Kuttu Atta Modak (Buckwheat Flour Modak)

 

          Modak is a sweet dumpling that is offered to Lord Ganesha. Without it, celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete. There are many types of modak available in the market. They are traditionally prepared with rice flour and with a coconut-jaggery stuffing. 

            However, let me share a healthy modak recipe made of Buckwheat flour and jaggery. I flavored it with cardamom powder and saffron. Very easy to prepare, they can be made in a very short time. The end result are these yummy and healthy Modak that can be offered to Lord Ganesha on this festive occasion. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this divine festive treat.

• 1 tsp. ghee
• 1 cup kuttu Atta
• 1/2 cup jaggery powder
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• a pinch of saffron
• 2-3 tbsp. water / milk or as required
• few chopped pistachios

          Heat ghee in a pan and add the kuttu atta. Roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in color. 

          Switch off the flame and add the cardamom powder, pinch of saffron and jaggery powder. 

          Transfer the mix to a bowl and mix everything well.

          Add water, little at a time, to make it moist. It should come together when you hold it in a fist. 

          Grease a modak mold with some ghee and add few chopped pistachios. Then fill it with a small portion of the prepared dough. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. 

          Now gently demold and arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modak with the remaining mix. 

          Wow!!! tasty and healthy modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha. 

                       Heat ghee in a pan.

Add the kuttu atta & roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in color. 

   Switch off the flame & add the cardamom powder, pinch of saffron 

                     and jaggery. 

                  Transfer the mix to a bowl & mix everything well.

Add water, little at a time, to make it moist. It should come together when you hold it in a fist. 

Grease a modak mold with some ghee & add few chopped pistachios. 

Then fill it with a small portion of the prepared dough. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. 

Now gently demold & arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modaks with the remaining mix. 

Wow!!! tasty and healthy modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha. 

White Peas Sundal

 

            This White Peas Sundal is a take on the classic Chickpeas Sundal, found in South India, especially Tamil Nadu. I was introduced to this simple and easy snack during my stay in Chennai. They are usually served in temples and also can be found being sold in beaches and parks. 

          As these peas contain high protein, they are healthy and can be relished anytime of the day. But it is best enjoyed as an evening snack along with a cup of tea or coffee. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this popular and a healthy snack. 

• 1/2 cup white peas, soaked overnight
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 whole red chili, broken
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split black gram)
• 1 tbsp. chana dal (Bengal gram lentil)
• 2 tbsp. fresh coconut, grated
• 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

         

          Pressure cook the soaked white peas in required quantity of water for 1-2 whistles. Drain and keep aside. 

         Heat oil in a pan and temper with red chili, mustard seeds, green chilies, urad dal, chana dal and curry leaves. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

          Add the boiled white peas and salt. Stir fry for a minute or two. 

         Then add the grated coconut and coriander leaves. Give it a toss and switch off the flame. Serve and enjoy as a snack.

Pressure cook the soaked white peas in required quantity of water for 1-2 whistles. Drain and keep aside. 

Heat oil in a pan & temper with red chili, mustard seeds, green chilies, urad dal, chana dal & curry leaves. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

       Add the boiled white peas & salt. Stir fry for a minute or two. 

Then add the grated coconut & coriander leaves. Give it a toss & switch off the flame.

                    Serve and enjoy as a snack.

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.

Arbi Stir Fry (Colocasia Stir Fry)

 

            Arbi Stir Fry is a quick and a simple stir fry to go as a side dish along with your rice or chapattis. It is a dry version which is both spicy and tangy due to the presence of red chili powder and lime juice. The spice level can be adjusted according to your preference. This yummy stir fry is absolutely a hit with curd-rice or sambar rice. 

          

          It takes a matter of a few minutes to dish out this delicacy if the arbi is already boiled and refrigerated to save time. Please note - there is no onion, garlic or ginger, so it is a perfect dish to be had during fasting, though ginger can be included if preferred. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing dish.

• 12-15 arbi (colocasia)
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2-3 green chilies
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

            Pressure cook the arbi in required quantity of water along with 1 tsp. salt for 1 whistle. 

            When cool, drain them and peel off the skin. Then press each of them with a potato masher.

            Heat oil in a pan and sauté the arbi along with salt and Kashmiri red chili powder till light golden on both sides. Transfer to a serving dish.

            In the remaining oil, sauté the curry leaves and green chilies for a few seconds and add them to the fried arbi. 

            Then add the lime juice and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. 

            Serve as a side dish with either curd rice, sambar rice or dal-chawal. You can also enjoy as an appetizer with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

Pressure cook the arbi in required quantity of water along with 1 tsp. salt for 1 whistle. When cool, drain them & peel off the skin. Then press each of them with a potato masher.

Heat oil in a pan & sauté the arbi along with salt & Kashmiri red chili powder till light golden on both sides. Transfer to a serving dish.

In the remaining oil, sauté the curry leaves & green chilies for a few seconds. 

Add them to the fried arbi. Then add the lime juice and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. 

Serve as a side dish with either curd rice, sambar rice or dal-chawal. You can also enjoy as an appetizer with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

Makhana Phirni (Fox Nut / Lotus Seeds Pudding / Kheer / Payasam)

 

               Phirni is a traditional rice pudding has its origins in the Northern regions of India. 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. Typically, it is prepared with ground rice in a milk based creamy dessert. 

              

               So let me share a yummy version of phirni prepared with makhana / fox nuts. I sweetened it with jaggery to give a healthy touch and flavored it with saffron. Alternately, you may add brown sugar or date syrup instead. 

               It takes very little time to dish out and turns out just amazing with just a few ingredients. Serve it chilled in small earthen bowls for an authentic touch. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this creamy delight.

• 500 ml. full fat milk
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup makhana, dry roasted & powdered
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 cup jaggery powder or to taste
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1 pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tbsp. rose water
• 1-2 tbsp. slivered almonds and pistachios
• few dry rose petals
• few mint sprigs

                 Bring the milk to a boil along with a pinch of salt. Add the powdered makhana and cardamom powder. Simmer on a low flame by stirring continuously till it turns slightly thick.  

                 Add the jaggery powder, ghee and saffron water (reserve some to garnish). Mix well and simmer further for 4-5 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. 

                 Switch off the flame and bring it to room temperature. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. 

                 Serve chilled, garnished with slivered almonds and pistachios, saffron water, dry rose petals and a sprig of mint leaf.

 

                    Bring the milk to a boil along with a pinch of salt. 

Add the powdered makhana & cardamom powder. Simmer on a low flame by stirring continuously till it turns slightly thick.  

  

                     Add the jaggery powder, ghee 

                      and saffron water (reserve some to garnish). 

Mix well & simmer further for 4-5 minutes or till you get the desired consistency.

Serve chilled, garnished with slivered almonds, pistachios, saffron water, dry rose petals and a sprig of mint leaf.