Tag Archives: Cooking

FOOD

delish Gulab Jamuns

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Gulab Jamuns are one of my favorite Indian desserts.  The sugar syrup-soaked deep fried balls made with a milk/flour dough with a hint of saffron and cardamom may be too sweet for some, but for me, it is the perfect dessert served by itself or with a little scoop of vanilla ice cream.  For years, I used the mix made by Gits, a famous Indian instant food brand.  But once my aunt taught me how to make these, there was no looking back.  The recipe is foolproof, it turns out the perfect Gulab Jamuns each time and each person that has tried these wants the recipe promptly.  So, here’s how I make my favorite sweet and if you do give this a try, I’d love to get your feedback.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup milk powder
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 cup ghee
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 3/4 cup milk (I use it straight from the fridge, but it can be at room temperature)
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • A strand of saffron, crushed
  • Oil for deep frying (I used vegetable oil)

How to:

1. Mix the milk powder, flour, baking soda, ghee, and the tbsp of sugar.  Add the milk slowly and mix the ingredients into a dough that is nice and moist and not dry.  Hold back some of the milk if your dough has already come together nicely.  Cover this mixture with plastic wrap and set aside for three hours.

2. After three hours, pinch off little balls of dough and make into smooth balls about 1 cm in diameter.  Continue to make these balls, placing each one on a plate, ensuring they are not sticking to one another.

3.. When all the dough balls are made, heat enough oil to deep fry the balls.  Test the oil temperature by dropping a little piece of dough.  When it rises to the top immediately, you are ready to fry the balls.  Fry the balls in batches, turning them gently till they are evenly golden brown.  Transfer to a plate set up with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

4.  Now make the sugar syrup.  Take the 3 cups of sugar in a large flat bottomed pan, add four cups of water, and bring the mixture to a boil.  This takes about 20 minutes.  Now add the saffron and cardamom, give it a swirl, and reduce the heat to low.

5.  Now add the fried balls to the sugar syrup, gently tapping it into the sugar syrup so it can absorb the liquid.  Set aside for 30 minutes and then serve warm or cold, either by itself or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

FOOD

An absolutely divine malai kofta

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I’ve made malai kofta (aka home made cheese balls in a creamy gravy) many times in my life. But I never ever tried my mom’s recipe. Well, it isn’t mom’s original recipe, but one that she learned by saving some hard to come by money to attend cooking classes in Mumbai when I was a kid. Not only did mom expand her knowledge of cooking, but my brother and I were the fortunate recipients of her wonderful creations. Given the current “stay home” situation, I’ve been browsing through many of her recipes and decided to finally make her version of Malai Kofta. Not only did the dish turn out absolutely divine (my mom said so herself!), but I was doubly grateful that my mom took the time to make these exotic creations with some frequency when we were kids. It is a dish that requires quite a few ingredients and takes some time, but I promise you that you will have no leftovers on your plate or in your fridge.

Ingredients for the koftas:

  • 350 gms paneer, finely grated
  • 3 tbsps whole wheat flour or one slice of bread (I used low carb 647 bread) (for binding)
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 4 chopped green chilis
  • 1 tsp finely chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tsp of garam masala
  • Oil to shallow or deep fry the koftas

    Ingredients for the spice paste

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh or dry grated coconut
  • 3 large cloves garlic
  • 6 small green chilis
  • 2 tsps chili powder
  • 2 large bunches of coriander leaves (cilantro)
  • 2 tsps coriander powder
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp white poppy seeds (khus khus)
  • 1 inch piece ginger

    Ingredients for the gravy
  • 4 tbsps ghee or vegetable oil
  • 4 tomatoes crushed and set aside with the liquid
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • salt to taste

    Ingredients for garnishing

  • 1 tsp coriander leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tsp finely sliced almonds

How to:

1. Knead the paneer well, mix the flour or the slice of bread softened with a tad bit of water, and all the ingredients for the koftas except for the oil and shape into round balls. Deep or shallow fry the balls in oil and set aside on a paper towel to drain.

2. Put all the ingredients for the spice paste into a blender and grind into a fine paste with just enough water so the paste is a gravy consistency.

3.Heat the ghee or oil for the gravy in a pan and fry the spice paste well for about five minutes.

4. Add the tomatoes, cream, and salt and cook the gravy for 10 -15 minutes. Turn off the stove.

5. Just before serving, transfer the gravy to a serving dish, add the kofta balls, and if you want, decorate with some finely sliced almonds and cilantro.

6. Serve hot with rotis, pita, naan, or rice.

FOOD

Easy, creamy, spring onions

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Can you ever go wrong with spring onions in any form? If you ask me, the answer is never. I use them to add a finishing touch to dishes, as a veggie in omelets, as a flavor punch in sautéed veggies, and so much more. But this particular dish takes my mom’s and my love for spring onions to a whole new level. Neither of us grew up eating it as kids, but discovered it at some point when we lived in Mumbai, where it was commonly served as part of the local Maharashtrian cuisine. It is just so easy to make, is ready in under 15 minutes and disappears even quicker from the plate. My only complaint is that even with five bunches of spring onions, there is only enough for two to indulge in heartily with some rotis.

Ingredients:

  • 5 bunches of spring onions, washed, roots removed, and finely chopped (both greens and whites)
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil (I used vegetable oil)
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 dried red chili pods broken
  • 1/4 tsp asafetida
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsps chickpea flour

How to:

1. Heat oil in a pan for a minute and then add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chilis, and asafetida.

2. When the mustard seeds stop crackling, add the spring onions, turmeric powder and salt. Mix all the ingredients well, cover and let it cook for about 10 minutes on a medium flame, tossing once in between.

3. Add the chickpea flour and mix well immediately to prevent clumps.

4. Let it cook for another minute or two.

5. Serve with rotis or dig in with a spoon!