Akshaya Tritiya Maharastrain Veg Lunch Thali

Akshaya Tritiya Maharastrain  Veg Lunch Thali is Upvasachi Batata Bhaji, Tikhat Mitachi Puri / Khari Puri, Amras, Dahi / Homemade Yogurt from Full Cream Milk Powder, Aamras, Kakdi chi Koshimbir or Khamang Kakdi and Pickle.

Upvasachi Batata Bhaji

This dish is eaten during days of fast. It is made with potatoes and seasoned with peanut powder, green chillies, coconut, cumin seeds and ghee.

Serves : 3 - 4

Ingredients
4 Medium Potatoes
3 Tablespoon Roasted Peanuts powder
3 Green chillies - chopped
1/2 Teaspoon Sendav Namak or to taste salt
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
2 Tablespoons Ghee - I used Desi Ghee
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoon Grated Coconut - for garnishing - optional
1 Sprig Curry Leaves - optional
Method 

Boil the potatoes in a pressure cooker with one cup water for 3 whistles on medium high flame.

When the cooker cools open and drain all the water. Peel the potatoes and cut into small pieces.
Add the salt ,sugar to the potatoes and keep aside.

Heat ghee in frying pan. Add cumin seeds and once seeds start spluttering add the curry leaves and chillies, when the chillies start to change color add potato pieces and fry till they start to change color on medium high flame. 

Add the peanut powder and give it a good mix. 

Switch off the flame.

Serve it with a garnish of shredded coconut.

Khamang Kakdi/Kakdi chi Koshimbir

In Marathi, ‘kakdi’ means cucumber and ‘koshimbir’ means salad.  Maharashtrian Khamang Kakdi/Kakdi chi Koshimbir is nothing but cucumber salad, it's a refreshing salad which has an unique flavor with the tadka added to it and a perfect way to indulge in a hearty and filling salad.

Ingredients
2 Cucumber- finely chopped - I grated them
1 Green Chilly - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Roasted Peanuts - coarsely crushed
1 Teaspoon Sugar
Salt to taste
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice

For Garnishing

Freshly Chopped Coriander

Grated Fresh Coconut - optional
For The Tadka

1 Teaspoon Vegetable Oil
¼ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
A few Curry leaves

Method

Add cucumber, coriander, green chilly, peanuts, lemon juice, salt, sugar and coriander leaves in a bowl and mix well. Heat vegetable oil in a pan, add mustard and cumin seeds, when they splutter add curry leaves .Switch off the flame  pour this over the salad and mix well. Refrigerate the salad for a few hours. 

Khamang Kakdi/Kakdi chi Koshimbir is ready.  This goes well with the Tikhat Mitachi Puri / Khari Puri. 

Aamras

Aam means mango and Ras means juice. so literally the word aamras means mango juice. Basically aamras is plain mango puree or pulp. Aamras is a summer delight in a bowl and a famous dish of Gujarat and Maharashtra and the classic combo is Aamras puri.  This is a must sweet dish in both Gujarati and Maharashtrian weddings, during the mango season.

Aamras can also be had after a meal, as a sweet dish, dessert or just about at any time, it's so irresistible!
Since the alphonso mangoes are not fibrous , this variety of mango is used for making Aamras.
Ingredients
8 Alphonso Mangoes 

Method

Rinse the alphonso mangoes.

With your hands soften them, like as you soften lemons. Cut off the top a little and then squeeze the juice into a bow. You can also peel and chop them, then blend it into a smooth puree. But my hubby love the squeeze method. Chill it in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!! So rich in color and irresistible .. hmmm.. yum ..yum!

Homemade Yogurt From Full Cream Milk Powder

In my house we have yogurt with our meals for 365 days of the year. I always set a seperate container of yogurt culture to set yogurt every day. When I go on a long holiday this container of yogurt culture goes into the freezer so that when, am, back, there is yogurt culture to set yogurt for us. I have noticed that when you set yogurt from store bought yogurt the set yogurt is slime and has a very weird taste. You will love this yogurt made from full cream milk powder.  Do try it!

1 Cup Measurement = 250ML
Ingredients
500 ML Water
½ Cup Full Cream Powder Milk
¼ Cup Fresh Active Yogurt Culture

Method

Stir the powdered milk into the milk in the pot. Adding powdered milk increases the protein content of the finished yogurt, and also gives it a thicker and creamier texture.
Heat the milk until it reaches just, when you dip your finger in to the milk it should be just warm. Switch off the flame and allow the milk to cool slightly.
Once the milk has cooled add the active yogurt culture whisk the yogurt and milk well until completely blended.
Transfer the milk mixture into jars or katoris. Let the yogurt sit to complete the culturing process ( Do Not stir, or jiggle the yogurt jars/katoris during this time).

At the end of the culturing time, move the jars/katoris to the fridge and chill well before eating.

Perfectly set and thick yogurt!!

Labels : Mango, Sweets & Desserts, Festival, Vrat, No Onion No Garlic, Potato, Main course, Maharastrian Cuisine, Homemade, Yogurt, Milk powder, Thali, Maharashtra,  Salads, Cucumber  

DIY/Homemade Cream Of Soup Mix / Condensed Soup Mix

This is a super delicious and easy way to make your quick creamy soup.  Just mix this in milk or water and you will have creamy soup ready in minutes.

250 Ml Cup measurement

Ingredients 
1 Cup Level Dry Milk Powder - I used Full Cream
3/4 Cup Level All-Purpose Flour
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion Flakes -Homemade

¼ Cup Level Potato Starch 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Herbs 
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Thyme
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Heaped Dried Parsley

 ¼ Teaspoon Heaped Black Pepper powder 

Method

In a blender add all the ingredients and just pulse it once or twice.

When you are ready to make your condensed soup mix 1/2 Cup level of the mix  for Cream of Mushroom Soup

My Notes

 Label and store this in the refrigerator.  It stay's good for months.

To Make it Gluten free use Gluten Free All Purpose Flour.
To Make this Vegan / Dairy Free, use Coconut Milk Powder instead of Milk Powder,
If you do not have Potato Starch Powder then use Corn Flour Powder

Labels : Full Cream, Milk powder, Potato Starch, Soup, Dehydrated, Onion Flakes, Dried Herbs, Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Vegan, Gluten free

Quick And Easy Milk Pedas In Microwave - 3 Ingredients

I am, sharing a quick and easy method of making peda. That is with milk powder and condensed milk. Condensed milk gives the pedas, a nice chewy texture. Since these are so easy and quick to make.

I am sure you will never hesitate to make this detectable pedas whenever the need arises, be it Rakshabandan or any other festival or offering. It takes just 3 minutes are they are done. Can make them in different shapes you desire.

Makes around 10 - 15 depending on the size and shape.

Ingredients

1 Cup + 2 Tablespoon Milk powder
3/4 Cup Sweetened Condensed milk
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom powder
1.1/2  Tablespoon Butter
Extra Ghee / Oil for greasing  as required

Method

Take butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave it for 15 to 20 seconds on high powder till just melted .

Whisk the butter a little, add condensed milk and milk powder.
Mix well , ensure that there is no lumps.

Microwave it for 1 minute on high power.
Stir with a spatula, add cardamom powder and mix well.
Again microwave it for 1 more minute, stirring once in between.
Depending on the microwave, you may need to microwave for another 20-30 seconds more.

If you notice air bubbles appearing all over, then its done.

Remove for microwave. Mix it well.

Let it  cool for 3 minutes .

Grease your hand and a plate with ghee/oil.
Transfer the mixture from the bowl to greased plate.
Gently knead the mixture and make a dough.

Now divide into equal size balls (  I used a spoon ).

Grease your palm with oil or ghee then give them desire shape .  These are packed  and ready.  Enjoy  !!

My Notes
Saffron can be added to it -  soaked  it in a tablespoon of  warm milk and can be added to the mixture.

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Festival Sweets, Milk powder, Condensed Milk, Milk Peda, Microwave

Eggless Vanilla Ice Cream

This delicious, creamy and smooth Eggless Vanilla Ice Cream is so quick and easy to make. This ice cream  is a no churn and you do not need of an ice cream machine or ice to make it. In summer ice creams are in great demand. Make this smooth ice cream ...  enjoy... a treat for kids and adults too.

Ingredients

500 Ml Full Cream Milk
4 Tablespoons Level Granulated Sugar
1 Tablespoon Corn flour
2 Tablespoons Heaped Milk powder
1 Teaspoon Vanilla essence
300 ML Whipping Cream

Method

Reserve 1/4 cup of milk and keep  the rest in a heavy bottomed pan on low flame to boil.

Dissolve the cornflour in the reserved cup of milk to smooth slurry and keep aside.

Stir the  milk continuously to prevent it from burning.
Once it reaches near boiling point,  take  4 tablespoons hot milk and mix it with the milk powder and make a smooth paste. 

Now add the sugar and stir till the sugar melts and the milk comes to a boil, add the milk powder paste and stir with a whisk,  to mix well, keep stirring for a 3 minutes.

Again stir the cornflour slurry to mix it well and  then add this to boiling milk and whisk continuously till it thickens and coats the spoon. Take it off the flame, add the essence and cool it, then chill it well for a good 2 hours in the freezer.

Beat cream with a hand blender till it forms soft peaks - about 3 to 5 minutes.

Once  the milk is chilled, beat it well with a hand blender till it light and smooth.

Now fold in the whipped milk and cream gently until it's well blended - about 4 - 5 minutes.

It should double in volume (see above pic)

Keep the ice cream in the freezer in a airtight container for 3 - 4 hours. Take out and give it a good churn for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Return to the freezer and  and keep it for 8  hours and again remove and beat it till it's light and fluffy (this fills the ice cream with air which  makes it light,  fluffy, creamy and smooth.)

After the final churn, transfer it to a closed  air tight container and freeze it for 12 or more hours depending on the temperature of your freezer.  This time I set it in a flat air tight container, since it will freeze faster.

Serve it and enjoy ..
Have a look at tomorrow's post  - Affogato - Vanilla Ice Cream With  Espresso, Caramel Sauce And Salted Almonds

My Notes 

Freeze ice cream in air tight containers which are flat  and not tall in  height, as this will freeze it faster which will prevent ice crystal formation.

Labels : Milk, Milk powder, Whipping Cream, Vanilla essence, Homemade, Eggless, Ice Cream