One ingredient five ways: Vanilla

Lifestyle Monday 16/May/2016 16:42 PM
By: Times News Service
One ingredient five ways: Vanilla

Vanilla adds rich flavours to sweet dishes like ice creams, cakes, and puddings. But have you ever tried blending its flavours in savoury dishes? Try it with meat, salad dressings, and for other marinades.

Vanilla Rice Pudding
Take 2 cups of milk, 3/4 cup cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup rice, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract in a pan and cook for 30 to 40 minutes. When the consistency thickens stir 1/4 cup cream and 1/2 tsp vanilla bean crush and a pinch of salt. Serve chilled. You can sprinkle some ground cinnamon.
Vanilla Chicken
Take 8 chicken thigh pieces and remove the bones. Preheat a large frying pan and add 4tbsp olive oil and add the chicken pieces. Fry till they are brown. In a separate pan add 2 sliced onions and 2 chopped carrots and cook till they are soft. Add the chicken pieces. Slit 2 to 3 vanilla pods lengthwise and scrape out the seed paste inside. Add to the chicken. Bring the mixture to simmer and cook for about 45 minutes. Discard the vanilla pods. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot with rice.
Vanilla Vinaigrette
Take 6tbsp virgin olive oil, 3tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Take 2 carrots and 2 zucchini and peel into long, thin strips. Place in a salad bowl along with the shredded lettuce leaves. In a separate bowl, whisk 1tsp oil, 2tsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and add few pinches of salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad, gently toss, and serve.
Vanilla Shake
Take 2 cups vanilla ice cream, 1 cup whole milk, and 1tsp vanilla extract. In a blender, combine ice cream, milk and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve chilled.
Vanilla Tea
Take 1 cup boiling water, 1 tea bag, 2tbsp milk, 1tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon. Pour boiling water into a mug. Steep tea bag in hot water for 2-3 minutes; remove and discard. Stir milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon into the tea. [email protected]