You'd be hard pressed to find a cuisine that does not have a minced meat recipe of some kind. Here's an ingredient that graciously adapts to any cook’s expectations and limitations. The oldest mince dish is thought to be the isicia omentata, a minced beef patty cooked in caul fat, which appeared in the first century as documented by Apicius in ancient Rome. The first meatballs, meanwhile, are believed to have originated in Persia, with an ingenious cook using leftover meat to make the now-ubiquitous kofta.
Thanks to travel and trade, various minced meat preparations voyaged across the globe. In fact, at the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis, Missouri, “Old Dave” sold a meat patty sandwiched between bread, aka the hamburger. This history puts me in mind of our own Expo 2020 in Dubai and how the smorgasbord of food served there makes for a romantic story of the sharing of cuisines and culture between people throughout history.
Food has always had an intrinsic ability to unite people. Inspired by this, I offer three of my original recipes to be enjoyed by you and yours.
Beef potato chops
Makes 12 chops
A version of patties or cutlets from Goa, this dish is very popular among Catholic Goans owing to the Portuguese colonisation of the smallest Indian state, and is served at celebrations big and small.
Ingredients
Ikg potatoes
1 tbsp neutral oil
250g lean beef mince
70g red onion
50g tomatoes
1 green chilli
4-5 cloves of garlic
½ tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp coriander
½ tsp turmeric
½ tsp red chilli
¼ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp garam masala
2-3 tbsp water
Salt, to taste
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup chopped coriander + mint leaves
1 cup semolina + breadcrumbs
2 eggs
Oil, for frying
Method
Boil the peeled potatoes with salt until cooked. Mash while warm, season and set aside.
In a pan, fry the diced onions and garlic until translucent. Add the ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes on high heat, bashing them with a spoon to break them down. Add a splash of water, lower the flame and cover the pan for two minutes.
Add the green chilli and dry spices with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add a splash of water, then cover for three to five minutes.
On a high flame, add the mince and break it down into smaller pieces with a spoon and allow it to brown. Lower the flame and cover the pan for five to eight minutes. Add the chopped coriander-mint mix and lemon juice.
Adjust the seasoning in the mince and mash. Once cooled, roll about 75g of mash into a ball. Flatten it and fold the edges up to create a high wall. Add 1 ½ tablespoon of mince into the middle, then enclose it with the potato to form a compact ball. Refrigerate for an hour once all the chops are formed.
Coat each potato chop in an egg wash, then roll into the breadcrumb-semolina mix and deep or shallow fry until golden brown on both sides.
Lebanese meatball fatteh
Serves 4
This luscious Levantine recipe has its origins in a sublime dish I was served in a local restaurant. The ingredients list is serpentine, but everything is easily available.
While you can always buy a ready-made baharat spice mix, it’s also easy enough to make. Simply grind a teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon, with a tablespoon each of cloves and coriander, two tablespoons each of paprika, cumin and pepper, and half a teaspoon of cardamom, and store in an airtight jar.
Ingredients and method for the meatballs
130g beef mince
120g lamb mince
30g red onion
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tsp lemon juice
¼ cup mint + ¼ cup coriander, chopped
1tsp baharat spice mix
½ tsp salt
1½ tbsp olive oil, for frying
Mix all the meatball ingredients, except the oil. Fry a tiny patty to taste and adjust the seasoning. Next, roll into small yolk-sized meatballs, to get between 25 and 30.
In a large pan, add the oil and fry the meatballs on a full flame so they get crusty on one side. In about a minute, turn them to check for the crust formed, then lower the flame, cover the pan and cook on the other side for a minute or two. Uncover and raise the heat for about half a minute so they get crusty on the other side. Do not overcook.
Ingredients and method for the chickpeas
80-85g red onion
4 garlic cloves, grated
70g tomatoes
Water, to add as needed
1tsp baharat spice mix
1tsp cumin powder
240g canned chickpeas, drained
Salt, to taste
1 ½ tbsp lemon
¼ tsp paprika
Keep the meatballs aside and fry the onions for the chickpeas in the same pan, adding oil if needed. Stir the onions until soft, then add the garlic, and then the tomatoes on a high flame and squash them with a spoon to break down. If the mix gets too dry, add water gradually to keep it moving.
Add 1 teaspoon baharat and cumin powder with a little water. Stir to make sure it doesn’t burn. Add the chickpeas and stir on a high flame. Add ¼ tsp salt plus ¼ cup water, stir and cover. Cover and cook for two to four minutes on a low flame.
Taste and adjust the seasoning of the chickpeas, then add the lemon juice and stir. Add the meatballs back in, add a tiny splash of water if needed, then sprinkle the paprika. Cover for a minute to reheat meatballs on a low flame.
Separate the meatballs and chickpeas as best you can in the same pan before you begin plating.
Ingredients and method for the yoghurt sauce
1 cup yoghurt
Up to ¼ cup water
Pinch each of cumin + paprika + salt
1 garlic clove, grated
1tsp tahina
Squeeze of lemon
Whisk the yoghurt slowly with a little water to make a smooth sauce. Then add all the other ingredients, mix and taste to adjust the seasoning.
Ingredients and method for the almond garnish
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 ½tsp almond slivers or pine nuts
¼ tsp paprika
In a small saucepan, add the butter, nuts and paprika on a low flame, then stir gently until the butter has melted. Turn off the flame to allow the garnish to cool down slightly.
Ingredients and method for the pita bread
1½ pita per person
1-2 tbsp olive oil
Paprika
Preheat oven to 180˚C with the grill on, then cut the bread into triangles and ready them by laying on a foil-lined baking tray. Rub them with oil and sprinkle paprika all over.
Bake them on the highest shelf for about three to four minutes until crunchy and slightly brown.
Plating
Make a bed of the chickpeas, then a mound of the meatballs. Spoon half the yoghurt sauce all over, reserving some for people to add as they eat.
Drizzle the almond garnish all over, topping with some coriander and mint leaves. Serve immediately, with the pita/khubz on the side or crushed around the base of the dish.
Indo-Italian chicken and turkey mince fritters
Makes 20 to 25 pieces
Ingredients
500g lean chicken mince
150g turkey mince (can be substituted with more chicken)
2-3 tsp spicy Italian seasoning mix, heaped
½ tbsp ginger, chopped
½ tsp fennel seeds, toasted
2 green chillies, chopped fine
2 tbsp red onion
3 cloves garlic, grated
¼ tsp turmeric
Sea salt, to taste
8 peppercorns, crushed
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp spring onion, sliced
1/3 cup coriander, chopped
1 tbsp mint, chopped
Sprinkle of smoked paprika
2½ cups vegetable oil, for frying
Method
In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken and turkey mince. Add the ginger, fennel, chillies, onion, garlic and Italian seasoning, and incorporate well.
Next, add the turmeric and season with salt and pepper.
Add the eggs and mix gently but well. Add the flour gradually, mixing after each addition. Next, add the herbs and paprika. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
In a large vessel or wok, heat the oil. Once tiny bubbles form, get two tablespoons and use them to form roughly shaped balls, working the mince gently between spoons. Slide each medium-sized fritter into the oil. If the oil is too hot, the fritters will only colour outside and be raw inside, so adjust the heat accordingly.
Fry in small batches, turning them once golden. Medium-sized fritters will take about four minutes on a high flame. Remove once evenly coloured and cooked through.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%203120%20x%201440%2C%20505ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%203%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2014%2C%20One%20UI%206.1%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2050MP%20periscope%20telephoto%20f%2F3.4%20with%205x%20optical%2F10x%20optical%20quality%20zoom%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%20with%203x%20optical%20zoom%20%2B%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%3B%20100x%20Space%20Zoom%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4030%2F60%2F120fps%2C%20full-HD%4030%2F60%2F240fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP68%2C%20up%20to%201.5m%20of%20freshwater%20up%20to%2030%20minutes%3B%20dust-resistant%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20dual%20eSIM%20(varies%20in%20different%20markets)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Titanium%20black%2C%20titanium%20grey%2C%20titanium%20violet%2C%20titanium%20yellow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGalaxy%20S24%20Ultra%2C%20USB-C-to-C%20cable%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh5%2C099%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C599%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C599%20for%201TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EMen%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Saif%20Al%20Zaabi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Zayed%20Al%20Ansaari%2C%20Saud%20Abdulaziz%20Rahmatalla%2C%20Adel%20Shanbih%2C%20Ahmed%20Khamis%20Al%20Blooshi%2C%20Abdalla%20Al%20Naqbi%2C%20Khaled%20Al%20Hammadi%2C%20Mohammed%20Khamis%20Khalaf%2C%20Mohammad%20Fahad%2C%20Abdulla%20Al%20Arimi.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWomen%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mozah%20Al%20Zeyoudi%2C%20Haifa%20Al%20Naqbi%2C%20Ayesha%20Al%20Mutaiwei.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
The fake news generation
288,000 – the number of posts reported as hate speech that were deleted by Facebook globally each month in May and June this year
11% – the number of Americans who said they trusted the news they read on Snapchat as of June 2017, according to Statista. Over a quarter stated that they ‘rarely trusted’ the news they read on social media in general
31% - the number of young people in the US aged between 10 and 18 who said they had shared a news story online in the last six months that they later found out was wrong or inaccurate
63% - percentage of Arab nationals who said they get their news from social media every single day.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vault%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBilal%20Abou-Diab%20and%20Sami%20Abdul%20Hadi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELicensed%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EInvestment%20and%20wealth%20advisory%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOutliers%20VC%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E14%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E660hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C100Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488km-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh850%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOctober%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
