Buckwheat pilaf -Russian kitchen meets Persian

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Hi there!

Today I want to share something very special. Usually, buckwheat is found in the organic foods sections of the supermarkets and not really popular among those who are not after pure organic and healthy food lifestyle. However for me, born and raised in the long gone Soviet Union, buckwheat is a taste of childhood, no less than that. Back then, unlike many other foods, buckwheat was freely available in the stores, and that made it one of the pillars of russian cuisine. The dish I am about to show you had no name other than “buckwheat with meat”… But I’ve taken it a bit further, upgraded it to the next level, if you like, and took the liberty to compare it with another dish I really like – persian pilaf, as, mind you, the preparation steps are almost identical. Hence, here I am, giving you the “buckwheat pilaf”, a dish which is about to change all you’ve known about buckwheat till now!

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Grilled “pizza” mushrooms

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To the most of us grilling is directly associated with meat… Fish, in the best case. But hey, here’s one proud carnivore who loves grilling veggies! And I must admit, I have a confession to make – I love grilling veggies. Be it an eggplant, a capiscum or asparagus – flame charred they all taste much better. Mushrooms, however, are a story of its own. Just grilled they are more of a meaty texture, but you can really take it any way your imagination goes. So here’s what I called “pizza without a dough”, and  trust me, this does taste like a pizza with mushrooms.

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Beef & lamb cheeseburger – step by step way to perfection

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Unless you are a vegetarian, vegan or anything like that, you probably do like a good burger… I mean, what’s there not to like?! A nice beef patty, topped with some good cheese, veggies and a toasted bun, dressed with barbecue sauce and aioli… So here’s my take on the all times classics – beef & lamb cheeseburgers, recipe I’ve been making for the past two years, mainly because my boys simply won’t give up on it every weekend 🙂

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Sirloin steak with grilled cherry tomatoes – my essential rules for a steak success!

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Steak is the most primal thing I know… It was the first thing the caveman made when he learned roasted meat is tastier than raw one. This time I grilled it the simplest way, and I want to share with you my four essential rules for a great steak!

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Prosciutto wrapped baby grouper – grilling fish made easy!

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Grilling a fish really doesn’t have to be a rocket science. Here’s one of the simplest ways to grill a fish I know, producing an extremely succulent fish with great smoky aroma and flavour. Initially, I tried it on a river trout, but this time – it’s a baby grouper, one of the most noble fish of the Mediterranean.

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