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.

Red Dragon Fruit Burfi

 

          Burfi is one of the most common and popular Indian sweets. It is a must in all Indian festivals, ceremonies or any auspicious occasions. So want to surprise your loved ones with a really unique Burfi recipe?

         So here is an easy and instant Burfi recipe prepared with Red Dragon Fruit. They come out real yummy and takes very little time to dish out. The recipe is very simple with very few ingredients, but the end product is just amazing.

         These Burfis are visually very attractive with its vibrant dark pink / red colour. Adjust the ghee and sweetness according to your preference. You can add jaggery or brown sugar instead for a healthier version. 

          This Fruit, typically is a tropical fruit rich in fibre and antioxidants, but low in calories. It is mildly sweet in taste and has many nutritional benefits. The outer part of this fruit almost resembles a dragon, hence the name. 

          Red Dragon Fruit Burfi is a great party recipe, apt for special occasions or as a festive dessert. Enjoy these amazing Burfis at room temperature or chilled. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy dessert.  

• 1 red dragon fruit, pureed
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1/2 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup jaggery powder
• 1/4 cup milk powder
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1-2 tbsp. chopped almond & pistachios

          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 jaggery powder. 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. 

          Switch off the flame and transfer the contents to a greased plate. Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios. Allow it to cool and then refrigerate for some time till it is nicely set. 

          Cut as desired and enjoy them at room temperature or chilled. It is ideal for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

                     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 & jaggery powder. Mix everything well & 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. 

Transfer the contents to a greased plate. Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios. Allow it to cool & then refrigerate for some time till it is nicely set. 

Cut as desired & enjoy them at room temperature or chilled. It is ideal for any festive occasion or as an after meal dessert. 

Kacha Shorshe Ilish (Raw Hilsa Fish in Mustard Gravy - Bong style)

 

           Ilish Maach or Hilsa Fish is undoubtedly the most favored and popular river water fish among most of the Bengali crowd. Various types of recipes can be dished out with it. It is also an all time favorite of mine. So let me share a very easy, simple and a quick traditional recipe of Kacha Shorshe Ilish or Raw Hilsa Fish in Mustard gravy. 

          Kacha in Bengali lingo means raw. So in this recipe, the fish is not marinated or fried. It is directly dropped in the boiling mustard gravy and cooked, covered, till done.

          It is then garnished with raw mustard oil and coriander leaves. This delicacy goes well with only hot steamed rice. 

          So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this traditional Bengali Fish Curry. 

• 2 Hilsa Fish fillet, cleaned, washed well and rinsed
• 2 tsp. mustard paste
• 3 tbsp. mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp. nigella seeds
• 4 green chilies, slit
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Mix the mustard paste with 1 & 1/2 cups water. Then strain it and keep aside. 

          Heat 2 tbsp. mustard oil in a pan and temper with nigella seeds and 2 green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Add the strained mustard water, salt and turmeric powder. Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 4-5 minutes on a low flame.

          Now add the Hilsa fish fillet. Cover and cook on a low flame for 5-7 minutes. 

          When done, add the remaining mustard oil, remaining green chilies and coriander leaves. Serve this traditional fish curry with hot steamed rice. 

       Mix the mustard paste with 1 & 1/2 cup. Then strain it & keep aside. 

Heat 2 tbsp. oil & temper with nigella seeds & 2 green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds.

Add the strained mustard water, salt & turmeric powder. Bring it to a boil & then simmer for 4-5 minutes on a low flame.

Now add the Hilsa fish fillet. Cover & cook on a low flame for 5-7 minutes. 

When done, add the remaining mustard oil, remaining green chilies & coriander leaves. 

                  Serve this traditional fish curry with hot steamed rice. 

Red Dragon Fruit Peda

 

          Check out these yummy Pedas prepared with Red Dragon Fruit. The recipe is very simple with very few ingredients, but the end product is just amazing and mouth watering. These Pedas are visually very attractive to look with its vibrant dark pink / red colour. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sweet treat. 

          Dragon Fruit, be they White or Red, is a versatile fruit with which many desserts can be prepared. Peda on the other hand, is a very popular sweet in the Northern parts of India. It is offered as prasad to devotees in the temples. 

         This Fruit, typically is a tropical fruit rich in fibre and antioxidants, but low in calories. It is mildly sweet in taste and has many nutritional benefits. The outer part of this fruit almost resembles a dragon, hence the name.

• 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.

          Take a little portion of the dough and make round pedas. Make an impression in the centre with your finger and stuff with chopped pistachios and almonds. 

          Yummy Red Dragon Fruit Pedas are ready to be served 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. 

                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.

Take a little portion of the dough & make round pedas. Make an impression in the centre with your finger.

               Stuff with chopped pistachios and almonds. 

 Yummy Red Dragon fruit Pedas are ready to be served to Lord Ganesha. 

Muskmelon Kulfi

 

            Kulfi is an equivalent to Indian Ice cream which is basically a frozen dessert prepared with milk and other flavoring agents. They are just perfect during summer or as an after-meal dessert. Today let me share a kulfi recipe made of Muskmelon. It turned out absolutely yummy with a creamy texture. 

             So serve this chilled dessert and bring a smile among your loved ones. Besides beating the summer heat, make any occasion memorable with this yummy Muskmelon kulfi. You may add some chopped nuts to the kulfi mix while simmering. To make this absolutely easy dessert, check out the step by step pictorial recipe to dish out this amazingly perfect summer treat. 

• 1 cup Muskmelon puree
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup condensed milk
• 1 tbsp. corn flour mixed with 1/4 cup water
• pinch of saffron soaked in 1 tbsp. milk
• few small cubes of muskmelon, chopped pistachios and dry rose petals to garnish

          Transfer the muskmelon puree to a pan and simmer on a low flame till it is reduced to half. Keep aside for 5 minutes for it to cool slightly.

          Bring it back on the fire and add the evaporated milk and combine well. Then add the condensed milk, the corn flour slurry and saffron milk one after the other. 

          Mix everything well and continue to simmer till it turns thick. 

           Pour into silicone molds and freeze for 4-5 hours or till completely set. Enjoy garnished with chopped muskmelon pieces, chopped pistachios and dry rose petals.

Transfer the muskmelon puree to a pan & simmer on a low flame till it is reduced to half. Keep aside for 5 minutes for it to cool slightly.

       Bring it back on the fire & add the evaporated milk & combine well. 

                      Then add the condensed milk, 

                       the corn flour slurry 

                       and saffron milk one after the other. 

    

Mix everything well & simmer till it turns thick. 

       Pour into silicone moulds and freeze for 4-5 hours or till completely set. 

Garnish with chopped muskmelon pieces, chopped pistachios & dry rose petals.