Menapa Sunnundalu /Urad Dal Ladoos

Menapa Sunnundalu  /Urad Dal Ladoos:

Another variety of Simple and tasty sweet. The only trick to make this tasty is roast the urad dal just nice and  add enough of good quality ghee. And you are there.

The source of this recipe is from my Mom, used to make enough of these to satisfy our taste buds. But yet we used to fight for the last bit. :)

Here you go with the recipe.

Ingredients:
Urad Dal : 1 cup
Sugar : 1 cup
Cardamon Powder - 2 tspn
Ghee roasted nuts : 1/3 cup (Optional)
Ghee: 1/2 cup (or enough to bind the mixture)

Method:
1) Dry roast the urad dal till good aroma is out or slightly golden brown. (Make sure you keep stirring so that the urad dal is evenly roasted) and keep aside to cool
2) Powder sugar and urad dal separately and keep aside.
3) Now, heat the ghee to melt and make sure you don't heat it too little or too much.
4) Mix the two ground powder (Urad dal and sugar) together and add cardamon powder and the nuts into it.
5) Then, pour the hot ghee on the mixture.
6) Use a spoon and mix the ghee and incorporate all together.
7) Using you hands make lemon sized balls and they are ready to eat.

Tips:
Make sure the ghee is just nice to bind the ladoos.
Do not burn the ghee, the taste and smell will be different.
 
Cheers!
Madhavi

Kobbari Metai / Coconut Burfi

Kobbari Metai / Coconut Burfi:

This is one of my child hood favourites.With the minimal ingredients you can make a very tasty sweet.
This is one of the varieties we make during Ganesha Chaturthi. I used to love to eat them when my mom makes it. Now, after marriage, my FIL makes it even tastier. Got some expert tips from him too.after the last time I made I got the trick of making it

Here you go for the tasty soft, yet crispy, and yummy coconut burfi you need,

Ingredients:
Coconut: 1 cup
Sugar : 1 cup
Dry Nuts : 1/3 cup (optional) (roasted with little ghee)
Ghee : 1 tsp (to grease the plate)
Milk : 3 tspn
Cardamon Powder: 2 tspn

Method:
1) Take a broad kadai / pan, add sugar and coconut and give it a good mix.
2) Now, on low flame, stir them together till the sugar will start melting.
3) Now, add milk (This is to give the burfi a milky white colour) and keep stirring.
4) To this add cardamon powder and continue stirring.
5) Keep stirring till you see that the sugar has reached a stage where once cooled will get solid.
6) Now pour this mixture into a plate greased with ghee and spread it all through.
7) Take a knife and cut these into pieces into shapes and size of your choice. I cut diamonds.
8) Once cool separate the pieces and keep it in air tight container.

I made this for Vinayaka Chaturthi. And last time I made it my Son loved it. And I am sure he will this time too :)

Cheers!
Madhavi

Iyengar Veg Puffs

Iyengar Vegetarian Puffs

We will get Puff Pastry in any part of the world. But needless to say, anyone from India, more specifically anyone from Bangalore would have undoubtedly had these Vegetarian Puffs from the Iyengar Bakery at least once during their stay there.

The specialty of the Pastries or Puffs we get in Bangalore are more close to our childhood. (I am sure its for most of us) Its a memory of the days spent my Mom and sisters. We were having a happy chit chat with a hot cup of coffee and hot Puffs (Usually fighting for the extra bit) from the bakery near by as soon as I was back from College. It went on till I started work. And till I got married.

 Here you go with the recipe:

For 9 small Puffs we need:
Pastry Sheet: 1 no. (I picked Pampas Puff Pastry sheet)
Oil - 1 teaspoon

For stuffing:
Mixed Vegetable Palya masala (of your choice)

Method:
1) Keep the mixed vegetable palya that you wish to stuff ready. (Ideal if its in room temperature)
2) Take one pastry sheet. (try to keep it out of the freezer atleast 15 mins before you plan to bake)
3) Pre-head the oven at 250 degree Celsius.
4) While the oven is pre-heating, take a baking tray and place the pastry sheet on it.
5) Cut the pastry sheet into 9 squares. (this is upto your choice of shape too)
6) Put one tea spoon full of stuffing in the middle of each square and close it diagonally. You can just press the edges to close the stuffing.
7) Take a little olive oil or vegetable oil and brush it on the closed pastries.
8) By now, the pre-heating would have completed. Now, just put the tray in the oven and bake at 250 Degree Celsius for about 10 mins or check the Puffs and remove once the puffs have turned golden brown.
9) If you are trying it for the first time, I am sure you will be waiting to take these puffs out of the oven and sit comfortable and relish them. (thats exactly what I did).

I could not believe myself that I can cook the Vegetable Puffs just like its in the Bakery. Amazing results. Try it and enjoy.

Note: You can fold the pastry sheet in the way you want, Rectangle, triangle or even roundels. However you fold them, the oven will take care of the rest. 

Cheers!
Madhavi