Saturday, October 11, 2008

Diwali Celebrations with Diwali Sweets

What's Diwali Celebration without Laddus and Peras! So here are some authentic Diwali Recepies which you can prepare on this festive occasion of Diwali and delight your loved once in a very special way.

Wheat Laddu
Ingredients:
1 cup Wheat Flour
1/4 cup Gram Flour
11/2 cup Sugar Powder
1/4 cup Grated Coconut
1/4 cup Dry Fruit almonds, raisins, kaju etc
1 cup Ghee

Preparation:
1. Heat the ghee.
2. Put both the flours in the heated ghee.
3. When nearly roasted put coconut and sliced dry fruit in the mixture.
4. Now put the ground sugar in the mixture and stir thoroughly.
5. Take off from the heat quickly and make laddus. You may also put the mixture in an oil based thali & make small pieces.


Soan Papdi
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup Gram Glour
1 1/4 cup Maida
250 gms Ghee
2 1/2 cups Sugar
1 1/2 cup Water
2 tbsp Milk
1/2 tsp Cardamom seeds crushed coarsely
4" squares cut from a thin polythene sheet

Preparation:
1. Sift both flours together.
2. Heat ghee in a heavy saucepan. Add flour mixture and roast on low till light golden. Keep aside to cool a little, stirring occasionally.
3. Prepare syrup simultaneously. Make syrup out of sugar, water and milk. Bring syrup to 2 1/2 thread consistency.
4. Pour at once into the flour mixture. Beat well with a large fork till the mixture forms threadlike flakes.
5. Pour onto a greased surface or thali and roll to 1" thickness lightly. Sprinkle the elaichi and gently press down with palm.
6. Cool, cut into 1" squares, wrap individually into square pieces of thin plastic sheet. Store in an airtight container.


Besan ki Barfi
Ingredients :
Besan 1 kg
Sugar 1 kg
Water 1/2 liter
Ghee 1 kg
For garnishing: Pistas, Almonds

Preparation :
1. Fry besan in ghee on low flame for about 30 mins till it becomes pink and ghee separates.
2. Mix sugar and water into a syrup.
3. Add this syrup to the besan and mix well.
4. Pour this mixture into a greased tray.
5. When it cools cut into cubes and garnish with pistas and almonds. 


Sesame Seed (Til) - Khoya laddu
Ingredients :
2 cups khoya
1&1/2 cups of coarsely powdered roasted sesame seeds (til)
Powdered sugar to taste
Kesar, chopped almonds and pistas for decoration

Preparation :
1. Roast the khoya on low flame till it is very light golden yellow color.
2. Let is cool for few minutes.
3. Then add coarsely powdered roasted sesame seeds and mix it.
4. Add powdered sugar when the above mixture is luke warm.
5. Mix well and shape into small balls. If the mixture is too hot then the sugar will melt so care has to be taken that mixture should not be hot.
6. Arrange in a plate and decorate with kesar, chopped almonds and pistas.

Method for Making Khoya in Microwave:
1. Take three cups of full cream milk powder in microwave oven proof casserole.
2. Add sufficient water to make a thick paste.
3. Add 2 tablespoon of ghee.
4. Cover with plastic cling film and microwave for 3 minutes with in between stirring. (Time depends on power of Microwave oven.)


Chick Peas Aand Potatoe Curry
Ingredients (Serve 4-6)
1 can chick peas
3 lbs potatoes
1large onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 chilly pepper
3 tsp curry powder
1 cup of water
2 tsp vegetable oil
3 leaves shadow benny (optional)
1/2 tsp cumin powder

Preparation :
1. Peel potatoes and cut in quarters.
2. Peel onions and chop finely.
3. In a medium size pan add vegetable oil and heat well.
4. Add chopped onions and chilly pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes or until onions sweat.
5. Add curry powder and stir constantly. Now, add about quarter of a cup water and stir occasionally until curry powder, onion, pepper and garlic becomes a paste.
6. Cook for about 5 mins.
7. Add potatoes, shadow benny leaves (if available) and chickpeas. Stir up and let cook for about another 10 mins.
8. Add remaining water and let cook until potatoes and chick peas is tender.
9. When the sauce consistency is slightly thick add cumin powder, stir up and remove from heat.
10.This chickpeas and potatoes curry tastes great with cooked white rice.


Gujia
Ingredients :
Flour 250 grams
Khoya 500 grams
Raisins a few
Almonds 100 grams (finely chopped)
Cooking oil 3 tablespoon
Water 100 ml
Sugar 250 grams

Preparation :
Mix the oil and flour properly to form a binding consistency of breadcrumbs. Add some water and knead lightly the entire mixture. Make it soft dough and set it aside with a damp cloth covering it. Fry the khoya in cooking oil till it becomes light brown and then mix the sugar in it properly. Add the almonds and raisins, and fry for a few more minutes. Remove from fire and let it cool. Make small thick chapattis out of that kneaded dough. Fill half of the chapatti with the khoya mixture and, rolling it, seal the sides of the chapatti keeping the khoya inside it. Make the sealing look decorated by giving a look of hemming. Deep-fry these gujias until it becomes light golden brown, keeping the flame at low. Take out the gujias on a newspaper and let the oil get soaked. Serve hot or store it in an airtight container for using it on that special day.


Malpua
Ingredients :
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups wheat flour
4 tbsp yogurt or curd
10-15 whole peppercorns
Milk
Water

Preparation :
Make a batter of all of these dry ingredients and the dahi, using 1/2 milk and 1/2 water till it is thick and of pouring consistency, similar to pancake or dosa batter. And whip till smooth. Add the 10 peppercorns. Keep aside and allow it to rise for about two hours.

Heat oil on a medium flame. Drop large ladlefuls into the oil to form circles of 6-8 inches. Typically the dough will sink and line the bottom of the karhai and rise up in the shape of a disc. Fry till golden. Drain and pat off the oil. Serve with cream or garnished with pista. Serves five.

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