Shahi Tukda (stuffed with Red Dragon Fruit Kalakand) A Hyderabadi Fusion Dessert

 

                This is a fusion recipe of the very popular Hyderabadi dessert - Shahi Tukda. As I had some leftover homemade Red Dragon Fruit kalakand, I made sandwiches out of it. I also made some instant rabdi. Then I arranged the sandwiches (cut into two) on a serving plate and drizzled the rabdi over it. This was served, garnished with some chopped almonds, pistachios and dry rose petals. My innovative fusion dessert is ready. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare my version of this yummy fusion dessert.

          Shahi Tukda, a royal dessert is also called Double Ka Meetha in Hyderabad. It is a rich Mughlai style dessert prepared of fried bread slices dipped in sugar syrup. This is then drizzled with rabdi and garnished with chopped dry fruits. 

          This decadent dessert is flavored with cardamom powder, rose water and saffron. It is a must for special occasions like weddings, parties and during Eid festival.

1.  Kalakand - 

• 200 gms. paneer, crumbled 
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• Red Dragon fruit puree
• 2 tbsp. milk powder
• 2-3 tbsp. sugar or to taste 
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder 
• 1-2 tbsp. pistachios & almonds, chopped

             In a non-stick pan, add the Red Dragon Fruit puree and simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. 

          Add all the ingredients (except chopped nuts). Mix everything well & keep stirring continuously on a low flame till the mixture starts to come together in a dough form & leave the sides of the pan. 

          Transfer to a greased plate and garnish with the chopped nuts. Allow it to cool and refrigerate for some time till it sets.  

          Cut into desired shapes and enjoy as and when desired. Great for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

2.  Sandwich - 

• 4 slices of bread
• ghee as required 
• Kalakand stuffing as required

          Spread some ghee on the bread slices and make sandwiches in a sandwich maker with the kalakand as stuffing. Cut them into 2 slices and keep aside. 

Spread some ghee on the bread slices & make sandwiches in a sandwich maker with the kalakand as stuffing.

                           Cut them into 2 slices and keep aside. 

3.  Instant rabdi -

• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup milk powder
• powdered sugar to taste
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron
• 1 tsp. rose water

          In a bowl, mix together all the above mentioned ingredients and transfer to a pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes by continuously stirring it. 

          Keep aside for 15-20 minutes for it to cool down. Your instant rabdi is ready.

In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients & transfer to a pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes by continuously stirring it. Keep aside for 15-20 minutes for it to cool down. Your instant rabdi is ready.

4.  Garnish - 

• 1 tsp. chopped almonds 
• 1 tsp. chopped pistachios
• few dry rose petals 

          To serve - Arrange the kalakand stuffed sandwiches on a plate and pour the rabdi over it.

          Garnish with chopped almonds, pistachios and rose petals. Your fusion style Shahi Tukda with Red Dragon Fruit Kalakand stuffing is ready to enjoy. 

   Arrange the kalakand stuffed sandwiches on a plate & pour the rabdi over it.

         

Garnish with chopped almonds, pistachios & dry rose petals. Your fusion style Shahi Tukda with Red Dragon Fruit Kalakand stuffing is ready to enjoy. 

Dahi Ka Halwa (Yoghurt / Curd Pudding)

 

            Ever heard of a dessert made of yoghurt? It is a recipe from the royal kitchens of India. Sounds weird, but actually it turns out very yummy. It is a Shahi dessert and is almost a lost recipe now. It is believed its origin is from the state of Rajasthan. The end product is like any other halwa / pudding that is generally made, but far more exotic and tastier. So this dessert can be a great festive / party dessert and I bet no one will be able to guess the core ingredient. 

          Very few basic ingredients goes into dishing out this halwa. Typically ground dry fruits and jaggery are used. However, I made use of semolina and plain sugar. Brown sugar can also be added. 

          So go ahead and give this exotic dessert a try and impress your loved ones. Check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this Royal treat. 

• 2-3 tbsp. ghee
• 1/4 cup semolina
• 1 cup hung yoghurt, whisked
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tbsp. water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 2-3 tbsp. chopped almonds and pistachios
• few dry rose petals and few strands of saffron to garnish

          Heat ghee in a pan and add the semolina. Stir fry till light brown in colour. Keep aside to cool down slightly.

          Then add the hung yoghurt, sugar, rose water, cardamom powder and saffron water. 

          Mix everything well and put the pan back on flame. Continue to stir on a low flame for 4-5 minutes. 

          Now add the chopped nuts (reserve few to garnish) and continue to cook till the ghee separates and everything comes together.

          Garnish with the remaining chopped nuts, rose petals and saffron. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. 

                      Heat ghee in a pan and add the semolina. 

       Stir fry till light brown in colour. Keep aside to cool down slightly.

 Add the hung yoghurt, sugar, rose water, cardamom powder & saffron water. 

Mix everything well & put the pan back on flame. Continue to stir on a low flame for 4-5 minutes. 

                 Add the chopped nuts (reserve few to garnish).

      Continue to cook till the ghee separates & everything comes together.

          Garnish with the remaining chopped nuts, rose petals and saffron. 

                Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. 

Multigrain 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 multigrain 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 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.

Ingredients - 

• 1 tsp. ghee
• 1 cup multi grain flour
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• a pinch of saffron
• 2-3 tbsp. milk or as required

          Heat ghee in a pan and add the multi grain flour with a pinch of salt. Roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in colour. 

          Switch off the flame and add the jaggery. Mix everything well. Then add the cardamom powder and a pinch of saffron. Give it a stir.

          Transfer the mix to a bowl. Add milk, 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 fill it with a small portion of the prepared mixture. 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 and add the multi grain flour with a pinch of salt. Roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in colour. 

        Switch off the flame & add the jaggery. Mix everything well.

Then add the cardamom powder & a pinch of saffron. Give it a stir. 

Transfer the mix to a bowl. Add milk, little at a time to make it moist. It should come together when you hold it in a fist. 

Grease a modak mold with ghee & fill it with a small portion of the prepared mixture. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. 

Gently demold & arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modak with the remaining mix.

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

Red Dragon Fruit Sooji Modak

 

          Red Dragon Fruit Sooji Modak is a new vibrant twist to the classic modak. It is incredibly easy to dish out. As preparing Modak during Ganesh Chaturthi is mandatory, so go ahead and make these amazing and colorful sweet dumplings. I flavored it with cardamom powder. You may add saffron or rose water if you wish. So please Lord Ganesh by offering these modak this festive season by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this divine treat. 

           

• 1 red dragon fruit, pureed
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1/2 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup sugar or to taste (I used brown sugar)
• 1/4 cup milk powder
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1-2 tbsp. chopped almond

          Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in a pan and add the semolina. Roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in colour. 

          Add the pureed dragon fruit, cardamom powder and brown sugar. Mix  everything well and keep stirring on a low flame till all the moisture has been absorbed. 

          Now add the milk and cook till almost dry, but moist. Then add the milk powder, followed by the remaining ghee. Continue to cook till everything comes together like a dough. Keep aside to cool slightly.

          Grease a modak mold with ghee and add few pieces of chopped almonds. Then fill it with a small portion of the prepared mixture. 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. Your tasty modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha. 

                        Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in a pan....

Add the semolina. Roast on a low flame for 2-3 minutes or till light golden in colour. 

Add the pureed dragon fruit, cardamom powder & brown sugar. Mix everything well & keep stirring on a low flame till all the moisture has been absorbed. 

               Now add the milk & cook till almost dry, but moist. 

                       Then add the milk powder, 

                       followed by the remaining ghee.

Continue to cook till everything comes together like a dough. Keep aside to cool slightly.

Grease a modak mold with ghee & add few pieces of chopped almonds. 

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

Gently demold & arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modak with the remaining mix.

           Your tasty modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha.