Kashmiri Pulao

Kashmiri Pulao is famous for its unique taste, a little sweet, fruity and nutty dish; Loaded with the goodness of dry fruits, rich cream and some spices. This recipe which I wished to prepare for quite some time and which I managed to prepare this week.

Ingredients:

 For Rice :

Basmati rice – 1cup

Ghee-1 tspn

Sugar-1 tspn

Saffron strands – few (soaked in milk)

Water-1 and 1/2 cup

Milk-1 and 1/2 cup

Spices for Kashmiri Pulao

Cinnamon stick - half inch pieces - 2

Cloves - 3

Cardamom – 1

Bayleaves-2

Dry fruits for Kashmiri Pulao :

Ghee-1 tspn

Cashews, almonds, raisins, -1/2cup

Veggies & fruits:

Beans-1/2 cup

Carrot-1/2 cup

Green Peas - 1/2 cup

Cherries-1/4cup

Pomegranate seeds - 3 tbsps

seedless grapes - 1/2 cup

Dates-1/4 cup

Paneer-1/4 cup

 

Method:

1.Gently wash rice and soak in water for about 10-15 minutes.

2.Cook the mixed vegetables the peas, beans and carrot pieces in boiling water for 5-7 minsand keep aside.

3.In 2 tbsp of ghee, fry the cashew nuts,blanched almonds and raisins and paneer cubes for 2 mins under low heat and keep aside.

4. Heat ghee in a pan. Add cloves, cinnamon, cumin seeds, bay leaf and cardamoms. When the smell of the spices evolves, add soaked gradually and fry for 2 minutes..

5.When all of the rice has been added, Add the mixture of cream, milk, sugar and salt. Add half a cup of water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer till cooked.

6.In cooked rice add salt, depending upon taste. Then add thecooked  veggies, cashew nuts, rains,almonds and paneer.Stir for 4-5 mins. Turn off heat and transfer to a serving bowl.

7.Finally add the fresh fruits, half of the roasted cashews and raisins and mix well.

Fruit Pachadi

In our home for festivals and function we usually make tomato Pachadi and MangoPachadi. Apart from that Fruit Pachadi is a rich traditional dish served at Tamil weddings and big function. For Fruit Pachadi we can use availability of fruits or our favorite fruits. This sweet Pachadi is one of my favorite dish.

Ingredients:

Tomato- 1 cup

Pineapple sliced- 1 cup

Mango  - 1 cup

Banana- 1 cup

Grapes Seedless- 1 cup

Pomegranate- 1 cup

Dates, deseeded -few

Raisins - 1 tbsp

Cashew nuts - 1tbsp

Sugar- 2 cups (If sweet tooth can add more half cup)

Method:

1.Peel and cut the pineapple and mango into small pieces. Chop the grapes into half pieces.

2.Wash and chop the tomato into small pieces. Slice banana and keep aside.

3.To a heavy-bottomed vessel add sugar and water and prepare sugar syrup into one string consistency.

4. Add chopped tomatoes, sliced banana, seedless grapes, mango pieces,pomegranate, and pineapple pieces into sugar syrup and stir well on a low flame.

5.Cook until it begins to leave the sides and reach a pachadi consistency.

6.Add the dates, cashew nuts, raisins separately and Mix well.

Serve warm or chilled.

MELON AND PAPAYA SCOOPS IN HONEY GINGER DRESSING

MELON AND PAPAYA SCOOPS IN HONEY GINGER DRESSING

There is nothing like a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer day! No other fruit says summer like the subtly crunchy, thirst quenching watermelon. Not only is the fruit a highly refreshing summer treat, it is also rich in nutrition and water. , the season for watermelon is in the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. Sale of the fruit is up this summer and vendors expect double the business as compared to last year. Watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1, C ,magnesium, and potassium.Along with this Vitamin A rich papaya and melon scoops tossed together in rich honey ginger dressing to enhance your immunity. It's a great cooler for warm afternoons. This recipe is wonderful in the summer when it can be made with fresh fruit.Healthy, Super easy and delicious. This recepie I adopted from Tarla dalal.But as usual adding few ingredients I prepared this salad in my own version.

Ingredients

1½ cups papaya scoops

1½ cups watermelon scoops

1/2 cups grapes

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons ginger juice

¼ teaspoon crushed pepper

¼ teaspoon roasted cumin seeds (jeera) powder

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon black salt (sanchal)

Method

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Arrange the scooped fruits in a bowl pour the dressing and toss gently.

Refrigerate till chill and serve.

Kaju Curry & Fruit Pulav

Rich Kaju curry:

Last month I had been to restaurant with my family after a long time. That restaurant is famous for its north Indian dishes. They had a speciall dish Kaju curry. We all tried it for the first time. Kaju Curry goes well with Pulao, but it can also be eaten with Naan .We thought it will be ok kind of. But after we tasted the dish you know what it made us drooling, it was a mouth watering dish, very yummy.So I decided to make this dish at home for my family! I surfed for this recipe. But there are different versions for preparing this curry. I prepared it on my own version.Last Saturday my friends came for lunch so I prepared kaju curry, ButterNan, Fruit Pulav for my family & friends.

So this is different version of mine..I tried it to make it up to that level.. But managed to do so.! :) garnished with the coriander leaves

Ingredients

Cashew nuts-15-20 soaked for 1/2 hour and ground to a paste

Poppy seeds-2 tbsp soaked 1/2 hour and ground to a paste

Ghee-1/4 cup

Cumin seeds-2 tsp

Grated onions-1 cup

Milk-1/4 cup

Coconut- ½ cup

Turmeric -1/2 tsp

chili powder-1/2 tsp

Garam masala-1/2 tsp

Green chillies-2or3

Mixed vegetables of your choice-1 1/2 cups

paneer-50 gms

Salt-as per taste

Chopped coriander-2 tbsp for garnish

Method:

1.Cut the cashew nuts in two halves and Soak the cashew nuts and poppy seeds , coconut(separately) in water for about half an hour and grind to a fine paste. Keep aside

2.Cut vegetables into cubes boil them and keep aside.

3.Heat the ghee in a heavy pan and add the cumin. When the seeds splutter, add onions and sauté till it turns a light brown.

4.Now add the ground paste and saut till the fat separates.

5.In another pan heat oil and fry onion till transparent, add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, garam masala, , salt and the green chillies then Add the vegetables and mix well and cook on low heat.

6.When it starts boiling, add all the sauted paste and Add 1 1/2 cups water and the milk, . and keep stirring bring to a boil, and then simmer, uncovered for 3-4 minutes.

7.Serve hot garnished with the coriander leaves.

Fruit Pulav:

Fruit Pulav is another kid friendlier version. We can take Fruit in any form; with few simple ingredients, this dish can be prepared in a matter of minutes because it doesn’t involve much chopping. It is a mildly flavored with Indian spices and is versatile because it can be served along with any kind of sidedish. Rice mixed with mild spices & fruits gives a whole new taste, fragrance Very healthy and tastes awesome. In my own version I prepared this dish.

Ingredients:

Rice-500 gm

Grapes-100 gm

Apple-2 big

Pomegranate seed- 4 Tbsp

Orange-2

Raisins-50 gm

Cashew nuts-50 gm

Paneer- 50 gms

Bay leaf-1

Cloves-4

Cardamoms-4

Cinnamon sticks-2

garam masala (whole)- 1 tablespoon

Milk-1 cup

ghee /butter-2tbsp

Ginger chilli paste-1/2 tsp

Salt -according to taste

Method:

1. Wash the rice properly and soak in cold water for an hour.

2. Drain the rice water and dry the rice in a broad and flat based utensil.

3. Boil the water and add rice and milk and half cook it.

4. Cut the apple in a medium cubes.

5. Heat the ghee in a pan, fry the raisins & cashew nuts and keep aside.

6. Heat the ghee in a pan, Add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon bay leaf,chilli paste & garam masala for sauté.

7. Add pre-fried raisins, nuts, paneer salt and sugar according to taste and mix properly.

8. Add fruit of your choice (I added apple, , grapes, pomegranate seed,orange ) and mix it properly, cook it for 2-3 min in a low flame with cover.

9. Turn off the gas, but do not open the cover of Pulao.

10. After few minute open the cover and stir it properly.

11. Enjoy Fruit Pulao with your favorite curry.

Note : you can add saffron for colour& flavor .