As it's said, 'The way to win someone's heart is through their stomach' so this Raksha Bandhan, delight your brother with special homemade treats. Chef Mokshda Dhingra has suggested some easy-to-make recipes at home to surprise your brother and add a personal touch to this special day. Apple Kheer Recipe Ingredients: - 1 liter milk - 2-3 medium-sized apples, grated - 1/4 cup sugar (adjust according to taste) - 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder - 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter) - 2-3 tablespoons chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) - A few strands of saffron (optional) - Raisins (optional) Instructions 1.
Boil the Milk - In a heavy-bottomed pan, bring the milk to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. 2.
Add Sugar - Once the milk has reduced slightly, add sugar and condensed milk (if using). Continue to cook on low heat, stirring frequently. 3.
Incorporate the Apples - Add the grated squeezed apples to the milk mixture. Stir well and let the kheer cook for another 5-7 minutes on low heat. 4.
Flavor the Kheer - Add cardamom powder and saffron strands (if using) to the kheer. Mix well. 5.
Finish with Nuts and Raisins - Garnish the kheer with chopped nuts and rai Pistachio Mahalabia Pistachio Mahalabia is a delicious and creamy Middle Eastern dessert that’s easy to make. Here's a simple recipe: Ingredients - 4 cups milk - 1/2 cup sugar - 1/2 cup cornstarch - 1/2 teaspoon rose water (or orange blossom water) - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios - Crushed pistachios for garnish Instructions 1. Prepare the Cornstarch Slurry - In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 cup of cold milk, stirring until smooth and free of lumps.
2. Heat the Milk - In a saucepan, combine the remaining 3 1/2 cups of milk and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and the milk is warm but not boiling.
3. Add the Cornstarch Slurry - Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the warm milk while stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming. 4.
Cook the Mahalabia - Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Once thickened, reduce the heat to low and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
5. Flavor the Mahalabia - Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the rose water (or orange blossom water) and vanilla extract. Add the finely chopped pistachios and mix well.
6. Set the Dessert - Pour the mixture into serving bowls or ramekins. Let it cool slightly before transferring it to the refrigerator.
Chill for at least 2-3 hours until fully set. 7. Garnish and Serve - Before serving, garnish with crushed pistachios on top.
You can also add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of dried rose petals for extra flavor and presentation. Enjoy your Pistachio Mahalabia, a fragrant and creamy dessert! Coconut laddoo Here's a simple recipe for making coconut laddoo, a delicious Indian sweet: Ingredients - 2 cups grated coconut (fresh or desiccated) - 1 cup condensed milk/ Sugar - 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder - 2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) - Chopped nuts (like almonds or cashews) for garnish (optional) - Desiccated coconut for rolling (optional) Instructions 1. Heat Ghee: - In a pan, heat the ghee on medium heat.
2. Add Coconut: - Add the grated coconut to the pan and sauté for 2-3 minutes. If using fresh coconut, sauté a bit longer to reduce the moisture content.
3. Add Condensed Milk/ Sugar: - Pour the condensed milk/ sugar into the pan and mix well with the coconut. Cook the mixture on low heat, stirring continuously.
4. Cook the Mixture: - Cook until the mixture thickens and starts to leave the sides of the pan, forming a mass. This should take around 8-10 minutes.
5. Add Cardamom Powder: - Stir in the cardamom powder and mix well. 6.
Shape the Laddoos: - Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool slightly. Grease your palms with a little ghee, take small portions of the mixture, and roll them into small, round laddoos. 7.
Garnish: - You can roll the laddoos in desiccated coconut for an extra layer of coconut flavor. Garnish with chopped nuts if desired. 8.
Serve: - Let the laddoos cool completely. Serve them fresh or store in an airtight container. Enjoy your homemade coconut laddoos! Marble cookies Here's a simple recipe for delicious marble cookies: Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional) Instructions 1.
Preheat Oven: - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2.
Cream Butter and Sugars: - In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 3. Mix Dry Ingredients: - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: - Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined. 5.
Divide the Dough: - Divide the dough in half. Add the cocoa powder to one-half of the dough and mix until fully incorporated. You can also add the chocolate chips to the cocoa dough if you want.
6. Marble the Dough: - Take a small portion from the plain dough and a small portion from the cocoa dough, press them together lightly, and roll them into a ball. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake: - Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden but the centers are still soft. Be careful not to overbake.
8. Cool: - Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. 9.
Serve: - Enjoy your marble cookies with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee! These cookies have a beautiful marbled appearance and a delightful mix of vanilla and chocolate flavors..