Sooji / Semolina Modak

 

             Sooji Halwa (Semolina Pudding) is an all time favorite dessert prepared during auspicious occasions and festivals. So make this simple and easy Halwa but with a difference and in a new avatar. Give it a modak shape and surprise your loved ones. It looks quite appetizing and can be a great party recipe too. You may treat it as a festive sweet or relish as an after meal dessert as is or with poori / paratha. 

            

            You can substitute sugar with jaggery or brown sugar to give it a healthy touch. I flavored it with cardamom powder and saffron. Very easy to prepare, it can be made in a very short time. The end result are these yummy modak that can also be offered to Lord Ganesha or any festive occasion. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy dessert.

  

• 3/4 cup sooji / semolina
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• pinch of saffron soaked in 1 & 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. coarsely ground nuts & seeds (pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds)

            In a pan, add the sooji and 1 tbsp. ghee. Sauté till it turns light brown.

            Add the milk, water and coarsely ground nuts and seeds. Continue to cook till the moisture is absorbed.

            Now add the sugar, remaining ghee and cardamom powder.

            Mix well and sauté till it is well blended and thickens.

            Transfer to a greased plate and knead for a minute  

            Grease a modak mold with some ghee and fill it with a small portion of the sooji halwa. 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 halwa. 

          Wow!!! Yummy Sooji modak is ready to be enjoyed. 

                  In a pan, add the sooji & 1 tbsp. ghee.

                       Sauté till it turns light brown.

Add the milk, water & coarsely ground nuts and seeds. Continue to cook till the moisture is absorbed.

                Now add the sugar, remaining ghee & cardamom powder.

 Transfer to a greased plate.

 knead for a minute. 

Grease a modak mold with some ghee & fill it with a small portion of the sooji halwa. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. 

 Now gently demold.

Arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modak with the remaining halwa.

                  Wow!!! yummy Sooji modak is ready to be enjoyed. 

Sweet Corn Shrikhand

 

          Shrikhand is a traditional Maharashtrian Dessert prepared with hung yoghurt. It is a very easy dessert that can be made in no time if the hung yoghurt is ready. It is usually flavored with saffron and cardamom powder for the original version. 

         So, check out my version of this yummy Shrikhand, where I used some low fat yoghurt along with the reduced puree of sweet corn. It makes for a perfect summer treat and turns this humble dessert healthy and delicious.

           

           Be sure to have this visually appealing dessert chilled for a divine experience. I simply love to dig into this melt-in-the-mouth delicacy. This was my first try at making this Sweet Corn Shrikhand and it turned out just amazing. 

           It is perfect for any festive occasion and is a great party recipe too. You can also relish it as an after-meal dessert. Garnish as desired and Voila!! You have a yummy and a fuss-free healthy dessert in a jiffy. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sweet indulgence. 

• 2 cups yoghurt (I used low fat)
• 2 cups sweet corn
• 2-3 tbsp. powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron
• 1 tbsp. chopped pistachios, few corn kernels & few strands of saffron to garnish

           Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth and place on a strainer. Keep this on a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for the recipe.  

           Blend the sweet corn along with 1/4 cup water into a puree.

           Transfer it to a pan and simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. Keep aside to cool. 

           To the hung yoghurt, add the reduced sweet corn and mix well. 

           Now add the powdered sugar, cardamom powder and saffron. 

           Whisk well till smooth and strain it. Refrigerate till serving time.

           Garnish with chopped pistachios, corn kernels and few strands of saffron.

           Serve as a festive dessert, as an after meal dessert or anytime you desire.

Note - 

As it was my first try I realized it's better to strain the blended sweet corn puree first before reducing it. This will help to retain the added flavors. 

Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth and place on a strainer. Keep this on a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for the recipe.  

Blend the sweet corn along with 1/4 cup water into a puree. Transfer it to a pan.

Simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. Keep aside to cool. 

To the hung yoghurt, add the reduced sweet corn & mix well.

      Now add the powdered sugar, cardamom powder & saffron. 

                    Whisk well till smooth.

                     Strain it.

                      Refrigerate till serving time.

   Garnish with chopped pistachios, corn kernels & few strands of saffron.

Serve as a festive dessert, as an after meal dessert or anytime you desire.

Black Cherry Shrikhand

 

           Shrikhand is a traditional Maharashtrian Dessert prepared with hung yoghurt. It is a very easy dessert that can be made in no time if the hung yoghurt is ready. It is usually flavored with saffron and cardamom powder for the original version. However, you can make it a bit healthy and appetizing by adding any fruit of your choice.

        

            So, check out my version of this yummy Black Cherry Shrikhand, where I used some low fat yoghurt along with the fruit puree. It makes for a perfect summer treat. 

           Be sure to have this visually appealing dessert chilled for a divine experience. I simply love to dig into this melt-in-the-mouth delicacy. If you are a fan of any fruit based shrikhand, you will simply love this dessert. 

           It is perfect for any festive occasion and is a great party recipe too. You can also relish it as an after-meal dessert. Garnish as desired and Voila!! You have a yummy and a fuss-free healthy dessert in a jiffy. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sweet indulgence. 

• 400 gms. low fat yoghurt
• 1 cup black cherry
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• chopped nuts to garnish

           Deseed the black cherries & chop them into small pieces. Blend them into a puree.

           Transfer it to a pan and simmer on a low flame till all the moisture has evaporated. Keep aside to cool. 

           Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth and place on a strainer. Keep this on a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for the recipe.  

           In a bowl, take the hung yoghurt, reduced blueberry, sugar to taste, cardamom powder and rose water. Whisk well till smooth and refrigerate till serving time. You can strain it if preferred. 

          Spoon into individual bowls. Garnish with chopped nuts and a cherry on the top. Serve as a festive dessert, as an after meal dessert or anytime you desire.

Deseed the black cherries & chop them into small pieces. Blend them into a puree.

                Transfer the puree into a pan. Simmer on a low flame ....

       ... till all the moisture has evaporated. Keep aside to cool. 

Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth & place on a strainer. Keep this on a bowl in the refrigerator overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for the recipe. 

Mix the hung yoghurt, reduced black cherry, sugar, cardamom powder & rose water. 

                   Whisk well till smooth and refrigerate till serving time.

Spoon into individual bowls. Garnish with chopped nuts & a cherry on the top. Serve as a festive dessert, as an after meal dessert or anytime you desire.

Mixed Fruit Shrikhand

 

           Shrikhand is a rich and creamy traditional Maharashtrian Dessert prepared with hung yoghurt. It is a very easy dessert that can be made in no time if the hung yoghurt is ready. It is usually flavored with saffron and cardamom powder for the original version. 

        

           However, I gave a healthy twist to this no-cook dessert by adding some chopped mixed fruits and it turned out simply yummy. This way you can make the best use of any leftover fruits by dishing out this easy to prepare dessert. 

           I flavored it with rose water, cardamom powder and saffron. This healthy dessert is an ideal party recipe or can be prepared for any festive occasion. It can also be enjoyed as an after meal dessert. Choice is yours. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this healthy summer treat. 

• 400 gms. yoghurt
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron soaked in 1 tsp. rose water for 2-3 hours
• 1 cup mixed fruits, finely chopped (Mango, Dragon Fruit, Musk Melon, Nectarine, Guava, Pear)
• 1/3 cup puree of all the mixed fruits
• chopped nuts, dry rose petals & saffron to garnish
• small scoops of fruits to garnish
• Few sprigs of mint 

           Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth and place it on a strainer. Keep a bowl underneath and refrigerate it overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for this recipe. 

           Transfer the hung yoghurt to a mixing bowl. Add the sugar, cardamom powder, fruits puree. Give it a mix.

           Add the finely chopped fruits and saffron-rose water. Gently fold them in.

          Garnish with small scoops of fruits, chopped nuts, dry rose petals, mint and saffron.

           Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Then enjoy this tempting, healthy and refreshing chilled dessert.

Pour the yoghurt in a cheese cloth & place it on a strainer. Keep a bowl underneath & refrigerate it overnight. The thick hung yoghurt is used for this recipe. 

                      Transfer the hung yoghurt to a mixing bowl. 

 Add the sugar, cardamom powder & fruits puree. Give it a mix.

      Add the finely chopped fruits & saffron-rose water. Gently fold them in.

Garnish with small scoops of fruits, chopped nuts, dry rose petals, mint & saffron.

          Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Then enjoy this tempting, healthy & 

          refreshing chilled dessert.