Stuffed Brinjals (Bharli Vangi)

July 9, 2014

This recipe needs a bit more oil which makes it delicious as you can see in the pictures. Bharli Vangi are small brinjals stuffed with a sweet and spicy, peanut flavoured masala bringing out all  flavors of Maharashtrian cooking. These brinjals have to be cooked over a slow flame with utmost care in order to preserve the natural flavours of this dish and also that the brinjals do not break or become like paste. This dish also requires a lot of fresh coriander, this also enhances the taste of the dish.

Ingredients

10 small Brinjals/Eggplants

1 large Onion chopped

1 large Tomato chopped

1/2 teaspoon  Ginger chopped

1/2 teaspoon Garlic chopped

1/2 cup dry shredded Coconut,
1/2 cup peanut powder or peanuts (roasted),
1 tablespoons Sesame seeds,
1 teaspoon each coriander-cumin powder
1 tablespoon Goda Masala ,
1 teaspoon Tamarind pulp,
1 teaspoon  Jaggery,
2 teaspoon Chili powder,
salt to taste

For the tempering

1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon Asafoetida,
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder.
1/4 cup oil.
Method

Give the brinjals four vertical slits (not fully) from the bottom of the brinajls keeping the stem intact. Keep them in salt water for 10 minutes and rinse. Set aside.
Roast onions, ginger, garlic,coconut, sesame seeds, coriander-cumin till light brown. Powder this mixture and combine tamarind, jaggery, peanut powder, tomato, salt, chili powder and goda masala with the ground spices. Grind all these ingredients together to fine paste.  Mix chopped coriander and stuff all the brinjals with above masala.
Take a kadai or a shallow non stick pan, and heat oil in it. Add mustard seeds. When they start spluttering  add asafoetida and turmeric powder. Arrange the brinjals and the leftover masala. Gently fry for sometime. Add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook with a lid and pour water on top so that the brinjals get cooked in its own steam. Keep the flame low for about 15 minustes or until the brinjals turn soft and completely cooked.  Remove the lid and stir to check if the brinjals are done. If not, cook further until done. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with chapati or rice.

Labels: Vegetables, Vegan, Brinjal
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Jamaican Banana Fritters (Eggless)

July 3, 2014

Banana fritters are simple food, the best part of making these is that you can used overripe bananas which otherwise no one would like to eat. Authentic Jamaican banana fritters are dense not fluffy. Let me assure you that they taste so good. They are so easy to make that it requires just minutes to prepare the batter.

Ingredients
3/4 Cup mashed overripe Bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
2 -3 Tablespoon granulated Sugar / Brown Sugar
A pinch Nutmeg
A pinch Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla extract (Optional)
A pinch of Salt
1 Cup All-purpose Flour
1-2 Tablespoon Oil ( I used Ghee)

Method
Mash bananas with sugar and spices; stir flour into banana mixture. If necessary add some milk or water to make a thick batter.

Heat 1 or 2 Tbsp cooking oil and, using a spoon, spoon batter into pan

Fry fritters until crisp and brown on both sides; you may have to add more cooking oil. When you press them if no batter oozes out they’re done.

Remove fritters from pan and place on paper towel. Eat warm. The taste of the cinnamon in these fritters makes it different and gives a awesome taste to it.

Do try them and give your comments.

Note:  You can add an egg but the texture will be like a pancake.For a healthy version you can use wheat flour.

Labels: Breakfast, Healthy, Continental Cuisine, Sweets & Desserts, Jamaica, Fritters

Mango Shrikand/ Amarkand

June 30, 2014

With Mangoes in season and my love for them, as you can see I, have been posting recipes of Mango in various ways.  Here is one of the all time favorite of my hubby "Shrikand".  A container of Shrikand is always there in my fridge.  Since he loves sweet dish after his meal, this is one that is always there when I do not prepare any sweet dish.  A thought just came to my mind, why don't I  prepare Amarkand / Mango Shrikand.  This is the first time I, made Shrikand at home and let me tell this was a  success.  This was worth the effort.  You too give it a try because it is quick and much more tastier than store purchased one.  This is also half the amount you would pay for the store one and double the quantity when prepared at home.  Now that this was a success, will also try and make other flavors of Shrikand.  So let's go to the recipe.  

Ingredients
500 ML Full Cream Milk 
1 Tablespoon Curds
1/2 Cup Mango puree ( A Puree of 2 Alphonso Mangoes)
2 - 3 Tablespoons Sugar powdered
2 Drops Mango essence
2 Tablespoons Mango -  chopped

Method

Heat the milk till just lightly warm. Remove from heat add the curds and mix well, keep this to set. When set take a cheese cloth, pur the curds into it and strain the curds. Keep this cloth in the fridge in  a sieve for all the excess water to drain  or else the curds will turn sour.  You can keep it for 3 - 4 hours or even overnight.  When drained keep it a plate and insert a spoon, when the spoon stays straight that means the curd is ready to use see pic ( this is also called Chakka).  This quantity  will be one cup.

Place this in a blender with the sugar and pulse it 3 times add the essence and mango puree and again pulse it 3 times. Remove it in a serving bowl, add the mango pieces and keep to it the fridge till cold ( 3 hours).  Serve chilled and enjoy !!!.

Note: The milk should not be boiled or else the cream will form when you set the curds. 
See that the curds do not turn sour or else you will not get sweet Shrikand and the taste will not be good.
If the mango is not sweet you can add more powdered sugar to sweeten the Shrikand.
A tinned mango puree can be used, then reduce the quantity sugar.



Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Mango

Mango Rice Pearl Pudding

I love mangoes and is experimenting various desserts with it. This is a simple and quick  pudding with condensed milk. I added cardamom and nutmeg  to flavor this pudding.  H really enjoyed the pudding with mango puree. It was a nice cool and yummy treat. 

Ingredients
2 Cups milk
1/2 Can Condensed Milk

1/4 Cup Rice Pearls
1/8 Teaspoon Cardamom powder

1/8 Teaspoon Nutmeg powder
1/2 Cup mango puree
1 Tablespoon Nuts -( Almond and Pista chopped, optional)
A Cherry for decoration

Method

Place the milk, rice pearls, in a pan and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat, simmer for 3 minutes or till the Rice pearls are cooked.  Add the condensed milk, cardamon, nutmeg powder and stir well . Remove from heat and let cool.  When cooled keep in the fridge to chill.

To Serve

Take a glass or bowl. Pour the pudding, sprinkle some nuts, then the mango puree. Garnish with nuts and a cherry in the center.  Serve chilled.    Happy eating !!!!!!!

Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Mango, Gluten free

You also like to look at: Rice Pearls Kheer (Homemade/Handmade Seviyan)

Mango Pudding

June 26, 2014

This simple Chinese pudding. Traditionally, agar-agar, a derivative of seaweed is used as the thickener. I used gelatin. Use a fine sieve for the smooth texture.

Ingredients
2.1/4 teaspoons Unflavored Gelatin
1/4 Cup Water - Hot
2 Ripe Mangoes - peeled and diced

1/2 Can Condensed milk
2 tablespoons Lime juice

Method
Bring the water to a gentle simmer in a small bowl. Switch of the flame add the gelatin in the simmering water  and stir until the gelatin has dissolved completely.

Place mango in a blender. Process until smooth. Push through a very fine sieve into a large measuring cup until you have 2 cups puree.  Whisk the mango puree, sweetened condensed milk, and lime juice in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the softened gelatin mixture until well combined.

Lightly coat the serving bowls with oil. Divide the pudding among the bowls. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours .

To serve, run a knife around the inside of each bowl to loosen the pudding. Dip the bottom of the bowl in hot water for 30 seconds, then invert onto a serving plate, holding bowl and plate tightly together.

This pudding was divine.  You too try and enjoy !!!!!!

Lables : Sweets &  Desserts, Healthy, Continental Cuisine, Mango