Azerbaijan Fusion Part 2

Asli (finally!) moved to her new apartment and invited a few friends for lunch. I'm not pretty sure the menu was really azeri but since I find it somehow exotic I'll pretend as if it was.

Asli's chicken and porcini soup

I'm not used at all to eat soups, so my first thought was going at McDonald's on the way home, but this soup made me change my mind.

 

For 4 people:

• 400 grs of chicken breast
• 2 potatoes
• 200 grs of dried porcini mushrooms (champignons are good as well)
• 5/6 baby carrots
• 200 grs of cauliflower
• 4 leaves of bay leaf
• herbs (wild fennel overall), rosemary, cumin, salt and pepper

Cut the chicken breast into cubes and then cook it in water, taking off the scum. When ready (30 mins), add cut vegetables and herbs and spices. Salt at the end.
Very simple, very tasty.

Asli's Stuffed Chicken with Apples and Prunes

For 4 people:

• 1 Whole chicken
• 2 big Granny Smith apples
• 4/5 prunes
• Dijon mustard
• honey
• herbs
• 300 grs of baby carrots and Brussels sprouts
• chicken/vegetable broth

Coat chicken's inside with honey and stuff it with cut fruits.
Mix mustard with herbs and coat the chicken from outside.
Cook for ~ 2 hrs in the oven at 200 C while watering from time to time with the broth. Boil the carrots and Brussels sprouts and use them as a side dish.
Really inviting, yumm.

The friendly neighbour's pie

For 4 people:

• flour
• butter
• eggs
• rice
• sugar
• love
• a friendly neighbour

Invite your friendly neighbour for lunch and ask him to prepare a pie with a somewhat ricy stuffing. Serve it along with your vast collection of Russian teas.
Very simple, very successful.

*The oddities corner: GAGA on the pie was a dedication to the singer (argh...) but apparently in Azeri it means "sweet" or "pie" as well.
Thanks Asli and enjoy your new house!