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    Chicken Vegetable Kebabs

    October 17, 2018

    chicken and vegetable kebabs on a plate with sliced onions and chili.

    You will make these juicy chicken and vegetable kababs every week once you try it! They are low-carb, packed with flavor, and nutrient dense! On top of that, they come together fairly quickly and are freezer friendly. Bring on the grill!

    chicken and vegetable kebabs on a plate with sliced onions and chili.

    So me and my husband have phases where we go from total health nuts to absolute Junk food addicts. Lately, we’ve found a balance where we try to have at least one nutritional meal a day (minus holidays ofcourse). These kebabs or kabobs are my go to for most of those meals.

    I loveeeee recipes that freeze. These kebabs work beautifully when frozen, just like my chicken cheddar kababs or the delicious Asian Meatballs. You save time and meal prep at the same time.

    Bonus: These kabobs or kababs are super versatile. Go in with whatever veggies you like and pair it with literally anything you want! (more ideas laters)

    [feast_advanced_jump_to]

    Ingredients

    Here are a couple of pointers and notes about the ingredients.

    chicken and vegetable kebab ingredients laid on the counter.
    • Ground chicken – There is no restriction as to what part of the chicken you need for this recipe. You can buy boneless chicken and process it at home or buy pre-ground chicken. Everything works.
    • Spices and Seasoning – The spices are a little heavy in this recipe simply to season all the bland veggies and oats. There is black and white pepper, cumin, crush red chili, garlic, and ginger.
    • Vegetables – Here’s the fun part. This recipe has no prerequisite of which veggies you need. Use this as an opportunity to clean your fridge. I went with carrots, onion, bellpepper, and coriander (as the herb)
    • Binding – These kabobs have a higher moisture content which makes managing them a little tricky. Adding eggs and bread crumbs helps with that and gives a nice subtle flavor.
    • Oats – I love adding oats to this recipe for the added nutrition boost. They don’t alter the taste but you’ll require a little more salt. Its optional either ways.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities

    Method

    You literally have to just mix all the ingredients and let it rest for 5 to 10 mins! That’s all there is to preparing these kebabs! Here’s a pictorial I made for you.

    vegetables in a food processor.

    Step 1: Put all the assorted vegetables and herbs in a food processor.

    processed vegetables in the food processor.

    Step 2: Process the vegetables until finely chopped.

    chicken mince, egg, spices, and vegetables in a bowl, unmixed.

    Step 3: In a bowl add the vegetables, chicken mince, egg, spices, oats and bread crumbs.

    chicken kebab mixture ready in the bowl.

    Step 4: Mix everything thoroughly to make a uniform kabab mixture. Allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes on the counter.

    a spoon dropping heaps of kebab portions on a plate.

    Step 5: Use a tablespoon to portion out kababs onto a plate.

    rough kebab portions ready on a plate.

    Step 6: Grease your hands with oil and flatten the kabobs in the palms of your hand and press into patties.

    flattened kabobs on a grill pan.

    Step 7: Directly put the patties onto a hot grill pan greased with oil.

    grilled and charred kebab ready.

    Step 8: Grill for 3 minutes on each side until you get golden brown edges.

    chicken and vegetable kebabs served on a platter with onions and chili.

    Expert Tips

    • Always do a taste test before grilling up all the kebabs. Make a small bite sized kebab and grill it. Adjust seasoning and spices accordingly.
    • Tomatoes tend to become mushy in a chopper, hence avoid putting them in. Instead, opt for chopping them by a knife. 
    • Resting the kababs for 5 to 10 minutes gives the bread crumbs enough time to absorb moisture. Do not skip this step! You can leave it for longer in the fridge if you aren’t planning to make the kababs right away.

    Pairing Suggestions

    • Make burgers out of them!
    • Pair it with good ‘ol Daal chawal (lentil and rice) and pickled onions
    • Make wraps or rolls out of it with the sauce of your liking.
    • Serve with pulao rice and yogurt.
    • Have it with a side salad to keep it low-carb.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    I shared this recipe back in ’23 for the first time on IG and tiktok. Here are a couple of questions some of you had.

    How do I freeze these kababs?

    Some of my friends freeze these kebabs raw, and it works just fine. But I prefer half-cooked kebabs for the freezer. Grill the kebabs like you normally would but only for a minute on each side before the kebab starts to get its characteristic golden brown edges. This half-cook method will seal the juices in the patties. This way, the kebabs end up retaining their shape, moisture and taste much better than their raw counterparts. Allow them to cool down, pop them in a ziplock bag and freeze. Whenever you want to eat them, thaw them in the microwave for 30 seconds and grill as usual.half cooked chicken kabobs stacked on a plate.

    Can I add any other vegetables to this

    Absolutely! Add any vegetable of your choice. If you’d like to add tomatoes, chop them by hand rather than using the chopper to prevent them from getting mushy.

    Do they work as a burger patty?

    OMG soooo much! I make these kebabs slightly smaller and make mini sliders with them. Cheese, a good burger sauce, and cheese, such a great burger!

    Can I make this recipe without the vegetables?

    Ok I was surprised to see this question but yes, in theory you can make it without the vegetables, however the spice ratio will be off. Reduce the spices by half if you wish to skip the vegetables.

    More Low-Carb Nutritious recipes

    • grilled bihari chicken tikka on a tray.
      Bihari Chicken Tikka
    • croquettes served on a platter.
      Crispy Chicken Vegetable Croquettes
    • closeup view of grilled mutton chops.
      Mutton Chaap Fry – Spicy Goat Ribs
    • Lahori Chargha Recipe

    Do you have any questions? I’m happy to help! And of course, If you try this recipe, I’d loveeeee to see it or simply hear about it! Hit me up in the comment section below and I’ll get back to asap! Happy Cooking!

    chicken and vegetable kebabs on a plate with sliced onions and chili.

    Chicken Vegetable Kebabs

    These are low-carb kebabs, made with chicken, aromatic Pakistani spices, oats and vegetables. Nutrient dense and packed with flavor. Grill on a pan or freeze in a bag.
    4.93 from 13 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Additional Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 kebabs
    Calories: 60kcal
    Author: Wajiha

    Equipment

    1 chopper

    Ingredients

    • 400 gm chicken mince
    • 2 tbsp rolled oats
    • 2 tbsp bread crumbs
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
    • 1 tsp cumin seeds or zeera
    • 2 tsp crushed red chilli
    • 1 tsp salt or to taste
    • 1 tsp white pepper
    • 1 whole bell pepper chopped
    • 1 big onion chopped
    • 1 medium carrot chopped
    • 1 handful coriander leaves
    • 1 or 2 stalks green onions
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • 1 inch piece of ginger
    • 1 large egg
    • Oil for frying

    Instructions

    • Start by adding carrot, bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger in a chopper and chop coarsely.
    • In a bowl, add minced chicken, oats, chopped vegetables, spices, seasonings, egg and bread crumbs.
    • Mix all the ingredients and cover it. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Drop heaped tablespoons of the mixture onto plate or a tray to make patty portions.
    • Heat up the grill pan at medium heat with oil in it.
    • Grease the palms of your hands with oil and use it to flatten the kabab portions into flat patties.
    • Drop the kebab patties in the grill pan. Grill for 3 minutes and flip. Grill until golden and remove.
    • Serve hot with chutney or sliders on the side.

    Notes

    • Always do a taste test before grilling up all the kebabs. Make a small bite sized kebab and grill it. Adjust seasoning and spices accordinly.
    • Tomatoes tend to become mushy in a chopper, hence avoid putting them in. Instead, opt for chopping them by a knife. 
    • Resting the kababs for 5 to 10 minutes gived the bread crumbs enough time to absorb moisture. Do not skip this step! You can leave it for longer in the fridge if you aren’t planning to make the kababs right away.
    • To freeze the kababs, grill the kebabs like you normally would, but only for a minute on each side before the kebab starts to get its characteristic golden brown edges. This half-cooked method will seal the juices in the patties. Allow them to cool down, pop them in a ziplock bag, and freeze. Whenever you want to eat them, simply thaw them in the microwave for 30 seconds and grill as usual.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingsCalories: 60kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 116mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 65IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.3mg
    Can’t wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae

    Easy Creamy Vegetable Sandwich Recipe

    October 10, 2018

    vegetable sandwiches assembled and served.

    Ok, hear me out, Sandwich, but no egg or meat! Enters Creamy Vegetable Sandwich. Made with crisp, colorful vegetables and a rich, velvety cream sauce, this sandwich is everything you want in a meat-free snack. Whether you’re pulling it together for a lazy weekend brunch, a last-minute gathering, or an afternoon high tea, it comes together in under 15 minutes with ingredients you likely already have on hand.

    vegetable sandwiches assembled and served.

    These are my favorites to serve in iftars and high tea potlucks. They are right on top with vegetable skewers and spicy batata harras when I am in the mood for something non-meaty.

    [feast_advanced_jump_to]

    Ingredients

    Bruh, the ingredients are super basic! Here are some notes on the things you’ll need:

    ingredients for sandwiches labelled.
    • Vegetables – Think Crunch! I’ve used bell peppers, cabbage, iceberg lettuce, carrots, and spring onions. Feel free to add or subtract from this veggie combo.
    • Buns/Bread – Use regular loaf bread, dinner rolls, or a baguette! Really, anything you have at home works!
    • Seasoning – Simple seasoning, salt, pepper, and vinegar
    • Mayo – I am using regular mayo, but if you are on a health trip, you can make fermented mayo at home too!
    • Fresh Cream – We get fresh cream very easily over here in the Middle East. It’s thick and textured like table cream. If you are unable to get your hands on any thick cream, use Greek yogurt instead.
    • Feta Cheese – I love the taste of Feta in these sandwiches, but feel free to use any soft white cheese of your liking

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities

    Instructions

    Here’s a simple pictorial for the easiest sandwiches ever:

    Sweating the vegetables.

    Step 1: Chop all the vegetables and sprinkle 2-3 pinches of salt all over them.

      Mix vegetables and set aside.

      Step 2: Toss the vegetables and allow them to sweat for 10 to 15 minutes.

        NOTE: DO NOT SKIP the sweating step! Sweating helps draw out all the moisture from the produce. This will prevent a watery mix and make perfect sandwiches.

        water leached from vegetbales

        Step 3: Drain all the water from the vegetables.

          mixing the seasonings, cheese, mayo and cream together.

          Step 4: Mix the seasonings, mayo, cream, and feta to create a smooth sauce.

            add prepared sauce to the vegetables.

            Step 5: Add the sauce to the vegetables and toss until everything is evenly coated.

              add filling to the bread.

              Step 6: Add the filling to your favorite style of bread and serve.

                Expert Tips

                • Ideally, use fresh vegetables for any salads or sandwiches. This way, you get maximum CRUNCH, and your assembled sandwich mix can also survive in the fridge for a few days longer without spoiling.
                • And of course, fresh bread! This is a cold sandwich and doesn’t require toasting, so you’ll need to have fresh bread for best results.
                • Add salt later, after a taste test, because most feta is already heavily salted.
                • To avoid the bread from getting soggy, you can lightly spread a layer of butter or cheese spread on the inside of the bread or bun, which will act as a water seal.
                one sandwich shown up close.

                Substitutions

                If it were up to me, I would TOTALLY state this as a healthy recipe because you know veggies! But I can’t give opinions as facts apparently (eye roll). But hey, you could always make the following substitutions and make this recipe “lite”:

                • Mayonnaise – More fresh low-fat cream, or Greek yogurt, or homemade fresh fermented Mayonnaise.
                • Sugar – With natural sweeteners like Maple syrup or Honey, or artificial sweeteners like stevia.
                • White bread – Multi-grain bread or sourdough bread

                Variations

                This recipe is a “make it your own way” all the way! Feel free to add any vegetables or sauces you fancy. Here are some that complement the flavors:

                • Tomatoes
                • Pickles
                • Cucumbers
                • Hot Sauce (especially Sriracha)
                • Crispy Potatoes
                • Boiled Eggs
                • My desi ass also put this filling in a pita bread bcoz yum!!
                vegetable sandwiches assembled and served.

                Frequently Asked Questions

                Can I make this sandwich ahead of time?

                Yes! You can prepare the sandwich filling even a day before its needed. And you can assemble the sandwiches 4 to 5 hours before serving. Just cover and keep and let them sit in the fridge for that time frame.

                How long do the assembled sandwiches last?

                Once assembled, the sandwiches can last upto a day in the fridge.

                Can I add shredded chicken to this?

                Go ahead! Add shredded boiled chicken to the sandwich; it tastes really good.

                More Vegetarian Recipes

                I have a ton of Vegetarian recipes on my blog. Here are some you will like:

                • Best Chicken Tikka sandwich recipe for your Next High tea
                  Best Chicken Tikka sandwich recipe for your Next High tea
                • Asian Style Bruschetta Dip
                • 5 pieces of potato bread snack squares or gold coins in a black tray with ketchup on the side and mayo on the bottom of the picture
                  Gold-coin Recipe with less oil (Potato and bread snacks)
                • a half bun kebab being dipped into the green chutney with sliced onions on side, and 2 full bunkebabs in the background
                  Street style Bun Kebab

                Do you have any questions? I’m happy to help! And of course, If you try this recipe, I’d loveeeee to see it or simply hear about it! Hit me up in the comment section below and I’ll get back to asap! Happy Cooking!

                vegetable sandwiches assembled and served.

                Creamy Vegetable Sandwich

                An easy combination of cabbage, mayo and bread makes a delectable evening snack
                5 from 2 votes
                Print Pin
                Course: Appetizer
                Cuisine: American, Fusion Food
                Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
                Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
                Servings: 4 servings
                Calories: 141kcal
                Author: Wajiha

                Ingredients

                • 1 medium bell pepper
                • 1 cup shredded cabbage
                • 1 cup chopped iceberg lettuce
                • 1 tbsp heaped fresh cream
                • 1 tbsp Mayonnaise
                • 1/2 cup spring onions
                • 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
                • 2 tbsp feta cheese
                • 2 tsp sugar
                • 1 tsp black pepper powder
                • 2 tsp vinegar
                • 4 whole bread slices brown or white of choice

                Instructions

                • Shred all the vegetables and add them to a bowl. Sprinkle salt on them to let them sweat. Toss the veggies in salt and set them aside for 10 minutes.
                • Squeeze the vegetables and discard all the liquid that accumulates in the bowl.
                • In a smaller bowl, mix salt, pepper, vinegar, feta cheese, cream and mayo. Whisk together until you get a smooth mix.
                • Pour the sauce onto the vegetables and mix well. Your sandwich filling is ready.
                • Spread the inside of a bread slice with butter or cream cheese and add the vegetable filling. Serve cold.

                Notes

                • Use fresh vegetables and bread for the perfect sandwich
                • Do NOT skip the step to sweat your vegetables; you’ll end up with soggy sandwiches. 
                • Your vegetable filling can stay in the fridge for upto 48 hours.
                • Once the sandwiches are assembled, you can still keep them in the fridge for a day.
                • You can pre-assemble the sandwiches 4- 5 hours before serving
                • Some variations you can add to the sandwiches are: cucumbers, pickles, boiled eggs, shredded chicken, and celery. 
                • FETA cheese is already seasoned well; taste the filling before adding any extra salt. 

                Nutrition

                Serving: 1servingsCalories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 311mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg
                Can’t wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae

                Salted Caramel Tiramisu

                October 3, 2018

                Salted Caramel Tiramisu sliced and served.

                This Salted Caramel Tiramisu is a rich twist on the Italian classic—layers of espresso-soaked biscuits, fluffy caramel cream, and ribbons of salted caramel. Sweet, salty, and perfectly balanced. It’s easy to make, even better overnight, and doesn’t require mascarpone or ricotta. After many trials, this one hits just right! And of course, it is alcohol free.

                Salted Caramel Tiramisu sliced and served.

                If coffee and chocolate are your vibes, don’t miss my Whipped Mocha Latte—it’s perfect for an easy at-home treat. And the No-Bake Chocolate Oats Bars! They are rich, chocolatey, and require zero oven time like Tiramisu.

                [feast_advanced_jump_to]

                Ingredients and Substitutes

                Here are a couple of pointers and notes about the ingredients.

                ingredients for caramel tiramisu.
                • Creme Caramel Mix – Use any instant pudding or creme caramel mix that you like. We will use the caramel and the syrup topping from the packet.
                • Ladyfingers – Savoiardi brand can be found in the cookie aisle at your local grocery store or online.
                • Heavy whipping cream – Use chilled whipping cream to create an airy and stable whipped cream.
                • Sugar – This dessert is generally well-balanced, and I only add a small amount of sugar to enhance the sweetness. However, if you’re using a heavy-handed approach with the caramel sauce, you can skip it altogether.
                • Instant coffee – For ease, I am using instant coffee to make my espresso, but by all means, use any version of espresso you like.
                • Caramel Sauce – Thin consistency, store-bought or homemade. If your sauce is thick, simply add water to dilute it.
                • Salt – Adds the saltiness and balances all the flavors. If you have salted caramel at hand, then you don’t need salt separately.

                See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities

                Instructions

                I’ve put together all the steps in a simple pictorial for you to see how easy this is to make.

                fluffy whipping cream in a bowl.

                Step 1: Whip the heavy cream in a large bowl until soft peaks are formed.

                creme caramel mix added to whipped cream in a bowl.

                Step 2: Add Creme Caramel mix and sugar.

                smooth caramel cream ready.

                Step 3: Beat in the Creme caramel mix to create a smooth creme mix. Set aside.

                espresso in a shallow bowl.

                Step 4: Make the espresso by dissolving the coffee and caramel syrup topping from the caramel packet in water.

                soaked lady fingers lined in a serving tray.

                Step 5: Dip the lady fingers in espresso and line them on the serving tray of your choice.

                dollops of caramel cream being added to the lady fingers.

                Step 6: Add half of the caramel cream and smooth it out.

                a layer of salted caramel on the dessert.

                Step 7: Top with a layer of caramel sauce and a pinch of salt.

                another layer of soaked lady fingers added to the tiramisu.

                Step 8: Repeat the lady finger layer.

                serving dish filled to the brim with caramel cream.

                Step 9: Add the remaining caramel creme and smooth it out.

                caramel being drizzled on the tiramisu dish.

                Step 10: Drizzle caramel sauce all over the top and sprinkle rock salt all over.

                SUGGESTION: This dessert is even better the next day, when the flavors have developed, and the textures have set.

                chilled and assembled tiramisu shown in a see through container.

                Top Tips

                • Always use a shallow bowl for dunking the lady fingers. Dip and remove. Don’t let them sit in the coffee, or else they get soggy.
                • If you like the taste of unsweetened coffee, you can skip adding the caramel syrup topping to the espresso.
                • Pop your mixing bowl in the freezer for a few minutes—cold bowls make it much easier to get perfectly stiff whipped cream.
                • If you are using homemade salted caramel, it might be too thick to spread out like shown in the pictures. For a runnier consistency, just add your thick caramel to some warm water and mix it out.

                Variations

                You can use this recipe as a template to create other fun Tiramisu versions. Just substitute other delicious sauces instead of Salted Caramel. Here are a couple of ideas that complement coffee and creme caramel filling:

                • Use sponge cake instead of lady fingers to make a cake version.
                • You can add layers of chopped nuts to add a crunch.
                • Use Chocolate and peanut butter sauce and sprinkle chopped peanuts to add crunch.
                • Use strawberry syrup and fresh strawberries to make a Berrymisu.
                • The popular pistachio paste and cocoa powder go beautifully with the coffee, too.
                Salted Caramel Tiramisu sliced and served.

                Frequently Asked Questions

                Can I freeze the Tiramisu to have later?

                Absolutely! This recipe is freezable for over a month. When you want to have the tiramisu, thaw it in the fridge for a couple of hours, and it will be soft and ready to indulge.

                How long can the Tiramisu stay in the fridge?

                It is best eaten within 5 to 6 days. IF you think you’ll want it after a week, best to freeze it.

                Can I make this recipe without ladyfingers?

                Yes! You can use a sponge cake or even brioche bread to make this recipe. Obviously, it’ll be even further from the Classic Tiramisu, but hey, it’ll be a banging dessert!

                More Dessert and Coffee Recipes

                You’re gonna love these simple make-ahead desserts!

                • pakistani whipped mocha latte in glass mug
                  Pakistani Whipped Mocha Latte
                • a log of lotus ice cream cake
                  Easy to make Lotus Biscoff Ice cream cake
                • No bake chocolate and Peanut butter bars
                • nobake blueberry cheesecake slices.
                  Easy no-bake Blueberry Cheesecake

                Do you have any questions? I’m happy to help! And of course, If you try this recipe, I’d loveeeee to see it or simply hear about it! Hit me up in the comment section below and I’ll get back to asap! Happy Cooking!

                Salted Caramel Tiramisu sliced and served.

                Salted Caramel Tiramisu

                The Caramel Tiramisu is a delicious spin-off of the Classic Italian Tiramisu. It has the deliciousness of caramel, salt and coffee, perfectly balanced to give you the ultimate indulgence.
                5 from 2 votes
                Print Pin
                Course: Desserts
                Cuisine: Continental
                Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
                Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
                Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
                Servings: 10 servings
                Calories: 210kcal
                Author: Wajiha

                Ingredients

                • 2 packets Vanilla Caramel mix Creme Caramel or Instant Pudding
                • 1 packet Lady fingers Savoiardi brand can be found in the cookie aisle at your local grocery store, or online
                • 2 cup heavy whipping cream chilled
                • 1/4 cup sugar optional
                • 2 tablespoon instant coffee
                • 1/2 cup Caramel Sauce Thin consistency, store brought or homemade
                • a pinch rock salt

                Instructions

                • Add whipping cream to a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed with an electric mixer (or use a stand mixer)  for 3 to 4 minutes or until it becomes soft and fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla caramel mix and beat until you get a smooth mix. Set aside.
                • In a shallow bowl, add coffee, water, and the caramel topping packet from the vanilla caramel box. Stir until the caramel fully dissolves.
                • Dip the lady fingers in the coffee. Don't soak them, quickly dip them on both sides to get them wet, and lay them in a single layer on the bottom of an 8×8'' or a loaf style dish.
                • Top the lady fingers with half of the caramel cream and smooth it out.
                • Drizzle 2 to 4 tablespoons of caramel sauce all over the cream and sprinkle a pinch of salt.
                • Add another layer of coffee dipped lady fingers and cover with the remaining caramel cream.
                • Smooth the top out and drizzle caramel sauce all over the cream and sprinkle a pinch of salt.
                • Refrigerate overnight or 24 hours to get a completely set dessert. 

                Notes

                • Chill the mixing bowl for a few minutes before whipping; cold bowls help cream reach stiff peaks faster.
                • I only add a small amount of sugar to enhance the sweetness. If you’re using a heavy-handed approach with the caramel sauce, you can skip the sugar.
                • If you like the taste of unsweetened coffee, you can skip adding the caramel syrup topping to the espresso.
                • Ideally, allow the dessert to chill overnight for the best results. 
                • This Tiramisu can be frozen for up to a month. To consume, thaw in the fridge for a couple of hours. 

                Nutrition

                Serving: 1servingCalories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 53mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 0.002gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 710IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 0.1mg
                Can’t wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae

                Independence Day Special

                August 13, 2018

                 

                G&G Interview Series 

                4 BLOGGER RECIPES YOU HAVE TO TRY TODAY!

                 

                JASHN-E-AZAADI MUBARAK! TO all my fellow Pakistani peeps living in and outside of our home country! I initially thought I would do a huge patriotic post to honor the birth of our country and talk about how my heart will always bleed green.

                But instead, I thought today would be a good day to spread some holiday cheer and connect with fellow Pakistanis! Continuing our blogger interview series, I’ve hand-picked these AMAZING Pakistani bloggers for you who are bringing their best recipes from their kitchen and sharing their thoughts with you.

                Without further ado lets find out what deliciousness these bloggers have picked for us, how they manage hosting at home and what patriotic wishes they have for us

                 

                A. RAIYA – BLOGGER AT RaiyaWrites.

                First up we have this literary genius who has a sword for a pen and she picked her Balochi Gosht recipe for us today.

                Click here for the Recipe Link of Balochi Gosht

                1. Tell us a little about the woman behind  “Raiya Writes”
                I am an electronics engineer by profession (I work for the aviation industry) and a writer by passion. I have been writing since teenage. I started with children’s magazines and moved on to freelance writing for newspapers, websites and magazines. In 2015, I had my baby and I couldn’t get time for writing with a full time job and baby. That’s when I started my blog to stop my pen from getting rusty. I couldn’t write for newspapers or magazines anymore as it requires intensive editing and I don’t have the time. However I can create a blog post anywhere( on my office commute, in the kitchen while waiting for the meat to go tender, while sitting on a bench as my baby plays in the park) I can just type and hit post. This was the only reason, however, the content is now geared more towards lifestyle and women empowerment.

                2. Do you cook anything special on the 14th of August? If so, what do you make?
                Not specifically 14th August but I make something special every off day because during the week, I am super busy so I can’t make difficult or time consuming meals (For weekdays, I have a list of easy quick meals) but on every off day I try to give my family the 3 if not 5 star experience *lol*.

                3. Why have you chosen this particular recipe for our readers? What’s the back-story?
                I didn’t know how to cook before marriage (learnt everything from my mother in law) but in my jahez suitcase I had asked ammi to put lots of Masala magazines ( the ones from the Masala TV channel). This recipe is from one of those magazines and is a susraali favourite now. I only post those recipes on my blog which I have made 4 or 5 times and they have turned out great every single time and my husband and my guests in the dawat at my place loved them . This is one of those recipes. 

                4. What tricks and tips do you use when you are hosting a Dawat (Dinner) at your place? 

                Tip number one
                1. I make a dish of every item like one meat dish, one chicken dish, one fish, one keema, one sabzi etc so there is something for everyone and no one leaves hungry

                Tip number two
                2. Secondly to make so many items, for dawats I usually choose recipes that require just marination and cooking (and not much bhoonafying) so that I can marinate them the day before and just have to cook on dawats.
                All tips are taught by my super amazing mother in law. I really couldn’t have come this far in cooking without her help and support. 

                5. Any Jashn-e-Azaadi wishes for our readers?

                Pakistanis are super talented and gifted. We all are just waiting for the right leader and direction. I hope this time our chosen leader delivers what he has promised because we have been let down so many times that many people have left all hope of Pakistan’s revival and have become cynics. I hope Imran Khan is able to change all that and can make Pakistan win its first political world cup. Pakistan Zindabad!

                 

                Wow thankyou Raiya, That balochi gosht looks oh-so-good. Guys, you have to try it! Im definitely bookmarking this for the weekend.

                If you guys love indulging in well-penned scriptures andwomen empowerment, check out Raiya’s links below

                BLOG         FACEBOOK         TWITTER         INSTAGRAM         LINKEDiN


                 

                B. Aasia – CHEF & BLOGGER at AasiaRiz

                Next up we have a professional chef! Her youtube channel and blog is filled with mouth-watering recipes, infact I think I might try my hand at a few of them. She has chosen Chocolate Lava Cake for you guys. Ok, Iam legit drooling over here!

                Click here for the recipe link of chocolate lava cake.

                1. Tell us a little about the woman behind your blog

                Hello, I am Aasia Rizwan ‘chef’, food photographer’, short film maker’, and host. And I am not going to stop anywhere because I believe we have only one life and so much to do so don’t waste time on thinking or complaining. Just do it.

                2. Do you cook anything special on the 14th of August? If so, what do you make?

                I make desi food on 14th specially dessert. Biryani and Firni is must in our dinner.

                3. Why have you chosen this particular recipe for our readers? What’s the back-story?

                I have chosen chocolate lava cake recipe for you because this is the starting point of my success. I was under training of becoming a Chef. In class test I was failed in making this lava cake but I never wanted to fail in final exam so I kept practicing and in final practical I was on top of my class, so it always reminds me to never quit, I can fix it.

                4. What tricks and tips do you use when you are hosting a Dawat (Dinner) at your place? 

                Whenever I host a Dawat on my place people expect ” Biryani” in main course. So I have to make Biryani every time. I make special salads and desserts for dawats means if your start and ending is good people will remember your dawat for ever.

                5. Any Jashn-e-Azaadi wishes for our readers?

                I so want to show a positive image of Pakistan to promote tourism and food industry.
                We are proud to be Pakistani lets try to make Pakistan to be proud on us.

                You guys can follow Aasia and also check out more recipe videos on the links below

                YOUTUBE           BLOG          INSTAGRAM          FACEBOOK

                 


                 

                C. Wafa ن – INSTAGRAMMER at An Alluring Puzzle

                And you all must remember the pen wizard Wafa ن from last week. She gave us some very insightful tips and wrote an exclusive recipe for us!

                Check out her answers and the recipe of this Meat and Vegetable Spaghetti here

                We did Catch up with Wafa ن to throw some patriotic wishes our way!

                Wafa what do you want to tell our readers on this Independence Day

                I just wanna suggest one thing. Try to just adapt one good habit and focus on maintaining that through out the year, till the next Independence day. For example. Cleanliness.
                Make sure you keep clean your institutes, parks, beaches, don’t throw garbage everywhere.

                One year is enough to develop any good habit and become addicted to that good deed, next year you’ll add another good habit, follow it and repeat. Slowly and gradually you’ll start to follow many good habits, that will eventually make a difference.

                Thankyou so much Wafa ن! You are the man! Wafa ن writes amazing pieces over at her gram. Check it out on your way down this post.

                    Wafa ن’s Instagram 


                D. FARAH – BLOGGER AT Through My eyes and heart

                And last but definitely not the least, we have the vivacious Farah, who writes just as good as she cooks! She has chosen her recipe of Spicy Fried Mutton for us today!

                Click here for the recipe of Spicy Fried Mutton By Farah

                1. Tell us a little about the woman behind your blog

                This is Farah, I blog at “Through My Eyes”. It has not been a long time that I started it. I write about parenting hacks that can benefit a lot of moms or moms-to-be. Being a foodie I share yummilicous recipes on my blog every now and then and review some beauty products which I myself have tried and loved.

                I live in Jeddah and living an expat life sometimes really gets on my nerves so when I started blogging I really met some cool people.

                2. Do you cook anything special on the 14th of August? If so, what do you make?

                I haven’t cooked anything special since last 2 years but this time I have planned to bake some cup cakes *fingers crossed* ????

                3. Why have you chosen this particular recipe for our readers? What’s the back-story?

                I chose this recipe because Eid al-Adha is around the corner so people actually look for yummy meat recipes and I thought it might turn out to be helpful.

                4. What tricks and tips do you use when you are hosting a Dawat (Dinner) at your place?
                • I stick to the recipes which I have already tried, I don’t go with some new recipe experiment while hosting a party because you never know how it will turn out. So stick to the dishes you are pro at.
                • I take the time to set a proper table. Instead of going with paper or plastic plates I work with what I have got in a fun and creative way.
                5. Any Jashn-e-Azaadi wishes for our readers?

                I wish that we Pakistanis become more responsible with respect to our duties and not always blaming everything on the government. Help the government by paying your taxes on time, by not accepting any kind of bribe and not violating the traffic rules. 

                 

                Loved Chatting with you Farah. You guys can follow and check out more posts from Farah right below

                      Facebook 

                 


                 

                PHEW! THAT TAKES CARE OF BARI EID

                Ya! You read that right! I gave you 3 meat dishes and 1 dessert for 14th Aug, right before Eid approaches. See what I did there? Ya you probably did! Although I didn’t actually come up with any of these, but hey I compiled it for you 😀 So consider that my contribution to your Eid tables! Happy Advance Eid Mubarak to all the muslimah and Jashn-e-Azaadi Mubarak to all of you Pakis out there!

                 

                Oh, and also let me know what you thought about this posts, or if you tried any of these recipes or just say Hi! in the comments below! Have a glitterrific day ya’all (This word is slowly building up on me)

                 

                4 must try recipes

                 

                G&G Interview Series

                August 9, 2018

                BLOGGER MEETS GRAMMER

                Hello Beauuuuuutiful People!

                How are you holding up this Summer? Frankly I am melting in the heat, I only have Ice cold lemonades and frozen fruit Popsicles to keep me company. SERIOUSLY! Stay hydrated folks!

                So I’ve got a little surprise posts ahead for you guys and this will be the first in the series! Welcome to G&G Interview Series! (yayyyyy) Also, grammar Nazis, the “grammer”in the heading is for an instagrammer so hold your horses!

                We are gonna go into some random talks with bloggers from around the world and extract their favorite recipes for you guys! This month I’ve decided to awaken that patriotic bone in my body which apparently tends to only appear in August! I know I know! Guilty one-month-patriot sighted, I’m working on improving it.   So, anyhow…today we are gonna talk to a new instagrammer on the block and find out what she wants to share with us today.  Without further ado, I bring to you Ms. Wafa ن from the “An Alluring Puzzle” gram page. *applause*  *finds notebook and fires away*!

                FINDING ABOUT THE GRAMMER

                Q1. Hey Wafa ن. *waves*. So, tell us a little bit about the woman behind An Alluring Puzzle.

                A. I’m an ordinary female, that recently did her M.Sc. in Human Development and Family Studies.

                Q2. Tell us a little about your instagram page. 

                I’m not a professional writer or poet but people around me often like and appreciate me on my write ups so thought to share it with the world. Photography is my passion. I wanted to showcase my captures on my blog. And also I wanted to share all the tips, suggestions with others that ever benefited me.

                Q3. How did you start gramming?

                One word….. I used to call myself “exceptional” case and my friends started to call me mis exceptional. 
                Because I loved to see and do things differently. I was too energetic and dreamer. Wanted to do a lot of things. Parhne likhne ka, nai cheezen try krne ka hmesha se bohut shoq raha hai, (I always had a passion for studying and trying new things), entrepreneurship was my obsession, still it is, but could not become one. but I keep my fingers crossed, you never know about the future.

                Right now I am unable to give any intro about myself, I am an ordinary female. Jo k bohut curious hai, usey prhne likhne ka bohut shoq hai, lehaza jo cheezen wo seekhti, parhti hai, usey apne blog me share krne ka irada hai (Iam very curious, so whatever I learn along the way I want to share it on my blog)

                Q4. What recipe have you chosen to share with our readers today? 

                A. Minced Meat and Vegetable Spaghetti. I personally really like Pastas/Spaghetti. This is one of those  recipes that are not only cooked in little time but also nutritious and healthy. 

                Q5. Are there any special tricks or tips you use when you are hosting Dinner at your place?

                A. Time management is the key. 
                B-Dishes that take a lot of time or efforts, we try to complete half of the tasks one day before dawat. For ex. Biryani, make its qorma one night before the dawat day. And next day you would only need to boil the rice and put them to cook. (dam)


                THAT’S WAFA ن

                Thank you so much Wafa for that lovely chat, it is always great to see some one new on the horizon voicing their opinion. If you haven’t already checked it out, click here to Check out Wafa’s Instagram account.

                And now for the Finale, we bring you Wafa ن ‘s very own recipe that she so sweetly composed just for us. Scroll down for her Spaghetti recipe you guys!


                MEAT AND VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI

                MEAT AND VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI

                A South Asian flavor twist on the very popular meat and spaghetti.
                5 from 1 vote
                Print Pin
                Cuisine: Fusion Food
                Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
                Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
                Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
                Servings: 4 servings
                Author: Wajiha

                Ingredients

                For minced meat

                • 1/2 kg Minced Meat.
                • 1 1/2 tsp Ginger & Garlic paste
                • 2 medium size Carrots
                • 2 medium size Bell pepper/capsicum
                • 1 1/2 tsp Salt - 1 & half tsp or according to taste
                • 2 tsp Red chilli powder or according to taste
                • 1 1/2 tsp Turmeric
                • 3-4 whole Green Chilies
                • 2 medium Onions
                • 3 medium Tomatoes
                • 1 1/2 tsp Ground spices/Garam masala
                • 1/2 tsp Coriander seeds roasted & crushed
                • 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds roasted & crushed
                • 1/2 cup Ghee / Oil - half cup or as needed
                • Water - as needed to boil minced meat

                INGREDIENTS FOR SPAGHETTI

                • 1 packet Spaghetti Noodles
                • 1/4 cup Red Chilli Sauce or according to taste
                • 1 1/2 tsbp Soy Sauce or according to taste
                • 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
                • 4 tbsp ketchup spicy/simple- according to taste
                • 1/2 tbsp Salt or according to taste
                • Water - as required to boil the spaghetti.

                Instructions

                METHOD FOR MEAT AND VEGGIE PREP

                • Take a utensil, put as much water as it requires to dip the minced meat.
                • Combine minced meat, ginger & garlic paste, salt,red chilli powder, turmeric & ghee/oil & put the utensil on fire.
                • Then add sliced onions and tomatoes and let them be cooked until water dries out and leaves ghee/oil
                • Then bhoonify/cook it for few mints, until it changes the colour.
                •  Add green chillies.
                • Then add (roasted & crushed) coriander & cumin powder and ground spices/garam masala powder.
                • Add vegetables. Cook them for two/three mints & mix all the ingredients well.
                • Tip: If you don’t like dry minced meat, don’t let all the water dry out. Keep it according to your desire.

                METHOD FOR PREPARING SPAGHETTI

                • Take a large sauce pan , put water, apple cider vinegar , salt , boil and strain the spaghettis.
                •  Now add spaghtti noodles to the minced meat, add red chilli sauce, soy sauce and ketch up.
                •  Mix them well.
                • Voila! Your minced meat & vegetable spaghetti recipe is ready.
                • Tip: If you like too spicy, put chilli garlic ketchup instead of simple ketchup & put more cut green chillies.
                Can't wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae

                HUNGRY FOR MORE?

                Stay tuned for more recipes and other dining 101s, in the meantime check out other posts on the blog below. I’ll take your leave and hope you all have a Glitterrific day!

                Mac n Cheese Fry Recipe

                August 3, 2018

                mac n cheese fry recipe

                Some foods have no geographical boundaries, age limitations or cultural restrictions. Mac n cheese is one of those kinda foods. It certainly IS a comfort food for many, including me, and an easy whip up for dinner or lunch when you are out of ideas.

                Today, is about revamping the cult classic Main course dish into an awesome Side dish, the Mac n cheese fry!

                mac n cheese fry recipe

                We are gonna take the essence of a good mac n cheese and turn it into an amazeballs (yeah i said that) side dish for your next luncheon. These are balls of a more sturdier macaroni mixture which is coated in a crumb coat and deep fried or baked. They go perfectly well with all popular dips and sauces and work beautifully to make your food spread more elaborate and delicious. Similarly, I’ve also served them for a brunch and they were quite the hit!

                Bonus feature: You probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry to prep these bad boys! Let me walk you through the recipe, follow me…

                What will you need?

                mac n cheese fry ingredients

                 Answer? Very basic house-hold ingredients that you can see here. This recipe calls for adding 2 cups of minced meat. I usually have a bit of pre-boiled meat in my freezer at all times which I used here. ( Cooked by boiling in garlic, ginger, black pepper, salt, water and green chilies paste). I used ditalini pasta, but you can use any pasta available, just make sure they are smaller in size which will make them easier to manage.

                GETTING STARTED

                We start by heating a little oil in a sauce pan, and add our garlic ginger paste, macaroni, minced meat, capsicum and sauteing it all together at medium to high heat. Then we add all the spices and seasoning and milk and saute a little bit more. The next step is to add the all-purpose flour which is always done after removing the saucepan from the flame.

                mac n cheese fry mixture
                TIP 1: If the flour is added while the mixture is still on the flame, it may cause lumps in the mixture, therefore you should always remove the pan whenever you are adding flour to any milk based mixtures. 

                And then the mixture goes back on the flame for 2 more minutes. Remove the mixture and let it come down to room temperature. We don’t want the cheese to melt at this point so we will make sure our macaroni mixture is cooled down and then add the shredded Mozzarella and mix well. You can do a taste test at this point, but make sure all your seasoning is a little bit overpowering than you like, because once you crumb-coat it, the flavors will mellow down a bit.

                mac n cheese fry

                MAKING THE MAC N CHEESE FRY BALLS

                Finally you have landed on your last step of the process. I usually just put some oil on the palm of my hands and take heaped tablespoons of the mixture and form rough balls. But this might be trickier for beginners to manage. If you are finding it hard to make the balls from your hands, you can take a cookie sheet and drop tablespoons full of the mixture all over the tray and freeze it. Alternatively, you can use a cupcake tray instead of a cookiesheet for more regular shape of the balls. Once frozen, you can take them out and coat in the coating mixture.

                The balls are dipped in all-purpose flour, then eggs and then crumb coated.

                TIP 2: Adding chilled water to your beaten eggs give you a crispier crumb coat. 
                mac n cheese fry balls
                mac n cheese fry coat
                mac n cheese fry coated

                After crumb coating, its upto you when you want to use it. If you are preparing this for guests, I would suggest to make these in advance and freeze them. You can then take them out 20 mins before frying and fry them on medium to high flame. All the ingredients in the balls are cooked so you dont need to worry about leaving anything raw inside, its only the cheese that needs melting. Simple ketchup works really well with them honestly but you can go ahead and try any exotic sauces that you would normally eat with your mac n cheese.

                mac n cheese fry recipe

                More Snack-style-Mains you may like.

                • grilled bihari chicken tikka on a tray.
                  Bihari Chicken Tikka
                • croquettes served on a platter.
                  Crispy Chicken Vegetable Croquettes
                • 5 pieces of potato bread snack squares or gold coins in a black tray with ketchup on the side and mayo on the bottom of the picture
                  Gold-coin Recipe with less oil (Potato and bread snacks)
                • a half bun kebab being dipped into the green chutney with sliced onions on side, and 2 full bunkebabs in the background
                  Street style Bun Kebab

                Do you have any questions? I’m happy to help! And of course, If you try this recipe, I’d loveeeee to see it or simply hear about it! Hit me up in the comment section below and I’ll get back to asap! Happy Cooking!

                Mac n cheese fry recipe

                Mac n Cheese Fry

                Combination of two of the most favourite guilty pleasures there is! Macaroni and cheese and fried food! These fried mac n cheese balls just melt in the mouth!
                4.50 from 4 votes
                Print Pin
                Course: Snacks, Sides and Starters
                Cuisine: American
                Prep Time: 38 minutes minutes
                Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
                Total Time: 53 minutes minutes
                Servings: 24 balls
                Calories: 178kcal
                Author: Wajiha

                Ingredients

                • 2 cups Dry Ditalini Pasta
                • 2 cups Pre-cooked Minced Meet optional
                • 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
                • 2 medium Capsicum Chopped
                • 1 cup Milk
                • 1 tsp Garlic Ginger paste or 2 cloves of garlic and 1 small piece of ginger shredded
                • 2 tsp salt or to taste
                • 2 tsp black pepper powder
                • 1 tsp paprika powder
                • 1 tbsp Soy sauce
                • 2 tbsp Siracha sauce
                • 2 tsp All-purpose flour + extra for coating
                • 1 large Egg beaten with 1/2 cup chilled water
                • 1 cup Bread Crumbs
                • 1 cup Oil for frying

                Instructions

                • The first step is to add 1 tbsp of oil in a saucepan along with garlic and ginger paste. Put the flame on at medium heat.
                • Add your minced meat, pasta and capsicum. Saute for about a minute or 2.
                • Add all your sauces and spices. Saute for another minute or 2.
                • Pour milk in the saucepan, mix all the ingredients and remove from flame. 
                • Add 2 tsp all-purpose flour and mix well. Put the saucepan back on the low flame and stir constantly. When you can see bubbles forming in the milk and your mixture seems visibly thick, remove from flame. Cover the mixture and allow it to cool down. 
                • Once the mixture is cooled, add shredded mozzarella and do a taste test at this point. 
                • Put oil on both your palms and take 1 heaped tablespoons of mixture and make rough balls out of them. Alternatively if you find the mixture hard to handle, you can line a tray with cookie sheet and drop table spoons of mixture on the sheet. Freeze the mixture and then use when hardened.
                • Finally, coat the balls first in all purpose flour, then beaten eggs and finally with the breadcrumbs
                • Fry the balls at medium flame until golden brown. 
                • SERVE – Serve as a side with your main course or as an appetizer. 

                Notes

                You can freeze the balls after coating and fry later when required. Just remember to thaw them for 15-20 minutes before frying

                Nutrition

                Serving: 1gCalories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 336mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g
                Can’t wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae

                Mastering Menu planning for Guests!

                July 29, 2018

                Menu planning and hosting

                If I had a dollar for every time I had a conversation with my friend about “Aaj kia Banaun?, mehman arey hein” (What should I cook today? I have company), I swear I’d be rolling down the hill made of money so fastttttt, none of you fellas would see me.

                MENU PLANNING CAN BE DAUNTING!

                Hosting guests can be a stressful experience for some and others might tell you how enjoyable they find entertaining guests and designing their spreads. If I am being completely honest, I think I am very much a part of the latter category. I absolutely enjoy planning for dinners, hosting guests and designing my own dinner or lunch menus from scratch. This sometimes might even take weeks to perfect. But I get it, my friends find it hard to come up with arrangements, and food ideas impromptu too. So I thought to myself, hmm maybe I can help out fellow hosts bringing their A game to the next event they host.

                MENU PLANNING 101

                So lets take the guesswork out of menu planning. What should I add? What’s the right number of items to cook? How much should I cook? And most importantly WHAT should I cook? Lets start with designing your menu first

                In this post, I shall talk about the different components of a basic food spread. Something that you can easily make with one day of prep or this might just be your weekend menu plan as well. Remember, a well designed menu isn’t only a list of delicious food items, it should also be covering all your basic nutritional requirements i.e. carbs, proteins, fiber and fats.

                Ok, so lets get started shall we?

                ELEMENTS OF A GOOD FOOD SPREAD

                1. THE FILLING MAIN COURSE.

                MAIN COURSE MENU PLANNINGOfcourse this one is mandatory and goes without saying. Your main course can either be 1 main dish that has both protein and carbs. (for e.g Shrimp Pasta or Chicken Biryani) Or it can be 2 dishes both supporting each other to make 1 main course. (Think Chinese fried rice and Chicken Manchurian.

                2. THE NICE SALAD.

                SALAD MENU PLANNING

                This is the second most important addition to your table. A good salad compliments your Main course an also adds fibre to your meal. It is important to have a salad that works really well with your Main course. For instance, a cold macaroni salad will clash with an Alfredo pasta as the main course. However, it will go very well if your main dish is burger or steak.

                3. THE SIDE-KICK AKA THE SIDE DISH

                A side dish is food that cannot be eaten on its own as a meal
                and will not affect thside menu planninge main course if excluded. It is important to note the difference between a SIDE and a SIDE-DISH here. The western countries refer to bread, potatoes, couscous or even rice as a side. A side is part of the main course where as a side dish is another dish altogether made to increase the food spread. Therefore a  side dish must not be confused with a SIDE. You can browse through my side dishes recipes here.

                4. A SAUCY ADDITION

                It is always a good idea to add sauces or condiments to your dining table. It gives your guests the option to add texture and flavor to their meals. Plus some Main courses are almost incomplete without an accompanying sauce. (for e.g chicken biryani without Raita – a yoghurt basauces menu planningsed sauce- is almost a crime.)

                Ok so How many sauces or dips should you have?

                My magic number here is 2. 2 sauces will not only give you the option to add 1 basic sauce and another complimentary sauce, but it also makes your spread look better and fuller. Plus it’s the cheapest way to add elements to your spread. Your second sauce can be as simple as ketchup, right out the bottle, or as sophisticated as a Veloute’ sauce. The selection is really flexible and quite frankly very easily tailored to your palate.

                Bonus: If you are having kids over, you really can’t skip regular mayo and ketchup from your table now, can you?

                5. BOTTLES UP!

                Drinks are another you-already-know-this kind of an element.

                Obviously water isdrinks a given. We are talking about the +1 that comes with water.

                There is no right or wrong choice for what drink you choose to keep. You can keep whatever beverages you thinks your guests would prefer.

                6. MY FIRST LOVE! DESSERTS.

                I swear if it were up to me, this is allllllll I would cook and serve and put it on repeat till I die. Its a shame dessert only parties aren’t a thing (or are they?). Anyhow, 1 dessert is more than sufficient to end your lovely feast and tie desserts up your event in a neat little bow. Choices for desserts again are endless. We’ll definitely talk about choosing the right dessert in future posts. For now know, that even a bowl of fresh cut up fruits or a store brought ice-cream can serve as dessert, in case you don’t have the time or energy to cook or prepare one from scratch. I mean I’d happily gobble down a bowl of cut up mangoes or dark chocolate ice-cream. Yum!!

                 

                PLANNING LEVEL 1 – CHECKED

                Whatever you end up cooking, its always a good idea to plan ahead. This is the most basic kind of menu there is. We”ll cover more advance menus and options and how to work with them in upcoming posts.

                So there you go, you have all your bases covered about how to design your menu. These elements are the bare minimum or the basic items that you should be aiming for when cooking for guests. Anything less than this might make your table look empty and may not be able to give your guests enough options to pick and chose from. Hey! You are already on the way to becoming the best host ever!  Stay posted, I’m gonna be posting lots of sample menus and talking about how to manage your time when creating more difficult and advance menus.

                Was this post helpful? What kind of menu designs do you want to see? I would love to here from you! Let me know what more do you want me to post? Or a specific recipe you might want! Till next time!

                p.s Can we create a movement for making dessert-only parties a thing? I mean! plz? That menu planning would be EXCELLENT!

                Zebra Marble Cake

                July 24, 2018

                Zebra cake cut into slices on a plate.

                You start with one batter and end with two! This cake is easier than it looks. The Zebra Marble Cake, with its beautiful namesake “Zebra pattern” of chocolate and vanilla, is your perfect tea-time companion. It’s not too sweet and not too “chocolaty”. It’s soft but sturdy enough to hold heavy frostings too! The perfect partner for high teas or parties.

                Zebra cake cut into slices on a plate.

                For me, tea time means coffee time (yeah, I am not a chai person, sue me!) A mug of hot whipped mocha latte, a slice of zebra cake, or maybe homemade pancakes, or or or chocolate chip blondiesss! And omg! What an evening that would be.

                [feast_advanced_jump_to]

                Ingredients

                You need very basic pantry staples for this cake. Here are some notes on the ingredients:

                Ingredients are labelled and shown separately.
                • Eggs – They need to be at room temperature for the perfect cake.
                • Castor sugar – Castor sugar or any fine sugar would work. If your sugar is particularly course, then you will have to grind it a little bit into fine sugar.
                • Flour – This cake is comparatively denser and closer to a pound cake. Skip the cake flour and use the good ol’ all-purpose flour.
                • Baking powder – Make sure your baking powder is fresh and within the expiry time.
                • Milk – Any full fat milk would do. Room temperature milk works best!
                • Vegetable oil – Any neutral oil would do. Coconut oil (without the aroma) works well too.
                • Vanilla essence – Please always by the good stuff and not the imitation vanilla. And that goes for all recipes really.
                • Cocoa powder – This recipe is very forgiving as it isn’t heavily reliant on the cocoa powder. So you can use any cocoa powder at hand, the Dutch-processed one, dark or light one.

                See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities

                Step by Step

                Here’s a simple pictorial to show you how to create the Zebra pattern.

                Eggs and sugar in a bowl.

                Step 1: Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla essence together.

                Fluffy whisked up egg and sugar batter.

                Step 2: Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

                Oil adding to batter.

                Step 3: Add oil to the batter and beat for 1 minute.

                Dry ingredients are added to the batter.

                Step 4: Add all-purpose flour and baking powder to the batter and beat until fully combined.

                milk is added to the batter.

                Step 5: Add milk to the batter and beat for another 1 minute.

                cocoa powder is added to half of the batter.

                Step 6: Divide the batter into two halves and add cocoa powder to one of the halves. Beat to get a smooth mix.

                Two cake batters, one chocolate and one vanilla, in separate bowls, and a lined baking pan in the frame.

                Step 7: Use equally sized ladles on spoons to pour batter into a lined round baking tray.

                Creating a zebra pattern from the batter by dropping both batters alternatively into the centre of the baking pan.

                Step 8: Drop The batters alternatively into the cetnre of the pan.

                PROTIP: Pouring the batter from the TIP of the spoon will give you even concentric circles.

                Creating a zebra pattern from the batter by dropping both batters alternatively into the centre of the baking pan.

                Step 9: Repeat until all the batter is used up.

                Zebra cake baked and ready out of the oven.

                Step 10: Bake the cake at 170 C for 50 minutes of until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

                Love how this cake is just the proper amount of soft and dense. Its dense enough, that it can be frosted and covered if need be, while also being soft enough to be eaten just as it is. Serve it with tea, fruits and icing sugar sprinkled on top.

                Expert Tips.

                • Using ingredients at room temperature ensures a light and fluffy cake. Bring out the eggs and milk on the counter before you start preparing for baking.
                • Use identical spoons or ladles for both batters so you automatically pick up equal amounts of batter everytime you are pouring.
                • Through trials and errors I’ve realized, that adding cocoa powder to one batter makes it slightly denser. So now I also add an extra tablespoon of flour to the vanilla batter to balance both the batters. This trick helps in an even pattern.
                • While most recipe calls for equal batter distribution, I have found through multiple testing that the lighter batter should always be slightly more in quantity. So the vanilla batter can be just a little over half.
                Zebra cake cut into slices on a plate.

                Frequently Asked Questions

                Can I make this in a loaf pan?

                Yes! You can. Use the same technique on the loaf pan cake as well and you will get a zebra like pattern.

                Can I freeze this cake?

                That is the best thing about this cake actually! It’s freezable! Keep the slices in an airtight container or cling wrap. Thaw in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds whenever you want to have a slice.

                Can I use this recipe with other flavors?

                Yes! With cocoa powder you can add red color to create a red velvet and vanilla zebra cake. You can also use three different batters instead of two.

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                Do you have any questions? I’m happy to help! And of course, If you try this recipe, I’d loveeeee to see it or simply hear about it! Hit me up in the comment section below and I’ll get back to asap! Happy Cooking!

                Zebra cake cut into slices on a plate.

                Zebra Marble Cake

                This recipe of Zebra Marble cake gives you the lightest marble cake ever possible. It is soft to eat and easy to bake!
                4.75 from 8 votes
                Print Pin
                Course: CAKES, Dessert
                Cuisine: International
                Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
                Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
                Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
                Servings: 12 servings
                Calories: 295kcal
                Author: Wajiha

                Equipment

                1 electric mixer

                Ingredients

                • 4 whole eggs at room temperature
                • 1 cup castor sugar or fine sugar
                • 2 cup all-purpose flour + 1 tbsp extra at the end
                • 1 tbsp baking powder
                • 1 cup milk at room temperature
                • 1 cup vegetable oil
                • few drops vanilla essence
                • 2 tablespoon cocoa powder

                Instructions

                • Preheat oven at 175°C. Prepare a 9-inch cake pan by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring.
                • In a bowl, combine all purpose flour and baking powder. Set aside.
                • In another bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla essence together for about 3 to 4 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
                • Add oil and beat again for 1 minute.
                • Gradually add the flour mix to the egg mixture and just beat until flour is mixed well, do not over-beat at this point.
                • Add milk and beat only enough till the batter is combined.
                • Divide the batter into two roughly equal portions.
                • Add cocoa powder to one portion and similarly add 1 tablespoon flour to the other portion. Beat with an electric mixer seperately until well combined.
                • Using large spoons or ladles, pour 1 spoonful of vanilla batter in the centre of the prepared cake pan. Add a spoonful of chocolate batter right on top of the vanilla in the centre. Continue this process alternately till you have eventually used up the entire batter.
                • Bake for 50 minutes. Check by inserting a toothpick in the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean, remove the cake and let it cool down.
                • Serve plain or top off with icing sugar and fruit

                Notes

                1. Presentation – Finally, serve it freshly whipped cream and fruits or just have it warm with your evening tea.
                2. You can freeze this cake covered in cling wrap or an airtight box.
                3. You can experiment with flavors and use food color instead of cocoa powder to create different color zebra pattern. 
                4. This cake can last for upto 10 days in the fridge. 

                Nutrition

                Serving: 1gCalories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 4gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 65mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14g
                Can’t wait to see your remakes! Tag meon IG with your pictures @butteroverbae
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                Hey there! I am Wajiha, the blogger and cook behind Butter over Bae.
                My friends had an intervention for me, to stop me from spamming them with all my kitchen experiments and food pictures. But, instead, I made this! And now I put up my food spam for the world!

                My blog is literally all my food obsessions in one: Pakistani/Indian food, Pan-Asian recipes, and desserts! I’d loveeeee to show you around and tell you more. Grab a cup guys and click below

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