Holy Basil Catering
2390 Falling Green Drive L6M5J5 Oakville, ON, Canada

I love when something as classic as butternut squash soup has a few surprises hidden up its sleeve. In this case saffron, harissa and rose water make a mind blowing combination #vegan #vegetarian #ottolenghi #soup #fall #thanksgiving #instagood #instafood #torontofood

Roast #primerib - salt, pepper and an abundance of patience is all this needs. #reversesear definitely the way to go with this for a perfect medium rare finish

Baking after a longggg time. #Ottolenghi’s flourless chocolate layer cake with coffee, walnuts and rose-water. Epic combination and not too sweet! Also not the best job decorating the cake but #dessert #cake #tofood #instagood #instafood #homecooking #baking #chocolate #quarantinelife

Meat and potatoes. #steak #roastpotatoes #veggies #bbq #grilling #instagood #instafood #cottage #foodie

Finally some #sourdough success! 7th time is the charm as the saying goes :) everything from scratch minus growing the wheat and creating the universe. Tasted as awesome as it looked #bread #castiron #baking #instagood #instafood #crumb

#quarantine recipe #10 with summer finally in full bloom nothing is more quintessential then Chicken Tikka. Unfortunately have had too many burnt variations of this so wanted to spend a bit of time talking technique along with recipe: * 1 KG skinless bone-in chicken legs cut into 2-4 pieces * Garlic - 10-12 cloves * Ginger - 3 inches * Ground Cumin- 2 tspn... * Lightly crushed coriander seeds - 2 tspn * Red chilli - 1 tspn * Salt - 2 tspn * Chaat masala- 1 tspn * Tamarind - 3 tbspn soaked in a few tbspn boiling water * Yogurt - 1.5 cups Method: 1. In a food processor or blender blend everything except the yogurt and chicken. Mix spice paste in the yogurt and apply generously on the chicken 2. Marinate for 4-6 hours but even 2 will work. Try not to marinate overnight as it affects texture but still works 3. Preheat the grill for 5-10 minutes to allow it to properly heat up and clean with a brush once hot. Soak a paper towel in vegetable oil and apply on the grates. Turn off the burners on one side of the grill to create a two heat zone 4. I place the chicken on skewers for easier turning but you can place directly on grill. Remove marinade as much as possible and place the chicken on the cold side of the grill and close the cover. Leave in for about 30-35 minutes until 85% cooked. You will see it change colour 5. Open grill, apply oil on hot side again and place chicken on the direct heat bone side down first for ~5 minutes each side to allow the meat to gain some colour without burning. Its ok to turn but if it is sticking to the grill give it a few minutes and should release. Do Not brush anything on the chicken at this stage! 6. Enjoy hot with naan and raita #socialdistancing #stayhome #grilling #grill #pakistani #bbq #homecooking #instagood #instafood #foodie #toronto See more

Fresh #sourdough naan today. Turned out pretty legit with a slight tang that reminded me of khameeri naan in #islamabad. Used my countertop pizza oven to give a tandoor type effect. #bread #quarantine #baking #starter #homemade #instafood #foodie #toronto

Now that Im fully on the sourdough fad train (annoying yet delicious) decided to go all out. #Sourdough toasting bread loaf. Crunchy outside soft inside. @jatoimarvi the bread loving aficionado approves! Recipe: 1. Dedicate a week of your life to developing a starter 2. Dedicate another two days to proofing the dough 3. Burn the lively yeast in a hot oven and eat there corpses 4. Question all the life choices the led you to this moment and message me for some bread #bread #baking #socialdistancing #quarantine #instagood #instafood #food #foodie #foodstagram #baker @alexandracooks thanks for the recipe!

#Quarantine recipe #9 this is an optimistic recipe- the more I try to grill the more the weather will be forced to change. Wanted to share a few grilling recipes and tips starting with #seekhkababs. They have been perfected to deliver well balanced, tender and falvourful kababs: * 1 Kg - minced beef/Lamb/mixture with 10-15% fat. Ground chicken should also work but y tho * If lean then add 2 tbspn Ghee or butter * 2 large Onions... * 10 cloves garlic * 2 inch piece of ginger * 10 thai green chilies * 2 Bay Leaves * 1 tspn chili flakes * 2 tspn coriander seeds * 1 tspn cumin seeds * 2 tspn salt * 1/2 tspn garam masala * 1/4 tspn baking soda * 1 tspn ajinomoto (optional) * 3 cloves / 1/2 tspn ground cloves * 2 tspn Amchur or juice of one lime 1. In a blender blend together the onions, garlic, ginger and green chilies. Remove paste to a plate with two paper/towel and cover top and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Excess moisture can ruin the texture and tenderness 2. Grind and add spices, ghee, onion mix to the meat, mix well for a good 7 mins until fully blended. Do not use a food processor 3. Put meat in the fridge for 2 hrs/overnight. Cold meat sticks better and give time for salt to improve juiciness of the kababs 4. For gas grills: Remove the grates on one side of the grill (if using small skewers leave on). Preheat by closing lid and turning on all burners for 5-7 mins and scrape off grill. Then use paper towel dipped in oil on the grates. Turn off burners on the side where the grates are still on and leave the other ones still on 5. Press cold meat around skewer to form a thin kabab. Wet your hands to prevent sticking. Wood skewers soaked in water work well! Cook on cool side with lid closed for 5-6 minutes undisturbed. Move the skewers over the direct flame/hot grates (if small skewers) and grill on each side closing the lid each time to add colour @ Toronto, Ontario

First attempt at #hunterbeef sandwich. Considering Ive never had hunter beef, it was pretty damn delicious. But not quite authentic yet as @jatoimarvi very kindly pointed out . Will tweak the recipe a bit more before posting. Good quarantine project though. BTW loving that you guys have been making the recipes keep the pictures and questions coming! #socialdistancing #pakistanifood #food #foodie #instagood #instafood #sammich @ Toronto, Ontario

Here is the recipe for a Thai peanut and tamarind dip to accompany that chicken you just roasted . Actually goes well with meats and veggies as well. - 2 tbspn of the satay marinade (recipe repeated below) OR any other curry paste you have - 2 tbspn vegetable oil - 2 tbspn peanut butter/ chopped peanuts... - 1 tbspn tamarind pulp soaked in 2/3 cup boiling water for 15-20 minutes and stirred to release juices - optional: 1/3 cup coconut milk - 1 tbspn brown/white sugar or to taste 1. Heat the oil on medium and add the paste. Fry for 7-10 minutes stirring frequently to prevent burning until well cooked and fragrant. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir thoroughly. Cooke for another 5-7 minutes until right consistency is reached. It will thickness it cools. Thai Satay Marinade: in a blender or food processor purée: - 1 lemon grass sliced thin with bottom 1/2 inch and top half discarded. Also remove outer skin - 1/2 onion - 3-5 green chillies - skin of 1 lime avoid white part - 4 cloves garlic - 1 inch ginger sliced - 1 teaspoon salt, coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or white pepper if you have - 1 tbsp sugar - blend together untill smooth with some coconut milk/water untill smooth #socialdistancing #sauce #dip #food #instafood #instagood #foodie #thai See more

#quarantine recipe #8. Few things are more universal than a roast chicken. You can sprinkle with some salt, pepper and oil and bake for good results. However for a truly epic roast, with crispy skin and tender meat this recipe delivers and can be used with any flavour combo. The technique here is the key to amazing skin-on roast chicken: 1. Butterfly the chicken: this is the key to even cooking and crispy skin. Swipe left to see: but remove the backbone with shears, flip ...over and flatten the chicken 2. If you have time Dry brine: generously salt the chicken all over and place in the fridge uncovered overnight if possible or a few hours. This dries the skin and allows the salt to absorb into the meat and work some magic/science. Otherwise just thoroughly dry the skin before roasting 3. Marinate/Season: if you wish to apply marinade then only do so for 2-4 hrs tops. Over marination creates bad texture and overcooking. Marinate under the skin only by lifting the skin at the breast as shown in a picture and get the marinade as deep as possible without tearing the skin. Youre trying to leave the skin dry but flavour the meat. I used a Thai satay marinade recipe to follow. You could also just season with salt pepper and herbs and still be cook of the year 4. Place on a raised rack if possible and roast at 425 if convection or 450 of regular oven for 40-45 minutes until skin is crispy and thermometer reads 155 at Breast. Because we butterflied the chicken it takes less time to cook. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Thai Satay Marinade: in a blender or food processor purée: - 1 lemon grass sliced thin with bottom 1/2 inch and top half discarded. Also remove outer skin - 1/2 onion - 3-5 green chillies - skin of 1 lime avoid white part - 4 cloves garlic - 1 inch ginger sliced - 1 teaspoon salt, coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or white pepper if you have - 1 tbsp sugar - blend together with a few tablespoons coconut milk or vegetable oil. Then apply some to chicken and save a few tablespoon to make dipping sauce. #socialdistancing #homecooking #instagood #instafood #foodie #chicken #roast #thai #toronto @ Oakville, Ontario See more

#quarantine recipe #7 - this ones for the WFH crowd for a quick fix lunch. My grandfather taught this one to me and it might be the first thing I ever made. May be the nostalgia but the simplicity is delicious: - good bread (sourdough or any really) - 1 ripe tomato (ideally Roma but any will do) sliced into 1 cm slices -plenty of cream cheese or room temp butter... - salt - freshly cracked black pepper - thinly cut apple into strips - 1/2 thinly sliced green chilli 1. Toast 2 slices bread until medium brown 2. Apply the cream cheese (I only had butter which is also great) be generous. Sprinkle salt and black pepper on both pieces 3. Add tomatoes and top with green chilli and apple slices. Top with other bread piece and enjoy See more

#quarantine recipe #6. Had a recipe request for something with egg noodles. Since I didnt have any I decided to make a Pantry Raid Noodles - basically find things in the pantry and fridge and make something yummy that most folks should be able to replicate. Will work well with egg noodles but others like maggi or instant ramen will be quite nice. Loosely based on an Indonesian Mie Goreng: - 1 pack egg noodles or 3 packs Maggi noodles / instant ramen - Meat optional: ground... beef/chicken or shrimp or boneless chicken cut into small pieces - 3 cloves garlic minced - 1 inch ginger finely chopped - 2 green chilli finely chopped - 1 tbspn chilli flakes or less for less spicy - 1/2 cup soy sauce - 2 tbspn sugar - 2 tbspn sriracha/ sambal olek/ chilli garlic sauce c - 3 eggs beaten with the Ajinomoto - 1 tspn Ajinomoto (optional) - Veggies of your choice cut small: Peppers and green onions are great but so are sprouts, mushrooms and broccoli 1. In a pot boil water and briefly boil noodles till just tender. If using maggi just 90 seconds or so. Then drain well 2. Heat up a wok or shallow pan. Add 4 tbspn neutral oil and heat on medium and add chilli flakes. Let fry to for a minute to flavour the oil. Then add the ginger, garlic and green chilli and stir fry for 1 minute. 3. Increase heat to high and add the meat and story fry till browned. If using shrimp then remove from the pan otherwise move to a side in the pan. Add the eggs and let set before breaking into small pieces 4. Mix together the soy, sugar and hot sauce. Add the veggies, noodles and sauce mixture to the pan and stir fry on high heat to mix for 2-3 minutes 5. Optional: top with some peanuts and lime remember feel free to change with whats in your fridge. See more

No #quarantine recipe today but just going to leave this ultrasmashed cheeseburger we had for lunch today. @kenjilopezalt has created the final burger recipe ever needed. Just need some ground beef and soft bun. The rest is technique. Head over to @seriouseats for the recipe. #bestburger #burger #cooking #food #foodie #instafood #instagood

#quarantine recipe #5. Sticking to the veggie theme, roasting is one of the simplest yet elegant ways to treat hearty vegetables like carrots and cauliflower. I rarely have a dinner party without this being the main attraction and is often the first item to go. Here are a few to get you started on your veggie roasting journey - they are ridiculously easy Whether you make the spice mix or just use a simpler version 1. Ras-el-hanout is a morrocan spice mix that transforms ve...ggies but will be good on almost anything. Mix together: 1 teaspoon each of ground ginger, ground cumin, salt and 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cardamom, black pepper, cayenne (laal mirch), allspice, cloves. If you dont have all these you can grind using a blender/Grinder or just mix what you have. 2. For carrots: peel about 6 carrots leaving the tops on and half them vertically if they are very thick. In a bowl warm 2 tbspn of honey in a microwave then add 2 tbspn olive oil, 1 tspn salt and 1.5 tspn ras el hanout. Mix will with the carrots in a bowl. Lay on a tray on foil or parchment paper at 375 for 15 minutes untill changing colour but still have some bite. 2b. For simpler just use salt, black pepper and crushed cardamom instead of the spice mix. I serve this on top of a plate of yogurt and top with walnuts or pistachios 3. Cauliflower: leave the cauliflower as is dont even peel. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and then add 2 tbspn salt. Put the cauliflower head first in and bring to a boil and keep for 6 minutes then take out and cool with cold water. Mix together 2 tbspn room temperature butter, 2 tbspn olive oil, 1.5 tspn salt, 1.5 tspn ras el hanout (optional). Rub all over the cauliflower and Roast in an oven at 325 for 50-60 minutes untill brown all over. Every 15 minutes spoon the oil from the pan back all over the cauliflower. The leaves will become crispy and delicious. Based on Ottolenghis recipe. See more

#quarantine recipe #3 one of my favourite pastas based on classic Spaghetti aglio e olio. - in a pot boil some water, add two tbspn of salt and boil a pound of spaghetti or other long pasta. Dont over cook - 7 minutes or so. Drain but save half a cup of the liquid - In a large shallow pan on medium heat add 1/3 cup of good olive oil, 8 cloves garlic roughly chopped and a 1 tbspn chilli flakes. Heat through to soften garlic but dont overcook just trying to flavour and cook through! Add a cup of cherry tomatoes that have been cut in half and cook to soften - Add the pasta water and cook for a couple of minutes then add the pasta and mix throughly with tongs. Top with 1/2 cup of chopped parsley and some grated Parmesan (optional) remove from the heat and enjoy. The picture shows some beef but its better without it!

Quarantine recipe #2 stir fried chicken with basil. Classic simple Thai dish that is too delicious for something this easy. A. In a bowl mix together 6 tspn soy sauce, 3 tbsp fish sauce (if you dont want to use then just add more soy), 3 tbsp sugar and set aside B. Lightly crush 4 cloves garlic, heat up a wok or pan and add 6 tbspn oil on high heat and add the garlic - move off the heat to let the garlic fry in the residual heat. C. Put back on high heat and add 1 lbs ground... chicken, 1 thinly sliced onion and 12 red/green chillies finely chopped and stir fry for 3-4 minutes - if the pan is hot enough water should evaporate. D. Add soy sauce mixture and 4 dried red chillies - fry for another 3 minutes to let chicken absorb the sauce. 5. Add fresh basil if you have (if you dont no problem but amazing if you do) and serve with white rice. Top with fried for extra bomb meal! See more

Wanted to start sharing some simple yet interesting recipes in social distancing times. Will do my best to keep recipes to things that most people should have in their pantry or could get easily. Lets start with this gorgeous rice - Make the topping: 1. Slice thinly 3 cloves garlic, 2 inch ginger in sticks, the stems from handful coriander, mild red/green chilli/pepper 2. Heat up some vegetable or canola oil on medium heat and add garlic and ginger, once it softens add chill...i, coriander, handful peanuts, tablespoon of sesame seeds and heat for 1-2 minutes to soften everything - set aside. 4. Boil some rice - I use jasmine for this but whatever you have will work like basmati 5. Put rice in a nice mountain like pile and top with the oil and topping and sprinkle on more peanuts if you like. Enjoy!! #socialdistancing #recipes #quarantinecooking #instafood See more

Crispy panfried #salmon with Swiss chard and ginger - looks fancy but took 30 minutes on a weeknight #keto #instafood #homecooking #partyinpeace

Apricot and almond #cheesecake perfectly bittersweet #dessert #instafood #tofoodie #foodie #catering @ Kitchener, Ontario

A spin on a phyllo patty - beggars purse phyllo filled with spinach, ricotta, feta, walnuts and garlic #instafood #catering #partyinpeace #tofoodies #appetizer

Roasted and marinated tomatoes with orange blossom yogurt - love the contrast of flavours (sweet and sour) and temperatures (hot and cold) #veggies #instafood #tomatoes #caterer #tofoodies #foodie #partyinpeace

Coffee and walnut financiers - almost like a muffin except not at all, sweet, bitter and nutty - kinda like me #dessert #sweet #catering #tofoodies #instafood recipe from @ottolenghi and @helen_goh_bakes

Louise cake - lemon coconut cake base topped with plums and meringue - ridiculously delicious! Recipe @helen_goh_bakes #sweet #dessert #instafood #toronto #foodie #catering

Machi! Tilapia fried Thai style with an intensely spicy and sour tamarind chilly sambal on top #homecooking #catering #tofood #toronto #instafood #foodie #seafood

Charred spiced cherry tomatoes with cold yogurt. Awesome contrast of sweet and sour, hot and cold #homecooking #catering #partyinpeace #instafood #gtafood #toronto

Lamb shanks braised in a qorma curry with almonds and blistered cherry tomatoes #desifood #catering #homecooking #instafood

Sticky rice and mango with a palm sugar coconut sauce. Love this dessert! #homecooking #instafood #dessert #thaifood #thaidessert #catering

Roasted mini peppers stuffed with feta, goat cheese, potatoes and Zaatar. Dare you to eat just one! Perfect for iftar. #homecooking #instafood #catering #toronto #tofood #ramadan #iftar

Chocolate cake!! Perfect with a glass of cold milk. Recipe courtesy @helen_goh_bakes #eatsweet #homecooking #instafood #dessert #chocolate #catering

Tropical fruit cake with pineapple, passion fruit and coconut and mango cream cheese icing. Another awesome recipe from @helen_goh_bakes and @ottolenghi although this one isnt as pretty as the one in the book #dessert #eatsweet #homecooking #instafood

Malaysian inspired #breakfast hash with eggplant, potatoes and green beans in a tamarind sambal #homecooking #catering #instafood #catering #vegan #veggies

Not the best picture but this Penang curry with chicken for a corporate order was #corporatecatering #tofood #instafood #catering #homecooking #toronto #thaifood

Slow roasted celery root with coriander seeds and plenty of olive oil. So simple but yummy #instafood #homecooking #toronto #catering #instagood

Homemade Labneh (#middleeastern hung yogurt) with a sprinkle of Zaatar and dried rose petals. Creamy and delish with veggies #homecooking #catering #instagood #instafood #tofood #toronto

Rolled pavlova with mangos, star fruit and blackberries using @helen_goh_bakes recipe from sweet #eatsweet #instafood #homecooking #tofood #catering #partyinpeace #latergram pc @sarmad.faraz

Roasted celery root and sweet potatoes with zaatar, hazelnuts and cilantro garlic oil + pomegranate #homecooking #instafood #tofood #catering #partyinpeace

#caveman food Beef shank braised in a classic spicy Penang curry. Tasted better than it looks. #instafood #catering #tofoodies #partyinpeace #thaifood #toronto

Ice storm baking: peach and thyme galettes with polenta pastry. Perfect contrast to this crappy weather. Thank you @helen_goh_bakes for another amazing recipe #icestorm #toronto #catering #dessert #instafood #tofoodies #homecooking