Dates, carrot and walnut cake with zero added sugar

October 6, 2022October 7, 2022 Leave a comment

Dates, carrot and walnut cake with zero added sugar

Delicious, moist and healthy cake with the goodness of dates, carrot and wallnut is a delightful guiltfree indulgence. My husband was diagnosed with diabetes almost a decade ago and as an ardent sweet lover it became an hulrricane task to beep keep him away from desserts.As a result I kept on trying innovative recipes in my kitchen with sugar substitute. Recently I came across a simple and easy healthy cake recipe with no added sugar and an amazing taste. This healthy cake recipe with the sweetness of dates is a must try as an alternative to classic cake recipe.

Ingredients
Dates – 16 to 18
milk -1 /4 cup
Flour– 1 cup
Grated carrot – 3/4
Egg-2
Butter– 100 grams
walnut – 7- to 10
Baking powder-1/4 tsp
baking soda –1/2 tsp
Vanilla essence – 1/4tsp

step 1

In a small pan add the deseeded dates and milk and let it boil and simmer for a couple of minutes.

Step 2

Let it cool and make a paste in a blender

step 3

Grate the carrot and squeeze the excess water.

step 4

Melt the butter and add the dates paste to it. Gradually add the grated carrot and egg to the butter and combine them all together with the help of a whisk.

step 5

Sieve the flour along with the baking powder and baking soda

Step 6

Now add the wet mix to the dry one. Add the Vanilla essence and chopped walnut. Fold the mix gradually until they all combine together.

Step 7

Preheat the oven at 160 degree Celcius. Pour the cake batter in a greased container

step 8

Bake for about 40 minutes at 160 degree celcius until done.

step 9

Cool and enjoy the cake.

Tip

soaked dates adds moisture and texture tothe cake.

To check the cake, insert a knife or toothpick in it and if it comes out clean then the cake is done.

Go back

Your message has been sent

Mango stuffed kulfi

July 31, 2022 Leave a comment

Summer is all about mango and each time it brings back the loving memories of my dearest mother in law who was an intense mango lover. Mangoes literally ruled her heart and she believed that no other food can match the aroma and taste of this incredible fruit and here I dedicate this dish to the doting lady” Ma”. Although I keep on trying creative recipes with mango, believe me the mango stuffed kulfi is beyond compare. It is a simple dish where the milk is reduced by boiling and sweetened and then stuffed in the mango. A must try recipe, simple yet amazing.

Ingredients

Mangoes : 4

Full cream milk : 1 litre

Sugar : 4 tsp

Cardamom powder : a pinch

Kesar : 10 to 12 strings

Step 1

To scoop the seed from the mangoes, cut the crown and with the help of a sharp knife cut along the seed. Make sure not to cut the edges.

Step 2

Now with the help of a grip twist the seeds to loosen it. Gradually pull out the seed.

Step 3

Squeeze the excess pulp from the seed and keep it aside.

Step 4

Boil the full cream milk in a thick bottom pan. Lower the flame and reduce it until it comes down to ⅓ in volume, stirring occasionally. To this add sugar, cardamom powder and kesar, mix well and switch off the flame after a couple of minutes. Let it cool.

Step 5

Once cool add the mango pulp and mix it well.

Step 6

Pour the rabari in the mangoes and cover with the crown.

Step 7

Place the mangoes straight in the container, let it freeze for at least 8 to 10 hours or until set.

Step 8

Peal it with the help of a sharp knife.

Step 9

Cut into roundles.

Step 10

Garnish with saffron string and enjoy the incredible dessert.

Tip

Use firm mangoes for a perfect result.

Aaru vadi

June 17, 2021 Leave a comment

The taste and aroma of aaru vadi instantly reminds me of my great friend Radhika who introduced me to this scrumptious dish. Vadi evokes my memories of the dripping rainy evenings we had spent together enjoying vadis cooked by her along with casual conversation and friendly chat. And since then it has become ritualistic to make aaru vadi in monsoon when the market is flooded with aaru patta. These colocasia leaves are loaded with health benefits and this crispy and delicious fritter is indeed a perfect way to include it in our diet. A must try recipe as the weather gets wet.

Ingredients

Aaru patta : 10 to 12

Masoor dal : 100 gms ( washed and soaked)

Rice : 2 tsp (washed and soaked)

Green chilli : 4

Garlic : 8 to 10

Ginger : 1 inch

Cummin : ¼ tsp

Asafoetida : a pinch

Peppercorn : ¼ tsp

Tamarind paste : 2 tsp

Coriander seed : 1 tsp

Salt as required

Oil for frying

Step 1

Grind the soaked rice and dal along with ginger, garlic, green chilli, cummin peppercorn, coriander seed, tamarind paste and salt.

Step 2

Wash the aaru leaves and pat them dry. Place the leaf on a large plate and evenly spread the dal mix.

Step 3

Place the other leaf over it and coat the mixture. Repeat the process with the remaining leaves.

Step 4

Carefully seal the edges and roll the leaves. Place it in a steamer and steam for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 5

Once done, let it cool.

Step 6

Slice them into roundles and shallow fry till crispy and golden brown.

Step 7

Serve it hot with chutney of your choice.

Tip

Let the roll cool down completely and then Slice it for a perfect roundle.

Do not use water while grinding dal since this will make it very runny.

Chicken Vada Pav

January 13, 2021 Leave a comment

Mumbai and it’s passion and love affair with vada pav is well known. This mouth watering snack enjoys immense popularity among the Mumbaikars and my boys are no different and especially the younger one. Recently on his visit to a food joint, he came across the non vegetarian version of this iconic snack called ” chicken vada pav”. Mesmerised by its aroma and flavor, he motivated me to give a try to this unique dish. Chicken keema cooked with regular spices and herbs, stuffed in the potato mix, dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried to perfection and finally sandwiched between the pav — an iconic dish with an iconic twist.Believe me, the explosion of flavours is worth all the hard work.

Ingredients

For keema

Chicken mince : 200 gms

Onion : 1

Ginger garlic paste : 1 tsp

Corriander powder : 2 tsp

Red chilli powder : 1 tsp

Turmeric powder : 1 tsp

Cinnamon stick : 1

Black cardamom : 1

Green cardamom : 1

Lemon juice : 1 tsp

Salt as per taste

Green peas : 2 tsp

For potato mix

Potato : 4 boiled and mashed

Green chili : 4 to 6

Garlic : 6 to 7 pod

Turmeric powder : ½ tsp

Mustard seed : ½ tsp

Curry leaves

Salt

For the batter

Besan : 6 spoon

Ajwain : ½ tsp

Red chilli powder : 1 tsp

Salt as per taste

Oil for frying

Step 1

Take two tsp oil in a pan and add cinnamon, cardamom and cumin seed and let it splutter. Add the chopped onion and fry until golden brown.

Step 2

Add the ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, red chilli powder and salt and saute until the masalas are cooked. Next add the chicken mince and give them all a good mix. Put the peas and saute them all together.cover it with a lid and let it cook for ten to fifteen minutes until the keema is done stirring regularly.

Step 3

Sprinkle coriander leaves and add the lemon juice. Keep it aside and let it cool.

Step 4

In the meantime make a lump free and smooth thick batter with besan, salt, chilli powder and turmeric and water. Let it rest for sometime.

Step 5

In a pan heat 1 tsp oil and fry the green chillies and garlic. Once cool coursley grind it.

Step 6

In the same pan add two tsp oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and let it splutter and release the aroma. Next add the boiled and mashed potatoes along with turmeric and red chilli powder and salt and stir fry them until done. Let it cool.

Step 7

Grease your palm and make a ball with the potato mix and fill in two tsp keema in the centre and give it a shape like a round shaped vada.

Step 8

Dip the vada in the besan batter and deep fry and enjoy with pav and chutney.

Tip

One may use the soya keema for the veg version.

Keema goli ( mutton ball)

December 13, 2020 Leave a comment

Keema goli or mutton ball is yet another favourite recipe from our growing up years. As kids we loved this recipe since it was easy to munch and full of flavours. The delicious and crunchy mutton Keema goli is a must try dish for meat lovers. It is indeed a great combination of incredible spices along with mutton cooked to perfection. Though it does not enjoy popularity like Shammi kebab or gelauti kebab but it is a great recipe to indulge as a snack or even for the main course along with the main spread.

Ingredients

Mutton mince : 250 grams

Chana dal : 2 tsp (washed and soaked for at least half an hour)

Onion : 1 small

Ginger : 1 inch

Garlic : 4 to 6 pod

Whole red chilli : 4 to 5

Corriander seed : 1 tsp

Cumin : ½ tsp

Black cardamom : 2

Green cardamom : 2

Pepper corn : 6

Cinnamon stick : 1

Raisin : 8 to 10

Bread crumbs : 2 tsp

Salt : as per taste

Oil for frying

Step 1

Wash the mutton Keema thoroughly.

Step 2

In a pressure cooker put the Keema long with sliced onion, Ginger, garlic, corriander seed, cumin, clove, pepper corn,cardamom, cinnamon stick,salt and half a cup of water

Step 3

Cook it for 3 to 4 whistle. Once the pressure is released, check the excess water and in case it’s there cook it on a high flame until the water completely evaporates.

Step 4

Let it come down to the room temperature .

Step 5

Grind it in a mixie with one tsp oil. Add two tsp of bread crumbs to the keema mixture.

Make small Keema balls and stuff a raisin in the centre.

Step 6

Deep fry the goli until golden brown. Serve it with chutney of your choice .

Tip

The raisin in the centre helps the goli to remain soft inside and also gives a sweet flavour to it.

Chicken Lollipop

July 19, 2020 Leave a comment

“No matter how old you become, when you are with your sibling you revert back to childhood.”

À couple of years back on my visit to my mom’s place, my dearest brother threw a surprise birthday party of mine since I happened to be there on that day almost after two decades. My beloved bhabhi along with her little angels left no stone unturned to make it a memorable one in spite of my father not being around. These little gestures are worth a thousand words. The menu included a fabulous spread but the one dish that stole my heart away was the scrumptious chicken lollipop. Although I had relished it a number of times earlier too, there was something about its taste that made it distinct. Indeed my recipe is borrowed from our hotel chef who willingly shared it with me. Try it yourself to experience the distinctive flavor of chicken lollipop.

Ingredients

Chicken lollipop : 12 pieces

Crushed ginger and garlic : 2 tsp

Onion : 1 thinly diced

Schezwan chutney : 2 tsp

Tomato sauce : 1 tsp

Soya sauce : 1 tsp

Vinegar : 1 tsp

Cournflour : 8 to 10 tsp

Salt : 1 tsp

Oil : for frying

Step 1

Marinate the chicken lollipop with onion, crushed ginger and garlic, schezwan sauce, tomato sauce, soya sauce, Vinegar, corn flour and salt.

Step 2

mix it all together . try not to add water as the moisture of the sauce will help to combine all of them together. Cover it and let it marinate for about an hour.

Step 3

Deep fry the chicken lollipop in a thick bottom pan on a medium high flame until it is crispy and golden brown.

Step 4

Enjoy the crunchy chicken lollipop with sauce of your own choice.

Tip

The crushed ginger garlic and diced onion gives a unique flavor to the dish.

Bihari kebab (Granny’s kebab)

ImageDecember 5, 2018December 5, 2018 Nandini Bhushan2 Comments

Bihari kebab ( Granny’s kebab) I have been enjoying my mom’s mutton kebab since my childhood but it was only recently through an amazing food documentary show that I realised the origin and authenticity of this kebab. Though there is a lot of kebab dishes from around the world but the smoky aroma and melt […]