Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Italian Ricotta Cheese, is easy and a flexible recipe which anyone can make at home. Ricotta is a fabulous component of many Italian dessert's, such as cheese cake, cannoli etc.. It is also used in pasta's, pizza's, lasagna, ravioli and so on. Well In India this is very expensive to buy and making it at home is so easy and delicious. I love to have this as a filling for pancakes.

Makes around 350 Grams
Ingredients
2 Liters Full Fat Milk
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Full Fat Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons White Vinegar - mixed in ¼ cup water

Method 

In a large pan, heat the milk, heavy cream, till it comes the temperature comes to 90°C. Then add in the full fat yogurt, salt, vinegar mixed in water,  gently stir on a low flame and let is heat for 3 -4 minutes, stirring lightly until milk curdles up. Meanwhile take a strainer and cover it with a muslin cloth and place it on top of a deep bowl. 

Once milk curdles up and comes to boil, stir and put off the flame. Strain curdled milk with a strainer having muslin cloth. Do not throw away its water also known as whey (You can use this in soups or to knead dough for making bread), let it drain for 15-20 minutes. Gather muslin cloth and squeeze properly to remove excess water or whey out of it.

Once done keep cheese covered with the cloth and keep a heavy object on top to give it shape of your choice.
Refrigerate and use this within 3-4 days. 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese is ready for which we would pay a hefty sum to buy it.
Labels: Cheese, Homemade, Ricotta, Italian, International Cuisine, Keto, Low Carb

Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce#Foodieextravaganza

Gnudi are little balls which are more or less like a kind of gnocchi; balls are made of spinach and ricotta without any pasta covering them. So, hence the name Naked Ravioli.
These rustic, naked ravioli have a long history, going back to Roman times, and perhaps even much earlier.

For this gnudi, I did not add the whole egg, more the dough is loose the more flour will be required. So use only the yolk, so that the gnudi is soft and succulent (and not hard) after it's cooked. These are very delicate so while adding them to the boiling water, use a slotted spoon to drop each into the pan of boiling water.

Ingredients
For The Gnudi

200 Grams Homemade Ricotta Cheese
1 Large Egg Yolk - only
100 Grams Chopped Spinach
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Roasted Garlic
½ Teaspoon Dried Parsley
½ Teaspoon Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
2 Tablespoons Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch
¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch - for coating
For The Butter Garlic Sauce
2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
1 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Cloves Garlic - finely chopped
1 Wild Garlic - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Chopped Scallion Greens - for garnishing
½ Teaspoon Salt

Method

Blanch the spinach for a minute in the microwave. Immediately dump it in cold water. Take a muslin cloth and squeeze the spinach of all moisture. In same cloth squeeze the ricotta cheese. 

In a large bowl combine ricotta cheese, spinach, egg yolk, dried parsley, dried basil, black pepper powder, salt, parmesan cheese, garlic mash them all well till well combined. Add the tapioca flour a tablespoon at a time and mash till well combined. Make a nice ball. Leave it aside covered for 5 to 10  minutes.
Take a small pinch and form into a ball.

To Test whether the ball will not disintegrated in water while boiling. 

Heat water in a pan when it comes to a boil add this tiny ball let it cook it it floats to the surface. If it does not break or disintegrated in water then the dough is perfect.

Now that the dough is perfect cover and keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Make 9 - 10 equal size balls. Roll them in tapioca flour, shake of any excess flour by rolling it in your hand. Keep all aside.

In the meantime heat a tall pan will water add a ¼ teaspoon salt. When the water comes to a rolling boil, place each gnudi with a slotted spoon gently into the water. Cover the pan with a lid and on medium high flame let them cook till they start to float on top. Once they float to the surface they are done. Remove each gently with slotted spoon and keep them in large plate to come to room temperature.

For The Butter Garlic Sauce

In a pan heat oil and butter, add the chopped garlic and wild garlic, when the garlic starts to brown add in the gnudi and sauté gently turning the sides.

Remove and serve hot garnish with chopped scallion greens.
These were so...ooo delicious. A must try recipe.

Labels: Keto, Low Carb, Gnudi, Ravoili, Pasta & Noodles, Ricotta, Tapioca Flour, Garlic, Spinach, Butter, Gluten free, International Cuisine, Italia, Foodie Extravaganza Party

• Easy Ravioli Lasagna from Food Lust People Love
• Garden Greens-Stuffed Ravioli from Culinary Cam
• Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce from Sneha’s Recipe
• Homemade Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Seafood Ravioli from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Toasted Ravioli from Palatable Pastime

Drumstick Curry In Coconut Sauce - No Onion No Garlic#Sunday Funday

Sudha Menon is known for her books which explore the ambitions, achievements and accomplishments of people from various walks of life through stories narrated by them.

In one of her interviews she talks about her memories of her mother and aunts preparing sumptuous meals using fresh, seasonal produce from their farm, plucking drumsticks from the tree to make sambar and plantains to make a quick ‘thoran’ when unexpected guests dropped in.

Taking inspiration from this, made a  very delicious and yummy drumstick curry in coconut sauce.

Ingredients
250 Gram(4) Drumsticks - cut into 2" pieces
½ Cup Packed Freshly Grated Coconut
4 Green Chillies - chopped or as per your spice level
½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
2 Teaspoons Rice or Rice Flour
Salt to taste
For Gravy
3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
A Pinch Of Asafoetida
A Marble Size Tamarind
1 Teaspoon Palm Sugar

Method 
Soak the tamarind in warm water. 

In a small blender jar add the coconut, green chillies, mustard seeds and rice flour, grind to a very fine paste using little water. Keep aside. 

In a large pot/kadai, heat coconut oil, add the cumin seeds, when they splutter add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Add the drumstick pieces and fry on high flame for 2 minutes, then add the ground paste and mix well. Wash the blender jar with water and add that to the pot, give it a good stir, add salt to taste, cover and cook till the drumstick are cooked. Add hot water to make a thick gravy if necessary.  

Add the tamarind juice and give it good stir, let this come to a rolling boil, add the jaggery and stir. When the jaggery melts, switch off the flame. Drizzle a little coconut oil on top. 

Serve with rice or rotis. Enjoy this delicious curry!! 
Labels: No Onion No Garlic, Drumstick, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Vegetarian Curry, Indian

• Basil-Dressed Chicken Salad with Tomatoes from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Drumstick Curry in Coconut Sauce - No Onion No Garlic from Sneha’s Recipe
• Irio, Kenyan Style from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Philly Cheesesteak from Amy’s Cooking Adventures 
• Rosalynn Carter’s Baked Cheese Grits from Food Lust People Love

Tamatar Gosht#SundayFunday

Tamatar Gosht, literaly means " Meat cooked in lots of tomatoes" in this recipe no onion is used.

There are days, when you just feel like indulging in something delicious and this dish is for that special day! This easy and delicious main course dish that can be made in a jiffy and is a mouth watering option especially if you have sudden guests at home.

Ingredients
½ Kg Mutton In Bones
1/3 Cup Oil
½ Kg Tomatoes- thinly sliced
3 Whole Green Chilies
1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
1 Teaspoon Salt
1½ Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Roasted Cumin powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
½ Teaspoon Garam Masala powder
1/3 Cup Chopped Coriander leaves

Method

Heat oil in a pressure cooker add cumin seeds, when they start to crackle then add ginger garlic paste and mutton. Fry for 5 minutes on medium high flame stirring. Then add tomatoes and fry till they are soft, mushy and oil leaves the sides. Add all the spice powder salt, chilly, turmeric, cumin powder, except the garam masala powder, fry well add 1 cup water, cover take one whistle on high flame . Reduce the flame to low, cook till meat until tender for about 15 - 20 minutes. Switch of the flame. 

When the cooker cools, open and check of the mutton is cooked, then again keep frying till you do not see any traces of tomatoes. Then lastly add the garam masala powder, coriander leaves ( reserve little for garnishing) and green chillies give and good stir let it simmer for a minute or two. Switch off the flame.

Serve hot garnished with remaining coriander leaves.
Enjoy this Roti, Sheermal, Naan, Jeera Rice, Biryani, Veg Pulao. 
Labels: Tomato, Mutton, India ,Pakistan, Main course, Sunday Funday

• Feijoada (Goan Beans & Sausage) from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Halva) from Culinary Cam
• How to Make Thandai from The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen
• Matar Kulcha from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Tamatar Gosht from Sneha's Recipe
• Tomato Chutney from Palatable Pastime
• Tomato Sevai (Easy Tomato Vermicelli Recipe) from Cook with Renu
• Vegetarian Samosas from A Day in the Life on the Farm 

Tadkawali Doh Dal#SoupSwappers

Tadkewali Doh Dal is quick dal soup, make perfect to have with rice or crusty breads. It's delicious with a mix of two dals and a tadka/tempering given to it. Hence the name Tadkawali Doh Dal.

Ingredients
1/3 Cup Moong Dal
1/3 Cup Red Lentil / Masoor Dal
1 Medium Onion - sliced
3 Small Tomatoes - sliced
Salt to taste
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
2 Tablespoons Oil

For Tadka / Tempering
1 Tablespoon Heaped Desi Ghee
3 Garlic Cloves
A sprig Curry Leaves
2 Button Red Chilies
1 Fresh Green or Red Chilies - optional
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Ginger 1 piece
2 Tablespoons Finely Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Tablespoon Heaped Butter

Method

Soak lentils for an hour at least.
In a pan, heat oil add onions and fry. When the onions turn translucent, add tomatoes, red chilly, turmeric powder, salt, ginger garlic paste and fry well.
Then add soaked lentils, 3 cups water and cook medium low flame stirring in between for until done. When lentil is tender, mix well. Switch off the flame.

For the Tadka/Tempering 

In a pan, heat butter add cumin seeds, garlic cloves, curry leaves, button red chilies and fry. Add fresh chilly, finely chopped ginger, give it a good mix. Switch off the flame.
Pour the tadka in the prepared lentil, sprinkle coriander leaves and serve hot.

Enjoy with rice or crusty bread.

Labels: Soup, Soup Swappers, Masoor dal, Moong dal, Lentil Soup, Healthy,Main course, Gluten free, Indian, Vegetarian

Lentil Soups:

Cajun Lentil Soup with Andouille Sausage from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Creamy Vegan Lentil Soup from Magical Ingredients
Ham and Lentil Soup from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Steak and Potato Lentil Soup from Palatable Pastime
Tadkawali Doh Dal from Sneha’s Recipe