MALPUA

Its that time of the year again. The Diwali festive season has come. And that means lighting, Clay lamps, Candels, Gifts , Crackers and  lots of sweets. All around the city of India you will see - last minute shoppers. Yes. the festive season is on and India celebrates Diwali. Its  another name is Deepawali it means row of lights.

All Indian people decorate their houses with lights, flowers, candles, I am very much excited about this Diwali.  We in our house celebrates Diwali with bang, In our house we offer prayer to maa Laxmi called “Dipannita lokkhi”, put fast in this day, not only that we offer  bhog  to goddess laxmi and I wait for this festival, but because I have lost my mother ,Father two years ago, I couldn’t celebrated past two years, This year again we have started to celebrate that means we have bought candles, firecrackers, lights ,Sweets etc. but one thing I have made that is malpua. I had learnt this recipe from my belated mother.

Malpua is a kind of pancake served as a dessert or snack, Some people offer malpua to god like me. Any one can make this malpua even school going childrens , Bachelors etc., very easy and tasty recipe

I am giving details recipe below……..

Ingredients:-

All purpose flour- 500 gms

Sugar-1 kg

Water-1/2 liter

Milk-1 liter

Fennel seeds- 1 tbsp

Whole Black pepper- 1 tbsp

Ghee- 500 gms

Poppy seeds- for garnishing

Method:-

Make thick sugar syrup by boiling sugar and water, keep aside.

Make a batter of pouring consistency with  flour, milk, fennel seeds and black pepper

Heat ghee in a deep frying pan

Now pour a little batter to form a pancake or malpua

When both sides are properly done take out from the ghee and put directly in sugar syrup

After 2-3 minutes, take out from sugar syrup

Sprinkle poppy seeds over the malpuas

Ready to eat

COCONUT CUTLET

Cutlet is a type of croquette . Coconut cutlet with strong coffee---My god ! its  A1 combination. Preperation, ingredients all  are simple .It is served in many parties as a starter. I had made this cutlet in my nephews B’day. Recipe ………………..

Ingredients-

Coconut (grated)-1 cup

Onion(small pieces)- 3 tbsp

Green chilies-2 (cut in small pieces)

Ginger paste-1 tsp

Boiled potato-1/2 kg

Corn flour-3 tbsp

Breadcrumbs-as needed

Garam masala powder-1 tsp

Oil-for frying

Method-

Heat oil

saute onion, ginger paste, coconut grated, green chilies

now add boiled mashed potatoes in it

add salt and garam masala

divide this mixture equally, make shape as you desire

now make a batter of cornflour with water

dip this potato rolls in cornflour, roll it in breadcrumbs

fry in hot oil.

COCONUT SANDESH

"Sandesh" is a delicacy of Bengal(India).It is made up of chhena(chhana,Indian cheese,cottage cheese). Lots of varieties are available in market. If serve cold, what to say its awesome,

Bengali people never think any ceremony without sweets may be its “sandesh”, Payesh”,”Rosogolla”,”pantua”  and so on, List is so long that I can’t remember the names and write over here but gradually I will post some of those recipes. If this chhena  mixed with coconut scraps then imagine what the taste would be.Recipe………………………..

Ingredients-

Coconut-1(scrap it)

Milk powder-1 cup

Sugar-1 ½ cups

Cardamom powder-1 tsp

Method-

First take one oven proof dish, mix coconut scraps and sugar in it

set micro high power for five mints, cook in it, now add milk powder and cardamom powder in it again

cook for 5 mints in high power, now after cooling down shape it and serve it

AAMSHOTTO (DRIED MANGO BARS) AND KISHMISH (RAISINS) CHUTNEY

Aam shotto----  In English people say dried mango bars or dried mango pulp. "Aam papad" is another name in Hindi.It is made up of mango pulp, In India lots of mango varieties are found. Indian people like to have it, Its texture is some what of  mushy, fleshy. If  any one wants to change the boring taste of tongue  can have it. We can have it as it is, but This chutney is so delicious. People  who tastes it once  addicted to it like me.

Recipe……………..

Ingredients-

Aamshotto -1/2 kg (cut in small pieces)
Kishmish-100 gms

Turmeric powder-1 tsp

Red chillies-3-4

Panchforan (I have mentioned in previous dish or you can read from my "mixed vegetable curry or labra" page ) -1 tsp

Sugar-100 gms

Oil-1/2 tbsp

Method:-

Heat oil in a pan 

add Panchforan and red chillies in it

 now add Kishmish, Turmeric powder, fry for some time

 now add water, Aamshotto and sugar- mix properly, stir for some time

 when Aamshotto pieces reached to mushy consistency, switch off the flame

 Ready to serve.

MIXED VEGETABLE CURRY OR LABRA

I had made this dish in satyanarayan puja(Indian ritual)  for guests that's why I have taken vegetables in kgs, If you want to take in low proportion you can), This dish was so tasty that the whole pot was finished, because it’s a mixture of vegetables and less spices it is good for health too. It’s a delicacy of Bengal, Bengali people like to have it with Khichdi, in ritual ceremonies like Durga puja or what puja may it is. Hot khichdi with  Labra combination is great.

Recipe..............

Ingredients-

Potatoes- ½ kg (cut into 2” pieces)

Pointed gourd-1/2kg (cut into 2” pieces)

Long  beans-1/2 kg (cut into 2” pieces)

Pumpkin-1/2 kg (cut into 2” pieces)

Brinjal-1/2 kg  (cut into 2” pieces)

Tomatoes-1/2 kg (cut into 2” pieces)

Green chillies-6-7 (cut into 2” pieces)

Salt-as  per  taste (cut into 2” pieces)

Panchforan-mustard seeds, cumin, fennel, nigella  seeds, fenugreek seeds (little bit of all five)

Garam masala(powder)-1/2 tbsp (cut into 2” pieces)

Oil- 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder-2 tsp

Method-

Heat oil in  deep bottomed pan

add panchforan to it, now put all vegetables, turmeric powder, green chillies in the oil, fry for some time

now add water ,salt , after all veggies are cooked add garam masala

when the water reduced to approx. none then the dish becomes ready

 the dish should be thick, serve with rice or khichri