RENUKA’S CAMPFIRE BAKES

RECIPES BY: Renuka

Main course: 

Chicken Tikka Skewers
Roti
Pickled Red onion
Crispy fried potatoes
Whipped Feta

Chicken Tikka Skewers
2 chicken breast cut into cubes (each chicken breast cut into 8 cubes)
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon coriander powder
2 teaspoons chicken tikka masala powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 and ½ teaspoons Kashmiri chilli powder
2 tablespoons freshly chopped coriander
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon kasoor methi
1 tablespoon crushed ginger and garlic                                                               3 tablespoons oil
Juice of ½ lemon
1 to 2 tablespoons water to make a paste

 

 

Method:

  1. If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes
  2. Can also use metal skewers
  3. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and make a paste
  4. Add chicken cubes and mix well to incorporate
  5. Cover bowl with clingfilm and leave to marinate for 30 minutes
  6. Once marinated, add skewers to hot coals and cook until chicken is done. Test to see that the juices from the chicken run clear


Pickled Red onions
1 Large red onion finely sliced
¾ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey or sugar

Method:

  1. In a saucepan, stir together the vinegar, water, salt and honey(or sugar)
    2. Place on heat and let it come to a gentle boil
    3. In another bowl, add red onion slices
    4. Pour hot liquid over the onions
    5. Mix to coat all the onions
    6. Leave to soak for 30 minutes


Roti
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon salted butter
½ teaspoon baking powder
Boiling water

To toast the roti, a mixture of melted butter and oil

Method:

  1. Boil water in a kettle
  2. Whilst water is boiling, in a bowl add flour, oil, butter, baking powder
  3. Mix together until you have breadcrumbs
  4. When water is boiled, add in a little water at a time
  5. Make sure to mix the dough with a spoon until the dough comes together
  6. Place dough onto work surface and knead until smooth and soft
  7. Place dough back in bowl, cover and leave to rest for 10 minutes
  8. Once rested, divide dough into equal size balls (+- 80 to 100 grams each)
  9. Roll out each ball of dough into a circle (the size of a dinner plate or +-26 cm)
  10. Place on tawa or flat frying pan on high heat
  11. Once frying pan is hot, add one roti
  12. Wait until you see bubbles
  13. Turn roti using a flat knife or spatula
  14. Brush a little bit of the (butter and oil) mixture all over the roti
  15. Turn the roti again and repeat the (butter/oil) brushing
  16. Roti is now done
  17. Transfer onto a dish towel or a flat container (you can also wrap the roti in foil to keep warm

Crispy Fried Potatoes

  1. 12 baby potatoes
  2. 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
  3. ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  4. 1 small white onion chopped
  5. 5 curry leaves
  6. 2 dried chillies
  7. 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
  8. 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder
  9. Salt
  10. Fresh coriander

Method:

  1. Boil baby potatoes in water until semi soft
  2. Once boiled, drain water and chop each baby potato into 4 pieces
  3. In a saucepan or flay frying pan, add ghee or cooking oil
  4. Add cumin seeds, curry leaves and onion
  5. Fry until the onions are golden brown
  6. Add chillies, turmeric, garlic and potatoes
  7. Add salt as per your taste
  8. Fry the potato uncovered until cooked through and golden
  9. Turn off heat, garnish with chopped coriander

Whipped Feta

  1. 2 round feta portions
  2. 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh cream
  3. Salt
  4. Pepper
  5. 2 cloves grated garlic
  6. Chopped mint leaves
Method:
  1. In a bowl, crumble the feta
  2. Add 2 drops of the feta liquid
  3. Use a whisk to break up the feta
  4. Add cream, salt, pepper, garlic
  5. Whisk until creamy
  6. If the mixture is too sift, add more cream but adjust seasoning and lemon juice
  7. Lastly add freshly chopped mint leaves

To serve the main, use a large wooden board, place chicken skewers, roti, fried potatoes, drained pickled red onion, whipped feta, lemon wedges and fresh coriander . Serve and enjoy

Dessert: Pineapple Upside Down Cake

  1. X 6 pineapple rings (from a can, drained of juice)
  2. 2 Tablespoons salted butter
  3. ½ cup brown sugar
  4. ¼ cup fresh cream
  5. ¼ teaspoon salt
  6. ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

Batter:

  1. 1 cup flour
  2. 1 and ½ teaspoon baking powder
  3. ½ teaspoon salt
  4. ¼ teaspoon bicarb
  5. 2/3 cups amasi
  6. 3 eggs
  7. 5 mls vanilla essence
  8. 5 mls caramel essence
  9. 125 grams butter
  10. ¾ cup brown sugar

Toppings

  1. On hot coal place pineapple rings to dry and get a few charred marks. Remove and set aside
  2. In a saucepan  add sugar, cream, salt, cinnamon and butter. Melt over coals until all ingredients are well combined and a thick syrup forms
  3. Remove from heat
  4. In a pot add non stick paper and use non stick spray inside the pot
  5. Place one pineapple ring in the middle of the pot, then decorate the remaining pineapples around(it would be advisable to cut the pineapple rings in half)
  6. Cover the pineapple rings with the syrup, making sure it is evenly distributed

Batter:

  1. In a bowl add butter and sugar. Whisky by hand until light and fluffy
  2. In another bowl sieve the flour, baking powder, salt, bicarb
  3. In another jug add eggs, amasi, vanilla and caramel essence (Whisk to combine)
  4. Add half the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar and then half the wet ingredients. Whisk to combine
  5. Add remaining dry ingredients and wet ingredients
  6. Replace whisk with spatula and gently fold to combine.
  7. Don’t overmix
  8. Pour batter over the pineapples with syrup
  9. Cover the pot with a lid. Cover lid with hot coals
  10. Place on medium coals at least 15 cm from the coals. Cook for 25 minutes
  11. Check the cake, if not yet cooked, place back over the coals and cook for another 10 minutes
  12. The cake is done when a skewer inserted in the middle is clean

Custard

  1. ¾ cup fresh cream
  2. ¾ cup milk
  3. 4 egg yolks
  4. 2 teaspoon cornflour
  5. 3 tablespoons castor sugar
  6. 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  7. Vanilla beans from 1 vanilla pod (optional)
  1. In a saucepan heat cream and milk until it just starts to bubble (DON’T BOIL)
  2. Whilst the cream and milk is heating, in a separate bowl add egg yolks, cornflour, sugar, vanilla essence
  3. When cream and milk is hot, pour into egg mixture
  4. Make sure to pour very slowly in a thin stream
  5. Keep whisking whilst pouring in the liquid
  6. Once all the liquid has been added, whisk again until there are no lumps. Add vanilla bean(not compulsory)
  7. Pour mixture back into saucepan and turn on heat 
  8. Whisk constantly until the custard thickens
  9. Remove from heat
  10. Empty into bowl and place clingfilm directly onto custard to prevent a skin from forming

To serve dessert: Turn cake onto serving plate, remove any non stick paper, garnish with fresh thyme and serve with a jug of warm custard

Optional: Can also serve whipped fresh cream with the cake (I just served the custard)