Zatar- Hummus - Egg wrap with the King Khan guest appearance.

 

 



 

 You know how most..most of the Indi-movie romance goes ?

 

 

The hero - heroine starts off the journey like this ! They neither look at each other....nor talk. Constantly...

 

dishoom..dishoom.....

But some minor twist..and they end up...

 

 this way.

 Dance..Music... and then the real show gets rolling !!!!

 

My attitude towards these two ingredients - Za'atar and Hummus  was exaclty in the very same lines.

 

I was introduced to the "yucky" looking dip for the first time (almost 8 yrs back) during an offficial lunch meeting, and   the host, a Project Manager of an other Engineering Consultant Group  and of Lebanese origin, knowing that I was new to Kuwait, was giving me an in-detail intro into their cuisine. And this..za'atar in olive oil mix was served as a dip for bread sticks.

 

For me, then, most of the time..food appeal goes by looks and this was definitly not appealing to my eyes. May be he, who was sitting right across me, noticed it and started..

 

"Sona ! you need to try it. In our country...our mothers used to force us to have it, cause it was said to be a wonder herb mix. Good for memory. We too as kids, never liked it much...but nevertheless, always used to have it on the day of our exams".  It's a belief that za'atar makes the mind alert and the body strong.

 

(This, however, is also believed to be a myth fabricated during the Lebanese civil war to encourage eating of za'atar, as provisions were low at the time and za'atar was of abundance)

 

 

 

Za'atar is generally prepared using ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, or some combination thereof, mixed with toasted sesame seeds, and salt, though other spices such as sumac might also be added

When the dried herb is moistened with olive oil, the spread is known as za'atar-wu-zayt or zeit ou za'atar (zeit or zayt, meaning "oil" in Arabic and "olive" in Hebrew).

 

Not so willingly..i took a dip..and thought that would be my first and last.

 

 

Exactly the same with hummus too. More about this chikpea-dip here  .

 

But some where, down the line...things changed...and i gradually started liking these. Well not just me..my kids too. They love it. So, for a change it was a combination of these two which went as the spread for their dinner chapathi roll.

 

 

How to prepare hummus :

1 clove garlic

1 (19 ounce) chickpeas

4 tablespoonslemon juice

2 tablespoons tahini paste (store-brought)

1 teaspoonsalt

2 tablespoons olive oil

 

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.        
Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well.

Garnish with red paprika powder and throw few chick peas on top.   

 

While preparing the rest of the ingredients for the roll...a sneak-peep from the kitchen on to the tv screen     ......

Of course ! he knows the trick.

 

 

Ooh..please dont kajol darlin' ...hota hai rae... ;)

 

 

It's all coming back to me"her" now.......(the background music plays )

 

While Lady Kajol is definiely not unhappy with King Khan repeating his tactics...the cucumbers and tomatoes got sliced.

Line them in...

Few eggs turned into omlettes . They too get aligned.

 

Wrapped ..and gone !



         

meanwhile... the King is back with his "call".

 

Just need to wait and watch, who takes that call.

Those who are regular at my place defintiely will know that it is not the first time that Mr. King Khan makes a guest appearance on my writes. He was here, in  the Train Cake post

 

 

and here  as well,  

 

 

the "chaahun-me-yaah-na" post on Pick Quicks . Coincidently, all these three posts are of the  same concept but in different contexts thou.

 

I AM, his fan...need I say ?