Gulab Jamun - Sweet for Independence Day!!!!!

Happy Independence Day to all my lovely readers!!!

(Image courtesy : Google)

Nobody can resist this traditional,rich Indian dessert .Soft spongy balls soaked in  flavoured sugar syrup give the supreme sweetness to these dumplings.This was my dessert  on eid day followed by the mutton biryani ...

There are different methods of making this and each one has it's own distinct taste and flavour.

Ingredients 

For the balls :

1. Milk Powder : 1 cup
2. All purpose flour(Maida) : 1/4 cup
3. Melted butter : 3 tsp
4. Egg :1
5. Baking soda : 1 tsp
6. Milk: 1/4 cup 
7. Cooking Oil

For the sugar syrup

1. Sugar : 1 cup (as per your sweetness)
2. Water : 1/4 cup
3. Cardamom Powder : 1/2 tsp
4. Rose Water : 1/2 tsp

Method :

• Mix all the ingredients(under the title 'for the balls') except oil to make a smooth dough.
• Make smooth small lemon sized balls out of it.(the balls will get doubled in its size).
• Deep fry the balls in medium flame. (the oil should not be too hot.If so the dumplings will burn outside and remain uncooked inside) 
• Drain them and keep aside.
• Melt the sugar in 1/4 cup of water in medium flame.
• Add the cardamom powder and rose water just after switching off the flame.
• Mix well and keep aside.
• Transfer all the balls into the sugar syrup and allow them to soak in it atleast 1 hour before serving.

Ready!!!!Serve!!!!Enjoy!!!!

Linking this sweet to : Shazia's  100th Post Giveaway in Cutchi Kitchen

Morning Dessert on Eid - Banana Payasam

Those happy and holy days are over...I was very busy during Eid days because of  guests,outings, and so on....I couldn't have even a look at my space since 2-3 days.The happy thing is that we have performed an Umra(a pilgrimage to Makkah) after finishing off all our enjoyments.

Again back to the routine...Little relief is that school vacation hasn't come to an end..twenty more days are there..So Appu and me are in the vacation mood itself..But the big task is there to do..Appu's holiday home work..

Off to today's recipe...Having this dessert is a custom in my H's house on Eid day before the morning prayer..The preparation and method is just like payasam only..Ripe bananas in jaggery sauce and coconut milk give an immense sweetness to this dessert.

Ingredients 

1. Ripe bananas :2
2. Ghee: 1 tbsp
3. Jaggery cubes : 3(medium size)
4. Cardamom powder : 1 tsp
5. Thin coconut milk : 1 cup
6. Thick coconut milk : 1/2 cup
7. Rice powder : 1 tsp.
8. Cashew nuts : 5-6
9. Raisins : 4-5

Method :

• Cut the bananas into small cubes.
• Mix the rice powder with the thick coconut milk and keep aside.
• Heat ghee in a pan and roast the cashew nuts and raisins till brown colour.Keep them aside.
• Add the banana pieces in the same ghee and saute for some time.
• Melt the jaggery cubes in half cup of water and allow to cool.
• When the banana cubes turn brown add the melted jaggery and cook for some time.(the banana pieces and the jaggery mix should combine well to form a thick mix).
• Now add the thin coconut milk and boil for 5 minutes in medium flame till the whole mix reduces to it's half.
• Finally add the thick coconut milk mixed with rice powder,cardamom powder and combine well.
• Slightly heat it and switch off the flame.
• Garnish with the cashew nuts and raisins.

Ready!!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!Enjoy!!!!!!

Linking this sweet to : Shazia's  100th Post Giveaway in Cutchi Kitchen

Eggless Caramel Bread Pudding

Here's a replica of the normal caramel pudding, but there is no egg in this preparation. I got this recipe from one of my blogger friends Rafeeda. Actually nowadays I am searching for simple,easy to make  puddings because I am perfectly a beginner in this case..And here's a simple solution to me for a simple pudding...

Ingredients :

1. Bread Slices : 6-8 Pieces(Remove the brown edges)
2. Milk : 1 Cup
3. Sugar : 6 tbsp
4. Water : For Caramelising the sugar
5. Vanilla Essence : 1 tsp( I searched the liquid essence in many stores, but I got the vanilla powder..So I use 1/2 tsp powder mixed with water for making the liquid essence.)

Method :

• Mash the bread pieces well with the milk and half of the sugar to get a thick mixture.
• Add Vanilla Essence.
• Mix the remaining sugar, 1/4 cup water and boil it for caramalising.
• Make the buttered baking pan ready and pour the caramel into it and swirl to spread the bottom of the pan.
• Above it, add the bread milk mixture and level the top with a spoon.
• Cover it with an aluminium foil and put 2-3 holes in it.
• Steam it for 20-30 minutes in medium flame.
• Allow to cool and refrigerate for a couple of hours.
• For Serving run a knife on the sides and invert into the serving plate.

Enjoy !!!!!!

Avocado Choco Pudding ( A new Venture)

Hurray!!!!!!!!!! I have made a new step in my culinary experiments...Yeah...Puddings....
I did not make any puddings till now except caramel puddings using the ready made mix. The reason is that the home minister is not fond of sweets, only spicy, especially peppery foods ...And I usually make payasams as the dessert course........After started my blogging, I always have a desire to make puddings because, otherwise my little space owns the spicy kerala curries only....no sweetness in my space...and also not colourful....
Anyway now my dream comes true and this is the final result...

Yummy, delicious and finished within seconds!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

1. Avocado : 1
2. Milk : 2 Cups
3. Condensed Milk : 1/2 tin
4. Sugar : 2-3 tsp
5. China Grass : 10 g
6. Chocolate Biscuits : 1/2 packet
7. Nuts & Pistas : For Garnishing

Method :

• Soak china grass in 1/4 cup water.
• After soaking , melt it by boiling.
• Boil Milk and after boiling reduce the flame and add sugar and condensed milk.
• Combine well and switch off the flame.
• Blend the avocados into fine paste without adding water.
• When the milk cools, add the avocado paste and combine well
• After that add the melted chinagrass into it.
• In a pudding tray layer the biscuits first.
• Above that pour this milk avocado mixture very carefully
• Chill it in refrigerator for some time 

Ready!!!!!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!

Sago Banana Payasam

Very tasty, easy to make dessert item using sago(Chavvari) and Ripe Bananas. I tasted it first from one of my Malabar friends. As I am really bored of making pazham pori, boiled banana etc using bananas, suddenly this sago banana payasam came into my mind. And made..............Wow..Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients :

1. Ripe Banana : 1
2. Sago : 1/4 Cup
3. Sugar : 3-4 tbsp
4. Condensed Milk : 2-3 tsp
5. Milk : 2 Cup
6. Nuts & Raisins  : Few
7. Ghee : 1 tsp
8. Cardamom Powder : a pinch

Method :

• Soak sago pearls in water for 10 minutes 
• Peel banana and cut into small cubes
• Boil Milk in a pan.
• When it starts boiling, add condensed milk, sugar and sago pearls(washed and drained well).
• Stir well until sago pearls are cooked well and change into a moderately thick consistency.
• Add banana cubes and change the flame to low
• Stir for some time(Do not over cook the banana)
• Heat ghee in a pan and fry the raisins and nuts.
• Pour them into the payasam..

Ready!!!!!!!!!Serve!!!!!!!!

Semiya Payasam

Vermicelly Dessert(Our Semiya Payasam), the popular South Indian dessert is very easy to prepare.
It is the first step in payasams for beginners.

Ingredients

1. Milk : 3 cups
2. Vermicelli : 1.5 cup (broken into small strips and roasted in ghee)
3. Sugar : 1/2 cup or to your taste
4. Ghee  : 2 tbsp
5. Raisins : 15(fried in ghee)
6. Cashew nuts : 10- 15(fried in ghee)
7. Condensed Milk - 2-3 tsp
8. Cardamom powder : 1/4 tsp 

Method:

• Roast the vermicelli in the ghee till it turns to light golden color and set aside.
• Boil milk in a thick bottomed pan and let it boil on medium heat. 
• When it boils, reduce the heat and add the  sugar, condensed milk and roasted vermicelli and cook it uncovered .
• Stir continuosly till the semia cooks.
• Add cardamom powder , fried cashews and raisins along with the ghee and mix well...

Ready!!!!!!!

Serve hot or chilled