Sizzler - middle eastern flavored

Sizzlers seem like a great option when you have some more time to prepare on hand. It ends up being a platter on its own with all the varieties on the same dish.

This is a new variety of sizzler that I attempted recently using the middle eastern flavorings like Zaatar & Sumac.

Sumac is a berry which is tart is in taste but tastes great on roasts. I tried blending in the flavors to get a great tasting platter for this BM week where I am cooking with berries...

Platter contents
Saffron Rice , Caramelized Onions, Cottage Cheese & Mushroom barbequed in sumac, mixed vegetables  curry using Zaatar

Saffron Rice
Ingredients
1 cup basmati (long grained rice)
2 cups water
a pinch of saffron soaked in warm milk
2 tspn pistachios
1 tspn clarified butter/ ghee
salt to taste
Method
1) Wash the rice under tap water until it becomes clear
2) In a large pan, heat some ghee. Add the pistachios and saute it 
3) Add the water and salt and let it come to a running boil
4) Add the rice and soaked saffron.
5) Cover and let it cook for 10 - 12 min
6) Switch off and set it aside

Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
2 onions thinly sliced
1 tspn olive oil
1 tspn sugar (optional)
Method
1) In a pan, heat oil.
2) Add the chopped onion and let them sweat for 30-35 min on lowest flame
3) Add a pinch of sugar if your onions are pungent

Mixed Vegetables Curry in Zaatar curry
Ingredients
1 onion finely chopped
1 tomato finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1 capsicum finely chopped
1 tspn Zaatar spice
1 tspn chopped garlic
1 tspn red chilli powder
salt to taste (Zaatar has salt so check before adding)
a tspn of Olive oil
Method
1) In a pan, heat oil, add the finely chopped garlic and onions. Saute for 3-4 min
2) Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, capsicum with salt, zaatar and red chilli powder
3) Add a few cups of water
4) Let it simmer for a while 

Mushroom & Cottage Cheese barbequed in sumac
Ingredients
1 onion cubed
1 capsicum cubed
1 tomato cubed
2 cups paneer cube
1 cup mushroom buttons (stems removed)
2 tspn sumac
Olive oil
black pepper to taste
salt to taste
Method
1) In a bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well. Rest it for 15-20 min
2) Arrange the individual pieces on a toothpick. One vegetable on each toothpick
3) Bake the prepared sticks in a preheated oven for 20 min at 200 c
4) Remove and set aside

Arrange the platter
Add all the individual preparations on a hot plate (use a metal plate heated in oven)
You can alternatively use a microwave safe plate and heat it along with the food just before serving)