Muskmelon Kalakand

 

           Kalakand is a traditional and a very popular Indian dessert that is generally served during festivals and special occasions. It is prepared of crumbled paneer and is slightly grainy in texture. 

          So let me share this Muskmelon kalakand, which is a healthy version with the goodness of paneer and the fruit. Garnish as desired with chopped nuts and enjoy them chilled or at room temperature. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy and an unique dessert and surprise your loved ones.

           Muskmelon, on the other hand, is a hydrating fruit that is composed of 90% water content. It has many nutritional benefits as it is low in calories, keeps our body hydrated, improves digestion, is good for the heart and helps in weight control. 

          This is a very simple recipe with very few ingredients and takes very little time to dish out. You can set the kalakand in molds or on a greased plate and cut into desired shapes and sizes. Adjust the ghee and sweetness according to your preference. You can add jaggery or brown sugar instead, for a healthier version.  

• 200 gms. paneer, crumbled 
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1 cup muskmelon, pureed
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar or to taste 
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder 
• 1 tbsp. pistachios, chopped
• few saffron strands

      

          In a pan, add the muskmelon puree and simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. 

          Add the crumbled paneer, sugar, ghee and cardamom powder. Mix everything well. 

         Now add the milk and keep stirring continuously on a low flame till the mixture starts to come together in a dough form & leaves the sides of the pan. 

          Transfer to any mold. Allow it to cool down and refrigerate for some time till it sets.  

          Enjoy as and when desired. Great for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

                       In a pan, add the muskmelon puree.

        Simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. 

Add the crumbled paneer, sugar, ghee & cardamom powder. Mix well.

         

                       Now add the milk.

                   Keep stirring continuously on a low flame......

......till the mixture starts to come together in a dough form & leaves the sides of the pan. 

Transfer to any mold. Allow it to cool down & refrigerate for some time till it sets.  

Enjoy as & when desired. Great for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

Kuttu Atta Phirni (Buckwheat Flour Pudding)

 

               Phirni is a traditional dessert / pudding that has its origins in the Northern regions of India. It is typically made of ground rice paste in a milk based creamy dessert. Very common and a popular Indian dessert, it is abundantly found in many sweet shops and prepared in many households. It is a must in all festivals, ceremonies, fasting days or any auspicious occasions. 

              But how about some 'Kuttu Atta Phirni' / 'Buckwheat Flour Pudding' for a change? So substitute the usual rice with Kuttu flour. It is absolutely an easy, quick and a yummy chilled dessert. Moreover, it is diabetic friendly and can be enjoyed guilt free. 

  

             Kuttu Flour has many health benefits. It is also called Buckwheat Flour and is perfect for diabetics. It is gluten free, is good for the heart, improves digestion, contains good amount of fibre and provides plant based protein. 

             I sweetened this phirni with sugar and flavored it with saffron and cardamom powder. However, you may use jaggery, brown sugar or date syrup instead, to give a healthy touch. It takes very little time to dish out this pudding and turns out just amazing with just a few ingredients.  

              You can enjoy it as an after meal dessert or with poori / paratha. It's pure divine. Garnish as desired and serve it chilled. So try this phirni in a new avatar by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this awesome healthy dessert. 

• 2 cups milk
• 3-4 tbsp. Kuttu Atta (Buckwheat Flour), dry roasted
• 1/4 cup sugar or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• Pinch of saffron soaked in 2-3 tbsp. milk
• 2 tbsp. chopped almonds & chopped pistachios 
• 1 tbsp. raisins
• pinch of dry rose petals & few saffron strands to garnish

          Soak the saffron in 2-3 tbsp. milk for 25-30 minutes. 

          In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. 

          Add the dry roasted kuttu atta and simmer on a low flame till it turns slightly thick.

          Add the saffron milk, sugar, half of the chopped nuts and cardamom powder.

          Mix well and simmer further for 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame. 

          Bring it to room temperature and refrigerate for an hour. 

          Serve chilled, garnished with chopped almonds, pistachios, few saffron strands and dry rose petals.

                  Soak the saffron in 2-3 tbsp. milk for 25-30 minutes. 

In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. 

Add the dry roasted kuttu atta & simmer on a low flame till it turns slightly thick.

                   Add the saffron milk,

                         sugar,

                       half of the chopped nuts. 

                       and cardamom powder.

Mix well & simmer further for 1-2 minutes. Switch off the flame. Bring it to room temperature & refrigerate for an hour. 

Serve chilled, garnished with chopped almonds, pistachios, few saffron strands and dry rose petals.

Sandesh, Fruits & Shrikhand Parfait (Layered Dessert)

 

           Fusion Desserts are a great way to use up any leftover sweets. So check out this amazing Parfait made with few leftover sandesh, some fruits and again some leftover  shrikhand. So you will find alternate layers of crumbled sandesh, chopped fruits and  Shrikhand. 

          You may substitute sandesh with any other variety of sweets like burfi, peda or laddu. Instead of shrikhand, kheer or payasam is another good option. Any other variety of fruits can also be added apart from the ones I used. I then garnished it with chopped pistachios, chopped almonds, dry rose petals and a pinch of saffron for a visual treat. 

        

          This is a very simple and an easy dessert that you can whip up at short notice. So if you are on a lookout for an out of the box dessert for any special occasion or festival, then do give this recipe a try. Your guests will be really impressed. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to dish out this amazingly yummy parfait dish.

• 3 leftover Sandesh pieces or as needed
• 1/2 cup leftover Shrikhand or as needed
• 2-3 chopped strawberries or as needed
• 10-12 blueberries or as needed
• few saffron strands
• few dry rose petals
• 1 tsp. chopped pistachios and almonds
• 1 mint sprig

         Crumble the sandesh and set aside.

         In a serving glass, first place a layer of the crumbled sandesh at the bottom. 

         Now top it up with few chopped strawberries. 

         Then add a layer of shrikhand, followed by some blueberries, sandesh, strawberries and then lastly by the remaining shrikhand.

         When done, garnish with chopped nuts, dry rose petals and saffron. 

         Finally place one blueberry and a mint sprig on the top. Now your amazing layered dessert is ready.

         Refrigerate for a couple of minutes and then enjoy!!!!!!

In a serving glass, first place a layer of the crumbled sandesh at the bottom. Now top it up with few chopped strawberries. 

                 Then add a layer of shrikhand, 

                 followed by some blueberries,

                        sandesh,

                     strawberries

and then lastly by the remaining shrikhand. When done, garnish with chopped nuts, dry rose petals and few saffron strands.

Finally place one blueberry & a mint sprig on the top. Now your amazing layered dessert is ready. Refrigerate for a couple of minutes and then enjoy!!!!!!

Fruity Bread Pizza - Fusion Dessert

 

            PIZZA is an universally favorite fast food. So now how about having it in a dessert form? Here is my version of a 'FRUITY BREAD PIZZA' that can be served as an after-meal dessert. There is a hidden dessert in it. The Bread pizza base is generously spread with SHRIKHAND (leftover Sweet Corn Shrikhand), topped with some colorful fruits and finally garnished with chopped nuts, dry rose petals and few saffron strands. 

        

          I tried to keep this amazing pizza, simple, healthy and appealing. Any other variety of fruits can be used. So this way I was able to use up the leftover shrikhand. 

 

          With very few basic ingredients you can create this amazing fusion pizza. So go ahead and create your own fusion style fruit pizza by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this visual treat.

• 2 bread slices (white or brown), slightly toasted
• 1/3 cup leftover Shrikhand
• few strawberry slices
• few dragon fruit slices
• few blueberries
• 1-2 tsp. chopped nuts (almonds. pistachios, etc.)
• few dry rose petals
• few saffron strands

           To assemble the Pizza - Take the bread slices and generously spread the leftover shrikhand over it.

           Arrange the cut fruits accordingly in an attractive pattern.

           Top it up with chopped nuts, dried rose petals and few saffron strands.

           Serve as an after-meal dessert and enjoy at room temperature

To assemble the Pizza - Take the bread slices & generously spread the leftover shrikhand over it.

       Arrange the cut fruits accordingly in an attractive pattern.

 Top it up with chopped nuts, dried rose petals & few saffron strands.

                       Serve as an after-meal dessert.

                      And enjoy at room temperature.