THE POTATOES ON BOTH SIDES GENEROUSLY WITH A BRUSH  THEN OIL THEM WITH THE SAME BRUSH. YOU WONT REQUIRE ALL THE OIL SO SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER RECIPE.

SEASON WITH WHITE PEPPER AND THEN  LIGHTLY WITH SALT (REMEMBER YOUR DIP HAS SALT SO YOU NEED TO BALANCE THE SALTINESS)

BAKE IN THE OVEN FOR 35 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN AND CRUSTY.

SERVE IMMEDIATELY  WITH DIP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR THE DIP

YOU CNA REPLACE THE CREAM CHEESE WITH A VEGAN TOFUTTI OR ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FOR A VEGAN DIP.

180-200 GRAMS CREAM CHEESE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

4 BULBS  GREEN ONIONS OR SCALLIONS FINELY CHOPPED

8-10 CHIVES FINELY CHOPPED

1.5 TBSPS FINELY MINCED GARLIC

1 TEASPOON LEMON OR LIME JUICE

ZEST OF ONE LEMON OR LIME

SALT TO TASTE

METHOD:

WHISK THE CREAM CHEESE UNTIL FLUFFY. ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS AND BEAT UNTIL WELL INCORPORATED. ADD SALT AS REQUIRED AND STIR WELL.

BAATH OR BATICA CAKE-GOA SEMOLINA CAKE

 

 

ALSO KNOWN AS BATICA OR BOLO DE RULAO THIS IS A SEMOLINA AND COCONUT CAKE MADE BY THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF GOA DURING CHRISTMAS. UNLIKE THE X’MAS FRUITCAKE THIS IS LIGHT AND EASY TO EAT WITH A BEAUTIFUL CRUMB THAT COMES FROM LETTING THE BATTER SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

TRADITIONALLY THE CAKE IS LINED WITH PASTRY AT THE BOTTOM, SIDES AND STRIPS OF DOUGH ARE LINED OVER THE TOP. THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL AND MANY COOKS  SKIP IT.

INGREDIENTS

FOR A 8 INCH/20.3 CM ROUND CAKE OR A STAR SHAPED CAKE PAN 23.5 x 23.5 x 5 cm

1/2 KG READY MADE SHORT CRUST PASTRY  (OPTIONAL)

2/3  CUP FINE SEMOLINA OR SOOJI/RAWA

1.25  CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR OR MAIDA

2 TBSP LIGHTLY TOASTED CASHEWS COOLED AND  GROUND TO A POWDER (WILL BE SLIGHTLY CLUMPY)

1  CUP DESSICCATED  COCONUT

1/2 CUP COCONUT MILK

1 CUP GRANULATED OR CASTOR SUGAR

125 GRAMS BUTTER, UNSALTED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

2 TABLESPOONS MELTED GHEE

4 EGGS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

1 TEASPOON CARDAMOM OR NUTMEG POWDER

1 TEASPOON ROSE, ORANGE OR LEMON WATER OR USE VANILLA EXTRACT (ADD MORE DEPENDING ON CONCENTRATION OF YOUR WATER)

CONFECTIONERS SUGAR FOR DUSTING

METHOD-

COMBINE THE SEMOLINA, BAKING POWDER, FLOUR AND GROUND CASHEWS IN A BOWL AND RESERVE.

BEAT THE SUGAR, MELTED GHEE  AND BUTTER UNTIL CREAMY ON MEDIUM SPEED IN A STAND MIXER USING A PADDLE ATTACHMENT OR USE A HAND MIXER.

STIR IN THE FLAVORING- ROSE,LEMON, ORANGE OF YOUR CHOICE AND NUTMEG OR CARDAMOM AND BEAT AGAIN.

ADD THE COCONUT MILK AND  DRIED COCONUT. WHISK ON LOW SPEED FOR 20 SECONDS.

ADD THE EGGS ONE AT A TIME AND CONTINUE TO BEAT ON MEDIUM SPEED.

ADD THE MIXTURE OF SEMOLINA, CASHEWNUT FLOUR, BAKING POWDER AND FLOUR IN BATCHES AND CONTINUE TO BEAT UNTIL JUST INCORPORATED. DO NOT OVER BEAT.

COVER WITH PLASTIC WRAP AND REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT.

FOR THE PASTRY (OPTIONAL)

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 F AND PREPARE MIDDLE RACK.

RESERVE 1/4 THE DOUGH TO MAKE STRIPS. ROLL OUT THE REST OF  YOUR PASTRY DOUGH INTO A CIRCLE, ON A CLEAN WELL FLOURED SURFACE TO 1/4 INCH THICKNESS. PLACE THE CIRCLE IN YOUR STAR SHAPED OR ROUND PAN AND SPREAD OUT OVER THE BOTTOM AND ALONG THE SIDES OF THE BAKING PAN, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.  USING A FORK PRICK THE BOTTOM WITH SMALL HOLES.

ROLL THE REST OF THE DOUGH OUT INTO 1/4 INCH THICK SQUARE AND CUT INTO 6-8 STRIPS. COVER WITH A PLASTIC WRAP AND RESERVE ON A PLATE IN THE FRIDGE.

BAKE PASTRY SHELL FOR 25 MINUTES. REMOVE FROM OVEN AND COOL.

REDUCE OVEN TEMPERATURE TO 325F.

WHILE YOUR PASTRY IS COOLING REMOVE BATTER FROM FRIDGE, UNWRAP AND MIX INGREDIENTS TOGETHER WITH A SPATULA. LET REACH ROOM TEMPERATURE.

IF YOU DON’T PLAN TO DO THE PASTRY, BUTTER YOUR BAKING PAN GENEROUSLY AND LINE WITH PARCHMENT.

POUR THE BATTER DIRECTLY INTO THE PAN OR OVER THE COOLED PASTRY. SMOOTH THE TOP WITH A SPATULA.

LINE THE TOP WITH  LATTICED STRIPS.

BAKE ON MIDDLE RACK UNTIL TOP IS GOLDEN AND A CAKE TESTER INSERTED IN THE CENTER COMES OUT CLEAN.

COOL IN PAN. USING A SMALL SHARP KNIFE LOOSEN THE CAKE FROM THE PAN. THE PASTRY OFTEN BAKES INTO THE BATTER SO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IS CLEARLY BUT YOU WILL TASTE IT. THEN UNMOLD ON A PLATE AND TURN OVER. DUST WITH CONFECTIONERS SUGAR.

SERVE WITH A DESSERT WINE, COFFEE OR TEA.