DiwaliSweets – The Secret Ingredient

Dessert

Khajoor Ki Kheer | Dates Milk Pudding | Dates Payasam

By anshu August 6, 2017

Festivals are a time of togetherness when you cherish spending quality time with your family and loved ones. In India the list of festivities is endless. If someone tries to maintain a countrywide list of festivals , every day of the year will be some rejoiced occasion or the other. More festivals means more food and desserts. And when you say more food I am sold out. I thing good food sparks up the festival. This Rakshabandhan I am making Dates Milk Pudding for my family. Its creamy, rich and decadent.

Directions:
1. Take some dates and remove their stones. Chop them into small pieces and set aside.

2. In a thick bottom vessel add milk and bring it to a boil. Once it has come to a boil turn it on simmer and let it reduce to half. Keep stirring occasionally.

3, In the meanwhile in a wok add some ghee and add halved cashews and raisins.Saute them till they are lighted roasted in ghee. Set aside.

4. In the same wok add chopped dates and water. Cook them on medium low flame for 8-10 minutes till they have become mush and soft.

5. Add reduced milk and bring everything to a boil. Also add little condensed milk to make everything a bit more creamy.

6. Add roasted cashews and raisins and cardamom powder. Reserve a few cashews for garnish.

7. Garnish with saffron and more roasted cashews.

Other Desserts you can try are: Makhaney ki Kheer , Ragi and Khus Khus Ladoo, Besan Rava Ladoo, Sewiyan Kesari, Rasgulla, Til ke Laddoo , Tilkoot, Mango Saffron Phirni, Paneer Ki Kheer

[whohit]DatesPayasam[/whohit]

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Dessert

Ragi & Khus Khus Ladoos Recipe | Healthy Finger Millet and Poppy Seeds Energy Bites

By anshu July 23, 2017

Rakshabandhan is right around the corner and traditional sweets are a quintessential part of every Indian festivity. This year I wanted to make something which is healthy but still festive. I tried my hands on Ragi Laddoos. These are gluten free and so easy to put together and taste is absolutely top notch. When I was taking pictures my kiddo asked me if these were chocolate balls and I said yes 😉 He gobbled down two instantly and gave me a thumbs up. Isn’t it how you call a recipe successful. These are perfect for people who are watching their weight, for people with celiac diseases, for little babies and even for pregnant woman.

Make for your beloved brother or dear sister these Ragi Khus Khus Laddoos. They are incredible and taste divine. I am sure they will make this festival more joyous! You can even try Besan Rava Laddoos is you want to stick to the traditional recipes.

Directions:
1. In a wok add ghee and melt it. Add Ragi flour, I have used SOS Organics himalayan ragi flour and keep sauteing it till the aroma of roasted flour is felt. You will notice the mixture has separated from ghee. This should take good 10-12 minutes. Keep the flame low and keep stirring it.

2. Add almond meal or ground almonds and also powdered green cardamom powder. Mix well with the ragi slurry and continue to cook for a minute more.

3. Turn the flame off and add castor sugar or powdered sugar and mix well.

4.Let the mixture cool down little bit. Cool enough to make laddoos or round balls with it.

5. Roll the laddoos in roasted poppy seeds and set them aside to set and firm.

6. They also taste great when soft and warm. They stay good for about 20 days if kept at room temperature in an airtight jar.

Other Ragi of Finger Millet Recipes you can try are: Gluten Free Chocolate Ragi Brownies, Ragi Masala Twisters, Ragi & Whole Wheat Biscuits, Instant Ragi Dosa.

Other Traditional Indian Festive Food you can try are: Attey Ka Halwa Gurudwara Style, Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Apple Lapsi, Kaddu ka Halwa, Sooji Halwa, Gajar Ka Halwa, Mango Saffron Phirni, Paneer Ki Kheer, Sabudana Kheer, Makhane Ki Kheer, Gram Flour Semolina Balls, Gurr Gajar Ke Meethey Chawal, Kesari Seviyan, Rasgulla,

You can order Organic Ragi or Finger Millets from SOS Organics from here.

[whohit]RagiKhusKhusLaddoos[/whohit]

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American Cuisine

Halloween Special Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts | Spiced Pumpkin Puree Donuts Recipe

By anshu October 20, 2016

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Halloween is celebrated in the western countries with pomp and show. While I was in Mexico they celebrated this day by the name Dia de Muerto which means Day of the dead. On this day all departed souls are fondly remembered. However this has become more fashionable now and losing its correct relevance. But Yellow Pumpkin is something which symbolizes Halloween. They make Jack O lanterns and even make dishes with Pumpkin. I get into a festive mode when I see yellow pumpkin.

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Last year I made Pumpkin Buns using Pumpkin Puree and last to last year I made Pumpkin Cake Rolls for the halloween. This year I was looking for healthier recipes which uses Whole wheat flour and of course my homemade Pumpkin Puree. Nothing was better than to make these baked Pumpkin Doughnuts.These Doughnuts were full of flavour and icing on the cake was the cinnamon sugar topping. They simply melted in the mouth. This was the best doughnut recipe ever. What are you making for Halloween?

Directions:

1. In a bowl add All purpose Flour or Whole wheat Flour. Add Baking Soda and Baking powder.

3. Also add Pumpkin Pie Spice. You can make your own pumpkin pie spice at home, find out the recipe here. Also add Brown sugar and castor sugar and combine. Set aside the dry ingredients.

4. In another bowl add pumpkin puree. You can make your own pumpkin puree at home. Find out the recipe here. Also add an egg and whisk everything together*.

5. Add milk, melted butter and vanilla essence.

6. Whisk everything together and add the wet ingredients into dry ingredients and combine. Do not over mix. Just mix till everything is moist. If you feel the batter doesn’t have a pourable consistency add a little more milk and combine.

7. Spray a donut mould with oil and preheat your oven to 180 degree Celsius. (Learn more about Oven temperatures and Conversion).

8. Fill 3/4th of the cavity with batter. You can use spoon or transfer the batter in a pipping bag and squeeze out the batter in the mould. Bake it in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. When it comes down to room temperature remove them doughnuts from the mould using the back of a knife.

9. For the Cinnamon sugar topping you need to add castor sugar in a bowl and add ground cinnamon to it. Mix them together. Brush the top of the donut with some melted butter and dunk the buttered face in the cinnamon sugar.

10. Serve them with your favourite cup of Coffee and enjoy the deliciousness.

You can even try Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts. You can even make Pumpkin Cake Rolls and Pumpkin Buns using the same Pumpkin Puree.

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[whohit]PumpkinDonuts[/whohit]

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Dessert

Mango Saffron Phirni | Rice Pudding with Mango & Saffron

By anshu July 8, 2016

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Mangoes are an integral part of every Indian. With the wide variety of blissful mangoes available all across the nation, we are almost under its spell throughout the season. You can make desserts, chutneys, main courses, drinks or devour them as it is. My father is a die hard fan of Mangoes and his diabetes hasn’t made any difference to his love for mangoes. He has his meals only for the reason that he can enjoy mango after that 😉 .

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This season I played a lot with fresh and ripe mangoes. I made Mango Tart, Spiced Mango Lassi, Mango and Bean Salad, Coconut Milk Mango Pudding and A Mango Chamomile Iced Tea, which I am yet to post. But making this mango phirni was the most delicious thing I have done the entire season. It was a delight with everyone who got to taste this. You must not wait longer to try this, for mangoes are about to bid us goodbye for the season.

Directions:

1. In a bowl add some rice and soak it in water for half and hour.

2. Drain the water and add rice to the blender and make a coarse paste.

3. Add one fourth cup water to the rice paste to dilute and set aside.

4. In a thick bottom vessel add milk and bring it to a boil.

5. Once the milk has boiled slowly add the rice paste and keep stirring so that no lump is formed. This is very crucial step so whisking is highly recommended. Combine with milk and let it simmer till everything has thickened and reduced.

6. The milk will acquire porridge like consistency.

7. At this stage add condensed milk and cardamom powder. Cook a few minutes more and blend everything well. Turn the flame off and let it come to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least an hour.

8. Scoop out the pulp of ripe mangoes and blend them into a smooth puree.

9. Add this Mango puree to the milk custard and combine well.

10. Add saffron strands and slithered almonds and pistachios and combine well.

11. You can transfer them to individual serving bowls or clay pots and refrigerate further till chill. Serve with additional saffron strands and pistachios.

Other Mango Recipes you can try are: Spiced Mango Lassi, Raw Mango Garlic Spicy Chutney, Mango Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream, Fresh Turmeric Pickle with Green Mangoes, Raw Mango Rice, Fresh Mexican Black Bean & Mango Salad, Plum Mango Punch, Aam Ka Panna, Raw Mango Chutney with Mint and Coriander, Khatti Meethi Kacchey Aam Ki Chutney, Kacchey Aam Ka Achaar, Coconut Milk Mango Pudding.

Other traditional Indian Desserts you can try: Apple Lapsi, Kadda Prashad, Paneer Ki Kheer, Gram Flour Semolina Balls, Kaddu Ka Halwa, Gajar Ka Halwa, Kesari Seviyan, Makhane Ki Kheer, Sooji Halwa , Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni.

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[whohit]MangoPhirni[/whohit]

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Dessert

Tapioca Coconut Milk Pudding with Strawberry Preserve | Thai Tapioca Coconut Milk Pudding | Sago Coconut Milk Pudding

By anshu April 8, 2016

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Time for Navratras, the nine days of fasting and feasting. I personally feel I end up hogging more during this week. The variety of food available is simply lip smacking, so eventually you end up eating more. I have earlier posted many recipes made from Sago, both sweet and savoury, like Sabudana Tikki, Sabudana Kheer, Sabudana Khichdi. You can also use tapioca if you don’t find Sago.

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But this time I wanted to try something out of the ordinary. I had plenty of Sabudana lying so I looked for some pudding options. I found a couple of thai recipes of Tapioca with Coconut Milk. Unfortunately that called for addition of eggs which defeats the entire purpose of Navratras. I took the challenge and proceeded to try without eggs. To my food fortune the pudding came out amazing. Never felt it needed eggs. I tried to club it up with my Strawberry Preserve I had made a week back. The combination was simply fabulous. You got to try it to believe me. My husband took three helpings and still he was asking for more. He has all the fun in Navratras without fasting. Hunh!

Directions:

1. Wash and Soak some Sago/ sabudana or Tapioca in water for an hour till the time you see it has swelled up.

2. In a saucepan add some Coconut Milk. I have used canned you can use fresh home made if you like. Bring it to a simmer. Do not boil for it will split.

3. Add sago pearls to the coconut milk and continue to cook on low flame.

4. Add Vanilla Essence and Sugar. Continue to cook till it has thickened to desired consistency, It will not take long so keep an eye for you don’t want the pudding to become like a wallpaper paste and worse stick to the bottom of the pan.

5. Spoon the serving bowl’s bottom with the home made Strawberry Preserve , you can use any flavour. I used this because I know it doesn’t have any pectine nor anything else which I cant consumer during fasting.

6. Top it up with the pudding. Make sure its not very hot. You can splurge with an additional spoon of preserve on top and garnish with a mint leaf.

Other Tapioca Recipes for Fasting you can try here are: Sabudana Tikki, Sabudana Kheer, Sabudana Khichdi.

If you are looking for other Strawberry Recipes you may try: Strawberry Preserve, Italian Focaccia Bread with Strawberries and Rosemary, Strawberry Cookies.

Other Navratri Recipes which may interest you: Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi , Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo, Arbi Masala Curry, Gajar Ka Halwa, Makhane Ki Kheer, Rasgulla, Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni, Anaar Aloo ka Raita, Palak Dhaniya Chutney, Coriander Chutney without Onion Garlic.

TapiocaCoconutMilkPudding_Featured4 [whohit]TapiocaPuddingwithCoconutMilk[/whohit]

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Dessert

Paneer Ki Kheer | Cottage Cheese Milk Pudding

By anshu March 19, 2016

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I am already here with my family for the upcoming festival of colours, Holi. Although each day is a festivity when you are with your loved ones but nevertheless something delicious and rich always makes the festival more beautiful and meaningful. I took my Vanilla & Pomegranate cake for my family and at the same time I tried to make this Paneer ki Kheer for my cousins. It was outrageously delicious. I know it sounds weird but trust me it was divine. It tastes just like Ras malai but much more quick and easy.

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Its a very forgiving recipe. You simply cannot go wrong. You can make this exciting dessert in less than 25 minutes. So if you have some guests coming over make this for them, serve hot or chilled. They will be delighted with this appetizing bowl of kheer.

Directions:

1. In a wok or heavy bottom pot, boil milk. When it comes to a boil reduce the flame and let it simmer for good 15 minutes or until the milk has reduced and thickened a bit. Do not forget to stir time to time for you don’t want milk to burn from the bottom.

2. Add sugar to the milk and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.

3. Also add crushed Cardamom seeds and combine.

4. Sliver some Almonds and Pistachios and also half cashews. Add these along with raisins to the milk and combine.

5. Add strands of saffron and rose essence or rose water to the milk for an amazing flavour.

6. Crumble fresh paneer or cottage cheese with your hands and put it in the reduced milk. If you have fresh chenna or paneer it will be easier to crumble with hands or otherwise you can even grate the paneer.

7. Let the paneer get cooked with the milk for another 5-7 minutes and then put the flame off. Garnish with Rose petals and serve hot or chilled.

Other Desserts you can try on The Secret Ingredient are: Apple Lapsi, Kadda Prashad, Basbousa, Coconut Milk Mango Pudding, Gram Flour Semolina Balls, Kaddu Ka Halwa, Gajar Ka Halwa, Kesari Seviyan, Makhane Ki Kheer, Sooji Halwa , Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni.

PaneerKiKheer_Featured5 [whohit]PaneerKiKheer[/whohit]

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Easy Recipe

Attey Ka Halwa | Whole Wheat Flour Halwa | Kadda Prashad

By anshu April 9, 2015

Attey Ka Halwa is a dense pudding made with whole wheat flour and clarified butter or ghee. And when this same halwa is made by Gurudwaras, Sikh Temple as an offering it becomes pious and is known as Kaddha Prasad or Babaji ka Prasad. Its offered to devotees at all Sikh Gurudwaras across the globe. It is deliciously sinful but also very easy to make. Its laden with ghee and has a lot of calories but once in a while its okay to indulge in it. Right? 😛 Like any halwa it requires the right proportion of ingredients and gets ready in no time. It is also known as degh, tribhavli for equal measures of sugar, flour and ghee.

My mother has always made Sooji ka Halwa but I never had Attey ka Halwa at home except Gurudwaras. I got this authentic recipe from a friend, Sonu Mahajan whom I met on a food group on FB. We have never met in real life and talked once on phone but I feel I have some relation with her , may be prior birth :). Whenever I talk to her on web I feel she is my sister from another Mother. I thank Almighty for making us friends and for the bond we share. This post goes out to you Sonu! Love you Partner :*

Directions:

1. Add Ghee or Clarified butter in a wok or kadhai.

2. Add Whole Wheat Flour to the melted ghee.

3. Keep tossing it on medium low flame till it turns dark brown in colour. You can moderate the temperature of flame from high to medium to low. But ensure to keep tossing continuously for it can burn. It should take good 15 minutes.

4. In the meanwhile heat water in a container and bring it to a boil.

5. Once the flour has roasted and achieved the dark brown colour add sugar and combine.

6. At this stage add water and turn the Flame OFF. No sim no low but OFF.

7. Now keep stirring it till the water and flour has become dense into a semi solid, gooey form. Ensure there are no lumps. The test of doneness is when the halwa has centred and leaves the sides.

8. Serve hot and enjoy.

You can even try the Langar wali Dal served at Sikh Gurudwaras.

Try other Halwa recipes of Sooji Halwa, Kaddu ka Halwa, Gajar ka Halwa, Swang ke Chawal ka Halwa, Seb Dalia Halwa.

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Dessert

Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo | Quick Sugarless Dates & Sesame Balls

By anshu February 25, 2015

This post is specially for diet conscious people or people who are watching their weight. These dates ball are quick and easy to do with minimal ingredients. When you want to snack on to something guilt free or quench your mid night cravings this is a perfect treat. Store them in air tight jar and these go a long way. They look small but they are very filling, so ensure you make small sized balls.

When I made them last time I never got an opportunity to store them for they were gone by the evening. Yes me and my husband had 6 each ;). A little dieting never hurts anyone 😛

Directions:

1. Remove the seeds from the dates.

2. Dry roast the almonds and walnuts or pecans in a pan in batches. You can use any nut of your choice. Ensure you keep tossing them for you don’t want to burn them. Coarsely grind them in a grinder leaving a few chunky pieces to give texture to the balls.

3. In the same pan add the sesame seeds and toss them to get a slight colour and crunch on them. Roast them on a low medium flame.

4. Add the pitted dates in a coffee grinder or normal grinder and make a sticky paste.

5. In a pan add little butter or ghee or if you are vegan add coconut oil or any neutral oil.

6. Add the dates and cook them in ghee for about 2-3 minutes. The dates will absorb all the butter.

7. Now add the ground chunky nuts and mix them to combine evenly using a spatula. Soon everything will be well combines in one thick paste.

8. Let the mixture cool down a bit. Take a spoon full of it in your palm and make a smooth ball with it.

9. Place all the balls in a plate and one by one roll them in roasted sesame seeds.

10. Store them in an air tight jar and enjoy them whenever you feel like snacking!

[whohit]DatesLaddoo[/whohit]

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