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.

Lauki Ki Kheer (Bottle Gourd Pudding / Payasam)

 

            Kheer / Payasam needs no intro. It is a very popular dessert during Indian festivals or any auspicious occasions. As Bottle Gourd has a cooling effect, this pudding is an absolutely healthy dessert. So do try this exotic Lauki Ki kheer and enjoy with your loved ones. It simply tastes yummy with its rich and creamy texture. It is a great festive and a party dessert, perfect for special occasions. This Lauki kheer can also be had on fasting days.  

        

          This recipe calls for very few ingredients and is prepared just like any other homemade kheer, except for the fact that the grated bottle gourd needs to be squeezed well before sautéing in ghee. 

          Garnish with chopped pistachios, almonds, dry rose petals and few saffron strands and serve it hot, warm or chilled. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy dessert. 

• 1 cup grated tender bottle gourd
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1/4 cup khoya
• 1/4 cup milk powder
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 & 1/2 cups full fat milk
• 1 tbsp. slivered almonds
• 1 tbsp. slivered pistachios
• 2 tbsp. raisins
• 1/4 cup jaggery powder
• pinch of saffron
• 1 tsp. kewra water
• 1 tsp. chopped nuts, saffron strands & few dry rose petals to garnish

          Squeeze out the water from the grated bottle gourd and keep aside. 

          Heat ghee in a pan and sauté the bottle gourd for 4-5 minutes or till the ghee separates from the sides of the pan. 

          Now add the khoya, milk powder and cardamom powder. Mix everything well so that there are no lumps. 

          Add the milk, slivered pistachios, almonds and raisins. Simmer on a low flame till it turns slightly thick.

          Add the jaggery and saffron. Continue to simmer by stirring at intervals till the kheer comes to a desired consistency. 

          Switch off the flame and add the kewra water. Set aside to bring it to room temperature. 

          Refrigerate for 1-2 hours if you want to have it chilled. However, it can also be served hot or at room temperature.

          Serve, garnished with chopped nuts, saffron strands & few dry rose petals.

                      Heat ghee in a pan.

Sauté the bottle gourd for 4-5 minutes or till the ghee separates from the sides of the pan. 

Add the khoya, milk powder & cardamom powder. Mix everything well so that there are no lumps. 

Add the milk, slivered pistachios, almonds & raisins. Simmer on a low flame till it turns slightly thick.

Add the jaggery & saffron. Continue to simmer by stirring at intervals till the kheer comes to a desired consistency. 

                   Switch off the flame & add the kewra water. 

Garnish with chopped nuts, saffron strands & few dry rose petals. Enjoy it hot, at room temperature or chilled.

Garlic Kheer / Benami Kheer / Lehsun Ki Kheer / Pudding / Payasam

 

          Ever heard of a dessert prepared with garlic? It is almost a lost recipe now. Sounds unique but actually it turns out very delicious. Garlic kheer has its origin from the Royal kitchens of Awadh. It is also known as Benami Kheer as the core ingredient was a secret kept by the Khansamas (chefs).

          The end product is like any other kheer / pudding that is generally made, but far more yummier. I bet no one will be able to guess the core ingredient. It is flavored with cardamom powder and saffron. So go ahead and give this exotic dessert a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this rich, creamy and delectable dessert. 

• 12-15 garlic cloves, sliced
• juice of 1 lime
• 500 ml. full cream milk
• few cardamom pods
• 1/3 cup milk powder
• 1/3 cup jaggery powder
• 1 tbsp. slivered almonds
• 1 tbsp. slivered pistachios
• 1 tbsp. raisins
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• pinch of saffron 
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1 tsp. rose water 
• fried garlic slices, few saffron strands, chopped almonds & pistachios to garnish (opt)

            Soak the sliced garlic in the lime juice overnight. Rinse well under running water. 

            Boil 5-6 times in enough fresh water. Each time while boiling add 2-3 cardamom pods. This is to remove the pungency. 

            Then rinse well each time under running water after boiling. Once done, discard the cardamom pods and keep aside. 

            Bring the milk to a boil and simmer on a low flame for 4-5 minutes by stirring continuously.

            Now add the boiled garlic, followed by milk powder, jaggery powder, slivered almonds, pistachios, raisins, saffron and cardamom powder. 

            Give it a mix and continue to simmer, by stirring at intervals. When it starts to thicken to a desired consistency, add the ghee and simmer for 2-3 minutes more. 

            When done, switch of the flame and add the rose water. Keep aside and bring it to room temperature. 

            Then refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Garnish with slivered almonds, pistachios, few saffron strands and fried slices of garlic and enjoy this exotic dessert. 

                  Soak the sliced garlic in the lime juice overnight. 

                     Rinse well under running water. 

Boil 5-6 times in enough water. Each time while boiling add 2-3 cardamom pods. This is to remove the pungency.

Then rinse well each time under running water after boiling. Once done, discard the cardamom pods and keep aside. 

Bring the milk to a boil & simmer on a low flame for 4-5 minutes by stirring continuously. Now add the boiled garlic, followed by.....

                        milk powder,

                        jaggery powder, 

                        slivered almonds, 

                       slivered pistachios, 

                     raisins, 

saffron and cardamom powder. Give it a mix & simmer, by stirring at intervals. 

When it starts to thicken to a desired consistency, add the ghee & simmer for 2-3 minutes more. 

When done, switch of the flame & add the rose water. Keep aside & bring it to room temperature. Then refrigerate for 1-2 hours. 

Garnish with slivered almonds, pistachios, few saffron strands and fried slices of garlic and enjoy this exotic dessert. 

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.