Mango Kalakand (Quick recipe)

Hello everyone, Rakshabandhan is round the corner, so lets prepare some homemade sweets for our brothers and take lot many gifts from them :)))) 

Kalakand is a very well know sweet by all of us. If we are going to follow the authentic recipe, it will take lots of time, but I have got you all a very easy, simple and quick recipe. I have flavoured it with mangoes and hence it will be Mango Kalakand. You can flavour it with only Cardamom or Kesar or may be strawberries or why not pineapple? Various options for you, only the basic recipe will be same. So lets quickly run through the ingredients following the method :)

Video Link :

Ingredients :

• Mango Pulp : 1 cup
• Condensed milk : 150 ml (Click here for homemade condensed milk recipe)
• Fresh Paneer : 1/2 cup crumbled (Click here for Homemade paneer recipe)
• Green Cardamom Powder : 1/4 tsp
• Ghee/butter/oil : 1 tbsp (To grease)
• Chopped Pistachios : to garnish

Method :

• In a heavy bottom pan heat mango pulp for a 3-4 minutes. Once started reducing, add condensed milk and paneer and mix well. 
• Cook it unless the water content is reduced and it starts leaving sides of the pan. Please refer video for the perfect consistency.
• Once done, add cardamom powder, mix and take it out on a greased plate or a board.
• Try to form a 1/2" log, apply the pistachios and let it completely cool.
• Once cooled, cut it into desired shape and serve :)

Enjoy and have fun :)
Happy Rakshabandhan

 

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks and Enjoy cooking
Priyanka :)

Homemade Sweetend Condensed Milk

Hello everyone, As we all know that Indian festivals have just started and the common thing among all the festivals is sweet :). Usually we purchase them from mithaiwalas but why not make them at home this time. Some easy and quick desserts with some Homemade condensed milk. Its supereasy to prepare and awesome in taste. There are few reasons that why I prefer this recipe, first of all its cheaper as compared to market, its fresh and have no preservatives. You can make it as per the quantity you need and no need to waste any. So lets quickly start up :)

Video Link :

Ingredients :

• Whole milk : 500 ml
• Sugar : 1 cup
• Butter : 1 tbsp
• Vanilla Essence : 1/2 tsp (optional)

Method :

• Take a heavy bottom pan, add milk and sugar to it, mix well and let it boil on high flame.
• Once boiled, reduce the flame to med to low and cook it for 10-12 minutes or unless it has started changing its colour and thickens a bit. Also don't leave it like this only, continuously stir it.
• Once it achieves a little thick consistency (as shown in the video), switch of the flame and don't over thicken it. 
• Now add the butter, to give a nice shine and also Vanilla essence (if adding).
• Let it completely cool and store it in some airtight clean glass jar.

Notes:

• You can adjust the amount of sugar as per your liking.
• Stirring continuously is very important otherwise it might burn, also it might form some cream layer and you won't get a perfect texture.
• Do not over thicken it, as once cooled it is going to become more thicker.
• If suppose it thickens a lot, then no need to worry, just add a little more milk, whisk it well and warm it, it will be fine.
• Store it in some air tight clean glass container and keep it refrigerated.
• It will remain good for 15-20 days, but I would advice you to make it in small batches or as per the requirements.
• In the end, don't forget to lick it from the pan ;)

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks and Enjoy cooking
Priyanka :)

 

Mango Shrikhand

Mangoes are my all time favorite. But being in London have very limited access to Asian Mangoes. Found some this weekend, had few like this only and rest planned to make some dessert. 

Its very hot here, I can very well understand the heat in India. So made some Mango Shrikhand, its very light & refreshing dessert. Flavored it only with mangoes and didn't add cardamom or kesar, as just wanted to highlight mango in it. 

Its very easy and quick recipe, also very well prepared in advance, just refrigerate and serve chill. I prepared it with mangoes, but you can add any sweet fruit, dry fruits or even chocolate. So without wasting any of the time, lets quickly run through the ingredients, following the method.

Video Link :

Ingredients :

• Hung curd/ very thick yogurt : 1 cup
• Mango Puree : 1/2 cup
• Powdered sugar : 1/4 cup (adjust as per the taste and mango)
• Pistachios : 1 tbsp for garnishing

Note: the video ingredients may vary, but I have used the same ratio made it a bit easy.

Method :

• Beat the yogurt/curd with the help of a spatula or a spoon (please don't use a blender or whisk otherwise you will loose its consistency)
• Add in powdered sugar and Mango puree and mix well.
  Fold in some pistachios and leave some for garnishing.
• Serve it in a glass or a bowl, pour some mango puree on top and garnish it with some pistachios.

Enjoy!!!!

Note:

• For hung curd - put the yogurt/curd on a sieve over a bowl. Put it inside fridge overnight. Morning you will see that the excess water is drained in the bowl and you are left with thick curd.
• If you see any lumps, then pass the mixture through a sieve and it will be fine.

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy Cooking

Priyanka

Kadai Paneer - Restaurant style

Hello everyone, today I have got a recipe of Kadhai Paneer, one of my favourite dishes. Whenever I am visiting any restaurant or dhabas I never ever forget to order this. 

I tried so many recipes but not at all satisfied with the results, was not getting that restaurant flavours, thus never posted its recipe too. Then one day Jaspreet Nirula ji's  recipes clicked in my mind, he is one of my foodie friend and a very awesome cook, specially in rich cuisines, was pretty sure that he might have the solution for it too. I asked him and got a brilliant recipe. Tried it and simply loved it too. Made very minimal changes and finally very happy. Its a bit time taking recipe but believe me, its worth. So today I am dedicating my post to him. Thank you sir :)))))

So lets run through the ingredients, following the method.

Video Link :

Ingredients :

• Paneer/Cottage cheese : 200gms (Click here for the homemade paneer recipe)
• Tomatoes : 3 medium, chopped
• Onion : 1 small, diced
• Capsicum/bellpeppers : 1 medium, diced
• Fried onion paste - 1 onion (Fry in oil, blend it with a little water)
• Ginger : 1/2 tsps
• Garlic : 1+1/2 tsps
• Green chillies : 2 slit
• Kashmiri red chili powder : 1 tsp
• Kadai Masala : 2 tsps (Click here for homemade Kadai Masala recipe)
• Garam Masala : 1/4 tsp
• Kasoori Methi/Dried fenugreek leaves : 1 tbsp
• Fresh Cream : 1/2 cup (optional, I didn't add)
• Oil : 3-4 tbsps 
• Salt to taste

 Method :

• Heat 1+1/2 tbsps of oil in a pan, fry the paneer cubes till light golden in colour. Once done put them in warm water with some salt.
• In the same pan fry the diced capsicum and diced onions, maintain their crunchiness. Take them out on a plate and keep aside.
• In the same pan add a oil (approx 1tbsp), add 1 tsp of garlic and saute. Now add the chopped tomatoes to it and fry until they are half done. 
• Add red chili powder with 1/2 tsp salt and cook further. When oil oozes out and the tomatoes masala is cooked properly switch off the flame and keep aside.
• In a wok/kadai add some oil, to this add 1/2 tsp of ginger and 1/2 tsp of garlic and saute. Add 1+1/2 tsps kadai masala and fry. Then add green chillies and also add the fried onion paste. Mix it well, we don't have to cook it as its already cooked.
• Now add the tomato masala with some water (amount of water depends upon the consistency of gravy you want) and cook for a couple of minutes. 
• Add the sauteed capsicum & onions and also the drained paneer cubes, mix well.
• Finally add garam masala , 1/2 tsp of kadai Masala and kasoori methi and mix well.
• If you are adding cream, add it, cover for 2-3 minutes and cook on low flame. 
• Serve with hot chapatis, Rumalis (click here for Rumali roti recipe), laccha paratha.

Enjoy!!!!!!

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy Cooking
Priyanka

Homemade Kadai Masala Powder

Hello everyone, today I have you all a recipe of Kadai masala powder. Its very well used in various kadai preparations whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian. You can make this and store in an air tight container for 2-3 months. 

Video link :

Ingredients :

• Coriander seed : 1 tbsp
• Black pepper corn : 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds : 1 tsp
• Whole red chillies : 2-3
• Cloves : 4-5
• Green cardamom : 2-3
• Black cardamom : 1
• Cinnamon stick : 1/2 " stick
  
• Bay leaves : 1-2

Method :

Dry roast all the ingredients on a low flame. Once you start getting the aroma and the spices are done, coarsely grind them in a spice grinder as shown in the video. Store it in an air tight container.

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy Cooking
Priyanka

Bengali Rasgulla by Garima Sarolia Narera (Guest Post)

Hello everyone, today I would take an opportunity to introduce you all with one of my close friend and food blogger Garima Sarolia Narera. I met her on CAL and really appreciate not only her cooking skills but also a wonderful writer cum poet in her. Apart from it she is a lovely women with full of enthusiasm and her bubbly nature makes her a perfect lady :)))). Recently she has started her new venture of blogging and I would like to congratulate and wish her success :)

She is also very well known as "Rasgulla queen" at CAL, so just thought and took this opportunity for a guest post of Rasgulla recipe. Rasgullas don't need any introduction but for my foreign country readers - Rasgulla is basically a Bengali dessert, its cheese based ball, soaked in sugar syrup and served chilled. So lets go for the recipe, Over to you Garima :)

I am delighted to be invited to Priyanka's wonderful blog. She is such a talented and vivacious person and I constantly enjoy trying out her recipes.
I am here with a recipe very close to my heart and one that I have perfected after several trials. It was also the first post on my blog :)

The sweet delight from the Bengal- rasgulla. A dessert which is everyone's delight and can be an occasional indulgence even for the health conscious. 

http://cafegarima.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/rasgulla/

RASGULLA 

For the Rasgullas you need
1 Litre cow milk, cream removed (I buy the milk an evening prior, boil,cool and refrigerate. Next morning, remove the cream and proceed to make chenna/paneer)
1-2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

To Make Chenna
(Here is a step wise guide to making paneer/chhena at home)
 Bring the milk to boil, add 1-2 tbsp lemon juice gradually so that the milk mass and whey separate completely.Add 10-15 ice cubes. Rest for a minute.

Strain in a colander lined with muslin/cheesecloth. Wash thoroughly with fresh water to remove the lemony sourness. Drain the water by squeezing. Knot the muslin cloth and hang it  to get rid for any excess whey/liquid.

After about 10-15 minutes, remove and rub the chenna with fingers and heels of the palm till the chenna gives out some fat/ ghee/chiknaayee. It takes me about 5 minutes to get there. By now the chenna is like a dough ball that comes together easily, neither too hard nor too soft.

Take pinches off the dough and make small balls, you should get about 15. Remember, they are going to double up on boiling so size them accordingly.

For the Sugar Syrup 

For the Light Sugar Syrup to boil the rasgullas

1 cup Sugar
5 cups Water
1/2 tsp fine cardamom (ilaichi) powder

For adding to the Light sugar syrup after boiling the rasgullas 

1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
8-10 saffron strands (optional- I haven’t used here)

While you make the paneer balls, bring to boil 5 cups of water with a cup of sugar (light sugar syrup). Add half a tsp fine cardamom powder. Just as the syrup comes to a rolling boil, add in the rasgulla balls. Boil covered for 12- 15 minutes on medium flame.
I make my rasgullas in two batches so that the rasgullas get enough space in the water to expand and also keep their round shape.
You may uncover to check every 5 min minutes. Switch off the gas. Transfer gently to a big bowl full of clean drinking water. There should be enough water for the paneer balls to float freely.

Add one fourth cup sugar and half a cup of water to the same light sugar syrup in which the rasgullas were boiled  and give it a boil so that the sugar melts. Add in the saffron strands when the syrup becomes warm, do not add while it is hot.Let the sugar syrup cool to room temperature ( takes about 30 minutes)

Remove the rasgullas from the plain water, squeeze gently and drop into the sugar syrup.
Chill for three hours. You may top with some finely slivered pistachios and almonds. 

Enjoy!

Garima

http://cafegarima.wordpress.com

Banana & Walnut Cake (Eggless)

Hi all, recently upgraded to a DSLR (finally!!!!!!) and also crossed my 1500 likes on Facebook page, so double celebrations time. Hence thought to prepare some sweet and therefore prepared Banana & walnut cake. Being baking a new passion, I always try to get more eggless recipes as these can be followed by both non-vegetarian and vegetarian friends :))))

Its just two days I got my new camera and working on it. Goshh!!!!!!! its so difficult & complicated to work with, but I am pretty sure will overcome it and share upgraded pics soon with you guys.

Talking about the cake now ;), its supermoist as I used oil and yoghurt, Its light & spongy. Full of flavours of Banana, cinnamon. As coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate in the same manner cinnamon also enhances the flavour of banana. I have used the over-ripped bananas here (those which have large black spots on the skin). Actually these bananas are more sweeter and gives very nice flavour to cakes, smoothies. So no more throwing of those dark colored bananas :)). Walnuts & bananas are a great combination together, walnut gives a very nice crunch to the cake. So guys with so many goodness why are we waiting then ????? Lets quickly run through the ingredients following the method :))))

Video :-

 

Ingredients :

I have divided the ingredients list in two parts- the dry & wet ingredients. This way it will be easy for you to follow.

Dry ingredients: 

• All Purpose flour/Maida/Plain flour - 1 cup
• Baking Powder - 1 tsp
• Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon Powder - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - a generous pinch
• Walnuts - 1/4 cup (roughly chopped)

Wet ingredients :

• Brown sugar - 1/2 cup
• White granulated sugar - 2 tbsps
• Thick Yogurt - 1/4 cup (at room temperature)
• Vegetable Oil - 1/4 cup 
• Banana - 2 medium sized (overripped)
• Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp (optional- I didn't add it)

Method :

• First preheat the oven at 180°C. Grease & flour the baking tin, if you want, line with parchment paper/Butter paper.
• Sieve the dry ingredients together atleast 3 times and keep aside, this give more aeration in the flour and helps in making the cake light.
• Now mix in a couple of tbsps of flour with the walnuts and coat well, this will prevent sinking walnuts. Keep aside.
• In other bowl mix oil + sugar + yogurt + Vanilla essence (if adding). Also add mashed bananas. After they are well combined add the dry ingredients and fold in gently. Also add the flour coated walnuts.
• Pour the batter in tin.
• Bake it on the middle rack for 40-50 mins or unless a tooth pick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Mine took exactly 45 minutes. But keep checking after 35 minutes as every oven vary as per the power :)
• When done, take it out and give a rest of 2 minutes in the tin, then demold and cool on a cooling rack.
• Once completely cooled, cut into slices and these can be stored in an air tight container for 3-4 days. You can also enjoy it my way - warm slice with vanilla ice cream :)) 

Note : 

• If you don't have brown sugar simply replace it with white one. 
• You can omit cinnamon if that's not your taste. You can add green cardamom powder instead.
• You can adjust the amount of sugar as per the sweetness of bananas or your taste.
• Also you can adjust the walnuts quantity as per the liking, or completely omit it. 

Please do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :) 

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Thanks & Happy Baking

Priyanka :)))

Baked Papdi/Baked crackers

These days I am on a mission of healthy snacks which have a longer shelf life and can be enjoyed guilt free. In our Indian homes, the most famous snacks are mathri, but........they have huge amount of ghee in it :((((, I can't even imagine the number of calories they have!!!!!. But at the same time they are so so addictive that one can't resist to have just one :))).  This is human tendency I believe, the food which is unhealthy is loved most and we always don't prefer healthy ones :). One fine day we friends were discussing about the same on a group chat, found that most of the people have green tea but just as a sake to have it and never preferred it above their proper Indian ginger tea :))). But at the same time there are many more who love to have it, I am among them.

I have a habit of munching something after every 2-3 three hours, need some biscuits, flakes or anything. If I have anything which is high in calories and have high fat content, then I am gone. So therefore I planned to have healthy snacks with full of flavours. Sushant's colleagues demanded for some Indian samosas (proper aloo one). So I prepared in a very large batch and was left with some dough. My mother always used to fry mathris from the left over dough and I am sure you all too do the same thing :)))). But I gave a new twist to it and just baked them and voila the results were outstanding - crisp, crunchy and light. Goes amazingly good with a cup of tea. As it was from the samosa dough hence made from Maida/ All purpose flour, but next batch I will prepare from whole wheat flour and soon share the results. So here is the recipe, its quite simple and easy to prepare, hope you all will like it too.

Ingredients :

• All purpose flour - 1 cup
• Vegetable oil - 2 tbsps (I used Olive oil)
• Carom seeds/Ajwain - 1 tsp
• Salt as per the taste
• Warm water - 1/4 cup (to knead the dough)

Method :

• Mix all the ingredients (except water) in a big bowl. 
• Now add little by little water, we need to have a stiff dough (not very soft). You can always adjust the amount of water. Once done cover and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
• Now divide the dough into two parts and roll like thin chapati. With the help of a cookie cutter or a bottle's cap cut into desire shape. Place them on baking tray, lined with butter paper/aluminum foil.
• Bake them on the middle rack at 180 ° C for about 18-20 minutes, do flip them in between. Mine were done in exactly 20 minutes but every oven varies in terms of power hence would advise to keep an eye.
• Also if u want dark brown color, then put them on broil (on the top rack with temperature 220 ° C) for just 30 sec. But make sure that you don't move from there as they might burn.
• Take them out from the oven, let them rest in baking tray for 5 minutes and then transfer on to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled store them in an air tight jars. These will remain good for a month.
• Now prepare a nice cup of tea and have them with a cute smile :)

Note : You can add flavours of your own choice like - chili flakes, kasuri methi/Dried fenugreek leaves, Italian herbs too if you like :)

Do share your experiences and feedback with me in the below section of comments or on my Facebook page. I too have a You Tube channel please do visit for all the video recipes. All the links mentioned below :)

YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/user/cookwithpriyanka

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cookwithpriyanka

Enjoy making them :)

Thanks & Happy Baking
Priyanka :)