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Old Bohemian Christmas Table
emointhekitchen We are all part of nature and we should live in accordance with its changes and norms. In winter, the Yin energy prevails and the days are short. This should be reflected in our rhythm of life. We should sleep and relax more. However, the end of the year brings increased tension, pre-Christmas preparations and worries. Despite all our efforts, we can’t avoid this rush. However, we can try to slow down at least. Christmas is a Christian feast associated with the birth of Christ but it is based on the pagan celebration of the solstice. Christmas customs, as well as traditional Christmas dishes, vary greatly from country to…
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Mungo Beans Hangover Soup
emointhekitchen In China and Japan, this simple yet tasty soup is very popular and from time to time can be useful to everyone. Not only as a hangover remedy but it is also suitable for skin cleansing in case of acne or different types of rashes. Since this soup has cooling properties fits well into very hot summer days. You will need: 1/2 cup of dry mung beans, rinsed 1 tablespoon of pre-cut seaweed wakame 4 cups of water soy sauce with reduced sodium content according to taste or light miso paste Preparation: Mix beans, seaweed and water in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, pull the flame and…
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Warm hokkaido cocktail with white chocolate
emointhekitchen This is warming dessert for late autumn or winter days. From the TCM point of view, Hokkaido is of a warm nature and belongs to the element of the earth. Together with warm spices (pepper, turmeric, ginger and cloves), strengthens the digestion and keep you warm during the cold snap. You will need: 150 ml of fresh pumpkin puree 450 ml of coconut milk 130 g of white chocolate (you can try the vegan variant of white chocolate) I have found a homemade on this website: ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger (I am using a grater that removes the fibres) 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tsp vanilla powder 2…
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Poppy Balls
emointhekitchen Unbaked desserts are a healthy alternative to sweet snacks. Especially in summer, we should avoid baking in the oven, which is more suitable for colder weather. You will need: millet and ground poppy seed (the amount by the number of people) raisins or Goji salt cane sugar or maple syrup (I sometimes use other types of syrups, such as date syrup or wheat syrup) shredded coconut or sesame seeds, you can also try chopped walnuts Alternatively, you will also need a plum jam. Mix millet with ground poppy seed in a one-to-one ratio. Add water (use a 3 to 1 water to millet-poppy mixture ratio) and cook together with…
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Armenian Tabouleh
emointhekitchen This Armenian bulgur salad is called eech and it is very similar to tabouleh. However, while most ingredients in tabouleh remain in raw form, eech is, on the contrary, more or less cooked food. I prefer this Armenian version for its better digestibility. You will need: 1 chopped onion 4 crushed cloves of garlic 2 cups of chopped tomatoes pinch of black pepper pinch of chilli powder 1 cup of hot water 2 cups grade #1 bulgur lemon juice or apple vinegar chopped scallions and parsley arugula leaves (rocket ) extra virgin olive oil Procedure: In a pan or pot sauté the onions and the garlic until the onion…
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Finikia – Greek Pastries
emointhekitchen Finikia is a type of Greek cookie. This is the Armenian variant that I learned from a friend from Yerevan. Greece and Armenia have always had a very friendly relationship, which is reflected also in the mutual exchange of recipes. In Armenia and I guess also in Greece, these pastries are usually served at Christmas. These are the healthier variant of sometimes too-fatty and too-sweet pastries served in festive times. There is no need to use butter, eggs or milk so you don’t compromise your diet that much and don’t have to live on baking soda to regain normal digestion. I kept the recipe in its original form. I…
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Spas (Armenian Yoghurt Soup)
emointhekitchen Because of the significantly cold properties of yoghurt, this soup is particularly suited to hot summer weather. We can serve it cold as gazpacho or hot if you need to reduce its coldness. Also, the choice of the kind of broth affects the final properties of the food. If you choose a vegetable broth, it will have a cooler character than the chicken broth. Although wheat is more traditional in Armenian cuisine, if you suffer from weakened digestion, rice should be your first choice. Spas (Armenian Yoghurt Soup) You will need: 1/2 cup peeled wheat or rice 2 tablespoons flour 4 cups white greek type yoghurt 1 beaten egg…
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Light Chinese Daikon Soup
emointhekitchen The old Chinese proverb says, “As soon as farmers bring the daikon to the market, doctors are losing their jobs.” You will need: 1 small daikon radish a small piece of grated ginger approximately one tablespoon of dried tangerine peel three-quarters of a litre of water or vegetable stock salt, spring onion, coriander, parsley, pepper, sesame oil, rice vinegar Procedure: Cut daikon into cubes, and together with ginger and tangerine peel put into the pot. Sauté the mixture in a drop of sesame oil and then pour it over with water or with a broth. Cover with a lid and cook for about 30 minutes until the radish becomes…
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Hummus
emointhekitchen This Levantine dip is very simple to make. Hummus can be found at almost any Middle East table. These days the popularity of this simple meal extends beyond its region of origin and it is enjoyed all over the world. During my study stay in Israel, I was surprised, at how much of this spread the locals are able to consume. The recipe below is traditional but you can also experiment with different flavours and different spices. Spices such as cumin, coriander seeds, sweet pepper, dried chilli or zaatar (this spice mixture is frequently used in Israeli and Palestinian cuisine) could be used. You may also stumble upon hummus…
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Baba Ghanoush
emointhekitchen Baba Ghanoush is a dish of mashed baked eggplant mixed with tahini (sesame paste), olive or sesame oil, and various kinds of spices. Slightly differing versions of this dish can be found in the traditional cuisines of Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Armenia, Greece and even Iraq. It is served either alone as a starter with pita bread, in Armenia with their traditional Lavash or as a side dish to accompany various vegetables and the like. This eggplant dip was one of the first dishes that I prepared for my husband. By then, his diet consisted of bread with mustard, sausages and other culinary specialities of a single man. It has…
