Sweet Pongal
Moong dhal - 1/2 cup.
Rice - 1/2 cup.
Milk
Coconut
cashew
jaggery
raisins (khish-mish - dry grapes)
cardamom
ghee.
Fry the moong dhal (before washing) till it becomes little light brown (it will start smelling). Then soak rice and dhal separately for 10 minutes.
Thoroghly wash and keep it in cooker with the right water (lesser is o.k) and cook it seperately (in two different containers). Meanwhile cut coconut in very small pieces and fry in ghee. Fry cashew and raisins also separately.
Break the jagerry and put in water (very little) and make a syrup. This is done because sometimes jagerry has mud and stones. After we make the syrup strain it through tea strainer. Put the rice and dhal in a big vessel and add milk (may be one cup) and cook it till all the milk gets absorbed. Add jaggery syrup and again cook till even it gets absorbed. Add three big table
spoons of ghee, powdered cardamon and cook again for a while. Add fried coconut, cashews and raisins.
Serve hot in two cups with a spoon of ghee.
Shahi chicken korma
Ingredients
1/2 cup oil
1 cardamom
1 tsp chilli powder
1 kg chicken pieces
1 tsp coriander powder
1 pinch nutmeg (jaifal)
2 tbsp garlic-ginger paste
4 green cardamoms
5 tbsp yoghurt
5 onions, medium-sized
8 cloves
10 whole black peppers
Salt to taste
A few drops of khewra essence
Method
Slice the onions finely and fry on low flame till they are golden-brown. Remove the fried onion from the oil and keep aside. Now add all the spices, except nutmeg and yoghurt, in the oil and add a little water to prevent burning. Mix well. Add the chicken pieces and fry for a couple of minutes on high flame.
Add about a cup of water, or as much as needed, and cover. Now crush the fried onions and mix with yoghurt, and add to the chicken. Mix well, cover and cook at medium flame till the chicken is done. Add a little water if the gravy is too dry. Just before taking off the heat, add a pinch of nutmeg and a few drops of khewra essence. Garnish with finely cut ginger and coriander leaves. Serve hot with naan.
Dilpasand korma
Ingredients
1/2 kg mutton
1/2 cup coconut paste
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 cinnamon stick
1 pinch nutmeg powder
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp garlic-ginger paste
1 cup onions, finely chopped
1 tsp roasted coriander powder
2 tbsp poppy seed paste
3 bay leaves
4 green cardamoms
4 tbsp oil
6 cloves
Salt to taste
Method
Dry roast the cloves, cardamom, nutmeg powder, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick and grind into a fine paste. In a pan or a pressure cooker, heat oil and add bay leaves and chopped onions to it. Once the onions are golden-brown, add the ginger-garlic paste, mutton pieces and fry for a while. Now add grounded masala paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and some water. Sprinkle salt, cover the pan and cook for a while. Once the mutton is tender, add the poppy seed paste, coconut paste and coriander powder. Add more water if the gravy is too dry, and cook on low heat for another 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Dal Soup
1 cup lentils
2 large cloves garlic; crushed
3 large potatoes; cut into fourths
1 onion; coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon spices
or MIXED TOGETHER:
1/2 teaspoon cumin
cinnamon
cloves
cardamom
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
6 cups water
6 ounces (1 can) tomato paste
3 dried lemons
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
or 1 teaspoon ground coriander
Wash the lentils and cook with onion, half the measure of garlic and a little more than a third of the measure of water. (For original scaling of 6 servings this actually is 2 1/2 cups.) When all the water is absorbed, purée the lentils.
In another pot heat some oil and lightly brown the remaining measure of garlic. Add the paste, cilantro and the puréed lentils and simmer. Then add the rest of the water and the dried lemon; bring to a boil. Add the spices and potatoes and reduce the heat. Simmer until done adding water if needed.
NOTES : Puréed lentils simmered with tomato paste, potatoes, dried lemon, spices and a hint of curry.
Ableskiver - Pancake Balls
Ingredients
2 cups flour, sifted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
2/3 cup milk
3 large egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions:
Set an ableskiver pan over low heat.
Sift together and set aside:
Make a well in center of dry ingredients. Add liquid mixture all at one time, stirring until well blended.
Beat until rounded peaks are formed: 3 egg whites. Gently spread batter over egg whites and fold together.
Test ableskiver pan by dropping on it a few drops of cold water; if drops dance around in small beads, temperature is right. Grease well with butter (About 1/2 tsp. per well).
Pour batter into wells, filling about one half full. With a fork turn ableskivers frequently to brown evenly. Do not pierce.
Ableskivers are done when a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve immediately sprinkled with powdered sugar. If desired, accompany with a tart jam.
About 4 dozen balls.
Apple Pancake Balls (Ableskiver II)
Follow above recipe. Rinse, pare and dice 2 medium-sized apples. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of the diced apples over batter in each well.
Almond Breakfast Round
1 package active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water (105 to 115)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar — packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cardamom
1/2 cup cold butter
2 eggs — beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup ground almonds
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon allspice or cardamom
2 tablespoons butter — melted
Milk — optional Coarse sugar — optional
In a small mixing bowl soften yeast in warm water; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and the 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (or cardomom). Cut in the cold butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the softened yeast, eggs, milk and almond extract until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
For filling: Stir together ground almonds, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon allspice (or cardomom); set aside.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 3 portions. Shape each into a ball. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Gently roll out each piece of dough to a 10″ circle. Place one circle on a 12″ pizza pan or a large baking sheet lined with greased foil. Brush with half of the melted butter. Sprinkle with half of the filling. Cover with another circle of dough. Brush with remaining butter; sprinkle with remaining filling. Top with the last dough circle.
With kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut the stack of dough into 12 wedges, cutting to within 1″ of the center. Carefully lift each wedge and turn over twice to create a twist in each piece. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 to 24 hours before baking.
Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking. If desired, brush with milk; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Cool slightly on foil on a rack. Serve warm. To serve, transfer bread to a serving platter; cut into wedges.