Rava Kesari (Wheat Semolina Pudding)

Rava Kesari or wheat semolina pudding, is one of those quick and easy sweet treats that is a delight to enjoy any day. It is an extra bonus when the littlest person of the house also asks for it and enjoys each spoonful with a huge smile! No wonder it is a regular in our house :)

So here it is, my version of the simple and good old Indian sweet Rava Kesari :)

Ingredients: 1 cup wheat semolina, half cup melted butter/ghee, half to 3/4 cup raw sugar, 1 teaspoon cardamon powder, 2 cups water, food colour, few strands kesari, nuts/glazed cherries.

Make: In a non stick pan, fry the cup of wheat semolina with the melted butter/ghee on low flame. It should take 8 to 10 minutes for the aroma to release and semolina to turn golden in colour. Next add the sugar, cardamon powder and strands of kesari and mix well. Keep in low flame and slowly add the water (warmed water is better), stirring continuously to avoid lumps. At this stage add a drop of food colour if you wish. Keep stirring until it all thickens and no longer sticks to the pan. Turn off and pour into your desired dish and decorate with nuts or if you may like to present as above - afterall, pretty food not only looks good, tastes better too!! 

The perfect easy dessert for festivities or just to enjoy any day!

BANANA SHEERA Variation: Follow the exact method as above, simply add mashed Banana at the stage just before adding water and mix well. 

Here is another version of the same Rava Kesari, just a different food colour! I call it "Semolina Bites" :)

 

Masala Puri

Anyone from the Indian subcontinent will agree to one things about food - there is nothing more tantilising and taste-buds satisfying than a spicy, tangy, fresh CHAAT!! Wheather it is a vada-pav on the side streets, pani puri from the carts, gobi manchurian from a fancy restaurant or good old sev puri made at home, a good Chaat can bring a smile on anyone's face :) 

Having visited the south of India recently, we made sure we indulged in one of our favourites, MASALA PURI. Being back home sweet home though, it was too tempting not to re-create that Masala Puri magic..so here it is, my version of the very famous Masala Puri, made in a quick and easy way!

Ingredients (for two servings): 1.5 cups of green peas, 1 potato, 1 red onion, 1 tomato, 1 carrot, corriander, few cinnamon sticks, few cloves, salt, chilli powder, chaat powder, 1 spoon garlic paste, crisp papdis (Indian wheat biscuits), sev.

Make: In a pan, lightly fry in a spoon of oil, chopped onion and garlic until golden brown. Add cinnamon sticks and cloves and fry lightly. Add the peas and chopped potatoes with half a glass of water. Add salt and cover. Simmer in low heat for 15 to 20 minutes and you should see the peas and potatoes have cooked well and become very soft. At this stage, add chilli powder and chaat powder. Simmer again for 5 to 10 minutes. This version requires no grinding etc, so is much quicker than the traditional version. 

Remove from heat and serve immediately (remove the cinnamon sticks & cloves before serving), with toppings of grated carrot, chopped tomato, roughly broken papdis, chopped onion, corriander and sev. Not only will it look mouth-watering, it will taste amazing with the mix of spicy and tangy flavours! Double the winner also as it only takes about half an hour to prepare :) 

 

Zucchini Dip/Chutney

Being a vegetarian household, we absolutely love all sorts of vegetables! One of the veggies always in abundance in our fridge is Zucchini - in my view, one of the most versatile and tasty vegetables. Not to mention its very low calories and very high nutritional benefits such as fiber, vitamin A and folate. All in all, zucchini is a winner at our place!

Among the many dishes I love to create with the magical zucchini, my zucchini Dip/Chutney is a favourite. Here it is, a creamy, spicy version :)

Ingredients: 1 large sized zucchini, 1 onion, handful of spinach leaves, 1 or 2 green chillies, oil for tempering, salt.

Make: In a pan, lightly fry chopped up chillies, onion and zucchini until they are golden brown. Let it cool and transfer to a mixer, add the spinach leaves and salt. Grind lightly on low until you see a creamy texture. Once done, you may choose to temper the chutney/dip with mustard leaves and curry leaves. Even without tempering, it will taste just as delicious!

Enjoy hot or cold with toasted breads or rotis :)

 

Watermelon Smoothie

Summer heat, searing sun & warm mornings definitely make for less time in the kitchen! Packing in a load of fruity goodness never got easier than whipping up a quick Smoothie. 

We have been enjoying some different combinations of smoothies along with our breakfast and here I am sharing our favourite, Watermelon Smoothie :)

Ingredients (for two): quarter of a watermelon, seedless is better, few mint leaves, half a cup of milk if you choose, few fruits of your choice for decoration.

Make: Roughly chop watermelon and put into your juicer, add in mint leaves and milk if you are using. Give it quick whirl for 30 seconds. If you like the texture fine, do it for longer. 

Pour into your glasses, add ice cubes if you wish and decorate with fruits as shown :) Enjoy your fresh, cool, goodness packed smoothie!

Mango & Cream Parfait

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope the new year brings much more sweetness and delicious days into your life :) Keeping healthy is nothing new so no such resolutions here...infact, keeping life happy and full of memorable moments is a life resolution, not just for any new year :)

Spending less time in the kitchen while whipping up great looking and tasting treats is of course high on the priority list too.

Here we are starting off 2016 blogging with a simple yet mouth watering dessert, perfect for Summer evenings! My MANGO & CREAM PARFAIT.

Ingredients (for two): two biscuits of your choice, half cup whipped cream, one mango chopped, glazed cherries or similar for decoration.

Make: Simply crush your biscuits (does not have to be powder) and lay it as the bottom layer of your glass. Spoon on some whipped cream as the second layer. You can choose another layer of crushed biscuits too. Top with fresh chopped mango and decorate as you wish.

Enjoy this quick and easy dessert which not only looks great but also tastes delicious! Great for entertaining too.

Banana Bread (Eggless)

Not sure about you, but in our house no one likes an over-ripe banana! It's on of those fruits that looses its taste the minute it gets too ripe...yes we are fussy banana eaters! However there is good news for those over ripe bananas :) When life gives you too many bananas, make BANANA BREAD! 

The recipe itself is an age old one, tried and tested by most bakers (and mums) and here is mine, the eggless version. Turns out soft, moist and sweet everytime - a hit with my little one too which is a great way to get more fruit in :)

Ingredients: One very ripe banana, 1 cup self raising flour, half cup brown sugar, half cup milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence. 

Make: In a bowl mash the banana well with a spoon, should be well mashed but not a smooth paste. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, butter, oil and vanilla essence. Mix well with a fork (to ensure the cake will be light and fluffy not thick and heavy). Add the mashed banana and mix lightly. Pour into your baking tray (a bread tray is recommended) and bake in a preheated fan forced oven at 160 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, when baked, it will bounce back when lightly pressed in the middle.

Enjoy your freshly baked Banana Bread :)

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

We all wish we could enjoy some sweet treats without the guilt of extra calories that goes with it...well here is one treat that ticks that box, is actually a healthy treat and tastes simply delicious! 

The gluten free, dairy free (and can be nut free) chocolate mousse that is oh so easy to make - AVOCADO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE. There are many versions of recipes for this clever little dessert but I personally liked this recipe from Instructables. However I omitted the milk, making mine a dairy free mousse.

It looked as tempting as it tasted for sure...!

Ingredients: 1 ripe avocado, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence.

Make: Scoop avocado into a small mixer, add in the honey, cocoa powder and vanilla. Simply mix on medium for a few minutes. If doing by hand, use a fork and whisk until smooth and completely mixed. Serve chilled in dessert cups or shot glasses. Decorate as you wish, I have used almond powder on top!

Enjoy your healthy, guilt free chocolate dessert :)

Vanilla Choc-chip Muffins - Eggless

There's something about cupcakes and muffins that make any sort of gathering complete just by being on the menu! Especially an afternoon tea or picnic oh and did I mention where there are kids involved?? :) My quick bake Vanilla Choc-chip Muffins are not only my favourite (as it literally takes just minutes to prepare) but also a family favourite!

Here they are, eggless Vanilla Choc-chip Muffins, the pink version for a special occasion. 

Ingredients for about 12 muffins: 1.5 cups self raising flour, half cup caster sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, 100 grams softened unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3/4 glass of milk, handful of chocolate chips, food colour if desired.

Make: In a bowl combine the flour and sugar and mix well. Then add softened butter, milk, oil and vanilla essence, oil and stir until smooth with no bumps. Add water as needed if consistency is not a smooth paste. Finally add chocolate chips and stir in. Add the food colour if desired, otherwise the muffins will look a lovely golden brown when baked.

I use silicon baking cups to make these muffins, as they hold shape and are easy to remove, but you may choose to use paper baking cups, lined in a muffin tray. Pour in a few tablespoons into each muffin cup. Bake in a pre-heated fan forced oven at 160 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool, dust some dusting sugar on top if desired.

Serve or store for your picnic or afternoon tea!

Healthy Salad Cups

Who says salads have to be boring! The beauty of a salad is that there are no rules for how healthy and creative you can make it. Personally, the prettier something looks, the yummier is usually tastes :) Hence that extra little bit of effort to nicely present even a simple dish like salad, is totally worth it.

Here are my humble Healthy Salad Cups!

Ingredients: Choose a variety of fresh vegetables such as lettuce, capsicum, peas (steamed), carrot, tomato chopped/grated into small pieces, salt and pepper to taste.

Make: Add salt and pepper to the chopped vegetables. In a clear glass, stack rows of vegetables to create a nice colour pattern. Top with mint or corrainder. Serve along with lunch or dinner!

Healthy and good looking food is always bound to be a hit on any table :) Enjoy!
 

Spicy Eggplant Curry

Who loves eggplant/aubergine/brinjal??? I would say most do, especially with some spice to tickle the taste-buds! Although it is low in nutritional benefits, it is also low in fat :) When you really love something you always find the positives in it...!

Eggplant dishes are a regular in our household and our favourite is my Spicy Eggplant Curry. Main ingredient is lots of fresh eggplant and you can use any other vegetables you choose to add to this deliciously spicy curry. Serve with hot rice or rotis and it's definitely a winner on any dinner table!

Here it is, my Spicy Eggplant Curry.

Ingredients for two serves: 1 large eggplant or couple of smaller sized, a few different vegetables (I used 1 capsicum, 1 tomato, 2 carrots), 1 onion chopped, 1 teaspoon crushed garlic, chilli flakes, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, garam masala (can be bought from Indian stores), 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon oil and salt.

Make: In a wide non stick pan, heat the oil and throw in the chilli flakes, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, garlic and onion. Saute on medium flame until onion is clear and there is a lovely aroma. Add in the chopped eggplant and pan fry on high flame for 5 to 8 minutes until it is looking golden brown. Now add the remaining chopped vegetables and the garam masala and tomato paste. Pan fry together, occasionally stirring. Add salt to taste. If you like more spice, add extra chilli powder or fresh chopped chillies. Cover with a lid and let it cook for 5 to 8 minutes. You will know it is done when the vegetables are fully cooked. 

Serve with hot rice or rotis and enjoy!!

Doodh Peda (Milk Fudge)

Back to blog after a very long break! Family and travel has seen the little spare time I have being completely taken up, and rightly so :) Unpack and settle back into routines and here it is....festive season is upon us again. Time for more fun and social gatherings, but also time to think of which festive sweets to whip up at home without spending too much time and effort.

Having a little one at home, this sweet treat is one enjoyed in our house not just at festive times - Doodh Peda, my quick version! Here it is :)

Ingredients (for about 15 peda): 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 3 to 4 cups of milk powder, few tablespoons clarified butter/ghee, 1 teaspoon cardamom powder, nuts or sultanas for decoration.

Make: Empty the can of condensed milk into a thick bottom pan and warm on low flame. Gradually mix in the milk powder and continue to mix. Add in the cardamom powder and ghee. Keep stirring on low flame and if too watery, add a little more milk powder. 

After about 15 minutes, the mixture should be at the right consistency and will leave the sides of the pan easily. Take off the flame and let cool slightly. Take small amounts into your hands and roll into balls then press to form this shape shown in the picture. Use butter/ghee on your hands if needed. Decorate as desired. Serve after fully cooled.

Enjoy! Happy festivities!

Eggless Savoury Muffins

As a mum of a little one, I am always trying to create new ways to put in varieties of vegetables into foods that she enjoys eating. Savoury muffins are nothing new and I used this treat that she loves, to pack in some veggie goodness! Bonus is that it's a great healthy snack for adults too (and yummy too!)

Here are my eggless savoury muffins packed with veggies :) 

Ingredients for about 10 muffins: 

1.5 cups self raising flour (or if using plain flour, add 1 teaspoon baking powder), 2 tablespoons soft butter, 1 tablespoon Organ egg replacer powder (optional), 1 tablespoon olive oil, half glass milk, half glass water, your choice of two or three veggies grated (I used carrot, spinach, onion, corriander), dry coconut, salt to taste, chilli powder if you choose.

Make: In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients together then add the grated vegetables, oil and butter. Add milk and water and mix vigorously to make a paste like cake dough. Add salt and chilli powder if you choose to add some spice! 

Spoon into a greased muffin tray, sprinkle coconut on top and bake in a preheated oven at 160 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Enjoy your fresh warm savoury muffins and sneak in some veggie goodness in your little one's snack :)

                                                                                    

Gobi Manchurian - The healthy version!

Those of you that know even a bit about Indian snacks will have heard of or enjoyed Gobi Manchurian. It's a very popular Indo-Chinese fried cauliflower spicy snack, best enjoyed fresh and hot. 

In our household it's always been a favourite but I often hestitated to make it due to the deep frying involved....well only until now! Having discovered that I can create the very same Gobi Manchurian magic without deep frying has made us very happy fans of this delicious savoury delicacy!

Here is my non-deep fried Gobi Manchurian - healthier than the traditional method and a much quicker time taken to create the same amazing taste!

Ingredients: 1 cauliflower (washed and florets separated), handful of curry leaves, 1 tablespoon corn flour, fresh chillies chopped (as many as suits), 1 onion chopped small, small cup of chopped spring onions, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic paste, half a cup of tomato sauce or ketchup, few tablespoons of soy sauce, handful of fresh corriander, salt.

Make: After separating cauliflower into florets, sprinkle the corn flour and toss in a bowl so it is mildly coated. In a wide pan, use just a tablespoon of oil and pan fry the cauliflower florets, turning delicately for about 10 to 15 minutes. The florets should look crisp and be golden brown in colour. Keep aside in a bowl. 

Now using the same wide pan, use another tablespoon of oil and put in the chillies, garlic paste, chopped onion and chopped ginger. Lightly fry then add in the tomato sauce and soy sauce. You may add extra chilly powder and salt at this stage too. When the mixture starts to bubble, add the previously pan friend cauliflower florets, chopped spring onions and toss well. Finally sprinkle the chopped fresh corriander.

Your delicious HEALTHY VERSION OF GOBI MANCHURIAN is ready to enjoy!

Corn Chaat (Spicy Corn Salsa)

We all love a quick, yummy snack that takes minimal time to put together and this little dish fits the bill perfectly for that! Spicy, tick. Healthy, tick. Super quick, tick. Yummy, tick!

Being a popular Indian Chaat/street food snack, it's sure to have your tasters asking for more too! Here's my quick version of CORN CHAAT :)

Ingredients (for a few bowls): 1 cup cooked corn kernels, you can use fresh kernels or frozen, steamed well to be soft. Half a cup boondi, few tablespoons sev, 1 tomato chopped small, 1 onion chopped, optional grated carrot, few teaspoons chaat powder and chilli powder, fresh corrainder.

Make: Mix the cooked corn kernels, chopped tomato, onion and if using, carrot together in a bowl. Add in chaat powder and chilli powder. When ready to serve, toss in crisp boondi (to keep it crisp). After putting in serving bowls, top with a sprinkle of sev and corrainder. Enjoy!

Perfect for an afternoon snack or as an entree dish. Easy to create and even easier to enjoy the spicy tangy taste :)
 

Badam Puri (Almond pastry soaked in sugar syrup)

Sometimes nostalgic tastes from your childhood are so strong that you feel the need to re-live those tasteful memories! With the benefits of blogs and super talented master chefs that share their recipes, it's now so great to learn and try creating these yummies yourself! 

So here it is, my attempt at creating my own version of BADAM PURI, thanks to a wonderful recipe posted on Udupi Recipes. How to describe this delicious, crispy yet soft, sweet and salty, juicy sweet treat?? I just cannot...try this quick version for yourself to find out :)

Ingredients for about 12 Badam Puris: 1 cup fine semolina (chiroti rava), 1/2 cup plain flour (maida), pinch of salt, milk to mix the dough, 1/2 cup almond powder  few, tablespoons melted butter/ghee. Oil for deep frying puris. 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water for sugar syrup.

Make: In a bowl combine semolina, plain flour, almond powder, salt and mix into a soft dough with milk and butter as needed. Keep aside for about an hour. In a separate dish bring the sugar and water to boil to make your sugar syrup. Make small golf ball sized balls with the dough then using a rolling pin, roll out flat, around the size of your palm. Fold into triangles as shown in the photo, put in a clove to keep the shape during deep frying. 

Once ready to fry, drop in 3 or 4 triangles at each time and fry on low flame until golden in colour. If you fry too fast the inside will not cook. Remove and drain excess oil. Then drop into the sugar syrup to soak for about 5 minutes. Place on a serving plate and dust powdered sugar for a lovely presentation. 

Enjoy!!