Simply Blissful Living - Taste of Fiji

Ingredients: 2 lbs (1 kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces 2 tbsp oil (any neutral oil) 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 cups sliced onions (about 1 large onion; reserve a few slices for later) 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste) 5-7 green chilies, halved and sliced (reserve some for garnish) 2 tbsp crushed garlic (about 6-7 cloves) 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-2 inch cubes 1 cup tomato sauce or purée (fresh or canned) 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper Salt to taste 1/4 cup water (if needed for consistency) Fresh cilantro or sliced peppers for garnish (optional) Instructions: Heat oil:  In a heavy-bottom pan over medium heat, add oil. Once hot, add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for a few seconds until aromatic. Sauté onions:  Add sliced onions (reserving some for later) and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add spices:  Stir in sliced chilies, chili powder, and crushed garlic. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.  (Reserv...

  Ingredients: 1 lb lamb/mutton** (bone-in or boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces) For marinade:  3 tbsp plain unsweetened yogurt 1 tsp garam masala (or Fiji masala) 1 tsp hot masala or meat masala 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder Main ingredients: 1 medium onion, sliced 2 tbsp crushed garlic 1 tbsp crushed ginger 1–2 tbsp ghee or oil Chili peppers to taste (whole or crushed) 1 tsp cumin seeds Sprig of curry leaves  1 tbsp garam masala (or Fiji masala)  2 tsp hot meat masala or pulao masala  1–2 tsp chili powder  1 tsp turmeric  1–2 tsp tandoori masala (optional)  1 tbsp tomato paste, 2 chopped tomatoes, or ½ cup tomato purée  Salt and pepper, to taste  Hot water (start with ½ cup, add as needed) For garnish: Fresh cilantro or chives (optional) Method:  Wash the lamb pieces and pat dry. In a bowl, mix the yogurt with garam masala, hot masala, and chili powder. Add the lamb pieces, ensuring they’re well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at l...

Fiji-Style Golden Fruit Cake Recipe Ingredients: 2 cups fruit cake mix   1/4 cup raisins   1/2 cup apple juice (or any fruit juice of your choice)   1 cup  brown sugar (200 grams) 2 sticks butter, room temperature (250 grams)   1 tablespoon orange rind   1 tablespoon lemon rind   4 eggs, room temperature   2 cups all-purpose flour (320 grams)   1 teaspoon baking powder   1 teaspoon salt   1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder   1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix (or substitute with 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder) Instructions: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it well.  Combine the fruit cake mix, raisins, and apple juice in a bowl.  Optional: Rinse the dried fruit to remove any sticky residue before adding the juice.  Let the fruit soak while you prepare the batter. You can soak it a few hours ahead if preferred...

  Ingredients: 215 ml full fat whole milk (about 1 cup) 80 grams butter/ghee (5.5 tablespoons) 175 grams sugar (3/4 cup) 500 grams full fat milk powder (4 cups) 1 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp ground cardamom seeds 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)  Sprinkles or chopped nuts for decorating Method: Line your setting dish with parchment paper In a heavy bottom pan (non-stick preffered), on medium to medium low flame, heat the milk and butter/ghee until butter/ghee melts. Add sugar and stir well until completely dissolved.  Add milk powder and ground cardamom. Stir well and cook on low heat for 5-6 minutes. The mixture will be thick. Be sure to keep stirring.  Once the mixture starts to leave the side of the pan, add lemon juice and vanilla extract. Stir well and cook for another minute or until the mixture starts forming a ball. (refer to video for reference).  Transfer to your setting dish, smoothen the top, and add sprinkles/chopped nuts.  Cut to pieces and allow to...

  Ingredients: 3-5 lb chicken cut up into pieces (or you can use bone-in chicken thigh/drumsticks) 4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped  1 large onion, sliced 2-3 medium carrots, julienned  half a head of cabbage (3 cups chopped)  4 stalks of bokchoy, cut into pieces 1 jalapeno, sliced/chopped* you can use any green pepper here  1 celery stalk, sliced  1 tbsp crushed garlic 1 tsp crushed/grated ginger chili peppers to taste 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp black pepper powder 1 tsp cumin powder 15 oz canned coconut milk  6-8 cups of water or chicken stock or a mix of both sprig of cilantro, finally chopped Method: In a large heavy bottom pot, add oil on medium-high flame. Once hot, add onions and celery. Saute for 2-3 minutes Add ginger, garlic, chili peppers and sauté for 2 minutes Add chicken and potatoes, salt, pepper, ground cumin, and sauté for 10-15 minutes, or until chicken and potatoes are slightly browned, stirring occasionally.  Add carrots and sliced p...

This drink, fondly called Sot in Fiji, is packed with healing properties. There are many variations of this drink not only throughout Southeast Asia, but also where many Indian diaspora. This nourishing postpartum drink offers new mothers a delicious drink, but also supports the her healing process and aids in breastmilk production. It helps with digestion and inflammation associated to child-birth.  Ingredients: 2 inch piece ginger, grated (adrak)  2 inch piece cinnamon (dalchini) 1 tsp fennel seeds (sauf)  1-2 cloves (lawang)  4 black peppercorns (whole) (golmirch)  10 cardamom pods (ellaichi)  1/4 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)  1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds * (methi) (see note below)  1/2 tsp turmeric powder 4 oz water  12 oz good quality full fat milk  1 tsp ghee (good quality)  sweetener to taste (you can use sugar or honey)  Method: In a heavy bottom pan, dry roast all of the spices *excluding turmeric and ginger. Let cool.  Cr...