Month: October 2016

Kesar Badam Halwa


Halwa is an Indian dessert prepared on occasion or festive .Most types of halwa are relatively dense sweetened with sugar.Textures of halwa also vary for example Flour based wheat ,rice or semolina based Sooji Halwa halwa is gelatinous and translucent, while lentil based halwa Moong Dal Halwa  is drier and more crumbly.Halwa prepared with various other ingredients, including nuts ,milk ,ghee and vegetables such as Carrots Gajar Halwa.

I am sharing a nut based halwa Kesar Badam Halwa.Kesar means Saffron and badam means almond.it’s a really delicious using Coarse grind almond cooked in ghee,sugar,Cardamom powder ,Saffron & garnish with silvered almonds.

Ingredients

Almonds 1 cup (soaked & peeled)

Sugar 1/2 cup or to taste

Ghee 4 tbsp

Saffron 10-15 soaked in warm milk

Green Cardamom powder 1 tsp

Milk to grind almond

Yellow Food Color 1-2 drop (optional)

Method

Soak almonds overnight and then peeled almond .Put the peeled almonds in a blender and add milk so it can enough to cover almonds.
Blend it into a coarse paste or fine paste indiviual choice .i like coarse one.

Heat a pan add 2 tbsp ghee once ghee melts add badam grind mixture keep stirring continuously to avoid burning from bottom.

Add sugar then Constantly stir the mixture as it can stick burn from bottom. Add Saffron milk & food color & cardamom powder into it & additional 2 tbsp of ghee so that mixture doesn’t stick to bottom & while its boiling.once mixture start leaving ghee stir for 2- 3 minutes.turn off heat.

Take out in a bowl Garnish with sliced almonds.Serve & enjoy.

Tips
Yellow food color is optional.

30-40 minutes it will take to cook Halwa on low temperature.need patience to cook 😊

Serve hot or at room temperature.

by Categories: HalwaTags: , , , , 19 Comments

Diwali Sweets Collection


Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated every year during an autumn month of India.Mostly Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) .After puja, fireworks and a family feast Specially Mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends.

I am sharing my homemade Sweets collection On eve of Diwali.Most people bought from a sweet shop but for me preparing sweets at home is a gift for my family and friends.It gave an immense pleasure and satisfaction to me.

Stuffed Gulab Jamun

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Kesar Peda

peda

Mawa Gujiya

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Seviyan kheer

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Boondi Kheer

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Baby Carrot Burfi

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Cashewnut laddu

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Moong Dal Halwa

moongdal halwa

Kesar Burfi

burfi

Boondi Laddoo

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Kheer

rice kheer

Besan Laddu

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Coconut Laddoo

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Gajar Halwa

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Apple halwa

Apple halwa

Instant Rabdi

rabri

Kesar Badam Halwa

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Milk Rava Kesari

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Kalakand

Kesar Kalakand

Milk Powder Burfi

Coconut Almond Ladoo

DULCHE DE LECHE LADDOO

by Categories: Sweet itemsTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

Stuffed Gulab Jamun


Gulab Jamun is among India’s most popular desserts during a festival or major celebrations .It gets its name from two words: Gulab which means rose (for the rose flavored syrup) and Jamun which is a kind of deep purple colored  berry.traditionally it is prepared using milk solids, known as khoya  it’s  kneaded into a dough, and then shaped into small balls and deep-fried at a low temperature .The balls are then soaked in a light sugary syrup flavored with green cardamom and rose water, or saffron.

I am sharing my version recipe  of gulab jamun using milk powder stuffed with raisins

Ingredients For sugar syrup

2 cup sugar

4 cup water

1 tsp rose water

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

saffron strands(soaked)optional

For jamuns

1 cup unsweetened milk powder

1-2 tbsp ghee

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup All Purpose Flour

Raisins (for stuffing)20

1/3 cup whole milk

oil for frying

Method

Place sugar,water and cardamom powder in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and watch for the sugar to dissolve. Once it’s dissolved, add saffron & boil for another minute. Turn off heat & add rose water then keep syrup aside.

In a mixing bowl, add milk powder , baking soda, all-purpose flour & mix well.Then add ghee and.milk a little at a time and mix till it forms a dough. You may not need all of the milk.When a soft, sticky dough forms, stop adding milk. Cover and let the dough stand for about 20 minutes.

After resting, the dough will be less sticky, airy and a little firmer. If it’s too loose, sprinkle a little flour. If it’s too dry, add a little milk.Knead the dough a few times more till it becomes soft .Dip your fingers in oil or ghee, divide the dough ,stuffed with raisins and roll them into balls no cracks. Dip your fingers in oil /ghee or butter to avoid sticking.

Heat enough oil to deep fry in a saucepan pan on medium-low heat. Drop a small pinch of the dough in the oil to test the temperature. The dough should sink to the bottom and then slowly rise to the top. If it sits in the bottom of the oil without bubbling, the oil is not hot enough. If the dough rises and browns too quickly, the oil is too hot.

Add  balls a few at a time and fry in oil on medium-low heat. Stir and turn the balls frequently so they brown evenly.When brown, remove from oil using a slotted spoon and drain on several layers of paper towels.Repeat with all the dough. Let fried ball.Add the ball to the sugar syrup. Stir gently so fried balls are well coated in syrup.Cover and let the gulab jamuns soak in the syrup for at least an hour before serving.

Tips :-
1) soft dough & balls without cracks,make small size ball.once soaked in syrup it became double in size.

2) while frying don’t keep on turning  balls ,once u drop in pan/kadai.let it come up on own.then do it very slowly once -twice

3)Sugar syrup neither very thick nor thin

4)If Gulab jamun doesn’t soak syrup,heat it for 2-3 min ,once u see it’s boiling a bit ,turn off heat & leave .

by Categories: Sweet itemsTags: , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Namakpare


Namakpare is pastry like crunchy snack prepared using flour ,salt & lightly seasoned with carom seed  then it’s deep fried.One can have it as Tea time snacks.At my native place in Bihar,it’s called Nimki.Prepare & store up to a month in an airtight container.Preparation is easy only time taking is frying process.Usually, it’s prepared during Holi & Diwali Festival.But my family like to have whenever I prepared.

Ingredients

All Purpose flour (Maida) 1 cup

Salt 1/2 tsp or to taste

Carom seeds 1/2 tsp

Warm Oil 2 tsp

Water 1/3 cup or as required for dough

Oil for deep frying

Method
In a large mixing bowl sieve the all purpose flour & add salt, carom seeds and oil in the flour.Now while adding a little water at time start kneading dough for namakpare.and form a stiff dough. It needs to be stiffer than Chapati dough. Cover Kneaded dough &keep  aside to rest for 10 min.Now divide the dough into equal size balls.Roll it on a rolling board Like a round circle or chappati.
Now using a knife cut rolled dough into strips or a diamond shape.Heat oil in a pan for deep frying Check if oil is hot enough by adding a small piece of dough.Once the oil is ready add the dough slices of namakpare  into oil and deep fry it.Fry the namakpare  or nimki until it becomes golden in color.Once fried, take it out and place it on kitchen towel or paper for soaking extra oil.Once it cooled down Keep in a jar.
tips
roll a dough neither too thick or thin cut it into  a shapes you like.deep frying on low temperature.otherwise from outside it will be brown inside uncooked.
while it’s soft when hot once cool down  then get crispy.

 

by Categories: snacksTags: , , , 6 Comments

Mawa Gujiya


Gujiya is a sweet dumpling made of all purpose flour and stuffed with roasted semolina or Milk solid khoya or Sweetened Coconut fillings.The outer layer is crispy & flaky while stuffing is rich & sweet.

Every part of India it’s called by different name. like Ghugra in Gujrat,Karanji @ Maharashtra, & Andhra Pradesh call Kajikayalu.

At my native in Bihar Gujiyas are called Pedakiya.It’s very popular in Bihar during a festival. There are two types of Gujiya made in Bihar: one with Roasted semolina (sooji) in which  added dry nuts cardamom powder sugar & raisins  and then deep fried in a cooking oil or ghee.another one made with filling milk Solid ,cardamom powder ,sugar & dry nuts.

My Family favourite is Mawa Gujiya which I am sharing here.

Ingredients for outer cover

All Purpose Flour – 2 cup

Milk or Yoghurt- 1/4 cup

Ghee – 4 tbsp

Cold water to make dough as required

filling ingredients

Mawa (khoya) – 1  cup

Powdered Sugar -1/4 cup or to taste

Cashew Nuts – 10-20

Raisin – 2 tbsp

Green  Cardamom Powder- 1 tsp 

Oil for frying

Method

In a bowl, add the flour & 2 tbsp of ghee and rub with your palm and fingers such that the dough appears like bread crumbs. Add  enough water to make a dough which can be rolled yet Firm dough. Divide the dough and shape into small balls. Keep aside covered for half an hour.

Meanwhile, heat a pan, add half tbsp of  ghee,add the nuts and roast till golden. Remove and cool. Once cool, make a coarse powder and set aside.In the same pan, drizzle 1/2 tbsp of ghee and add the khoya/mawa and roast for 5-6 minutes. Remove, keep aside to cool.add powdered sugar and roasted nuts into  mawa. Add the cardamom powder and mix well.keep side the prepared filling.

Now, roll each ball with the rolling pin into a thin puri Spread a tablespoon of the filling on one-half of the rolled out dough. Wet your finger and run it along the edges of the spread out dough with water and fold over to the opposite end, enclosing the stuffing to form a semi-circle shaped gujiya. Press the ends firmly so that the filling doesn’t come out during the deep frying process and use a fork to seal the edges. Alternately you can twist the edges around the gujiya.

Heat enough oil in a wide vessel to deep fry the stuffed gujiya Slowly drop 3-4 gujiyas into the oil and deep fry them on medium flame till golden brown. Turn them carefully to cook the other side as well. Drain the gujiya  with a ladle and remove to a plate.Cool and store in airtight containers. Gujiya will be  fresh for at least a week and can be stored utpo 2-3 weeks.

by Categories: snacksTags: , , , , , 12 Comments

Plain Dosa


Dosa is a kind of crepe made from a fermented batter. Its main ingredients are rice and black gram(urad dal). It is a typical  South Indian diet and popular all over the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, Dosa is served hot along with sambar & chutney

This traditional South Indian dish usually ate for breakfast or dinner  They can either be made plain or stuffed.A Lot of variation of dosa can be prepared using a batter like a masala dosa,Onion dosa, Butter dosa, Masala dosa, Mysore masala dosa.one can check other south Indian delicacies on my blog Soft Idli Medu Vada Mini Plain Uttapam

I am sharing my recipe of Plain dosa ,this crepe has to be crusty and crisp.

Ingredients

make 10-12 dosa

Plain rice 1/2 cup

Parboiled rice 1/2 cup

Flattened Rice 2 tbsp

Black Gram(urad dal) 1/4 cup

Fenugreek (methi)seeds 1/4 tsp

Ghee or oil for cooking as preferred

Water or as required for grinding

Salt to taste

Method

Wash & Soak Rice and Black Gram together.In a separate bowl soak Fenugreek seeds & flattened rice .Allow to soak for 7-8   hours or overnight.Rewash the rice by draining the water 2-3 times.Grind to a paste adding Fenugreek seeds & flattened rice ,like grains should be felt in the batter or smooth consistency.now take the batter in a large bowl or pan.add salt. mix very well. cover and allow to ferment for 8 to 9 hours or more. time of fermentation will vary depending on the temperature conditions. lightly stir the batter before you begin to make dosa.

Heat the iron griddle or non-stick Tawa well.Pour a spoonful of batter in the center, spread with the back of the spoon to a thin round.Pour a tsp of ghee or oil over and cooked  for a very short time with oil or ghee until golden brown. The dosa may then be folded in half and served or rolled as in a wrap.Remove from Griddle & Serve hot with chutney & sambar.

Tips

1)proper fermentation will double up the volume of the batter and one can see tiny air pockets in the batter with a light sour aroma.

2)cook till the base is nicely golden and crisp. the base will leave the pan when its gets cooked.

by Categories: breakfastTags: , , , , , , , 13 Comments