Gulab Jamun

GULAB JAMUN

A simple and easy version of Gulab Jamun recipe prepared using instant Gulab Jamun mix.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time:  30mins
Cook time: 20mins
Serves: 10  - 12
Author: Saranya Prabhu

Ingredients:

• 1 and 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 and 1/2 cup water
• 3 cardamom, powdered
• 100 grams instant gulab jamun mix. ( I used MTR) 
• 3 tablespoon warm milk
• Oil for frying

How to cook: 

1. In a large pan add sugar and water and bring it to boil till sugar syrup turns slightly sticky.
2. Switch off the flame, add cardamom powder. Cover and keep aside.
3. In a mixing bowl take 100 grams instant gulab jamun mix. Add 2 tablespoon of warm milk. Make a smooth and soft dough.
4. Now make small balls greasing ghee to hands. Make sure there are no cracks on balls.
5. Heat oil in a kadai and fry all the jamuns on low flame stirring in-between. 
6. Fry till the balls turn golden brown. Drain and keep aside.
7. Drop the hot jamuns into the sugar syrup.
8. cover the lid and let it rest for 30mins to 2 hours.
9. Serve warm or chilled.

Gajar Ka Halwa

GAJAR KA HALWA

Carrot halwa or Gajar ka halwa is a slow cook sweet dish of making delicious halwa with just 5 to 6 ingredients - carrot, milk. khoya, ghee, sugar and some dry fruits.

Course:  Sweetdish / dessert
Cuisine:  North Indian
Prep time: 15-30 mins
Cook time: 1 hour
Serves:  4 - 6
Author: Saranya Prabhu

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg carrot
• 1cup milk
• 1/2 cup sugar + ( 2 tablespoon sugar if you want it to be sweeter) 
• 1/2 cup grated khoya or mawa
• 60 grams ghee
• Few almonds, cashew and pistachio for garnishing

How to cook: 

1. Wash the carrots and peel them (choose tender or young carrots that are fresh) 
2. Grate them in a food processor or with a hand greater. Set them aside. 
3. Dry roast nuts on a low heat until crunchy.  You can also chop them first and fry in ghee.  Set aside. 
4. Bring milk to a boil in a heavy bottom pot or deep pan
5. Add grated carrots and stir continuously. 
6. Cook until the milk evaporates completely (keep stirring constantly in between to prevent burning) 
7. Add sugar and stir. Sugar will release a lot of moisture.  Cook until half the moisture evaporates. 
8. Add ghee and stir well. 
9. Continue to cook until the moisture evaporates and the halwa thickens
10. Now add grated khoya. Stir well and cook for just 2 to 3mins.
11. Garnish halwa with nuts.  Serve warm or chilled. 

Butter Garlic Squid

BUTTER GARLIC SQUID

Fresh squid tossed in garlic with added butter. It makes a good squid appetizer. 

You can also try and add some shrimps and scalloped so that you can have a seafood feast at home.

Course:  Appetizer

Cuisine: General

Prep time: 5min

Cook time: 5min

Serves: 2
Author: Saranya Prabhu

Ingredients: 

• 250grams squid
• 50 grams salted butter
• 3 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoon chopped spring onion
• Salt to taste

How to cook: 

1. Heat butter in a pan
2. Once the butter melts and starts to get hot, add the garlic.  Continue to cook between low to medium heat until the garlic starts to turn light brown. 
3. Add the squid. Stir fry on medium to high flame for 3 to 4 min. 
4. Sprinkle some spring onion.  Add salt if needed. 
5. Transfer to serving plate and serve hot. 

Ven Pongal/ Khara Pongal

VEN PONGAL/ KHARA PONGAL

Pongal is a traditional South Indian food prepared with rice & moong dal, either to a sweet or savoury dish. Ven or Khara Pongal is the name given to the savoury version.

It is often served as breakfast along with chutneys and sambar. However, it is great to be enjoyed at lunch/ dinner time too.

Course:  Breakfast
cuisine: South Indian / Tamil
Preparation Time:  5min
Cooking Time: 20min
Author:  Saranya Prabhu

Ingredients:

For pressure cooking:

• 1 teaspoon ghee
• 1/2 cup rice rinsed
• 1/2 cup moong dal rinsed
• 4 cup of water

For tempering:

• 2 tablespoon ghee
• 1 teaspoon jeera/ cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper crushed
• 1-inch ginger finely chopped
• 2 chilli slit
• 10 cashew nuts
• Pinch hing
• 8- 10 curry leaves

How to make:

Roasting moong dal:

1. Heat 1 teaspoon ghee in a pressure cooker/ kadai.
2. Add 1/2 cup each of rice and moong dal, saute on a low flame for a 2-3 minute or until it turns aromatic.
3. Remove them in another bowl & rinse for 2-3 times with water.

Cooking Pongal:

1. Drain well and then add in a pressure cooker.  Further, add 4 cups of water and salt. Mix well.
2. Cover and pressure cook for 5 whistles on medium flame.
3. Once the pressure settles down.  Open and give a good mix.

Tempering:

1. In a pan heat 2 tablespoon ghee.
2. Add all the ingredients mention under tempering.
3. Saute on low flame until cashew turns golden brown.
4. Pour the tempering over cooked rice and dal mixture.
5. Give a good mix, add more ghee if required.
6. Serve Khara Pongal with coconut chutney and sambar.