Sweet potato payasa

Ingredients :

Sweet potato : 2-3

Jaggery Powder : According to taste

Coconut Milk : 2 Cups

Cardamom Powder : 1/2 Spoon

Dry fruits : 1/4 Cup

Ghee : 2 Spoon

Basmati Rice : 1 Spoon

Method:

1. Wash & soak basmati rice for 1/2 an hour.
2. Grind soaked rice with little water to fine paste.
3. Remove the skin of sweet potato & pressure cook for 2 whistles.
4. Cut cooked sweet potato into small cubes.
5. In a heavy bottomed pan, mix sweet potato cubes, grinded rice paste, coconut milk, jaggery powder.
6. Bring to boil. Make sure that payasa is not sticking to the pan.
7. Add cardamom powder.
8.  Heat ghee & add dry fruits.
9. Add this to the payasa. (Step 7)
10. Switch off the flame.
11. Serve hot.

Note : 

Rice paste is added to thicken the payasa. 

Dalia Split ( ಹುರಿಗಡಲೆ / ಪುಟಾಣಿ ಕಡ್ಲೆ ) Laddu

Dalia Split ( ಹುರಿಗಡಲೆ / ಪುಟಾಣಿ ಕಡ್ಲೆ ) Laddu

Ingredients :

Dalia Split : 200 Grams
Jaggery Powder : 3/4 Cup
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Dry fruits : 1/2 Cup
Dry fruits for garnishing

Method : 

1. Dry roast dalia split for few seconds.
2. Grind to fine powder in a mixer jar. Keep it aside.
3. In a heavy bottomed pan, heat 1/2 Cup of water, bring to boil.
4. Add jaggery powder, heat till jaggery dissolves completely. Add ghee & stir well.
5. Continue to heat in a medium flame, till syrup reaches 2 string consistency.
6. Add dalia split powder & dry fruits, mix well. 
7. Heat in a low flame, till all water contents evaporates & mixture leaves the pan surface.
8. Switch off the flame & prepare small lemon sized balls.
9. Garnish with dry fruits & serve.

Sesame Laddu ( ಎಳ್ಳುಂಡೆ )

Sesame seeds are rich in minarals, promotes bone health ,helps to reduce bad cholesterol, Increases the level of Vitamin E etc etc..    Easy way to consume is in the form of Laddu, where Sesame seeds are mixed with jaggery syrup. Another intake of sesame seed is in the form of Juice, where soaked sesame seeds are grinded to very smooth paste, then adding required amount of jaggery powder, milk, drink as it is or also you can boil the smooth paste of sesame seeds , Jaggery & milk. 

Ingredients :

White sesame seeds : 100 Grams
Jaggery Powder : 1 Cup
Ghee : 2 - 4 Spoons

Method :

1. Dry roast sesame seeds till they splutter.
2. Heat ghee in a pan & add jaggery powder, heat till one string consistency.(If required add little water)
3. Add sesame seeds & mix well. 
4. Continue to heat, till the mixture easily falls from the spatula.
5.  Switch of the flame & prepare laddu when the mixture is still warm.
6. Serve or Store in an airtight container.

Arrowroot Halwa

Arrowroot is  neutral tasting powder, doesn't give any flavour to the dish prepared. Arrowroot had loaded with many health benefits like its very low in calories, rich source of vitamins, minerals, Protein etc.

Ingredients :
Arrowroot : 3 Cups
Jaggery powder : 1 Cup
Fresh Coconut (Grated) : 1 Cup
Ghee : 2 - 4 Spoons
Water  : As Required

Method :

1. Heat 1 spoon of ghee in a pan, add grated coconut, fry till they turn golden brownish.
2. Add jaggery powder & 1/2 Cup of water.
3. Bring to boil. Continue heat till one thread consistency.
4. Add 2 cups of water to arrowroot powder, prepare batter like dosa batter consistency.
5. Now add arrowroot batter to Jaggery syrup.
6. Keep stirring continuously till mixture leaves the side of the pan.(If required add 2 spoons of ghee & keep stirring.)
7. Transfer the mixture to greased plate .
8. Let it cool & give desired shape.
9. Serve.

Notes :

• You can add any flavour like cardamom powder. To retain jaggery flavour I have not added other flavouring agent.
• Adjust jaggery according to your taste. The above ingredients make mild sweet halwa.
• You can even add dry fruits.

Beetroot halwa

Ingredients :

Beetroot : 5-6 Nos
Milk : 1/2 Cup
Sugar : 1 1/2 Cup (Adjust according to your requirement)
Cardamom : 2- 3 Nos / cardamom powder : 1/4 Spoon
Ghee : 2-4 Spoon
Dry fruits (Crushed) : 1/2 Cup
Dry fruits : 1 Spoon for garnishing


Method :

1. Grate beetroot & mix with milk & sugar.
2. Pressure cook for 2-3 whistles.
3. Add cardamom powder / crushed cardamom.
4. Heat ghee in a pan, add dry fruits & fry for 1-2 minutes.
5. Add dry fruits along with ghee to cooked beetroot.
6. Heat in medium flame till all water content gets evaporate.
7. Switch of the flame & garnish with dryfruits.
8. Serve hot.

Chocolate

Ingredients :
Cocoa Powder : 50 Grams
Milk Powder : 200 Grams
Butter : 2 Big lemon size
Sugar : 200 grams
Dry fruits (Optional) : Crushed : 1/2 cup

Method :

1. Mix cocoa powder & milk powder well.
2. Sieve both powder together 2-3 times, so that no lumps are present & both powders are mixed properly. Keep aside.
3. In a heavy bottomed pan, add sugar & 1/2 Cup of water. Boil till 1-string consistency.
4. Add butter, continue to heat till butter dissolves completely in sugar syrup.
5. Add sieved cocoa + milk powder mix. 
6. Keep stirring to avoid the burning.
7. Continue to heat till the mixture leaves the pan on sides / bottom. Switch of the flame.
8. Now add dry fruits & mix well.
9. Spread on greased  plate, cut into desired shape,when the mixture is warm.
10. Once the mixture is cool, take out the pieces & store in refrigerator.

wheat flour - sesame seeds - coconut laddu

I love sesame seeds laddu (Til ka laddu) , wanted to try at home. But I had left only one and half cup of sesame seeds, which means not worth trying out laddu with only sesame seeds. So I have added wheat flour & grated dry coconut.  The combination is heavenly when tried out with ghee & jaggery.

Ingredients :

Grated dry coconut : 1 Cup
Black sesame seeds + white sesame seeds :  1 1/2 Cups
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Jaggery powder : 2 cups
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Dry fruits (Crushed ) : 1/2 Cup

Method :

1. Dry roast grated dry coconut till they turn brownish in colour.
2. Now add sesame seeds &  roast till they splutter.
3. Add wheat flour, roast/fry till nice aroma of wheat flour spreads around. Switch of the flame & keep it aside.
4. In a heavy bottomed pan,add jaggery powder & 1/2 cup water.
5. Boil the mixture, till two string consistency.
6. Add ghee & boil for 3 minutes. 
7. Add dry-fruits & saute.
8. Now add roasted mixture (Step 3), to the jaggery syrup.
9. Heat in medium flame, till the mixture the leaves the pan surface.
10. When the mixture is still hot, prepare small lemon sized balls.
11. Now laddu is ready to eat.

Notes :

• You can even use fresh coconut instead of dry coconut.
• You can even add roasted peanut / ground nut powder for added flavor.
• Even cardamom powder can be added for flavor.

Shrikhand - Cardamom Flavour

Here is the simple recipe to prepare shrikhand.


Ingredients :

Curd: 3 Cups
Sugar : According to taste  (I have used 2 Cups )
Cardamom pods : 2-3 Nos
Dry fruits ( Crushed ) : 1/2 Cup

Method :

1. Hang curd in muslin cloth, till the water content from curd is drained off.
2. In a mixer, add sugar & cardamom pods. Powder them.
3. Take out thick curd from the muslin cloth & add sugar cardamom powder.
4. Now add crushed dry fruits & Mix well.
5. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours & serve.    

Note :                                              

• If curd is sour, then adjust sugar accordingly.
• You can use any flavour like saffron / mango / strawberry / vanilla etc  

Orange flavoured Rava - coconut Laddu

As my prince was enjoying his juicy oranges, new idea stuck into my mind !!! Orange flavoured laddu.. ..When it comes to Laddu preparation, I feel rava (Semolina) Laddu is the easiest one.  So I tried orange flavoured rava coconut laddu & they are simply superb.

Picking only gems ...Not Laddu :(

Ingredients:

Chiroti Rava (Semolina) : 3 Cups

Grated Cococut :  1/2 cup

Sugar : 2 Cups

Orange peel (Skin) : Small Piece (  approximately 2cm square )

Dry fruits : 1/2 Cup

Ghee : 4 spoons

Method :

1. Dry roast grated coconut till brownish.
2. Roast dry fruits with little ghee till golden brown.
3. Roast chiroti rava till nice aroma comes, if required add ghee while roasting.
4. Take out orange juice from orange peel, by grinding with little water & then filtering.
5. In a heavy bottomed pan, add sugar, orange peel  juice & water. 
6. Prepare sugar syrup for one thread consistency.
7. Add chiroti rava, coconut & dry fruits. Sauté well.
8. Keep stirring, until the laddu mixture leaves the spoon/ pan easily.( If required add ghee.)
9. Switch off the flame & Prepare small lemon sized balls.
10. Garnish with cherries/ gems & Serve.

Athirasa

It was raining outside.. I was going through so many food posts from net & checking the pictures.. Drooling while seeing the pictures of sweet/ spicy dishes as always...
I usually do not prefer deep fried dish.. Because of  wastage of oil after cooking & Increased intake of fat & calorie. Today I couldn't resist from preparing & eating deep fried dish. So in a single go I can have sweet as well as deep fried one. Hence I though of preparing Athirasa.

Athirasa is traditional south indian recipe .It is deep fried sweet dish. Athirasa is originally prepared from freshly grinded rice flour. Then jaggery syrup, cardamom powder, pepper powder & black sesame seeds are added. Then smooth paste of coconut is added to form dough. Then pressed dough is deep fried in coconut oil.

Since I couldn't get fresh rice flour, I have used grinded rice dough.

Ingredients:

Dosa Rice : 1 1/2 Cups

Jaggery : 1 Cup 

Grated coconut : 1/4 cup

Black sesame (Til) seeds : 2 Spoon

Cardamom : 3 Nos

Black Pepper Powder : 1/2 Spoon

Salt : A pinch

Coconut Oil - For deep frying

Method:

1. Wash & soak rice for 2 hours.
2. Roast Black sesame seeds till they splutter.
3. Roast grated coconut till they turn golden brown.
4. Grind the rice, cardamom & black pepper powder with little water, till smooth paste. Keep aside.
5. In heavy bottomed pan, add jaggery , black sesame seeds , grated coconut & around 3/4 cup of water.
6. Bring to boil till all jaggery dissolves & bubbles are coming out.
7. Now add the grinded rice paste & sauté. 
8. Continue till all water contents evaporates & dough cooked well. It forms chapati dough consistency.
9. Apply oil in your palm, prepare lemon sized ball & press into small sized chapati on plastic or banana leaf. Let the thickness around 3-4 mm.
10. Now deep fry the till golden brown.
11. Take out from oil & place it on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
12. Store in a air tight container.
13. They tastes best after 2 or 3 days.

Note:

• Athirasa deep fried in coconut oil tastes better compared to other cooking oil.
• Adjust jaggery according to your taste.

Sweet dried gooseberry

The sweet dried gooseberries are sugar coated sun dried sweet sour candies. I have used big sized gooseberries.


Fresh Gooseberries

Sweet dried gooseberries

Ingredients :
Gooseberries : 20 Nos
Sugar : 1/2 Kg

Method :

1. Clean & wash gooseberries.
2. Boil water in a cooking pan & add gooseberries.
3. Let the water boil again & once water starts boiling, switch of the flame. 
4. Close the vessel & keep it for 20 minutes.
5. Take out gooseberries & cut into small pieces.(You can cut along the line on the gooseberry, to get better shape)
6. In a pan,add gooseberry pieces & add sugar till sugar covers the entire gooseberry pieces. Keep it covered for 3 days. (Sugar dissolves in the water content of gooseberry & forms sugar syrup)
7. After 3 days, take gooseberry pieces out of sugar syrup, keep it in sun light  till gooseberry pieces dry completely.
8. Store in airtight container.

Tender coconut Kernel Payasa

I found this recipe on one of the Facebook group Foodie  by Priya Bhat.  

Ingredients :

Tender coconut kernel : 2 Cups

Sugar : According to taste

Cococut Milk : 3 Cups

Method :

1. Cut tender coconut kernel into small  pieces.
2. Add sugar & keep it covered for  15 minutes, let the kernels absorb sugar.
3. Add coconut milk & bring to boil.
4. Serve hot / Chilled.

Notes:

• Use thinner coconut kernels for tastier version.
• You can add any flavor. Since I wanted only tender coconut flavor, no flavor added in the recipe.
• You can garnish with dry fruits.

Dates rasayana (ಖರ್ಜೂರ ರಸಾಯನ )

 Rasayana ( ರಸಾಯನ ) is very simple dessert, which is prepared regularly in south canara homes. Whenever we have excess ripe banana's , my mother used to prepare rasayana, which is loved by everyone at home. This is similar to kheer/payasa, but raw ingredients are used. No boiling /cooking is required. It can be served either chilled /cool. 

Some time back, I have added dates to Ice cream, that tasted very good. I started using dates along with other dry fruits in all sweet dishes,  which enhanced the flavour & taste. So I thought of trying out dates alone.  Hence the idea of dates rasayana came into my mind.

Ingredients :
Dates(De-seeded & chopped) : 1 Cup
Jaggery : According to taste
Coconut milk : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom powder :1/2 Spoon
Black Til : 1 Spoon
Dry fruits : 1/2 Cup

Method :

• Dry roast black til for 3-5 seconds.
• Mix all the ingredients & refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Serve.

Note :

• You can use mixed fruits instead of dates.
• If you use sweetened dates, use sweet accordingly.
• Sugar can be used instead of jaggery.
• Mango alone will  also make heavenly rasayana.

Apple & Pomegranate Rasayana

One of my foodie group friend  Shri kripa tried Dates rasayana with some changes. She prepared the improved / more tastier version of dates rasayana as side dish for semige. ( south indian rice noodles - home made).

Here is the improved version of dates rasayana recipe by Shri kripa

• Fry chopped dates with little ghee & prepare paste by grinding with milk
• Mix all ingredients.
• Serve as side dish for semige 

Corn flakes Instant Laddu.

When you see some offer in stores, you are tempted to buy  that even-though you doesn't need them. Same thing happened to me when I saw buy 1 get 1 offer for corn flakes.  I was thinking to eat corn flakes with milk as breakfast  for both me & hubby. Its very simple easy  breakfast .. My morning job became very simple :)
 We started eating them,  first & second day we just finished without single word.. this continued for 3 days.. We started missing our favourite breakfast items , hubby announced that he cant eat corn flakes any more for breakfast. If I want I can continue.. if not throw them out :(

Same time one of my neighbour/friend suggested to prepare instant laddu out of this cruncy cornflakes.
The out come is simply superb.. They are so crunchy & soft ...

Ingredients :

Corn Flakes : 500 gms
Sugar : 1/2 cup (Adjust according to taste)
Honey : 3 Spoons(Optional)(Added for flavour)
Cardamom powder : 1/2 Spoon
Dry fruits (Crushed) : 1/2 Cup
Milk / water : 2 Spoons

Method :

1. Powder the corn flakes & sugar separately  in a mixer.
2. Mix corn flakes powder, sugar powder, cardamom powder, dry fruits & honey.
3. Sprinkle 2-3 spoons of water /milk for binding.
4. Prepare small ball sized laddu.
5. Now crunchy & soft laddu's ready to eat.

Notes:

• I have used plain cornflakes, any flavoured corn flakes can be used.
• Adjust sugar according to your taste, if you use sweetened cornflakes.
• Jaggery syrup can be used instead of sugar.
• Roasted grated coconut can also be added. 

Brown Rice Pudding

Happy Ganesha chathurthi ...

Here is the simple & quick rice pudding recipe for you on the occasion of Lord Ganesha's birthday.

Ingredients:

Brown rice : 1 cup

Powdered Jaggery : 1/2 cup 

Cardamom powder : 1/2 spoon

dry fruits : 1/2 cup

Ghee : 1 Spoon

Grated dry coconut : 1/2 cup

Method :

1. Wash & soak brown rice for 30-45 minutes.
2. Pressure cook 1 cup of brown rice with 2 1/2 cups of water.
3. Add jaggery powder & cardamom powder. Bring to boil.
4. Heat ghee in a pan, add dry fruits & fry for 2-3 seconds & add grated coconut, fry further till coconut turns brown. 
5. Add fried dry fruits & coconut to cooked brown rice & mix well.
6. Serve hot / Chilled.

Note:

• You can use coconut milk instead of water.
• Use jaggery according to your taste.
• You can use  basmati rice instead of brown rice.
• Broken wheat can also be used instead of rice.
• You can even use fresh grated coconut.

Layered sweet roll

Ingredients:

For Roll:

Whole wheat flour : 2 Cups
Salt : According to Taste
Cooking oil : 4 Spoons
Chiroti rava : 1 Spoon
Rice flour : 2 Spoons
Cooking oil for deep frying

For sugar syrup:

Sugar : 1 Cup
Cardamom Powder : 1/2 spoon
water : 1/2 Cup


Method :

• Mix wheat flour, salt, rice flour,chiroti rava & cooking oil. Prepare chapati dough by adding required amount of water. Knead well.
• Make equal sized balls out of dough & prepare thin chapati's.
• Now place once chapati over the other, by applying oil in between the chapati's. While placing one chapati over other, do not cover completely. Leave little space on one side of the lower sided chapati.(Pic shown below)

• Make roll out of this overlapped chapati's. 
• Cut into equal sized roll.

• Deep fry till golden brown. 
• prepare sugar syrup for 2 string consistency.
• Add deep fried rolls to sugar syrup & keep them in syrup for 3 minutes.
• Take them out & serve.

Note :

• Instead of adding rolls to sugar syrup, you can just pour required amount of sugar syrup to the rolls.
• Depending on the sweetness required, you can keep rolls in syrup for some more time.

Mysore pak

Ingredients :

Besan Flour : 1 cup
Sugar : 1 cup
Ghee : 1 Cup


Method : 

1. Melt 1/2 cup of ghee & fry besan flour till nice aroma spreads.
2. Mix powdered sugar with roasted flour. 
3. Add remaining ghee & heat in low flame till mixture leaves ghee on the sides/edges.
4. Grease the tray with little ghee.
5. Spread over the tray & give desired shape when the mixture is still hot.
6. Decorate with dry fruits.
7. Once its cool, take out from tray.

Note:

• You can add cardamom powder for flavour. 
• If you want little harder version of mysore pak (Like brown coloured), heat the mixture for some more time.

Black currant dates kheer (Payasa)

Ingredients :

Chopped seedless dates :1/2 cup
Black currant (dry) : 1/2 cup
Poppy seeds(ಗಸಗಸೆ) : 1/4 cup
Jaggery powder : 3/4 cup
Ghee : 2 spoons
Dry fruits : 1/2 cup
Coconut milk : 2 cups
Rice flour : 2 spoon

Method :

1. Roast dry fruits, poppy seeds, dates & blackcurrant with ghee till nice aroma spreads.
2. Add jaggery & coconut milk .
3. Dilute rice flour with water & add to above mixture .
4. Bring to boil.
5. Serve hot or chilled.

Note :

• Sugar can be used instead of jaggery.
• Dry grapes can be used instead of black currant.
• Any kind of dry fruit can be used.
• Coconut milk can be replaced by milk.
• Corn flour can be used instead of rice flour.
• Since dates & black current are already sweet, adjust sweetness accordingly.
• If you want more thickness, then only add diluted rice flour.

Chocolate flavoured semolina payasa

Ingredients : 

Semolina : 1 Cup
Sugar : 1/2 cup
Jaggery : 1/2 to1 cup (adjust according to your taste)
Coconut milk : 3 cups
Dry fruits :( dates / grapes / cashew nuts /almond) : 1/2 cup
Ghee : 2 spoon
Cocoa powder : 4 spoons
Cardamom powder : 1/4 spoon (Optional )

Method :

1. Cook semolina with coconut milk & cocoa powder.
2. Add sugar & Jaggery. Adjust the required consistency by adding water / coconut milk. 
3. Bring to boil.
4. Roast dry fruits with ghee & add to above mixture.
5. Add  cardamom powder & serve.

Cocoa - Dates balls

Dates are very good source of protein, dietary fiber and rich in vitamins. Also have got high iron content. And many more health benefits of eating dates.

It is big worry for each mother to feed their little one something healthy & nutritious. Being a mother of  a little boy, who is fussy eater;  my thoughts always revolve around food items & how to fool  my little one to feed some thing good for his health. The only word which is liked by him is chocolate (chokky). So I have ended up with cocoa-dates balls.

You can have many variety of date balls; like almond date balls, cashew date balls or mixed date balls. Or you can have your own combination.

Ingredients :

Dates  : 2 cups

Sugar : 1- 2 spoons (According to your tatse) (Optional)

Cocoa powder - 2 spoons

Method:

1. Remove the seeds &  heat in microwave till dates becomes soft.
2. In a mixer, mix cocoa powder, powdered sugar & dates.
3. Let it cool for some time & give desired shape.
4. Decorate & serve.

Note : While preparing dates roll with dry fruits , Just heat de-seeded dates in microwave & roll over the soft dates on powdered dry fruits. Keep it in refrigerator for half an hour & then give desired shape.