Holy Guacamole

The first time I had Guacamole was in this restaurant in Islamabad and just like most of the food in Islamabad is tasteless, that Guacamole was also pathetic. Had a chance to eat it in Lahore but was a bit reluctant , all thanks to the prior experience. Then I tried it in a couple of authentic Mexican restaurants in USA and I loved it.

This recipe is specially for the vegans because OH  MY GOD they complain so much about me not catering to their recipe requests. Not only for vegans but normal people (LOL) can also use it in burgers instead of mayo or as a dip for nachos or chips.

It is an expensive one because Avocados are like 1000 Rs. per kilogram but if it is used properly then one batch last more than a week or probably two.

INGREDIENTS:

4 avocados

4-6 green onions (the white part mostly will be used)

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tomato (1/2 if it is a big one)

2 jalapeno (people in Pakistan can use pickle jalapenos)

half a bunch of coriander leaves, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon salt

juice of one lime

There is no rocket science in making Guacamole. Just a lot of cutting, chopping and mashing.

Make sure the avocado is ripe because then it will be quite hard to mash it. Cut it from the middle and remove the seed. Take out the avocado flesh with a spoon carefully in a big bowl.

Finely chop the garlic. Add the garlic to the avocado flesh and add juice of one lemon or lime as well.

Mash the avocado and garlic with a fork to the point where no big chunks are visible.

Chop tomatoes, jalapeno, green onions and coriander leaves separately.

Add all of the above chopped vegetables in the mashed avocado mixture with cumin powder and salt.

Mix it properly. that is it and that is all. Guacamole is that easy to make.

Eat it with tortilla chips, nachos or any type of chips and my friend you are going to have a good time.

Cheesy Taco Pasta

Have you ever thought of infusing the taco filling with a pasta? NO? I also did not but I came around a recipe on facebook which is known as Cheesy Taco Pasta and this recipe will satisfy your need for pasta, beef and cheese.

INGREDIENTS:

500 grams minced beef

400 grams canned chopped tomatoes

3 pickled jalapenos

350 grams pasta

1/2 onion finely chopped

salt per taste

2/3rd cup cheddar cheese or more

2/3rd cup mozzarella cheese or more

1/2 cup reserved boiled pasta water

2 tablespoons taco seasoning (ingredients for taco seasoning mention below)

handful of coriander finely chopped for garnishing

INGREDIENTS FOR TACO SEASONING:

1 tablespoon red chhili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon ginger powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Boil the pasta according to the packet's instructions and reserves 1/4 cup of boiled pasta water.

Chop the onions and the jalapenos finely.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in pan on medium heat and add chopped onions. Season them well with salt and cook them until they are transparent and tender for about 5 minutes.

Add the chopped jalapenos and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add minced beef and cook until it is not pink any more around 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile in a grinder mix up the taco seasoning together.

Add the taco seasoning and drain any excessive fat present in the pan.

Mix the seasoning well with the minced beef.

Add the canned tomato and pasta water.

Start adding the shredded cheese as well and keep stirring it for a while until the liquid is about to dry.

Add the cooked pasta now and mix it well. Cheesy Taco Pasta is ready to go into our stomachs.

Sprinkle some finely chopped coriander over the pasta placed nicely in a bowl. Add sliced pickled jalapenos on the side as well and you are good to go for one pasta that you will never forget.

Rattlesnake Pasta and Mexican Lime Steak

What is up with women and cheese?

The most request of new recipes I receive are form women that too "WITH SOMETHING IN CHEESE IN IT"

Since I have not made a pasta recipe in recently I decided to make a slightly different version of Alfredo which in most of the restaurants is known as Rattlesnake pasta along side a steak recipe which a very good friend of mine Haider Reza and its called Mexican Lime Chicken Steak.

So let's start making it before we getting in to some other verbal crap that I will not stop talking about which is usually about plastic and fake people.

Ingredients For Mexican Lime Chicken Steak:

500 grams chicken boneless breast steak sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon red chili powder

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

2 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

Ingredients of Rattlesnake Pasta:

1 packet penne pasta

1 cup milk

1/2 cup cream

200 grams chili cheese

4 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 tablespoon flour

salt as per taste

black pepper as per taste

sliced jalapenos for topping

steamed broccoli for sides

First we need to flatten the steak slices with a meat hammer. This will also help in infusing the marinade in the meat.

We need to marinate the chicken buy putting the chicken in a container and adding all the marinating ingredients to it. Let it marinate for 1-2 hours.

After 1-2 hours preheat a pan or grill and cook the steaks from 4-6 minutes each side. Occassionally pour the remaining marinade on the steaks.

Now its time to prepare the pasta and that obviously can't be done without boiling the penne pasta.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a non stick pan on medium heat and quickly add and whisk flour in it until it becomes a smooth liquid.

Quickly add salt and pepper following with milk in it.

Now add Parmesan and then add shredded chili cheese in it.

(sorry I took the picture late by that time the cheese was almost dissolved LOL in your face)

Rattlesnake sauce is ready.

Add the pasta in the sauce and coat it well. If you want to spice things up then add red chili flakes.

Rattlesnake pasta is ready now. TIME TO SERVE.

Ladies and gentlemen, fight the power with cheese please and welcome Rattlesnake Pasta and Mexican Lime Chicken Steak.