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ERICS DUBAI

Welcome to Erics Dubai. A mainly Goan, seafood restaurant serving tasty, reasonably priced food in a new branch in Al Safa Dubai.

rava fish fry

Erics Dubai has opened a NEW BRANCH in Al Safa

Is it just Goan food at Erics Dubai

No, not at all, you can sample some great Indo Chinese style food and some regular North Indian curries, all made to a high standard. But the restaurant does specialize in Goan coastal cuisine.

Where is Erics Dubai located

The original branch of Erics opened in 2006 in Karama and was just a 4 table restaurant, that’s grown up now. But there is a new branch with a lighter, more airy feel and easy parking too! The google map below shows you where in Al Safa the new Erics is located.

What to eat at Erics Dubai

erics Dubai al safa DoinDubai Menu Card

I have been twice now to the new branch of Erics and can recommend the following:

Start with some Potato Chops, a real Goan dish. Imagine small morsels of a spicy, minced lamb shepherds pie on a plate if you can. Only these are better than any shepherds pie I’ve had.

Or you could opt for some tuna cutlets instead of or as well as these.

Again a very home style tuna fish cake with the right amount of spice.

We also tried some peppery prawns that came from the Indo Chinese elements of the menu.
These would make a good main course on their own with some steamed rice.
Expect a rich, Chinese style sauce with spring onions and peppers coating the generous sized prawns.

peppery prawns
spicy lamb potato chops

Goan Style Main Courses

For main courses we opted for the classic Recheado style grilled prawns and a prawn curry dish again Goan style. Both were good and you need to eat the curry with a rice dish for sure.

The other main classic Goan dish we tried was the King fish Rava Fry. Expect fleshy, king fish steaks sliced thin and expertly coated with a spicy rava (semolina) type dry crumb and then fried. See main picture above.

I didn’t try it as I don’t eat beef but our table was raving about the beef vindaloo, which also comes with chicken if you prefer.

From the Mughlai Menu at Erics Dubai

Do order the Bhindi (okra) crisy fry, a perfect accompaniment to the prawn curry and rice. 

Sweets at Erics Dubai

We’ve grown up knowing that Crème Caramel is a classic Goan pudding and Eric’s serves a good one. But if you’re lucky you may get to taste some Bebinca!

A special dessert that’s occasionally flown in from Goa. Expect a number of layers of coconut and flour batter, cooked one layer at a time and sandwiched together to be eaten warm with some vanilla ice cream.

erics Dubai al safa DoinDubai Bibinka

NEW coffee shop concept at Erics Al Safa

This branch of Erics also has a new coffee bar and pastry section where you can just have a sweet or savoury snack and catch up with friends without having a big meal. 

erics Dubai al safa DoinDubai pastry shop

But you’ll enjoy your time and food at Erics whether it’s a snack or a meal. This review was written in collaboration with Erics but the opinions are all my own. 

THANK YOU FOR READING.

Erics Dubai Facebook Page
telephone al safa branch
04 3881222

Erics Al Safa is OPEN during Ramadan 2019 12pm till 11pm.

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SPICY BEETROOT CUTLETS RECIPE

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets

We were served these spicy South Indian beetroot  cutlets as a starter on holiday at Visalam in Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. We all loved them, even the children so I asked the chef to do me a demo one afternoon.

spicy beetroot cutlets doindubai finished cutlet ready to fry

We make these regularly, they are a great accompaniment to any curry dish or you could have on their own with a salad for a light but different lunch.

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets finished cutlet

Fresh beetroot is extremely reasonably priced here in Dubai and widely available from the fresh vegetable section of most supermarkets and packed with vitamins and minerals. This is the only surefire way I can get my kids to eat this vegetable !

Ingredients for Beetroot Cutlets

  •  fresh beetroots, 1 large or 2 medium, peeled and grated like cheese
  • garlic cloves  3 or 4 crushed in a mortar and pestle
  • curry leaves  small handful of fresh washed 
  •  onion 1 medium chopped up finely
  • Small handful of fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
  • potato 1 large boiled and cubed

Spicy Beetroot Cutlets raw ingredients

The spices / flavourings for Beetroot Cutlets

  • 1/4 tsp of red chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Spicy beetroot cutlets doindubai spice box with curry leaves

For frying the Beetroot Cutlets you’ll need 

  • Plate of fresh breadcrumbs
  • Simple flour and water paste or some tapioca flour
  • Any vegetable oil for shallow frying the cutlets, sunflower is good

Spicy Beetroot Cutlet Doindubai raw beetroot

Method to make the Beetroot Cutlets 

  • Fry the onions till golden brown
  • Add garlic and fry into the onions
  • Add the curry leaves and fry for a minute or two
  • Add the grated beetroot and all the spices, fry for about 5 minutes
  • Add the boiled, diced potato and mix well
  • Add salt and pepper to taste
  • Leave the thickish mixture to cool for a while
  •  When cold, shape this mixture into small fishcake size cutlets or patties,
  • Dip into the flour/water paste
  • Fry for a couple of minutes on each side till dark ruby brown
  • Dry on kitchen paper, and sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander to serve on a platter

QUICK Reminder of how to make Beetroot Cutlets 

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CRISPY OKRA RECIPE

 Okra is a vegetable 

Okra is a long, green, pod like vegetable with ridges down it’s sides and a small stalk at one end. Okra is also known as known as ladies fingers, bhindi, bamia, ochro or gumbo. The word okra though is West African in origin. Okra is used as a dish in it’s own right in Indian, Pakistani, Emirati, Iranian, African and some Southern American cuisines.

Cripsy_okra_drain_kitchen_paper_EAT_PIX

Availability of Okra

Okra is available all year round and very easy to find in most Dubai supermarkets in the fresh vegetables section. Ask for the Bhindi if you’re not sure.

Selection of Okra

Okra is best bought whilst it is firm and bright green in colour. Avoid pods that are limp and with brown marks on them. The bigger they are the tougher they are likely to be so an ideal size would be around 7 -10cm. If they don’t snap in half  at the pointy bit at one end leave this pod and choose another.

Storage of Okra

Okra can stay for  3 or 4 days in a plastic bag in the fridge.  But as with most food, the fresher it is when you cook it, the better it will be.

Preparation of Okra

Rinse under the tap whilst whole (not after slicing) and then dry thoroughly in a kitchen towel. Do not first cut and then wash your okra. It will become slimy and sticky. For this recipe then slice your okra into 2 or 4 pieces lengthways after chopping off and discarding the stalk. There are pictures for reference in my gallery below.

  Crispy Okra Recipe

Crispy fried okra

INGREDIENTS for Crispy Okra 

Fresh okra : 300 g costs about Dhs 5 from most supermarkets

Vegetable oil for frying (I use Sunflower)

Spices

Cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon

Gram flour or Chick pea flour 1 heaped tablespoon

salt 1/2 teaspoon

fresh black pepper 1/4 teaspoon

Red chilli powder 1/4 teaspoon

METHOD to make the Crispy Okra

  1. Wash and dry okra
  2. Chop off and discard the stalks
  3. Slice dried okra pods into 2 or 4 depending on size
  4. Place in a large bowl
  5. Add all the dry ingredients (spices and flour) to the bowl and mix well
  6. Leave to rest for 30 minutes or so in the fridge
  7. Heat up oil in a wok and prepare some kitchen paper on a plate
  8. Fry the okra slices in oil for about 3 minutes, use a kitchen timer
  9. Fry in batches till all the okra is fried then drain on kitchen paper
  10. You can add a small squeeze of lemon juice if you like. Serve with your favourite dip or with rice and curry as part of an Indian meal.

It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes altogether, allowing for 30 minutes marinading time. Would serve 4 people as a snack or side dish to have with curry and rice

Top Tip for this okra recipe or any Indian cooking 

Get an Indian Spice box with a lid, easily available from places like Lulus, it’s much easier to use your spices with one of these. I suggest you add salt, turmeric, ground coriander, ground cumin, red chilly powder and some mustard seeds. But that’s my suggestion, everyone’s will be a bit different, especially if you’re from the South of India!

Do you have a favourite Okra Recipe? Please let me know how you cook your okra in a comment. Also please tell me if this recipe worked for you.

Thank You

Monica

Most of our recipe projects originate on Instagram first, so follow us on the gram for the latest mainly healthy eating ideas!

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UTTAPAMS IN DUBAI SOUTH INDIAN SNACK

Uttapams In Dubai

A tasty South Indian teatime snack for starving children (and adults) easily made from a ready made batter made from ground rice, lentils and salt. Read on to see how  you can turn in into a delicious and nutritious snack for adults and kids alike.

Uttapams Dubai

 

Where to find batter for Uttapams in Dubai 

You can buy this wonderfood from most supermarkets in the chiller section. It’s near the smoked salmon and fresh pizza dough in ours (Geant in the Arabian Ranches)

How do you make this batter for Uttapams in Dubai

You just snip open the bag, pour the batter into a large bowl and add some lightly fried chopped up onions, tomato and coriander and voila you have a nutritious pancake type batter base from which to easily fry tasty, savoury Indian crepes (Uttapams pronounced Oothapums) for starving children when they come home from school. I have only seen this batter in Dubai’s supermarkets.

Can you add any other ingredients to the batter 

I add sweet corn (most unauthentic but popular in my house), extra salt and fresh black pepper to my mix and sometimes sprinkle a little grated cheese while they are cooking. Traditionally a breakfast food from South India, this versatile and easy to cook snack can be had at any time. Yes it’s fried but the base is really healthy and convenient. It would tick the vegetarian boxes too as unlike traditional pancake batters, no eggs are involved. Ditto for gluten free people as no flour power (I think)

Tips for when you are making these uttapams in Dubai

Spread batter using an icing trowel and start with a COLD griddle pan.  Pour over your prepared batter, then heat the pan. Then add your oil to the sides of the batter. If you are near a Lulu’s supermarket buy yourself a tawa for making dosas, that’s the best thing for frying these.

Spread the batter thinly around the surface I find an icing trowel works well and leave to cook. When bubbles appear in the surface think about flipping over your Uttapam, do this a couple of times till both sides are golden brown, place on kitchen paper and serve hot. You may need to add a teaspoon of oil to the sides while cooking. Use your culinary instincts ! Traditionally served with mint and tomato chutney, just have plain, delicious!

You can store leftover batter in the fridge for a day or two but the mixture does thicken up a bit and then it’s more difficult to fry.

Let me know what you or your kids thought of this tasty tea time snack and do like and share the post on Facebook, thanks Monica.

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