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Pea and Potato Stew with Dumplings (vegetarian) / Varivo od graška i krumpira sa noklicama (vegetarijansko)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Dishes like this always catapult me back to my childhood. My Grandma would make stews like this one probably at least once a week. The vegetable combo would vary, but dumplings were omnipresent. Dumplings require a tiny bit of patience, but are super easy to make and require only a few staple ingredients.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 0.70 EUR per serving / 4.20 EUR for all)

For the stew:

2 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.03 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

6 garlic cloves (0.20 EUR)

2 chili peppers (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

2 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (0.07 EUR)

2 bay leaves (0.03 EUR)

2 parsley roots (0.27 EUR)

6 carrots (0.60 EUR)

6 potatoes (0.67 EUR)

2 tbsp tomato paste (0.27 EUR)

Handful of fresh parsley leaves (0.27 EUR)

6 cups water (–)

4 cups frozen peas (0.80 EUR)

For the dumplings:

1 egg (0.20 EUR)

6 tbsp all-purpose flour (0.04 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.01 EUR)

Optional:

2 tbsp corn starch (0.04 EUR)

1 cup water (–)

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METHOD:

Wash, peel and chop up all of the vegetables. Add the oil to a deep pot, then sauté the onion for a few minutes until slightly translucent. Add in minced garlic, chili peppers, smoked and Hungarian paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and bay leaves. Stir for a minute so the spices become fragrant before adding in parsley roots, carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, parsley leaves and water, then bring to a boil.

Once the stew reaches a rolling boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes with a lid cracked open. Stir in frozen peas and cook for additional 10 minutes until the peas are done.

While you are waiting for the peas to cook, prepare the dumplings by whisking together the egg, flour, salt and pepper in a small bowl. The mixture should be quite thick and completely smooth. If needed, you can add in a teaspoon of water or a bit more flour. Then grab a teaspoon and scoop the dumplings into the stew, one at a time. They are done when they start floating, which takes about a minute or two.

If the stew seems too watery, you can thicken it up with corn starch. In a small bowl, whisk corn starch with water until completely dissolved. Stir the dissolved corn starch into the stew and cook for another minute. Serve warm or portion out for later, as this reheats great.

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Ovakva me jela uvijek katapultiraju u djetinstvo jer bi moja baka barem jednom tjedno kuhala slična variva. Kombinacija povrća bi stalno varirala, ali noklice su bile sveprisutne. Za noklice vam jedino treba mrvica strpljenja, ali inače ih je stvarno jednostavno pripremiti od sastojaka koje manje-više svi uvijek imamo doma.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 5,25 kn po porciji / 31,48 kn za sve)

Za varivo:

2 žlice suncokretovog ulja (0,20 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

6 češnjeva češnjaka (1,50 kn)

2 čili papričice (2,00 kn)

1 žličica dimljene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica češnjaka u prahu (0,50 kn)

2 žličice soli (0,02 kn)

1 žličica svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,50 kn)

2 lovorova lista (0,20 kn)

2 korijena peršina (2,00 kn)

6 mrkvi (4,50 kn)

6 krumpira (5,00 kn)

2 žlice koncentrata od rajčice (2,00 kn)

Veliki pregršt svježeg peršina (2,00 kn)

6 šalica vode (–)

4 šalice smrznutog graška (6,00 kn)

Za noklice:

1 jaje (1,50 kn)

6 žlica glatkog brašna (0,30 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,15 kn)

Dodatno po izboru:

2 žlice kukuruznog škroba (0,60 kn)

1 šalica vode (–)

PRIPREMA:

Operite, ogulite i narežite svo povrće. U duboki lonac stavite ulje pa par minuta dinstajte luk, sve dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite sjeckani češnjak, čili, dimljenu i slatku papriku, češnjak u prahu, sol, papar i lovor. Promiješaje i kuhajte minutu da začini zamiriše prije nego dodate korijen peršina, mrkve, krumpire, koncentrat rajčice, peršinov list i vodu. Pustite da zavrije.

Kada varivo zakipi smanjite vatru i kuhajte 15-tak minuta sa odškrinutim poklopcem. Umiješajte smrznuti grašak te kuhajte još deset minuta dok grašak ne bude gotov.

Dok čekate da se grašak skuha pripremite noklice. U zdjelici razmutite jaje, brašno, sol i papar. Smjesa teba biti dosta gusta i skroz glatka, a prema potrebi možete dodati žličicu vode ili još malo brašna. Onda malom žličicom grabite tijesto i noklice jednu po jednu spuštajte u varivo. Noklice su gotove kada isplivaju, a za to im treba minuta-dvije.

Ako vam se varivo čini prerijetko, možete ga dodatno zgusnuti sa kukuruznim škrobom. U zdjelici sa vodom rastopite kukuruzni škrob i onda tu smjesu umiješajte u varivo i kuhajte još minutu. Varivo poslužite toplo ili si ga rasporedite za kasnije jer se super podgrijava.

Pea and Potato Stew with Dumplings (vegetarian) / Varivo od graška i krumpira sa noklicama (vegetarijansko)

Vegan Sloppy Joe / Veganski Sloppy Joe burger

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Alright, we’ve come to the last installment of my vegan minced ‘’meat’’ trilogy and I’ve saved my favorite recipe for the very end. This Sloppy Joe is pretty much everything you would want to have in a burger. I really hope you give this one a try because I am salivating just thinking about how good this was.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 1 burger / 1.04 EUR)

1 tsp sunflower seed oil (0.01 EUR)

3-4 tbsp vegan minced “meat” (0.33 EUR)

1 burger bun (0.20 EUR)

2 slices of vegan cheese (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp mustard (0.03 EUR)

1 tbsp vegan mayo (0.07 EUR)

1 tbsp ketchup (0.03 EUR)

A few thin tomato slices (0.07 EUR)

A few thin onion slices (0.03 EUR)

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METHOD:

Place a non-stick skillet on medium heat with a teaspoon of oil and fry the vegan mince until dark brown and slightly crispy, for about five minutes. Remove the mince from the skillet and set aside. Cut the burger bun in half and place on the skillet to slightly crisp up, cut side down.

Once the bun is done, spread the bottom half with mustard, add a slice of cheese and top it with fried mince. Top the minced ‘’meat’’ with another slice of cheese and return everything to your skillet so the cheese can melt. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for just a minute or two, until the cheese is nice and melty. Once the cheese is done, top it with tomato and onion. Spread mayo and ketchup on the top half of the bun, cover your burger and dig in immediately.

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Došli smo do zadnjeg dijela trilogije o veganskom mljevenom ”mesu”, a svoj sam najdraži recept sačuvala za kraj. Ovaj Sloppy Joe ima manje-više sve što bi ste mogli poželjeti u burgeru te se nadam da ćete isprobati recept u nastavku, jer meni cure sline samo kada se sjetim koliko mi je bilo fino.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 1 burger / 7,68 kn)

1 žličica suncoketovog ulja (0,03 kn)

3-4 žlice veganskog mljevenog ”mesa” (2,45 kn)

1 hamby pecivo (1,50 kn)

2 šnite veganskog sira (2,00 kn)

1 žličica senfa (0,25 kn)

1 žlica veganske majoneze (0,50 kn)

1 žlica kečapa (0,25 kn)

Par tankih šnita rajčice (0,50 kn)

Par tankih šnita luka (0,20 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Stavite tavicu na srednju vatru, pa na žličici ulja oko pet minuta pecite vegansko ”meso”, sve dok ne potamni i lagano se ne zahrska. Maknite ”meso” iz tave i stavite na stranu. Pecivo prerežite na pola i stavite na tavicu sa prerezanom stranom prema dolje da se blago zapeče.

Kada je pecivo gotovo, donju polovicu namažite senfom, stavite šnitu sira i po siru rasporedite ”meso”. Poklopite sa još jednom šnitom sira i tako sve zajedno vratite na tavicu da se sir rastopi. Poklopite tavicu i kuhajte samo minutu-dvije dok se sir ne počne topiti. Maknite s vatre i po siru poslažite šnite rajčice i luka. Gornju polovicu peciva premažite sa majonezom i kečapom, poklopite burger i odmah navalite.

Vegan Sloppy Joe / Veganski Sloppy Joe burger

Vegan Bolognese Sauce (soy free) / Veganski bolonjez (bez soje)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

As previously announced in this post where I lamented on beauties and thrills of vegan minced ‘’meat’’, here comes a recipe for vegan Bolognese sauce. Even if you don’t have the ‘’meat’’ already prepared, all of this will come together fairly quickly and produce an amazing meal. This dish also works wonderful as meal prep, so go ahead and make a bunch in advance.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 0.76 EUR per serving / 3.05 EUR for all)

For the sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil (0.09 EUR)

1 onion (0.10 UR)

2 garlic cloves (0.07 EUR)

2 tsp dried oregano (0.13 EUR)

½ tsp red pepper flakes (0.03 EUR)

2 cups of vegan minced ‘’meat’’ (1.32 EUR)

1 can diced tomatoes (0.53 EUR)

2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley (0.13 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.02 EUR)

For the pasta:

Water (–)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.01 EUR)

500 grams dried pasta (0.67 EUR)

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METHOD:

Finely dice the onion and mince garlic. Place a deep skillet on high heat and sauté onion on olive oil for a few minutes, until slightly translucent. Add in minced garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes, then stir for a minute until spices become fragrant. Throw in vegan minced ‘’meat’’ and break it down into smaller chunks with a spatula. Cook for about 10 minutes, until slightly crisped up. Add in tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir, reduce heat and simmer for another 10 minutes so the flavors combine and the sauce thickens.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add in salt, oil and pasta, then cook it to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and transfer to a skillet with sauce to finish off cooking for the last two minutes. If needed, add a splash of pasta water to the sauce to thin it out. Serve immediately, or portion out for future lunches.

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Kao što sam već najavila u ovom postu gdje lamentiram o krasotama veganskog mljevenog ”mesa”, evo vam recept za veganski bolonjez umak. Čak i ako već nemate spremno mljeveno ”meso”, sve ćete ovo moći spremiti vrlo brzo, a rezultat će biti fantastičan objed. Ovo je jelo također super i za prirediti unaprjed pa ponijeti na posao, stoga si slobodno skuhajte malo više.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 5,80 kn po porciji / 23,21 kn za sve)

Za umak:

2 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,66 kn)

1 luk (0,75 kn)

2 češnja češnjaka (0,50 kn)

2 žličice sušenog origana (1,00 kn)

½ žličice sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

2 šalice veganskog mljevenog ”mesa” (9,78 kn)

1 konzerva sjeckanih pelata (4,00 kn)

2 žlice svježeg sjeckanog peršina (1,00 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,15 kn)

Za tjesteninu:

Voda (–)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 žlica suncokretovog ulja (0,10 kn)

500 g sušene tjestenine (5,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Sitno nasjeckajte luk i češnjak. Duboku tavu stavite na jaku vatru, pa na maslinovom ulju dinstajte luk oko pet minuta, dok ne postane staklast. Dodajte sjeckani češnjak, origano i čili, promiješajte te kuhajte minutu da začini zamiriše. Bacite na to vegansko mljeveno ”meso” te ga usitnite špatulom u manje komadiće. Kuhajte desetak minuta da se blago zahrska. Dodajte pelate, peršin, sol i papar. Sve dobro promiješajte, smanjite vatru i krčkajte desetak minuta da se okusi prominglaju i umak zgusne.

U međuvremenu stavite veliki lonac vode da zavrije. Dodajte sol, ulje i tjesteninu, koju skuhajte al dente prema uputama na pakiranju. Ocijedite tjesteninu i ubacite ju u tavu sa umakom da se zadnje dvije minute skuha do kraja. Prema potrebi umak razrijedite sa malo vode u kojoj se kuhala tjestenina. Poslužite odmah ili si rasporedite u porcije za kasnije obroke.

Vegan Bolognese Sauce (soy free) / Veganski bolonjez (bez soje)

Sunday Pork Roast with Potatoes / Nedjeljno svinjsko pečenje sa krumpirima

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , 7 Comments

While I was a kid, you could easily tell that it’s Sunday simply by mouth-watering smells of roasted meat, floating through our building staircase. Growing up in a communist country (and later on during the war and post-war times) meant that meat was a scarcity and a luxury. We’d rarely have it during the week, but on the weekends, especially on Sundays, whole families would get together to feast on some sort of roast, usually with potatoes on the side. In lieu with those past traditions and memories, I decided to make a good old hunk of roasted pork.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 1.64 EUR per serving / 6,55 EUR for all)

For the meat:

1 kilo of whole pork rib roast (5.30 EUR)

1 tbsp pork lard (0.01 EUR)

1 tbsp herb steak seasoning (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

For the potatoes:

4-5 large new potatoes (0.80 EUR)

1 tsp pork lard (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.03 EUR)

¼ cup water (–)

For the gravy:

1 tbsp butter (0.13 EUR)

¼ cup stock or water (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp corn starch (0.02 EUR)

Pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.02 EUR)

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METHOD:

Prepare the meat the day before by rubbing it all around with lard, seasoning and salt. I used a prepackaged herb mix, but go ahead and use whichever flavors you fancy. The world is your oyster. Refrigerate the meat uncovered until the next day.

Remove the meat from the fridge at least half an hour before cooking, so it comes to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 200°C. In a pan on high heat, quickly sear the meat on all sides to close all the pores and ensure maximum juiciness. Transfer the meat to a baking tray, together with all the bits you scraped off from the searing pan. Chop up the potatoes, toss with lard, salt and pepper, and then arrange them around meat. Pour ¼ cup of water into the tray and place the tray into a preheated oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes. It won’t hurt if you stir the potatoes once or twice during roasting and add a tiny splash of water to the pan if things start looking too dry.

Once the meat is done remove it from the tray and let it sit for about 15 minutes before you start slicing. Give the potatoes one final stir and return them to the oven for these last 15 minutes so they crisp up a bit.

After the meat had time to rest, carefully carve it from the bone and slice. Transfer to a serving plate, together with potatoes. To make the gravy, strain any leftover juices you have in your roasting pan to a small saucepan and add butter and water (or stock) with dissolved corn starch. Bring to a boil and cook for a minute or two to slightly thicken. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately.

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Dok sam bila klinka lako ste mogli pogoditi da je nedjelja samo po mirisima pečenja od kojih cure sline, a koji bi lelujali po haustoru zgrade. Kad ste dijete iz ere komunizma (a kasnije i iz ratnog i poratnog razdoblja), navikli ste da je meso luksuz. U tjednu bi smo ga poprilično rijetko jeli, ali vikendom, a posebno nedjeljom, svi bi smo se skupili oko nekakve pečenke sa krumpirima. U duhu tih minulih tradicija i sjećanja, odlučila sam pripremiti dobro staro svinjsko pečenje.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 12,31 kn po porciji / 49,23 kn za sve)

Za meso:

1 kg svinjskog karea s kostima, u komadu (40,00 kn)

1 žlica svinjske masti (0,10 kn)

1 žlica miješanog začinskog bilja za steak (1,00 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

Za krumpire:

4-5 velikih mladih krumpira (6,00 kn)

1 žličica svinjske masti (0,05 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,25 kn)

¼ šalice vode (–)

Za umak:

1 žlica maslaca (1,00 kn)

¼ šalice temeljca ili vode (0,50 kn)

1 žličica kukuruznog škroba (0,15 kn)

Prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,15 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Dan prije priredite meso tako da ga sa svih strana dobro natrljate sa mašću, mješavinom začinskog bilja i soli. Ja sam upotrijebila gotovi mix za steak, ali vi se slobodno razmašite i iskoristite ono što vam se najviše sviđa. Meso ostavite preko noći nepokriveno u hladnjaku.

Pola sata prije nego krenete sa kuhanjem izvadite meso iz hladnjaka kako bi došlo na sobnu temperaturu. Pećnicu zagrijte na 200°C. U tavi, na jakoj vatri, kratko popecite meso sa svih strana, samo da se pore zatvore i da osigurate maksimalnu sočnost. Meso skupa sa svim komadićima koje postružete iz tave preselite u protvan. Narežite krumpire na komade, pomiješajte sa mašću, soli i paprom, te rasporedite oko mesa. Ulijte ¼ šalice vode u protvan i stavite u zagrijanu pećnicu na 1 sat i 30 minuta. Neće škoditi ako jednom ili dva puta promiješate krumpire tokom pečenja, a po potrebi u tavu dodajte još mrvicu vode ako vam se situacija čini presuhom.

Kada je meso gotovo maknite ga iz protvana i ostavite da miruje oko 15 minuta prije nego krenete sa rezanjem. Krumpire još jednom promiješajte, pa vratite u pećnicu još tih zadnjih 15 minuta dok meso odmara, a kako bi se malo zahrskali.

Kada je meso odstajalo, pažljivo ga skinite s kosti i narežite na tanke ploške. Preselite meso na pladanj za posluživanje skupa sa krumpirima. Da pripremite umak, u mali lončić procijedite sve što vam je ostalu u protvanu. Dodajte u to maslac i kukuruzni škrob rastopljen u vodi (ili temeljcu). Pustite da zavrije i kuhajte minutu-dvije, samo da se zgusne. Kušajte i po potrebi dodajte soli i papra. Poslužite odmah.

Sunday Pork Roast with Potatoes / Nedjeljno svinjsko pečenje sa krumpirima

Spicy Soy Glazed Green Beans and Pork / Mahune i svinjetina u pikantnom umaku

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

This dish was a very low fuss, spur of the moment type of thing and it turned out amazing. The best thing about it was minimal chopping – I only needed to slice the meat and mince the garlic. So if you have a bag of frozen green beans lying around and some meat, go and make this!

Just a small note, though. I used Gochujang – Korean chili paste because that’s what I had around. You’re welcome to sub that with Sriracha or any other spicy sauce of your choice.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 1.13EUR per serving / 4.52 EUR for all)

For the meat:

500 grams pork leg or shoulder (2.00 EUR)

1 tbsp soy sauce (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp fish sauce (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp Gochujang – Korean chili paste (0.07 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

For the sauce:

¼ cup white wine (0.40 EUR)

2 tbsp soy sauce (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp sugar (0.01 EUR)

1 tsp Gochujang – Korean chili paste (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp corn starch (0.02 EUR)

For the stir-fry:

6 garlic cloves (0.20 EUR)

450 gram bag of frozen green beans, thawed (1.00 EUR)

6 tbsp sunflower seed oil, divided (0.08 EUR)

1 tsp toasted sesame oil (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

Cut the pork into thin strips and toss together with soy sauce, fish sauce, Gochujang (or other spicy sauce of your choice) and salt, then leave to sit for about ten minutes. While the meat is resting, in a small bowl mix the sauce by stirring together all of the ingredients, until sugar and corn starch are completely dissolved. Mince garlic and toss with thawed green beans in another separate bowl.

Place wok on high heat for a few minutes to thoroughly heat through. Add 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil and half of the pork. Cook for a few minutes until the meat is done and starts slightly crisping up. Remove the meat, if needed add a bit more oil and repeat with the remaining pork.

Once done, remove all the pork from the wok and set aside. Add the remaining sunflower oil to the same wok and throw in the green bean and garlic mixture. Cook for a few minutes, until everything is sizzle-y (Is that even a word?) and fragrant, but there is still some chew left to the green beans. Pour in the mixed sauce and cook briefly, until the sauce thickens and the alcohol evaporates from the wine. Return the pork to the wok, drizzle with sesame oil, give a good final stir and serve over cooked rice.

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Ovo jelo je nastalo bez puno prtljanja u trenutku nadahnuća, a ispalo je fantastično. Najbolja stvar u svemu je minimalno sjeckanje – samo sam trebala narezati meso i nasjeckati češnjak. Tako da, ako vam se po doma povlači paket smrznutih mahuna i nešto mesa, odmah se bacite na kuhanje!

Samo mala napomena. Ja sam upotrijebila Gochujang – korejsku čili pastu jer sam to imala pri ruci. Vi slobodno umjesto toga stavite ili Srirachu, ili koji drugi ljuti umak po vlastitom izboru.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 8,45 kn po porciji / 33,79kn za sve)

Za meso:

500 g svinjskog buta ili plećke (15,00 kn)

1 žlica soja sosa (1,00 kn)

1 žličica ribljeg umaka (1,00 kn)

1 žličica Gochujanga – korejske čili paste (0,50 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Za umak:

¼ šalice bijelog vina (3,00 kn)

2 žlice soja sosa (2,00 kn)

1 žličica šećera (0,03 kn)

1 žličica Gochujanga – korejske čili paste (0,50 kn)

1 žličica kukuruznog škroba (0,15 kn)

Za wok:

6 češnjeva češnjaka (1,50 kn)

Vrećica od 450 g smrznutih zelenih mahuna, odmrznuta (7,50 kn)

6 žlica suncokretovog ulja (0,60 kn)

1 žličica tostiranog sezamovog ulja (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Narežite svinjetinu na tanke trakice i pomiješajte sa soja sosom, ribljim umakom, Gochujangom (ili kojim drugim ljutim umakom po izboru) i soli, pa ostavite da miruje desetak minuta. Dok meso odmara, u maloj zdjelici smućkajte umak tako da miješatesve sastojke dok se šećer i kukuruzni škrob skroz ne otope. Sitno nasjeckajte češnjak i u još jednoj posudi pomiješajte sa odmrznutim mahunama.

Stavite wok na par minuta jaku vatru da se dobro zagrije. Dodajte 2 žlice suncokretovog ulja i pola mesa. Kuhajte par minuta dok meso ne bude skroz gotovo i lagano se ne zahrska. Maknite meso iz woka, po potrebi dodajte još malo ulja te ponovite sa ostatkom svinjetine.

Kada je svo meso gotovo maknite ga iz woka i stavite na stranu. Dodajtepreostalo suncokretovo ulje u wok i ubacite miks mahuna i češnjaka. Kuhajte koju minutu, dok sve ne počne dobro krčkati i mirišati, ali mahune još uvijek imaju nešto hrskave teksture. Dolijte unutra mješavinu umaka te kratko kuhajte dok se umak ne zgusne, a alkohol ne ispari iz vina. Ubacite natrag svinejtinu, pokapajte sezamovim uljem, dobro sve još jednom promiješajte i poslužite preko kuhane riže.

Spicy Soy Glazed Green Beans and Pork / Mahune i svinjetina u pikantnom umaku

Pea and Cauliflower Curry (vegan) / Curry od graška i cvjetače (veganski)

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I haven’t made any curry dishes for a loooong time, but since I scored some coconut cream and cauliflower on sale, I instantly felt inspired to make a nice pot of spicy, fragrant and creamy curry goodness.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 1.18 EUR per serving / 7.08 EUR for all)

4 tbsp olive oil (0.18 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 chili peppers (0.27 EUR)

1 tbsp curry powder (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

Pinch of dried red pepper flakes (0.02 EUR)

4 carrots (0.40 EUR)

1 can of tomatoes (0.67 EUR)

1 can of coconut cream (2.00 EUR)

1 cup red lentils (1.00 EUR)

2 cups of water (–)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 head of cauliflower (1.33 EUR)

2 cups of frozen peas (0.67 EUR)

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METHOD:

Peel, wash and chop up all the vegetables. Rinse lentils under running water in a colander. In a large pot, saute onion on olive oil on high heat for a few minutes until slightly translucent. Throw in garlic, chili peppers, curry powder, paprika and red pepper flakes, stir and cook for a minute so the aromas activate in the spices. Throw in diced carrots, stir and cook briefly to slightly caramelize. Add in canned tomatoes and crush them up with your spatula.

Dump in coconut cream, lentils, water and salt and give it all a good stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and then simmer with a lid cracked open for 15 minutes. Now add in cauliflower florets and frozen minutes and cook for additional 5-10 minutes, until peas are thoroughly cooked through and there is still some crunch left to the cauliflower. Serve warm over a bed of cooked rice.

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Jako dugo nisam kuhala nikakav curry, a kada sam naletila na kokosovo vrhnje i karfijol na sniženju, odma sam se osjetila nekako nadahnutom da skuham veliki lonac toplog, mirisnog i kremastog curryja.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 8,83 kn po porciji / 52,98 kn za sve)

4 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,32 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

2 čili papričice (2,00 kn)

1 žlica curry praha (1,00 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

Prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,15 kn)

4 mrkve (3,00 kn)

1 konzerva pelata (5,00 kn)

1 konzerva kokosovog vrhnja (15,00 kn)

1 šalica crvene leće (7,50 kn)

2 šalice vode (–)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 glavica cvjetače (10,00 kn)

2 šalice smrznutog graška (5,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Ogulite, operite i nasjeckajte svo povrće. Isperite leću u cjediljci pod tekućom vodom. U velikom loncu dinstajte par minuta luk na maslinovom ulju na jakoj vatri dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite češnjak, čili papričice, curry, papriku i sušene čili pahuljice, promiješajte i kuhajte minutu, da se u začinima probude arome. Dodajte i mrkvu, promiješajte i kratko kuhajte da se lagano karamelizira. Ubacite pelate i izgnječite ih špatulom.

Sada nadodajte kokosovo vrhnje, leću, vodu i sol te sve dobro promiješajte. Pustite da zavrije, smanjite vatru i krčkajte 15 minuta sa odškrinutim poklopcem. Za kraj bacite u lonac cvjetaču i grašak, pa nastavite kuhati još 5-10 minuta dok se grašak ne skuha do kraja, a cvjetača ne ostane još malo hrskava. Poslužite toplo preko kuhane riže.

Pea and Cauliflower Curry (vegan) / Curry od graška i cvjetače (veganski)

Chickpea, Rye and Sausage Stew (including a vegan option) / Varivo sa kobasicom od slanutka i raži (sa veganskom opcijom)

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I guess my favorite part of autumn is all those warm and cozy soups and stews. Those are just the perfect dishes, if you ask me. They are filling, cheap and super easy to make. Also, you can always cook up big batches to have some leftovers for work and shove a portion or two in your freezer. Meal prep saves me so much time and sanity, so I always welcome dishes like this one that reheat well.

This recipe is super customizable so feel free to switch ingredients with stuff you have on hand. I had some whole grain rye around, but feel free to use barley, wheat or even brown rice. To make this vegan, just ditch the sausage and use some smoked firm tofu or seitan.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 generous servings / 1.09 EUR per serving / 4.34 EUR for all)

1 cup dried chickpeas (0.67 EUR)

1 cup whole grain rye (0.53 EUR)

2 tbsp olive oil (0.09 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 pickled sweet pepperoncino peppers (0.13 EUR)

1 bay leaf (0.03 EUR)

Pinch of dried chili flakes (0.02 EUR)

4 carrots (0.27 EUR)

4 small sausages – I used Carniolan sausage (1.87 EUR)

2 tbsp ajvar – red pepper paste (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp tomato paste (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (0.03 EUR)

4-5 cups water (–)

2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

The day before rinse chickpeas and rye under running water and leave to soak overnight. When ready to cook, drain them, wash again under running water and set aside. Wash, peel and finely dice all the veggies and cut the sausages into coins.

Saute onion on olive oil on high heat until slightly translucent. Add in chopped garlic, pepperoncinos, bay leaf and chili. Give a good stir and cook for just a minute, so the aromas from spices release. Add in diced carrots and sausage coins (or a vegan alternative), then cook for about 10 minutes to slightly caramelize. Now dump in drained uncooked chickpeas and rye, ajvar, tomato paste, paprika, salt, pepper and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer with a lid cracked open for about an hour, until the chickpeas and rye are thoroughly cooked through. You can also skip the overnight soak if you are in a hurry, but the cooking time is gonna be around hour and a half then and you’ll definitely need to add more water to the stew. While the stew cooks, if necessary, add in another splash of water and stir occasionally. Serve sprinkled with fresh parsley.

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Milsim da su mi najdraži dio jeseni sva ona topla jela na žlicu. Po meni je to jednostavno savršena hrana jer je zasitna, jeftina i jednostavna za skuhati. Također, uvijek možete pripremiti više i imati ostatke za na posao ili ubaciti koju porciju u zamrzivač. Meni osobno takav način kuhanja štedi mnogo vremena i živaca, tako da obožavam ovakvu vrstu hranu koja dobro trpi podgrijavanje.

Ovaj je recept jako prilagodljiv, pa slobodno zamjenite neke od sastojaka onime što vam je pri ruci. Ja sam imala nešto integralne raži pri ruci, ali slobodno umjesto toga upotrijebite ječam, pšenicu ili čak smeđu rižu. Da ovo jelo bude vegansko, izbacite kobasice i umjesto njih ubacite dimljeni čvrsti tofu ili seitan.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 izdašne porcije / 8,13 kn po porciji / 32,52 kn za sve)

1 šalica suhog slanutka (5,00 kn)

1 šalice suhe integralne raži (4,00 kn)

2 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,66 kn)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

4 ćešnja ćešnjaka (1,00 kn)

2 ukiseljena slatka feferona (1,00 kn)

1 lovorov list (0,20 kn)

Prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,15 kn)

4 mrkve (2,00 kn)

4 male kobasice – ja sam upotrijebila kranjske (14,00 kn)

2 žlice ajvara (1,00 kn)

1 žlica koncentrata od rajčice (1,00 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 žličica svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,25 kn)

4-5 šalica vode (–)

2 žlice svježeg sjeckanog peršina (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Dan prije isperite slanutak i raž pod tekućom vodom i ostavite ih da se namaču preko noći. Kada ste spremni za kuhanje, ocijedite ih, isperite još jednom pod tekćom vodom i stavite na stranu. Operite, ogulite i nasjeckajte svo povrće, a kobasice narežite na novčiće.

Prodinstajte luk na maslinovom ulju na jakoj vatri dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite sjeckane češnjak i feferone, lovorov list i čili. Dobro promiješajte i kuhajte samo koju minutu, da se arome iz začina otpuste. Ubacite nasjeckanu mrkvu i kobasice (ili vegansku alternativu), pa kuhajte desetak minuta da se sve blago karamelizira. Sada dodajte ocijeđene slanutak i raž, ajvar, koncentrat rajčice, crvenu papriku, sol, papar i vodu. Promiješajte, pustite da zavrije, smanjite vatru i ostavite da se krčka sa odškrinutim poklopcem oko jedan sat, dok se slanutak do kraja ne skuha. Ako ste u žurbi možete preskočiti namakanje slanutka i raži preko noći, ali ćete onda trebati sve kuhati oko sat i pol i u varivo će trebati dodati više vode. Po potrebi tokom kuhanja dodajte još malo vode i povremeno promiješajte. Poslužite posipano svježim sjeckanim peršinom.

Chickpea, Rye and Sausage Stew (including a vegan option) / Varivo sa kobasicom od slanutka i raži (sa veganskom opcijom)

Crispy Spicy Oven Roasted Chicken Sticks / Hrskavi pikantni pileći štapići iz pećnice

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , 3 Comments

These chicken sticks work awesome either as a snack, or as a full meal. They’re also a great crowd feeder and can be assembled beforehand right up to the point of brushing them with oil and roasting. The fact that you don’t have to deep fry them means that they’re a bit healthier and less fussy. Overall, I’m keeping a stack of them in my freezer for those days when all you need is some fried chicken in your life.

I served them with this creamy mushroom sauce from previous post and they were to die for.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields about 50 chicken sticks / 0.18 EUR per stick / 8.97 EUR for all)

For the chicken:

1 kilo boneless skinless chicken breast (5.33 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

For the egg batter:

3 eggs (0.60 EUR)

1 cup all-purpose flour (0.07 EUR)

¼ cup water (–)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.01 EUR)

For the crumb batter:

2 cups breadcrumbs (0.40 EUR)

1 cup finely grated hard cheese, like Grana Padano (1.33 EUR)

½ cup sesame seeds (0.33 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp cumin seeds (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

½ tsp dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

½ tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

½ tsp freshly ground black pepper (0.02 EUR)

4 tbsp butter, melted (0.53 EUR)

For roasting:

¼ cup sunflower seed oil (0.08 EUR)

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METHOD:

Cut chicken breast into thin strips, toss with salt and set aside. Prepare the egg batter by whisking together all of the ingredients until thick and smooth. Make the crumb batter in a separate bowl by stirring together breadcrumbs, cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, chili flakes, salt and black pepper. Pour melted butter over the mixture and massage it into the crumbs with your fingers. The finished product should feel like damp sand.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Prepare a few baking trays by lining them with parchment paper. You can also bake chicken on a wire rack, but I find the baking tray easier to clean up and the chicken turns out just as crispy. To assemble chicken sticks, first coat each chicken piece with an egg batter, then toss in the crumb batter. Spread chicken pieces on a prepared baking tray. At this point you can also freeze the chicken for later. Just place the tray in a freezer and after 2-3 hours transfer chicken pieces to a zip lock bag. There’s no need to thaw the chicken before roasting, just brush the sticks with a bit of oil and toss into the oven.

When you are gonna roast the chicken, brush each peace lightly with oil on all sides. Roast for 25 minutes, until crispy and golden-brown. Serve warm with a sauce of your choice for dipping. Also, invite some friends over because these are so addictive you’re otherwise going to polish them all off by yourself.

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Ovi pileći štapići su fantastični snack ili kompletni obrok. Također su super za nahraniti gomilu ljudi i možete ih pripremiti unaprijed, skroz do točke kada ćete ih premazati uljem i baciti u pećnicu. Činjenica što ih ne morate peći na štednjaku u dubokom ulju znači da su malo zdraviji i malo manje prtljavi. U svakom slučaju, u frizeru čuvam zalihu za one dane kada vam u životu stvarno trebaju pileći pohanci.

Ja sam ih poslužila sa ovim kremastim umakom od gljiva iz prošlog posta i bili su božanstveni.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 50tak pilećih štapića / 1,34 kn po štapiću / 67,13 kn za sve)

Za meso:

1 kg pilećeg filea (40,00 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

Za smjesu od jaja:

3 jaja (4,50 kn)

1 šalica glatkog brašna (0,50 kn)

¼ šalice vode (–)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,10 kn)

Za smjesu od krušnih mrvica:

2 šalice krušnih mrvica (3,00 kn)

1 šalica fino naribanog tvrdog sira, kao Grana Padano (10,00 kn)

½ šalice sjemenki sezama (2,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica kima (0,50 kn)

1 žličica češnjaka u prahu (0,50 kn)

½ žličice sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

½ žličice soli (0,01 kn)

½ žličice svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,15 kn)

4 žlice maslaca, rastopljene (4,00 kn)

Za pečenje:

¼ šalice suncokretovog ulja (0,60 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Narežite pileća prsa na tanke trakice, posolite i stavite na stranu. Pripremite smjesu od jaja tako da skupa razmutite sve sastojke u gusto i glatko tijesto. Smjesu od mrvica napravite u drugoj posudi tako da pomiješate krušne mrvice, sir, sezam, papriku, kim, češnjak, čili, sol i papar. Prelijte preko svega rastopljeni maslac i prstima umasirajte u smjesu. Konačna smjesa trebala bi sličiti vlažnom pijesku.

Zagrijte pećnicu na 200°C. Pripremite par protvana tako da ih obložite papirom za pečenje. Također možete peći štapiće i na rešetci, ali meni je protvan lakši za očistiti, a piletina ispadne jednako hrskava. Da pripremite štapiće, umočite komadiće mesa prvo u smjesu jaja, onda u krušne mrvice. Štapiće raširite po pripremljenom protvanu. U ovoj fazi možete piletinu i smrznuti za kasnije. Samo stavite cijeli protvan u zamrzivač, a nakon 2-3 sata preselite meso u vrećicu za smrzavanje. Prije pečenja štapiće ne treba odmrzavati, samo ih premažite sa malo ulja i ubacite u pećnicu.

Kada ćete peći meso, lagano premažite svaki pileći štapić sa malo ulja sa svih strana. Pecite 25 minuta, dok se meso ne zahrska i ne bude zlatno-smeđe. Poslužite toplo sa umakom po izboru za umakanje. Osim toga, pozovite prijatelje da vam pomognu jesti, jer su ovim štapići tako fini da ćete ih inače sami smazati.

Crispy Spicy Oven Roasted Chicken Sticks / Hrskavi pikantni pileći štapići iz pećnice

Lentil and Potato Stew (vegan) / Varivo od leće i krumpira (vegansko)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Whenever I don’t know what to quickly whip up for lunch, 90% of the time it’s lentils with whatever else I have lying around the fridge. I probably eat lentils at least 2-3 times a week. But I’m totally okay with this, as they are super cheap, tasty and nutritious.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 0.58 EUR per serving / 2.31 EUR for all)

2 tbsp olive oil (0.09 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

1 can of peeled tomatoes (0.67 EUR)

1 cup green lentils (0.40 EUR)

4 medium potatoes (0.40 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (0.03 EUR)

Pinch of dried chili flakes (0.02 EUR)

1 tbsp dried basil (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp dried oregano (0.13 EUR)

2 tbsp dried parsley (0.13 EUR)

3 cups water (–)

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METHOD:

Wash, peel and chop up the veggies. Rinse the lentils in a colander under running water. In a big pot, saute onion on olive oil on high heat for about five minutes, until slightly translucent. Throw in chopped garlic and stir briefly until fragrant. Dump in canned tomatoes and break them down with a spatula. Cook for about five minutes, then add in the remaining ingredients. Give a good stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until lentils and potatoes are thoroughly cooked through. Serve warm.

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U 90% slučajeva kada nemam inspiracije što bi mogla na brzinu skuhati za ručak, napravim leću u kombinaciji sa onime što mi se već taj dan povlači po frižideru. Tako da leću vjerovatno jedem barem 2-3 puta tjedno. Ali to mi je i skroz super, jer je leća jeftina, fina i zasitna.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 4,33 kn po porciji / 17,32 kn za sve)

2 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,66 kn)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

1 konzerva pelata (5,00 kn)

1 šalica zelene leće (3,00 kn)

4 srednja krumpira (3,00 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 žličica svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,25 kn)

Prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,15 kn)

1 žlica sušenog bosiljka (1,00 kn)

1 žlica sušenog origana (1,00 kn)

2 žlice sušenog peršina (1,00 kn)

3 šalice vode (–)

PRIPREMA:

Operite, ogulite i nasjeckajte svo povrće. Isperite leću u cjediljci pod mlazom vode. U velikom loncu, na jakoj vatri, dinstajte luk na ulju oko pet minuta, dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite nasjeckani češnjak i kratko promiješajte da zamiriši. Ubacite pelate i špatulom ih razlomite na manje komade. Kuhajte oko pet minuta, a onda dodajte i sve ostale sastojke. Dobro promiješajte i pustite da zavrije. Smanjite vatru i krčkajte oko 20 minuta, dok se leća i krumpiri do kraja ne skuhaju. Poslužite toplo.

Lentil and Potato Stew (vegan) / Varivo od leće i krumpira (vegansko)

Baked Turkey Meatballs / Pečene pureće mesne okruglice

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , 2 Comments

I’ve been in a mood for meatballs for the longest time ever. Since the weather is pretty warm, I decided to make the meatballs with ground turkey, as it’s lighter than beef or pork. Naturally, the batch I’ve prepared was huge, so I munched on these for the whole week. Feel free to scale down and adjust the amounts to your liking.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields about 40 meatballs / 0.21 EUR per meatball, 8.35 EUR for all)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

5 garlic cloves (0.17 EUR)

1.200 grams of ground turkey (6.67 EUR)

1 egg (0.20 EUR)

1 cup bread crumbs (0.40 EUR)

¼ cup sunflower seed oil (0.10 EUR)

1 tbsp Gochujang – Korean chili paste (0.13 EUR)

½ cup Ajvar – red horn pepper paste, here and here are recipes for homemade (0.40 EUR)

1 tsp smoky red paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper (0.07 EUR)

½ tsp dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

2 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Finely dice the onion and mince garlic. In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients together with your hands. Using a spoon or a small ice cream scoop (which is my personal favorite for this job) scoop up the mixture and form into small balls. Spread the meatballs on a baking tray and bake for about 30 minutes, until they are nice and crispy on the outside. You can also bake the meatballs in a silicone muffin tray, which I find even better for the job as it makes the cleaning less tedious. These meatballs reheat great and once baked should keep in your fridge for at least five days.

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Već mi se sto godina jedu mesne okruglice, a pošto je vrijeme dosta toplo, odlučila sam se za mljevenu puretinu jer je lakša od svinjetine ili junetine. Naravno, morala sam odma napraviti enormnu količinu pa sam okruglice tamanila cijeli tjedan. Vi slobodno prilagodite količine sastojaka svojim potrebama.

SASTOJCI:

(Za oko 40 okruglica / 1,56 kn po okruglici / 62,52 kn za sve)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

5 češnjeva češnjaka (1,25 kn)

1.200 grama mljevene puretine (50,00 kn)

1 jaje (1,50 kn)

1 šalica krušnih mrvica (3,00 kn)

¼ šalice suncokretovog ulja (0,75 kn)

1 žlica Gochujanga – korejske chili paste (1,00 kn)

½ šalice ajvara – tu i tu su recepti za domaći (3,00 kn)

1 žličica dimljene crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,50 kn)

½ žličice sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

2 žličice soli (0,02 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pećnicu na 200°C. Fino nasjeckajte luk i češnjak. U velikoj zdjeli rukama dobro izmješajte sve sastojke. Žlicom ili malom žlicom za sladoled (što je moj osobni favorit za ovaj posao) grabite smjesu i oblikujte u male kuglice. Okruglice raširite po protvanu za pečenje i pecite oko 30 minuta, dok se izvana lijepo ne zahrskaju. Okruglice možete također peći i u silikonskom kalupu za mafine, što je po meni još bolje jer olakšava čišćenje. Ove okruglice se super podgrijavaju, a jednom pečene u frižideru mogu držati barem pet dana.

Baked Turkey Meatballs / Pečene pureće mesne okruglice