The are probably as many versions of a masala in Indian cooking, as there are vegetables. They are a real delight, and cannot be achieved without a proper pairing. It is important to understand the subtlety required to prepare a masala mix, before its tangy yet spicy, pungent and creamy journey is used in a fragrant and gently cooked gastronomic Indian dish.
Masala is an aromatic blend of fresh herbs and spices – whole or ground – and when it is combined with fresh citrus juices, oil or vinegar, it gives Indian dishes their distinct flavour. There are a few key spices, which are necessary – small red shallots, vibrant green chillies, ginger and spicy garlic – which, when ground together with hot dried bird's eye chillies, curry leaves and other sweet-scented seeds, produce the most delicious results.
You can buy most of the flavourings ground and bottled in supermarkets, but there is something satisfying when you grind your own. Recipes vary, but here are some tasty tips you need to know.
Dry powder masalas should be gently stir-fried in vegetable, coconut or olive oil, as they really benefit by releasing strong-scented aroma and flavour.
The heat level of chillies, which were introduced to Indians by the Portugese, is determined by the number of seeds they contain, and provide extra flavour when lightly roasted.
The base of most curries are three key ingredients: onion, ginger and garlic. They should be slowly sauteed, till they achieve a golden brown, caramel colour, and are intertwined with each other.
Coconut is often added to masalas and curries to achieve a creamy texture, and its flavour is an added bonus.
Curries can be thick or thin in consistency – the thicker variants require lesser water – which allows the ingredients to be gently coated, as opposed to swimming in thin gravy.
Where masalas are used in recipes, each blend and method is unique to each individual dish. This specific recipe, is a quick curry for a cook who is pressed for time. It is useful, as it can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge. As long as you have some chutney in the pantry, all you need to do is add in some yoghurt and coriander, to produce a dish that tastes authentic.
The recipe originates from Gujarat, which is the birthplace of some of India's finest vegetarian food, where mouthfuls of favourite curries are served with pickles to adjust the heat to personal preference.
This curry is simple and undoubtedly quick – Indian cooking at its best. You can enjoy warmth from the spices, crunchiness from the beans and the cooling properties of coconut, all in one bite.
Yellow Beans Foogath (green beans can be substituted for yellow)
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
A generous splash of coconut oil
1 heaped teaspoon cumin seeds
150g new potatoes, scrubbed and roughly diced
1 red onion, finely chopped
500g yellow beans, topped and tailed, and chopped into 1 cm pieces
3 dried red chillies, crushed
50g freshly grated coconut
Sea salt
Method
▶ Heat the coconut oil in a large wok. Once hot, add the cumin seeds and cook until they begin to sizzle and crackle.
▶ Add the onion and potatoes and sauté until they turn slightly brown. Add a sprinkling of water and let it cook until the potatoes are al dente.
▶ Stir in the yellow beans, put in the dried red chilies and season with sea salt, according to taste. Cook until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
▶ Place onto a serving dish and sprinkle with the freshly grated coconut and serve warm.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
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Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
