Arusuvai - Guess The Secret Ingredients!

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187939946987190646.post-58994152405154696422008-04-26T16:51:00.012+02:002009-10-18T16:03:57.536+02:00Arusuvai - Guess The Secret Ingredients!About a month ago, Pel of <a href="http://elaichietcetera.wordpress.com/">Elaichi Et Cetera</a> was about to cook from <a href="http://elaichietcetera.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/something-wicked-this-way-comes/">his secret ingredient</a> he received in <a href="http://spicychilly.blogspot.com/2008/04/birth-of-arusuvai-inside-story-and.html">Arusuvai Friendship Chain</a> started by Lathamma of <a href="http://theyumblog.wordpress.com/">T</a><a href="http://theyumblog.wordpress.com/">he Yum Blog</a>. He asked us to guess which dish he had in mind. I guessed the <a href="http://elaichietcetera.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/ma-po-doufu-a-truly-divine-vegan-version/">"ma"</a> part of it. This innocent "ma" won me a pack of wonderful goodies couple of weeks later. Since it was sent overseas, Pel had to reveal what the ingredients were. But, I thought- just because I know it doesn't mean that everyone else should know. So here is what I got, now GUESS: 1. A spice mix for coffee. Any ideas? And it is not chai masala, that´s for tea :-) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtgKlr3zI/AAAAAAAABJk/XUhZLsNpBgs/s1600-h/Morrocan_spice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtgKlr3zI/AAAAAAAABJk/XUhZLsNpBgs/s400/Morrocan_spice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193615194653974322" border="0" /></a>2. A wonderfully fragrant spice mix... Salt and pepper of Indian cooking... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtGKlr3yI/AAAAAAAABJc/lKfXUa13vC8/s1600-h/garam_masala.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtGKlr3yI/AAAAAAAABJc/lKfXUa13vC8/s400/garam_masala.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193614747977375522" border="0" /></a>3. Tiny little "deadly" smoked chilies. Any guesses on which type these are? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtw6lr30I/AAAAAAAABJs/eanGXqARjME/s1600-h/smoked_cobanero.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNtw6lr30I/AAAAAAAABJs/eanGXqARjME/s400/smoked_cobanero.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193615482416783170" border="0" /></a>The fourth "secret" ingredient - smoked dried chipotles has been cooked from as the first. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNvi6lr32I/AAAAAAAABJ8/tpySdzPD8d8/s1600-h/smoked_chipotle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNvi6lr32I/AAAAAAAABJ8/tpySdzPD8d8/s400/smoked_chipotle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193617440921870178" border="0" /></a>When I received this beautiful parcel full of these spicy goodies, I went to Tompa: - Baby, look. One of my blogging friends sent me these smoked chilies. Here smell em, they really stink! (I said pressing the bag of chilies right against his nose) - (Jumping away). Geez! Toss them right away. They re not good. Moldy or something... (wiping his nose off) - They re dried, I am sure they re fine (defending my treasure) - You re not afraid about some strange people sending you something poisonous, are you? - Honeeeeey! I am sure they re fine. It s a part of this friendship chain.... - Yeah, some g-guy sending you presents (shaking his head, walking away, jealously) (Sorry, Pel :-)... Two hours later, I yell out of the kitchen, Tompaaaaaa, lunch is readyeeeee... He obediently walks in with a big smile on his face: "Wow, what s smelling so good, mama?" (Thanks, Pel :-)... Verdict: We ate it, we loved it and (most importantly) we survived ;-) Long Live Arusuvai! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNuy6lr31I/AAAAAAAABJ0/obU1CfGglGg/s1600-h/adobo_sauce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNuy6lr31I/AAAAAAAABJ0/obU1CfGglGg/s400/adobo_sauce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193616616288149330" border="0" /></a>SMOKED CHIPOTLE ADOBO SAUCE:<ul><li>10 whole smoked Chipotle chilies</li><li>5 tbsp white vinegar</li><li>3 cloves garlic, chopped </li><li>1/2 cup onion, chopped </li><li>1 tbsp tomato paste</li><li>1/2 tsp cumin seeds</li><li>1/2 tsp oregano </li><li>1/2 tsp salt</li></ul>Mix all the ingredients together with 3 cups water in a pan, bring to boil, cover with a lid, lower the heat on minimum and let simmer for 2 hours or until reduced to 1 cup. Set off the fire, transfer to a blender and process to a paste. Serve with any cous-cous or rice dish or toss a generous spoonful of the sauce with stir-fried vegetables as in our lunch today: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNzqqlr33I/AAAAAAAABKE/oTOxw5QzQAk/s1600-h/adobo_veggies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IbyrjeHfP0s/SBNzqqlr33I/AAAAAAAABKE/oTOxw5QzQAk/s400/adobo_veggies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193621972112367474" border="0" /></a>I stir-fried some onions, garlic, added a handful of frozen peas, corn and broccoli, mixed together with black beans and some soy mince and finally added a huge tablespoon of adobo sauce. Mixed all well, garnished with chopped basil and ate on a bed of fresh green salad. HAVE FUN GUESSING THE SECRET INGREDIENTS 1, 2 AND 3! I will come back with correct answers soon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/187939946987190646-5899415240515469642?l=www.burntmouth.com' alt='' /></div>zlamushkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12359856305294505035zlamushka@hotmail.com25