Camden Lock and a lesson in making Spicy Indian Omelette

video via Jorge Ruiz http://www.guirilandia.com with lovely music from Amelie (I think it is anyway).

A different day and a different lock. This time Camden lock and the stables market,  which is actually Hampstead Lock in North London on the Regent's canal. This was a couple of weeks ago. Not quite the tranquil riverbank but a vibrant multicultural urban experience and somewhere to avoid if you don't like crowds. If you don't mind them it's a really fun place to visit with a laid back Bohemian atmosphere.

There's a lot of history associated with this part of London some of the markets being a couple of hundred years old. The Stables were once home to the working horses that pulled the barges along the canal tow path and the horse hospital where their injuries were taken care of.  Development of the area has reached into the catacombs and arches. There's lots to explore, too much to see in just one day. I'm not keen on the big metal statues...It is all a bit over-the-top but they certainly reflect the history of the place and are a perfect setting for Gilgamesh and the Babylon bar. 

With so many different things to find in the market including food from all over the world you are spoilt for choice. I had perfect Aloo palak that had obviously been made with lots of fresh spinach and herbs along with a spicy dahl dish and rice in the outdoor banquet area, where everyone can choose a different cuisine very cheaply. I think it was £4 for mine. Or you could try gilgamesh bar if you want something a bit more upmarket. We found an amazing shop that was like Indiana Jones' living room and the Braintree Hemp store where a sale was on and 'A' treated me to an eco  Hemp dress a bit like this one, that was going for a song. And a shirt for himself. Which for someone like me who hates clothes shopping and can never find anything I like, was perfect. The day was a bit like a time travelling mini-world trip. Amazing.


I think it was the following morning that our hosts cooked us a delicious Nageena, spicy Indian Omelette...even giving me a little masterclass.

To make Nageena Indian Omelette for four persons you will need:

• At least two eggs per person
• One red onion
• Hot green chilli pepper (amount to taste, depending how hot you like it)
• Fresh garlic
• A piece of ginger root
• Fresh coriander
• Coconut oil or alternative for cooking
• Seasoning, sea salt and pepper if liked

To serve:

• Flat breads
• Red onion
• Yoghurt

Method:

1. Finely chop the onion, garlic, ginger and coriander.
2. Heat up a frying pan and add a little coconut oil and allow to warm and melt before adding the onion. Cook for a few minutes.
3. Add the garlic and continue to cook.
4. Add the ginger ditto.
5. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk. I would season at this point. Add the freshly chopped coriander and pour into the hot pan over the vegetables stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula. 
6. When cooked to your preference dish up. I like mine to be still a little runny and not too dry. Where some may add cream to eggs I often add a dash of water to prevent them setting too much. 
7. Meanwhile heat up a further frying pan and warm ready made flat breads to serve with along side.

This is a delicious spicy breakfast. As with Persian omelette I don't really consider this to be an omelette but more like scrambled eggs because unlike the traditional French version it isn't allowed to set into the flat pancake-like round that I'm used to.  My favourite Persian omelette is an onion one.  It's made with onions that are cooked much longer than in this recipe.  They are allowed to slowly caramelise before adding the eggs  which are stirred into the mixture to form the fluffy dish. 

This is definitely a leisurely weekend breakfast unless you get up at 5am every morning as it requires lots of preparation. Chopping of all the vegetables is really time consuming. But it is well worth the effort. 

It's Saturday morning and my tummies beginning to rumble mm  perfect  timing...

 Oh and thanks S and T for a great weekend...Oh and the  masterclass too...