Mint Rice... (Pudina Rice)

Tempt your palate with an aromatic and cooling rice recipe, the mouthwatering Pudina Rice (Mint Rice). The fresh sprigs of mint or Pudina leaves are ground and then added to the rice while cooking to impart the delectable minty flavour....

Ingredient's

2 cups rice

1/2 cup green peas 

2 cups fresh mint leaves 

1 onion, chopped fine, 3 to 4 green chillies

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

4 green cardamom pods

1 bay leaf

1 tbsp ghee

Salt to taste

Cooking Method

If using basmati, soak the rice in 4 cups water for half an hour and cook in pressure cooker for 1 whistle. Once pressure leaves the cooker, spread out on a plate and let it cool without clumping. If using rice cooker or any other method, cook until the rice is done yet firm. Grind the mint leaves, green chillies and ginger garlic to a paste. Heat ghee in a pan add the cardamom, bay leaves and saute for about a minute, taking care not to burn them. Then add the chopped onions and green peas saute unil it turns transparent. Add the ground paste to the pan and fry for about 2 to 3 mins until it turns fragrant.the add salt. Mix in the cooled rice without breaking it too much. 

Serve with a raita of choice.

Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Sweet)

Gajar ka halwa is a very popular Indian dessert made with carrots. Gajar ka Halwa is an unavoidable part of the menu. When served hot, the Gajar Ka Halwa tastes wonderful. It is simply the prefect sweet dish to be relished post dinner.
On my hubby's birthday i made his favorite gajar ka halwa. Usually i cook this halwa very often but never felt like taking picture, to remember my hubby's 2nd bithday after our marriage. I took a picture, this will always remind me of what i cooked on this special day... Even i made his favorite cake, food, and drinks too. As usual he love's the food what i cook.. :)

Ingredient's
Carrots -250 grams
Milk -3/4 cup (boiled)
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Cashew nuts -5-6
Raisins 6-8
Cardamom -3
Ghee -2 tbsp
Khova 100 grams

Cooking Method
Wash and grate the carrots. Soak the raisins in water for 30 minutes. Blanch and shred the nuts. Put the water to boil, when it starts boiling add the grated carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes. Add the milk. Cook on a low flame for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Add sugar, mix well and cook till the sugar has dissolved and all the milk has been absorbed. Add ghee and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add the slightly crushed cardamoms, raisins and khova. Mix well. Remove from heat and arrange in a serving dish. Garnish with almonds and pistachios. Serve cold, hot or at room temperature.

Suji Ka Ladoo

Though quick and easy to cook, this Indian dessert is very tasty and also hugely popular. It's perfect to make when time is short but you still want a special dessert. These ladoos can also be prepared on the occasion of any festival. These ladoos are very delicious and can be stored for even 15 to 20 days.

Ingredients:
500 gms Sooji/ Rava
6 tbsps ghee
300 gms sugar
500 ml milk
3/4 cup mixture of cashews, almond, raisin and dry cocnut

Preparation:
Heat a deep pan on a medium flame and when hot add the ghee. When it melts, add the cashews, almond and rasins and fry for 2-3 minutes. Drain with a slotted spoon and remove onto paper towels. Keep aside for later. In the same ghee, add the Sooji and mix well. Roast the Sooji (stirring frequently) till it begins to turn a very light golden color and give off a faint aroma. Add the sugar and mix well. Now gently add the milk, stirring all the while to prevent lumps from forming. If any do form, make sure to break them with the back of the stirring spoon so you get a smooth paste-like consistency. Cook the mixture till it is thick and begins to come away from the sides of the pan. Add the dry fruits and dry coconut now and mix well. Turn off the fire and allow the mixture to cool till you are able to comfortably handle it. Now form the mixture, a little at a time, into lime-sized balls (Laddoos). Press gently but firmly with lightly greased palms to ensure they have no cracks and are firm and smooth. Arrange the Laddoos on a lightly greased platter as you prepare. The Laddoos will become firmer if left alone for approximately half an hour. They are now ready to serve or store for later. Keep in an airtight container for upto 1 week.

Sugar Syrup Peda

Sugar syrup peda is something very different peda . It gives you the taste of Gulab Jamun but the shape will be different.. I was thinking to make gulab jamun only but i thought why not make it different, and i end up making this recipe with all purpose flour... It gives u really very delicious taste and looks very beautiful too... Me and my hubby enjoyed it very much by eating this peda..

Ingredient's
1 cup all purpose flour
3tbsp ghee
25gm khova 
1 pinch baking soda, 1 pinch baking powder
Milk as per required to make soft dough
Oil to deep fry


For sugar Syrup
200gm sugar
3cup of water
1 cardamom 


Method
Add sugar, water and cardamom together in a deep pan and making a thick sugar syrup and set aside
In a big bowl mix all the above ingredients and make soft dough adding milk
Make a 6 small ball from dough, and give shape as per u like , deep fry them to golden brown. and allow it to cool , dip in the sugar syrup and sprinkle some sugar powder on it and Serve as a Dessert.

Dal Makhani

Dal Makhani, a flavourful robust lentil preparation, is a celebrated delicacy from Punjab. Rajma and whole urad provide protein and calcium which are extremely important for maintenance of your body cells and healthy bones. Cooking the dal in tomato purée adds a little sharpness to this dish and also enriches it with folic acid and vitamin A.

Ingredient's
1 cup Whole black gram
2 tsp Kidney beans

1 onion chopped
1 cup Tomato(puree)
1" piece Ginger
4 Cloves Garlic
2 Whole dry red chillies (soaked for 15 minutes
3 tsp Ghee
2 tsp Dhania (coriander) powder
1/2 tsp Garam masala
1 tsp Butter
1/4 cup Fresh cream beaten well and mixed with 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp Ghee
5 cups Water
Salt to taste

Cooking Method
Soak kidney beans and black gram together for atleast 5to6 hours
Grind ginger, garlic and dry red chillies together to a paste.
Drain out all water from the pulses and add six cups of fresh water.
Pressure cook with 1 tsp ghee, salt and half of the ginger-garlic paste. After the first whistle, reduce the flame and cook for about 45 minutes. Remove from fire.
Open the cooker and mash the contents.
Prepare tadka (tempering) with tomatoes,onion, leftover ginger-garlic paste, garam masala and coriander powder. Add this to the dal.
Add butter and simmer on low flame for 20-25 minutes, stirring and mashing the dal occasionally with a ladle against the sides of the cooker.
Add beaten cream mixed with milk. Simmer for 15-20 minutes more and serve hot.