Passover

Rum & Vanilla Cream Cheese Creme Caramel {Gluten Free}

Passover, Recipes, Shabuoth, Sweet Treats / By

Rum & Vanilla Cream Cheese Creme Caramel {Gluten Free}

Shabuoth is coming and with it, all the cheesy and creamy recipes afloat including this sexy Rum & Vanilla Cream Cheese Creme Caramel, perfect for the occasion!

It feels almost surreal that is almost Shabuoth again!! My God! Am I the only one who feels the years is just flying?! Nobody got time to waste, so I want to keep it simple and precise with a classic recipe like the popular Rum & Vanilla Cream Cheese Creme Caramel.

 

As you may know, Flan or Creme Caramel is a custard-based dessert, easy to make and if done right, brilliantly decadent to say the least. And, because this one has a cream cheese base, you could potentially skip the caramel, make a cookie base for the bottom, bake and you’ll have Cheesecake! (Consider that a bonus recipe 😛 ) If you are looking for a non-dairy version, check out our Coconut Creme Caramel.

 

A super easy and delicious dessert for Shabuoth
A super easy and delicious dessert for Shabuoth

Rum; Vanilla Cream Cheese Flan {Gluten Free}

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dominican Republic
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 100 gr Granulated Sugar
  • 30 ml Water
  • 400 ml Full Fat Evaporated Milk
  • 400 ml Condensed Milk
  • 400 ml Eggs
  • 200 gr Cream Cheese
  • 40 ml Rum (Optional but recommended)*
  • 1/2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  • In a small pot, place the sugar and water and stir to dissolve. Cover with a lid and cook over medium high heat, swirling occasionally until the caramel starts to form and you see an light amber color. Continue to cook to achieve a caramel color. Quickly pour the caramel in the pan and swirl to coat the bottom.
  • In a blender, add the ingredients for the custard and pulse for a few seconds. Strain the custard mixture through a fine sieve and into the prepared pan.
  • Transfer a bigger pan to the oven, place the prepared pan with the custard inside and add enough water to come halfway up the sides of the pan.
  • Cover the pan loosely with a silicone baking mat or aluminum foil and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the custard is set on the edges and a little jiggly on the center.
  • Remove the pan from the hot water, and remove the baking mat from the top and let it reach room temperature before refrigerating until cold, preferably overnight.
  • To release from the pan, first run a sharp knife on the edge of the pan and invert carefully onto a serving plate.
  • Serve cold.

Notes

  • If adding rum extract, 1/2 tbsp is enough.
Keyword cream cheese, creme caramel, flan, quesillo

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Caribbean Vibes: Fried Yellow Plantains {Vegan, GF}

Hanukkah, Passover, Recipes, Sides / By

Caribbean Vibes: Pan-Fried Yellow Plantains {Vegan, GF}

Pan-Fried Yellow Plantains are so easy and delicious! And with their crispy edges and lightly sweet flavor, they are the perfect side dish at any time.

When I was growing up, back in the Dominican Republic, I could clearly see in my family people having certain preferences. When gatherings came about, you either had a strong preference for stewed kidney beans, or you loved stewed pigeon peas. You either liked sweet cream of beans (made with red beans) or you ate the white version (made with broad beans) and the same was true for plantains. You either loved fritos maduros (fried yellow plantains) or you were team tostones (fried green plantains).

I remember always leaning towards “team tostones” (I love crunchy stuff!), but as I grew older I started to embrace those foods that were usually preferred by my sister, including pigeon peas and fried yellow plantains. Maybe is a sentimental thing. Who knows?!

When making fried yellow plantains, you need to choose the right ones, which will be yellow color and have very dark/black spots on them (like the picture below). The black spots are the perfect indicator that the plantains are ripe enough and perfect for this recipe. 

 

The perfect yellow plantain is also firm to the touch but no completely. It should feel ripe with a certain resistance. You don’t want a plantain that is too ripe (with the peel mostly black) because it will be difficult to slice, it won’t hold its shape when cooking, it will absorb a lot of oil and it will be mushy. If you have yellow plantains that are overly ripe, they won’t be good for this recipe but you can use them to make Vegan Banana Bread (using yellow plantains instead!)

 

When you go to certain supermarkets, you sometimes see yellow plantain with a perfect bright yellow peel. If you buy those, wait for a few days until it ripens a bit more and you can see black spots. If you cook them right away, the fried yellow plantains won’t have the soft interior and caramelized flavor that is so characteristic.

Caribbean Vibes: Pan-Fried Yellow Plantains {Vegan, GF}

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Course Side Dish
Cuisine Caribbean, Dominican Republic

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Ripe Yellow Plantains
  • Pinch of salt
  • Vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions
 

  • Before starting, have a plate with paper towels ready in the counter to drain excess oil.
  • Heat the vegetable oil
  • Peel and cut the yellow plantains as desired (lengthwise, round or at an angle)
  • Fry the plantain slices over medium-low heat until brown on the bottom. Turn over and cook the other size until golden brown.
  • Carefully remove the plantains fron the oil, with the help of tongs or a slotted spoon, and place over paper towels to drain for a minute or two.
  • You can now season with a pinch of salt, if desired. Preferably, serve immediately.
Keyword caribbean, Plantains

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Easy Chocolate Mousse {Passover-Friendly, GF}

Passover, Sweet Treats / By

Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake {Passover-friendly, Gluten-Free}

If you still haven’t decided on what dessert to make for Pesach, this Luscious Passover-Friendly Mousse Cake will be the perfect end to your Passover Celebration!

If you are having a hard time coming up with a menu for your Pesach, we have prepared for you a couple of post to help you in your journey: 


5 Full Menu Ideas for Passover
10 Massoth-free Breakfast Ideas to enjoy during Pesach and all year-round

Making this Mousse cake is very straight-forward process and extremely easy. As a bonus, you can make it vegan as well.

This recipe calls for almond flour, which I find to be available in most places these days, but if for some reason you can’t find it, you can buy peeled whole or silvered almonds and pulse a few times in a food processor until you have course granules. Just be careful not to process too much or you’ll make almond butter instead. You can also use other nuts to make the flour, and that I leave to your preference.

Easy Chocolate Mousse Cake {Passover-Friendly, GF}

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 1 20 cm Cake Pan Springform cake pan or Round pyrex work

Ingredients
  

Base:

  • 100 gr Caster Sugar
  • 150 gr Almond Flour
  • 70 gr Salted Butter room temperature
  • 30 gr Cocoa Powder

Mousse

  • 400 gr 74% Chocolate semi sweet
  • 150 ml Milk any kind
  • 100 gr Cocoa Powder
  • 600 ml Heavy Whipping Cream, cold 35% Fat. Substitute plant-based if needed
  • 2 tsp Cointreau, Orange Liqueur Optional but recommended. Can use another liquor as well or extract.

Instructions
 

Base:

  • In a bowl, mix all ingredients and flatten the mixture on a 20 cm baking pan (Preferably use a pan with removable bottom)
  • Place in the prepared base in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to harden.

Mousse:

  • Simmer the whole milk and mix with the cocoa powder until dissolved. Mix well.
  • Add the hot chocolate milk over the semi sweet chocolate and set aside until the chocolate is melted. Mix well, and let it reach room temperature before mixing in with the whipped cream.
  • Beat the cold whipping cream with the orange liqueur to soft picks.
  • Add the chocolate mixture to the whipped cream and mix well.
  • Spread the mousse over the prepared almond crust and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Serve cold.

Notes

You can use vegan butter, instead of butter and substitute the whipping cream with vegan whipping cream or full fat coconut milk. 
Keyword Gluten-free, Mousse, passover

When you make these Passover-Friendly Chocolate Mousse Cake use the tag #kasheribbean to share on social media and, don’t forget to follow on instagram and pinterest for more easy kasher recipes!

Passover Friendly Flax Seed Waffles with homemade Berries Jam {GF, Nut-Free}

Passover, Recipes / By

Easy Flax Seed Waffles {Passover-Friendly, Gluten-Free}

One of the things I enjoy the most about being an introvert, is that weird ideas can come easily. I do make a big mess sometimes, but the auto-validation is huge when and idea comes to mind, and it works in real life (or should I say, “real kitchen”, Ha!) 

This is essentially how these Passover-friendly Flax Seed Waffles came to life. What I like the most about these healthy waffles is that these are gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free; and, in addition they are a mega satisfying breakfast or dinner. These waffles  are full of fiber and can seriously get you full!! 

I serve these with a quick homemade berry jam and some sugar-free syrup. And, before you tell me this is not jam; I know! I know! It doesn’t have sugar so, is technically not jam. You can call it fruit puree, preserve or marmalade (??). Let me know how you call this jam and why, because honestly, I get confused with these terms sometimes. In the meantime, it’s jam. Haha!

Passover Friendly Flax Seed Waffles {Gluten-free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free}

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Course Breakfast, Dinner
Servings 6 Waffles

Equipment

  • DASH Mini Waffle Maker

Ingredients
  

  • 180 gr Golden Flax Seeds, finely ground
  • 150 ml Eggs
  • 40 gr Coconut Flour
  • 15 gr Coconut sugar (1 Tbsp)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 500 gr Frozen strawberries and raspberries

Instructions
 

Waffles:

  • Preheat your waffle maker or iron to medium-high.
  • In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, except for the fruit. Whisk until combined, and set aside for a 3-5 minutes.
  • Scoop the mixture into your lightly oiled, preheated waffle maker and close the top. If using the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, cook for 3 minutes. Repeat until you are finished with the batter.
  • Serve immediately with Homemade Berries Jam (recipe below) or with your jam of preference.

Fruit Jam

  • Place the frozen berries into a pot; and cook on medium with the lid on. Stirring occasionally to avoid the fruit sticking to the bottom.
  • Continue cooking until most of the water is evaporated, making the jam of a thick consistency.
Keyword breakfast, dinner, passover, waffles

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Simplified Caribbean Style Stewed Pigeon Peas using canned Pigeon Peas {Vegan}

Passover, Recipes, Sides / By

Simplified Caribbean Style Stewed Pigeon Peas {using Canned Pigeon Peas}

When I was a child, in my mind, the Dominican Republic was clearly divided into 3 groups of people: the stewed kidney beans lovers, like me and my grandpa. The pigeon peas lovers, like my sister and my mom; and the “undecided”, who loved  every legume on earth; including split peas, chickpeas and lentils that I hated at the time. As I grew older, and moved around different countries, the flavors from home became very dear to me, so I opened my heart and tummy even for those dishes I didn’t enjoy at the time, and my love for traditional foods grew from there. 

In this recipe for Caribbean Style Stewed Pigeon Peas I use canned pigeon peas to make it easier and more convenient if you are abroad. You can often find canned pigeon peas in some African shops and latin mini markets in cities like Rotterdam and Antwerp. Even some surinamese shops sell it sometimes. If by any chance you come across frozen pigeon peas, you can grab those as well. Just rinse before using, and keep in mind the cooking time is going to increase. 

Probably the most important steps for this Caribbean Style Stewed Pigeon Peas are the preparation of the garlic-oregano base, and the blending of the veggies and some legumes. Keep that in mind if you want to have authentic flavor and texture. 

Simplified Caribbean Style Stewed Pigeon Peas {Vegan}

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Lunch
Cuisine Dominican Republic

Ingredients
  

  • 1200 gr Pigeon Peas, canned
  • 30 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 Tbsp)
  • 20 gr Fresh garlic cloves
  • 10 gr Dried Oregano
  • 50 gr Yellow onion, cut in half
  • 1 Green bell pepper, cut in half
  • 10 gr Fresh Cilantro (also known as Coriander and Chinese Parsley)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a mortar and pestle, crush garlic and dried oregano with a pinch of salt, into a paste.
  • Add the olive oil in the pot and cook the garlic-oregano paste on low flame until fragrant.
  • Add the canned pigeon peas, and the rest of the ingredients, except for the salt. Cook on medium-low with the lid on for about 20 minutes.
  • Remove the lid, and with a soup ladle take one full spoonful of pigeon peas and add to a blender, together with the cooked onion, green bell pepper and cilantro. Blend until smooth. You can add a little bit of the liquid to avoid overheating the blender.
  • Add the blended mixture back to the pot and let it cook for a few more minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve with white rice, salad and fried yellow plantains on the side. Enjoy!
Keyword legumes, pigeon peas

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