Mathura ke Dubki Maar Aaloo ki sabji

This recipe is surely a show stealer. You can have it with pooris,kachoris or parathas.
The tastes comes from the mixture of freshly grounded dry recipes.
I made this with the dal and pyaz ki kachori.

Ingredients:
4-5 Par boiled potatoes (peeled and roughly cubed)
1tsp Hing
1tbsp Mango Powder
1tbsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander chopped
Water 2-3 cups

For the fresh dry Masala
2tbsp Coriander Seeds
2 Whole Red Chilies
1 Cinnamon stick
1tbsp Cumin seeds
2 black cardamom
2 green cardamom
6-7 cloves

Other Ingredients:
3 tbsp Oil
1tsp Kashmiri Red chilly powder

Procedure:

• Dry roast all the whole masalas.
• Blend it keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a kadhai. add in hing.
• Lower the flame add in turmeric, mango powder and fresh grounded maslaa.
• Mix well, add in the chopped potatoes, mix
• Let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add in water.
• Add in fresh coriander.
• Let it simmer on low flame 7-10 minutes.
• Serve hot with dal pyaz ki kachori, poori or paratha
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Dal Pyaaz ki Kachori

I really miss the kachori's and samosas that you get in the north part of India. I am always skeptical of buying these at any store in Pune, as you very well know at the back of the mind that you wont get the same taste.
So then I decided to make these at home,and saw  the recipe from a fellow blogger. bingo, I went in the kitchen , checked my pantry, Had all the ingredients in hand, and started my hand at it.

It was a Sunday morming, hubby at home wanted him to surprise him with something new. So here is my version of Kachori. I served it with dubki maar aloo.

Ingredients:
For the outer cover:
1 cup Maida
1 1/2 cup Wheat Flour
1tsp salt
8tbsp Ghee or Oil

For the filling:
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup of moong dal (soaked overnight and then blended)
2tbsp oil
A pinch of hing (asfoetida)
1tbsp Fennel Powder
1tsp Red chilly powder
1tsp Turmeric Powder
1tsp Cumin Powder
1tsp Mango Powder
1tsp Coriander Powder


Procedure
For making the outer cover 

• Mix both the flour together, then add in the salt.
• Add in the ghee or oil. Rub it with the fingers so that the oil and flour are mixed well.
• Knead using enough water to form a medium firm dough.
• Cover it with a damp cloth. set aside.

For making the filling:

• Heat oil in  a pan , add the chopped onion.
• Once it browns add the coarsely grounded moong dal.
• Cook for 7-10 minutes. keep stirring
• Now add all the dry masalas in it.
• Mix well.

Assembling of kachori:

•  Divide the dough into 15 balls or as per your preference. If u want mini ones then it would make about 20 .
• Roll out the ball, put in a a spoonful of the masala.
• Make into a ball again, sealing the joints well. 
• Flatten with hands to form a disc.
• Heat oil.
• Deep fry these kachoris on medium flame.
• Make sure the oil should not be very hot as they will change color from outside but remain uncooked from inside.
• Once done take it out on a kitchen paper to remove the excess oil.
• serve hot with chutney or dubki wale aaloo ki sabji.
• yOU CAN STORE IT AN AIR TIGHT CONATINER ALSO FOR 2-3 DAYS.

Gajar ka Halwa.... (Carrot Pudding)

Yet another winter favourite desserts. Winters will be over in another 15 days, but the craze for the winter vegetables would still remain. I really relish the red carrots available in this season. I make sure that I use in all possible means in my meals. Made pickles, used it in mix vegetables, and the most popular way is halwa.
A rich and creamy desert with goodness of nuts and milk.
I have again made it in a traditional way just like moong dal halwa which was my previous posts.

Ingredients:
1 kg Carrot
1.5l milk
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 katori mixed dry fruits (almonds+ cashew nuts + raisins + chironji)
2 tbsp coconut shredded
1/2 kg khoya
2 tbsp ghee
6 tbsp sugar



Procedure:

• Shred all the carrots and keep aside.
• Take a wide pan or a kadahi. Pour in the milk.
• Let the milk boil add in the cardamom powder.
• When the milk starts boiling, add in the shredded carrots.
• Let this cook for 40-50. so that the milk and the carrots are cooked well.
• After this add in the khoya + mix dry fruits
• Let this cook for another 20 minutes.
• After this add in the sugar..
• Let all this cook for another 30 minutes.
• Keep stirring the halwa from time to time so that it does not stick to the base.
• After all the milk has evaporated add ghee.
• Mix well.
• Let it cook for another 15 minutes.
• Serve hot.

I make this halwa in large quantity so tat it sits in my fridge for a good 4-5 days. And whenever I have sweet cravings I just need to warm it and devour it.

Moong dal halwa (Yellow lentils Desert)

Of all the halwas, Moong dal halwa is my favouirte. I just wait for the winters to make this delectable sweet which is rich in flavours.
This halwa helps us to keep our boday warm in winters, tats what our elders tell us.
This halwa requires a lot of patience while making, as the dal is cooked in ghee on low flame. The more you roast it well the more flavoursome it becomes.

Moon Dal Halwa

I guess you will get to taste this desert in alomost all the weddings and celebrations.

Ingredients
250gms Moong Dal
300gms (Khoya) or mawa
1 cup sugar (according to taste u can differ)
4 cups of water
1/2 cup ghee
9-10 almonds (chopped in flakes)
5-6 cashew nuts (chopped)
10-12 Raisins
2 tbsp chironji

• Soak the moong dal in enough water for 4-5 hrs preferably overnight.
• Take the dal, remove the water and blend the dal in the food processor.
• Now in a kadhai, melt the ghee. Once its done add in the grinded dal in it.
• Stir the dal well so that it does not stick to the base of the kadhai.
• Keep on stirrimg the halwa on a low flame till the raw smells of the lentil disapperas.
• The fat should get separated and the lentil changes its color.
• This whole process will take around 40-45 min.
• It can be more also.
• In order to save some time, I roast my khoya in a separte pan.
• For this you need to take a pan, and dry roast the khoya.
• After 45 minutes when the lentil is cooked properly, add in the roasted khoya in it.
• Mix them well and keep on stirring till the lentil and khoya is cooked properly.
• In the meanwhile prepare a sugar syrup with 4cups of water and 1 cups of sugar.
• When the sugar and water mixture starts boiling add in the halwa mixture.
• Mix well and keep on stirring.
• Add in the dryfuits.
• Let it cook for 15-20 minutes
• When the ghee starts appearing on top, this shows that the halwa is cooked well.
• Garnish it with almond flakes.
• Serve hot.

Onion Bhajiyas (Onion Fritters)

Winters have set in. In the evening you crave for everything that is hot and spicy along with a hot cup of tea or may be with a simple bowl of tamatar ka shorba.
This was one day, when I had a deep urge of making these wonderful cripsy bhajiyas to go along my hot bowl of shorba.
So I went in the kitchen wore my apron. and made these beauties in just 20 minutes.

Hope you all will enjoy making these too.

Onion Bhajiyas

Ingredients:
3-4 Onions (Finely sliced)
2 Green Chilies (Finely chopped)
1tsp Ginger (Finely chopped)
4tbsp Gramflour (Besan)
1tbsp Rice Flour
1tsp Carom seeds (aijwain)
Salt to taste
1tsp Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
1tbsp Cumin Powder
1tbsp Coriander Powder
1tbsp Mango Powder
1tbsp Garam Masala
Chat masala to sprinkle over the bhajiyas once fried.

Procedure:

• Finely slice the onions. 
• Take a bowl, add in the sliced onions, green chilies and ginger.
• Add in all the dry masalas.
• Add in the gramflour and rice flour.
• Mix 
• Gradually add in water to make the batter
• The batter should be of medium thick consistency.
• Heat oil in a kadahi.
• Add spoonfull of batter in the hot oil.
• With the help of a slotted spoon flip the pakodas.
• So that i is cooked from both the sides.
• When the bhajiya is half cooked remove them from oil.
• Press it with the back of the spoon and fry again this will make the bhajiyas really crispy.
• Do the same with the remaining batter.
• Sprinkle the bhajiyas with chat masala powder.
• Serve hot with green chutney.

Pound Cake

Baking insect has bit for a while now. These days my house only smell of vanilla essence, sugar, and everything related to baking.
A classic pound cake has always been my all time favourite. Its simple and tastes great when eaten with evening tea or coffee and a great breakfast option too when served with whipped cream and fresh fruits.

Pound Cake

Ingredients:
3 Large eggs
3tbsp Milk at Room temperature
1tsp Vanilla Essence
1tsp baking powder
150gms  Castor Sugar (White)
150gms All Purpose Flour
185gms Butter

Procedure:

• Pre-heat the oven for 15 minutes at 180degrees.
• Line the cake mould with parchment paper.
• Whisk together Milk + eggs + Vanilla essence
• In another bowl mix together all the dry ingredients, All Purpose Flour  + Baking Powder.
• Now mix in half of the wet ingredients into the dry mixture on low speed. 
• Add in the remaining mixture. Whisk it for 30 seconds so that everything comes together properly.
• Pour the batter into the mould and smooth en the top with a spatula or a palette knife.
• Bake in for 40 -45 minutes or till the tooth pick comes out clean.
• If the top starts browning cover it with aluminium foil.
• When its done remove it From the oven
• De mould and place it on a wire rack.
• Allow it to cool.

I served the Pound Cake with homemade orange sauce.

How to make orange sauce:

Take 100ml of orange juice fresh or canned

2tbsp sugar

Pound Cake

Take a pan reduce the juice and sugar mixture till it becomes thick.

It should be of flowing consistency just like any sauce.

D`2Wrizzle on top of the cake

Serve

Kalakand

Finally its the day :4 and tomorrow My Ganesha will go away. Hoping he goes happy and promise to come back next year. For today's Bhog I prepared this milky Kalakand. Its one of my favourite mithai of all time.
The slight crumbly texture and the intense cardamom taste makes it a sweet to die for.
I have used freshly homemade paneer to make this.
The recipe is inspired by one of the fellow bloggers Priyanka Sushant Verma from Cook with Priyanka.

Kalakand

Ingredients
1cup Paneer (Homemade Paneer)
200ml Condensed Milk (Milkmaid)
1tbsp Cardamom Powder
10-12 Chopped Pistachios


Procedure:

• Make the fresh paneer using the recipe in the link.
• Now in a pan, add in the paneer and the milkmaid.
• Mix well.
• Keep stirring till it starts to leave the pan.
• At this point add in the cardamom powder.
• Mix well.
• Cook till most of the moisture goes away.
• Switch off the gas.
• Take a tray, grease it with ghee.
• Pour the mixture on the tray.
• When it cools down, cut into pieces. 



Kalakand

• Serve.