dessert

Gajjar Halwa Carrot Halwa


Gajjar ka halwa is a combination of nuts, milk, sugar, khoya and ghee with grated carrot. It is a light nutritious dessert. The orange carrots would be ideal for their color.  Gajar ka halwa, also known as gajorer halua, gajrela, gajar pak, and carrot halwa is a carrot-based sweet dessert pudding. The dessert is traditionally eaten during all of the festivals in India, mainly on the occasion of Diwali, Holi, Eid al–Fitr and Raksha Bandhan. It is served hot during the winter.  Check out the recipe for Khoya below.

Ingredients

  • ½ kg. Carrots
  • ½ litre (2 cups milk)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 tbsp. ghee
  • 1 tsp. Green cardamom powder
  • 2 to 3 tbsp. Khoya
  • Almonds, Pistas & Raisins for garnish

Peel, wash and grate carrots.  Cut the nuts into slivers.  You may blanch the nuts if you wish.  Soak raisins in water.  Boil milk in a kadai, add the grated carrots.  Reduce to medium heat and cook till carrots are tender and milk has evaporated, stirring frequently.  Add the sugar and mix  well, stirring until dissolved and the sugar liquid has evaporated.  Add the ghee and saute for 5 minutes.  Switch off flame and add cardamom powder and mix.  Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with Khoya, almonds, pistas and raisins and serve hot.

To Make Khoya:

Traditional method

  • 1 litre milk
  1. Put milk in a vessel, bring to a boil and reduce to low heat.
  2. Then stir after every 5 minutes until reduced by half.
  3. Thereafter, stir constantly while scraping the dried layer of milk that sticks to the sides, this will ensure the milk does not acquire a ‘burnt’ flavour, until reduced to a thick granular consistency.
  4. Remove to a bowl, cool and refrigerate.
  5. Use withing 48 hours in the refrigerator.
  6. Alternately keep in the freezer and use as when required.

Instant method

  • 250 gms milk powder
  • 250 gms cream
  1. Mix well together and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
  2. Remove, mix well and microwave for another 2 minutes.
  3. Use as required.

Gulab Jamuns


Gulab Jamun

Quick & easy Gulab Jamuns!

For those watching their sugar consumption, just squeeze out the syrup and enjoy, no guilt feeling there……;)

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups milk powder
  • ½ cup maida (all purpose flour)
  • ½ tsp. soda bicarb
  • ¼ tsp. cardamom powder (optional)
  • 3 tbsp. melted ghee or butter
  • ¼ cup water, or as required
  • Ghee/Oil for frying

Optional for stuffing the gulab Jamuns

  • Few shelled pistas
  • Lump sugar (Khadisakkar/misri)

Syrup

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 6 whole cardamoms, press to open them a little
  • Pinch of Saffron (Kesar)

Method

  1. Dilute the sugar with the water and boil alongwith cardamoms to a watery syrup. I prefer a light syrup.
  2. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes, add the saffron if using.
  3. While the syrup is boiling, mix the milk powder and maida alongwith the soda bicarb and cardamom powder (if using).
  4. Add the melted ghee and mix well.
  5. Knead adding little water at a time into a soft dough.
  6. Roll into 25 to 30 small round balls (they swell on frying and further swell when immersed in the syrup).
  7. You can stuff the gulab jamun with pista or misri with a bit of saffron if desired.
  8. Heat ghee/oil in a kadai for deep frying.
  9. Reduce the flame and fry the balls in batches of 10 or so, on low flame to a golden brown.
  10. If the fire is high the inside of the gulab jamun may remain uncooked.
  11. Remove, add to the syrup and set aside for the syrup to be absorbed. Serve preferably warm.

Creme Brulee


A rich cream base covered with a hardened caramel crust.  An exotic dessert,  albeit very simple to make with minimum ingredients.  You need to plan ahead to make this dessert as it requires to be refrigerated.  Makes a great dessert to have on the menu if planning a major party as it can be prepared ahead.  Usually served in individual ramekins.

Crème Brulee

Ingredients – serves 8

750 ml whipping cream (or 500 ml heavy cream and 1 cup milk)

8 egg yolks

½ cup sugar

3 tsp. vanilla essence

4 to 6 tbsp. sugar for topping

Heat the cream+milk in a saucepan and stir over low heat till it some to a boil. Remove immediately. Meanwhile whip the egg yolks with the sugar till creamy and sugar has dissolved.  When the cream starts boiling, pour gradually into the egg mixture.  Add the vanilla essence and stir.  Pre-heat oven.

Place 8 ramekins on a tray and pour the custard to ¾ full.  Place the trays in the middle of the heated oven and pour hot water into the trays to come up ½ inch around the ramekins to bake the custard in a water bath.  Bake on medium (170 deg C for 30 minutes till set. The custard will still jiggle a bit but will set once cooled. Remove from the water bath (bain marie) careful when handling the try with hot water and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.

Once cooled, (and just before serving) sprinkle with 1 tbsp. sugar and use a blow torch to caramalise the sugar layer.  Alternatively place all the ramekins under the grill (broiler) and caramelize till golden brown.  Another method is to caramelize the sugar in a saucepan and pour over the custard in a thin layer and leave to set. Place once again in the refrigerator until serving time.  The caramelization must be done just before serving as it is supposed to be hard, so as to crack it with your spoon to enjoy the crunch of the caramel and the soft luscious custard with each morsal of the crème brulee.  Simply heaven on your tongue and the feeling of goodness in your tummy!!

Sago Mango Pudding


Sago Mango Pudding

With mangoes in abundance this season, enjoy the goodness of this nutritious fruit with the cooling effects of sago pearls

Mango: High in Vitamin C, folate & beta-carotene in addition to variety of nutrients.

Sago: Gluten free, cooling and antioxidant, reduces inflammation and improves immunity.

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 Mangoes
  • 1 cup sago
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup crystal sugar
  • ½ tsp salt optional
  1. Bring 3 cups water to boil in a saucepan, add the sago and cook for ten minutes.
  2. Switch off the flame and leave covered for ten minutes. 
  3. Drain and add the sago to a bowl of cold water to rinse. Drain. 
  4. Add the sago pearls along with the coconut milk, water and crystal sugar and salt to a pan and cook on medium flame till sugar dissolves and mixture thickens a little. 
  5. Remove from flame and leave to cool. 
  6. Chill till ready to serve.
  7. Chop or slice the mangoes and reserve, before serving top with mango slices or pieces. 
  8. If you wish, puree some mango pieces and add the puree to the sago pudding and mix,
  9. Top with chopped or sliced mangoes.
  10. Garnish with candied fruit if desired.

Makhane ki Kheer


Makhane ki Kheer

Makhanas have important benefits. They are rich in nutrients and hence make a great addition to a healthy diet. They are high in antioxidants and help stabilize blood sugar levels and have anti-aging properties and may also promote heart health. They are rich in protein and gluten free.

As makhanas are low in calories they make an excellent snack in between meals to satisfy hunger pangs. For a snack, roast the makhanas, sprinkle with salt and enjoy.

The Makhana kheer is a rich dessert but low in calories. It is an important item on fasting and Navratri menus as regular grains like rice and wheat are not allowed during fasting in India.

Makhane ki Kheer

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Makhane (lotus seeds, fox nuts)
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 to 3 tbsp. ghee
  • 10 nos each almonds, pictachios, raisins, (nuts sliced)
  • 3 cardamoms
  • A pinch saffron
  • 2 to 3 dried roses for garnish and decoration (optional)

Method

  1. Clean the lotus seeds and lightly roast in ghee till light brown and crisp.
  2. Grind to a coarse powder, you can leave some large pieces.
  3. Heat the milk and when it come to a vigorous boil, add the sugar and stir till dissolved.
  4. Then add the ground makhane. Stir frequently.
  5. Let it simmer for 1/2 hour. Add the nuts, raisins, ground cardamom and saffron and simmer 5 minutes.
  6. If you like a thicker and granular consistency cook for further 20 to 30 minutes and then proceed with adding nuts, etc.
  7. Allow to cool. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Serve cold.
  8. May be served slightly warm if desired.
  9. Crumble the roses and sprinkle over the kheer for garnish and decoration. Use fresh rose petals if available.

Mango Kulfi No Cook Kulfi


Mango Kulfi

Ingredients

  • 1 tin Sweetened condensed milk (397 gms)
  • 2 cups cream (160 gms. each)
  • 1 tin measure milk (Condensed milk tin measure)
  • 1 or 2 ripe mangoes, chopped into small cubes
  • 1/2 tsp. mango essence
  • 1/4 tsp. yellow food colour 1 or 2 drops red food color

Method

  1. Mix condensed milk, milk and cream.
  2. Beat well till smooth.
  3. Add the essence and food colors and whisk till smooth.
  4. Add the chopped mango pieces and mix well.
  5. Freeze in Kulfi moulds, ice cube trays or in a plastic containers.
  6. Leave to set for 24 hours.
  7. Unmould, cut into cubes and serve.
  8. Check out the Pista Kulfi recipe
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