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Come Party With Me: Moroccan Dinner - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:17:15 -0700

Use a kaleidoscope of colors to create the look of a Moroccan dinner. Start by setting the table with an eye-catching Moroccan print tablecloth. Add ceramic plates, rustic silverware, and plain linen napkins. Serve the drinks in Moroccan tea glasses. Turn off the lights and hang Moroccan candleholders from the ceiling for a glowing, seductive ambiance. Arrange a blooming bouquet of pretty orange, yellow, and purple orchids. Write the guests' names on mosaic tiles and place on each plate for place cards.

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Come Party With Me: Moroccan Dinner - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:00:00 -0700

My Moroccan dinner would not be complete without sweet mint tea. This hot concoction is a common commodity on the streets of the North African country. Although alcohol is not traditionally consumed in Islamic culture, at my party I'll offer guests an alcoholic variation of the tea in the form of a green-tea cocktail. Water - both sparkling and still - local beers, and a couple bottles of wine will round out the drink menu.

For the recipes to both the hot and spiked teas, read more.

Moroccan Mint Tea
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon loose Chinese gunpowder green tea
5 cups boiling water
3 to 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
1 large bunch fresh mint (1 ounce)

Directions

Put tea in teapot and pour in 1 cup boiling water, then swirl gently to warm pot and rinse tea. Strain out and discard water, reserving tea leaves in pot.
Add remaining 4 cups boiling water to tea and let steep 2 minutes.
Stir in sugar (to taste) and mint sprigs and steep 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve in small heatproof glasses.

Serves 6.

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Green Tea Cocktail
From Eat Entertainment

Ingredients

1 oz. green tea liqueur
1 oz. vodka
5 oz. white cranberry juice
1 lime slice or rosemary stick

Directions

Mix the green tea liqueur, vodka, and white cranberry juice, stirring to combine.
Serve in an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with a lime slice or a stick of rosemary.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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Come Party With Me: Moroccan Dinner - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:00:17 -0700

Couscous is a staple common to North African cuisine. Instead of serving it as a savory part of my dinner menu, I decided to use it to make a sweet dessert. Most people have had rice or bread pudding, but the majority of my guests have yet to experience couscous pudding.

This variation is made with fluffy whipped cream, sautéed bananas, and fresh pineapple. This type of dessert is ideal for a dinner party because it can be made well in advance. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Pineapple and Banana Couscous Pudding
From Bon Appétit magazine

Ingredients

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup plain couscous
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 large banana, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 tablespoon (packed) golden brown sugar
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons chilled whipping cream
5 tablespoons sweetened cream of coconut (such as Coco López)*
1 tablespoon triple sec
1/2 cup candied pineapple, minced
1 1/2 cups diced peeled fresh pineapple

Directions

Bring 3/4 cup water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over high heat.
Stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff with fork.
Melt butter in small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add banana and sugar and sauté until banana is soft, about 1 minute. Cool.
Using electric mixer, beat cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Fold in cream of coconut and triple sec.
Reserve 6 tablespoons whipped cream mixture for topping.
Fold candied pineapple, couscous, and banana into remaining whipped cream mixture in large bowl. Divide mixture among 6 parfait glasses or dessert bowls. Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover whipped cream mixture and puddings separately and refrigerate.
Top each pudding with some of reserved whipped cream mixture. Sprinkle each with fresh pineapple and serve.

Serves 6.

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Come Party With Me: Moroccan Dinner - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:45:10 -0700

This week I'm planning a Moroccan-themed dinner. All of my friends will be attending a big birthday bash on Saturday night, so I thought it would be fun to get together early and have a delicious dinner. Instead of sending invitations, I've called everyone to personally invite them to dinner.

The menu is simple and flavor-packed. To get the party started, I'll serve mini Moroccan lamb burgers with lemon yogurt sauce and Moroccan carrot goat cheese sandwiches with green olive tapenade. The main course will consist of a fragrant Moroccan chicken potato salad with olives.

For these tantalizing recipes, read more.

Mini Moroccan Lamb Burgers with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
From Dave Lieberman

Ingredients

For the lemon yogurt sauce:
1 pint plain Greek-style yogurt, preferably full-fat
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
Kosher salt
1 loaf brioche bread
For the mini burgers:
2 pounds ground lamb (preferably shoulder meat)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
About 20 grinds fresh black pepper
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, trimmed and torn into small pieces
4 ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch thick rounds

Directions

Make the sauce: in a medium mixing bowl, stir together the yogurt and lemon zest and juice. Season, to taste, with a couple pinches of salt. Sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to use. Bring to room temperature before using.
Cut the brioche into about 1/3 to 1/2-inch thick slices and then use a small glass to cut out as many circles as possible, about 3 inches in diameter, from each slice. Place the bread "buns" in an airtight container until ready to use so that they stay moist and soft.
Make the burgers: preheat the grill.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and work together until they are fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the mixture into little balls about 1 to 1 1/2 inches big and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking pan. Using your hands, flatten burgers to about 1/2-inch thick and just a couple inches in diameter.
Once the grill is hot, place them on the grill and cook, about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until fully cooked through; cook time varies based on how hot your grill is.
Place the cooked mini burgers on top of the cut brioche and add a piece of lettuce and a tomato slice. Top with a dollop of the lemon yogurt sauce and serve.

Serves 6.

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Moroccan Carrot Goat Cheese Sandwiches with Green Olive Tapenade
From Gourmet magazine

Ingredients

For carrots
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 lb medium carrots (
For tapenade
1 1/4 cups green olives (6 to 7 oz) such as Cerignola or picholine, pitted
3 tablespoons drained bottled capers, rinsed
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 flat anchovy fillet, chopped
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
For sandwiches
12 slices good-quality pumpernickel sandwich bread
6 oz soft mild goat cheese (3/4 cup) at room temperature

Directions

Prepare carrots: whisk together sugar, lemon juice, spices, salt, and oil in a large bowl until sugar is dissolved.
Halve carrots crosswise on a long diagonal, then, starting from diagonal ends, cut into 1/16-inch-thick slices using slicer.
Cook carrots in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 45 seconds.
Drain well in a colander and immediately toss with dressing. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, then marinate, covered and chilled, at least 4 hours.
Make tapenade and assemble sandwiches: pulse olives with capers, parsley, anchovy, zest, lemon juice, and pepper in a food processor until coarsely chopped, then scrape down side of bowl with a rubber spatula.
Pulsing motor, add oil in a slow stream and continue to pulse until mixture is finely chopped (do not pulse to a paste).
Spread tapenade on 6 slices of bread and goat cheese on remaining 6 slices, then make sandwiches with carrots.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

Make ahead: carrots can marinate up to 2 days. Tapenade can be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.

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Moroccan Chicken and Potato Salad with Olives
From Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boiling potatoes (about 5)
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
Fresh-ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
7 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3)
1/2 red onion, chopped fine
1/3 cup black olives, such as Kalamata, halved and pitted
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan with salted water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the potatoes.
When they are cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and cut into 1/4-inch slices.
Meanwhile, in a small glass or stainless-steel bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, cumin, paprika, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the ginger, and the oregano. Whisk in 6 tablespoons of the oil.
Heat a grill pan or a heavy frying pan over moderate heat. For the grill pan, coat the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook the chicken for 5 minutes.
Turn and cook until browned and just done, about 4 minutes longer.
Remove, and when cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into 1/4-inch slices. For the frying pan, heat the oil in the pan and then season, cook, and slice the chicken in the same way.
In a large bowl, combine the warm potatoes with half of the dressing. Add the chicken, onion, olives, parsley, and the remaining dressing and toss.

Serves 4.

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