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Makhana Kheer (Phool Makhane ki Kheer)

By: Manju
4 October 2023 at 18:11
makhana kheer in two brass bowls

Makhane ki Kheer or Phool Makhana Kheer is a creamy kheer / Indian pudding dessert made with makhana / fox nuts, milk, saffron, cardamom and nuts.  Makhana kheer is a very traditional and popular North Indian dessert recipe. This delicious dessert is usually served during the Indian festival season, when many people fast and restrict...

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The post Makhana Kheer (Phool Makhane ki Kheer) appeared first on Cooking Curries.

Payasam, pradhaman & kheer | Indian pudding recipe collection

12 April 2025 at 04:31
kheer payasam prathaman

May it be any Indian festival, payasam, prathaman, pongal or kheer is the sweet ending. There is a certain bit of comfort we derive from hugging a bowl of this dessert. Resembling a pudding, the dessert is a combination of  a grain, fruits or seed cooked in milk and sweetened perfectly.Depending on the region where it is popular this dessert is slightly different and goes by the names payasam, payasa, payesh prathaman, pongal or kheer.

Why is this Indian pudding made?

Cleverly crafted the payasam or kheer is a age old tradition. The bowl of kheer symbolizes a celebration hence it is made for festivals, birthdays and any occasion to celebrate success. Combined with milk  (plant milk) and sweetness it is a beloved navivedyum (bhog) which is a divine offering.  If you look at the varieties carefully, you will notice the regional and seasonal changes that made to the basic recipe, still holding on to the very essence of celebration and sharing with love. 
Here is a collection of 25 varieties of this dessert that you can trust for your festival offering. Each one of them is tried and tested multiple times, some classic and some fusion. Save it and enjoy.

Try these payasam recipes

Payasams come in many forms. Listed here are some of the most popular and some unique payasams you must try when trying the south Indian meal.

Pink paal payasam: Kerala style payasam made with raw red rice and milk is a comforting recipe made famous for it pale pink hue. Made during Krishnashtami, Onam and Vishu the payasam is one of Kerala’s favorite.

Semiya payasam:  the classic adaptation of the thin vermicelli cooked in milk is one of the best propagated fusion recipes that we have all loved. Make it for a birthday, a get together or any festival and make some memories.This is also called the vermicelli kheer or seviyyan kheer.

Chatha chathayam: An ancient rice and coconut milk based kheer, flavored with jaggery and banana. This is a niche recipe made during Shastapreethi. It is also a vegan payasam.

Teff payasam :a clever use of the Ethiopian seeds to form a creamy payasam laced with shredded coconut.

Mongil arisi payasam: is a slow cooked pudding with bamboo rice and milk. It is a rare payasam recipe popular among the forest region where bamboo rice is more available.

Kadala parippu payasam: uniquely satisfying chickpea payasam from Sizzling tastebuds is to be savoured atleast once. The chickpea dal is roasted to bring out the best of flavours in this recipe.

Rice rava payasam:  Quick and easy payasam made with crushed rice (rice rava) and jaggery. Best part is it is done under 20 minutes, hence a brilliant idea for festival days that fall on busy week days.

Carrot payasam: orange or purple carrots make the most delicious drinking style payasam. Very often we make this during Navrathri.

Aval payasam: instant payasam idea with flaked rice and coconut milk the rice is loved for its quick comfort that I learnt from my husband’s family. 

Badami payasa: Enjoy this Karnataka style payasa made with almonds, coconut and milk from Preethis cuisine. It is rich and perfect for small serves and for festivals like Ugadi

Varagu paal payasam: slow cooked millet in milk is one of our house favorite. It is perfect for vrat days or naivedyum.

Nuruku godhambu payasam : done in Kerala style this crushed wheat based payasam is made during home celebrations. This is again a vegan payasam.

Chaler payesh: classic rice payesh made in Bengali style is a recipe from Evergreen dishes. The unique feature about thie recipe is the subtle fragrance from the added bayleaf.

Payasam recipes collection.

What is the difference between payasam and prathaman?

For the love of Kerala, prathamans find thier way more often than payasams. Prathaman are a rustic style payasam made with coconut milk and jaggery. The slow cooked prathaman is often made with rice, fruits like plantain and jackfruit or dals. It is a bit thicker than payasam and best served on a banana leaf. This paysam stays good for a couple of days as well.These recipes are made for Onam, Vishu, Christmas and Easter.

Here is a collection of prathaman

Mango prathaman: Ripe mango and jaggery cooked in coconut milk is a seasonal prathaman recipe that is made often during Vishu.

Paalada prathaman : made using sundired rice flakes, milk and sugar the paalads prathaman is slightly different from the prathaman recipes that use jaggery and coconut milk.

Kadala parippu prathaman: made with Bengal gram the prathamn is a slightly ifferent version from the chickpea payasam.

Nendrapazham prathaman: made with ripe plantains nendrapazham prathaman is an unavoidable recipe for Onam once you have enjoyed it.

What is the difference between payasam and kheer?

Though cooked fairly similar, kheer is a smoother and thicker version of the Indian pudding compared to payasam. Compared to a payasam there is a lot of crushed nuts added to the kheers, where as in payasam it is a roasted bunch of nuts and raisins alonv with the ghee that is addded. Very often kheer can be seen served chilled where are payasams are preferably served warm. The differnece exists even in the way they are served. Payasams are served in a banana leaf or glasses with a spoon.however, kheer is usually served in small earthen bowls or any bowl as it is a bit thicker to have.

Kheer recipe collection

Must try kheer varities

Kheers as discussed re very similar to payasams. Here are some comforting and some special ones that you can use throughout the festival time

Rajgira Kheer: made popularly during navrathi season or vrat this is amde with popped amaranth seeds. gently and slowly cooked in milk it is an incredible mouth feel like little pops.

Sweet potato kheer:The most delicious creamy cooked sweet potato in milk an flavoured with jaggery or sugar and cardamom.

Chakhao ambui kheer: made with forbidden black rice it is a unique recipe that is fragrant and creamy and purple.

Kheer komola: this unique recipe with oranges in kheer is a seasonal speciality from The world through my eyes.

Mothichoor kheer: Fusion to the best,this kheer is made with crushed mothichoor ladoos and the warmth of milk.It is best served chilled.

Apple kheer: What is a better way to hve some apples than use them as a kheer. So fragrant this recipe from Mayuri’s jikoni will ensure your sweet tooth is well taken care of.

Bagarichi kheer: Bagar or millet based kheer is a delicate recipe made for Janmashtami, Check it out on The Madscientist Kitchen.

Paneer kheer; Is a royal creamy cottage cheese recipe, served chilled. This gluten free recipe is from Food trails.

Sago kheer: simple and easy yet comfortingly creamy kheer with tapioca pearls is one you should never miss. Make it with stands of saffron for that unique color and flavour.

Badam kheer: Soaked and ground almonds turned to the creamiest kheer. Try this from My cooking journey.

Phool Makahana kheer: Traditional kheer recipe made with foxnuts and nuts is a popular dessert for Holi, Navrathri or Diwali. Check it out from Cook with Renu.

Lauki kheer: Bottle gourd cleverly disguised as a dessert is an incredible idea for a kheer. Do try from Batter up with Sujata.

Stay connected

Hope you have a sweet tooth to hold on to this incredible collection of Indian dessert that is essential to celebrate every festival at its best. Share with us if you have any unique ones you make so we can add it to the collection
Pin this for use later.
Stay subscribed as we bring you some lovely idea collections like these.
See you in the next post. 

Rose milk ( no syrup used)

7 February 2023 at 15:00
Rose milk

The recent India trip was fantastic. As much as we had fun, there are a couple of things that this India trip ruined for me. One was bread the other was rose milk. That was my simple pleasure which the milk booths used to keep in plenty. During this trip, I searched high a low for some but found none. As soon as we got back and the jet lag faded off,  I had to make some myself. Since it has become a kind of rarity, I guess it is best if it is on our blog too.

What is rose milk?

The gorgeous, pale pink, milk-based drink is a gentle lightly sweetened drink popular in summer. With the juicy crunchy basil seeds added, this summer drink is a popular one for the heat and humidity of the tropics. With flavours of extract of rose and the same as its fragrance, the cold, frothy milk drink is a relief from the heat. The drink Bandung in Malaysia and Thai Nom Yen are all versions of the same. However in this recipe today we have not used the rose syrup that gets utilized in most recipes, rather have gone in to create a natural alternate with fresh rose flower petals. 

Ingredients to make the rose milk

Milk : boiled and chilled milk is what we use traditionally for this recipe. However, over a  period of time, I find Evaporated milk gives a full-bodied thick frothy milk moustache-making consistency. You can use half-and-half or low-fat milk too.
Rose petals: nothing beats that fresh rose petal that gets blended in. Use known sources of pesticides free fresh rose petals or edible grade dried ones. The actual variety that we look for with its fragrance is the panneer rose, the one from which rose water is extracted. Make sure your source is from the edible roses as there are plenty that is just ornamental.
Rose water: since the rose petals may not be fragrant enough, edible-grade rose water is required. If you have plenty of rose petals you can avoid using this.
Red food colour: the pink colour is characteristic of this drink. A small drop or two of natural red food colour will do the job. You can use natural dried beet powder in its place too.
Sweetener:  is totally optional. Use honey or sugar to flavour if needed. Since the milk in Australia is much sweeter, I have not used any here.
Sweet basil seeds: this is the exciting part of this drink. Basil seeds are small black seeds often sold in Indian spice aisles as Sabja. This when added to water swells into small jelly globes. They add a lovely touch to the drink and also promote gut health. These are not chia seeds, however, if you cannot get there you can use some chia here.

How to make this drink?

Soak the basil seeds in about 3 times water. Once you gather the ingredients it is as simple as blending them together all except the basil seeds. Once frothy pour into tall glasses and top with the bloomed basil seeds. Check the recipe card below for detailed instructions and exact measurements. YOu can pin the same from th recipe card on to your board if saving for later.

Rose milk recipe

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Natural Rose milk

With the juicy crunchy basil seeds added, this summer drink is a popular one for the heat and humidity of the tropics. With flavours of extract of rose and the same as its fragrance, the cold, frothy milk drink is a relief from the heat.
Course Dessert, Drinks
Cuisine Baby toddler food, gluten free, Indian, Kids choice, Medicinal, Summer
Keyword Lunch recipes, no cook recipes,, summer recipes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • blender
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Glasses tll slender ones

Ingredients

  • 2 cups milk chilled
  • 10-15 Rose petals
  • 1 pinch Red food coulor or dried beet powder
  • 1 tsp Rose essence
  • sweetener optional

for the topping

  • 1 tbsp sweet basil seeds
  • 1/4 cup drinking water

Instructions

  • Soak the basil seeds to bloom.
  • Set this aside while you prepare for the rose shake.
  • Into the blender add all the other ingredients and sweetenerif required.
  • Blend smooth for 2 minutes till it is frothy.
  • Pour this into tall glasses.
  • Top with the bloomed sweet basil (sabja) seeds
    Rose milk

Notes

The basil seeds when added initially will sink to the bottom. Then they will slowly rise up to the top for a few hours. 

Can this be a vegan drink?

It is a milk-based drink, however, using soy or almond milk gives a delicious vegan pink milk without a huge change in flavour. In fact, I love to use soy milk as my choice for the vegan version. The rest of the ingredients are the same.

Make ahead and storage

The freshly blended rose milk is certainly frothy. However, it is an easy drink to make and store in the refrigerator. It stays good for upto 3 days with regular milk and about 7 days with Evaporated milk. Keep it in a sealed bottle or a small covered pitcher to have on hot days. You can mix in the basil seeds too. They stay at the bottom, so stir well before pouring out the drink for yourself.

Easy summer thirst quenchers on this blog

Apple celery green juice
Nectarine fizz
Fresh fig milkshake
Strawberry lassi
Cherry watermelon smoothie

Stay connected

If you have spent your childhood in the tropics, I am sure you would have also had a version of this. Pink milk as it is fondly called us now revived for me. Try out this caffeine-free, afternoon pick-up and rate us using the star system below. Share in the comments your childhood experiences with the easy thirst quencher. Subscribe to us for new recipes or visit us often.
Enjoy your glass while I get some more. 

Pink milk | rose milk

GIL-E-FIRDAUS

15 May 2021 at 17:46

               Gil-e-firdaus, a classic Dakhni dessert from the kitchens of Hyderabad has its presence in wedding feasts, celebrations and gatherings. A luscious and melt in the mouth dessert made with Sabudana, bottle gourd, khoya, cashew paste and milk. I remember having this dish during my stay in Hyderabad, I fell in love with this kheer instantly. This divine dessert can be served chilled or warm and traditionally served in earthen bowls, which lends an earthy taste. Hence the name GIL-E-FIRDAUS, meaning clay of paradise. 

         This classic dessert Gil-e-firdaus is commonly known as Kaddu ka kheer/ Kaddu ki kheer, as Bottle gourd is known as Kaddu in Hyderabad. As The holy month of Ramadan sets in, the intoxicating aroma of Haleem, Kababs and various desserts linger in the air around the bustling streets of Hyderabad. This divine Gil-e-firdaus a.k.a Kaddu ki kheer is also sold in the small eateries and stalls on the streets. It’s rich and luscious consistency makes it absolutely irresistible. 

The addition of khoa(khoya), cashew paste, and simmering sabudana and bottle gourd in full-fat milk makes it utterly creamy and divine.We have used Sabudana and kaddu(bottle gourd) here, but some add finely ground basmati rice as well to make it aromatic and more creamier. But simmering everything on low flame for longer period time is the key for this divine pudding. 

Ingredients needed to make GIL-E-FIRDAUS

  • Bottle gourd
  • Sabudana / Tapioca pearls
  • Full fat milk
  • Sugar
  • Cardamom powder
  • Khoya
  • Nuts

How to make this dessert VEGAN?

Substitute the full fat milk with plant based milk like coconut milk/soy milk/almond milk. And also substitute the Khoya with Cashew paste or Almond paste to get that rich consistency. 

Let’s get into the recipe now, before that check out more desserts from my blog.

Basava Kajjam

Kanda gadda Bakshalu

Pappu Bakshalu

Badusha

Pala poorilu

Godhuma thalikala paasham

Aanapakaya shegala paasham

Kesar mewa phirni

Gajar ka halwa

Healthy Sabudana payasam

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GIL-E-FIRDAUS

A classic Hyderabadi dessert made of Bottle gourd, sabudana, milk, milk solids and enriched with nuts.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Telangana
Keyword Festive food, Indian desserts, Pudding
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Soaking time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Shravani Abhishek

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Bottle gourd peeled and grated. Discard the seeds and core.
  • ½ cup Sabudana / Tapioca pearls
  • 1 litre Whole milk / Full fat milk
  • ¼ cup Khoya / Milk solids
  • cups Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Cashew paste
  • 1 pod Cardamom
  • ½ tsp Cardamom powder
  • ¼ cup Water

Instructions

  • Wash and Soak the sabudana pearls for 1 hour.
  • Soak the cashews in warm water and keep aside.

Let's prep for the dessert

  • Peel the bottle gourd, cut into halves, scoop out the core and grate it into thick shreds.
  • Take a large mixing bowl, add cold filtered water and add the grated bottle gourd shreds to it. Squeeze the juice out of it and drain the water.
    Repeat washing the grated bottle gourd shreds for one more time until water runs clear.
    Note : This step helps in preventing the curdling of milk when we add bottle gourd.

Let's start cooking GIL-E-FIRDAUS now!!

  • Heat a Saucepan, add full fat milk, one cardamom pod and bring to a boiling point. Then reduce the flame to low.
  • In a small mixing bowl add khoya and a cup of hot milk to it. Mix it thoroughly until khoya completely incorporated well.
  • Heat a thick bottomed pan, add grated bottle gourd, water. Close the lid and cook for 10 min on low flame until bottle gourd turns tender.
  • When the water dries up, mash the bottle roughly and sauté again till the water dries up completely. Keep this aside.
  • To the boiled milk, add soaked sabudana(drain the water). Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes on low flame till the sabudana turns translucent and tender.
  • Add cashew paste, milk mixed with khoya mixture to the milk and sabudana. Give it a good Stir thoroughly to prevent the formation of lumps.
  • Remove the cardamom pod from the milk and then add in sautèed bottle gourd mixture, sugar and give it a good mix.
  • Reduce the flame to a low flame and cook until the kheer thickens up and keep stirring continuously to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • Once the kheer thickens, turn off the stove and let the kheer cool down to room temperature.
  • Serve chilled or warm GIL-E-FIRDAUS / Kaddu ki kheer by sprinkling some chopped nuts on the top.

Notes

  • You can add in tiny pinch of edible green food color to give the dessert a traditional look.
  • This dessert tastes best when served chilled. 

If you’ve tried this recipe, please share your valuable feedback in the comments below. Also you can Tag your photo and share it with #mycurryveda on Instagram @mycurryveda  or on Facebook . 

The post GIL-E-FIRDAUS appeared first on mycurryveda.

BASAVA KAJJAM

10 March 2021 at 00:00

Basava Kajjam, a divine dessert and one of the ancient recipes from the Land of Telangana. Tiny wheat flour balls cooked in milk and creamy moong dal, sweetened with jaggery and topped with roasted nuts. Any Celebration is incomplete without a nice sweet dish to relish, and this dessert is just the one to brighten your day. The people of Telangana savor a special porridge/pudding kind of preparation made of moong daal, wheat flour, milk, sugar and dry fruits. This delicious dish has a nice rich aroma that is enhanced with the use of fresh ghee.

 Making the godhuma pindi undalu, tiny wheat flour balls requires huge amount of patience. The basava kajjam is a pasta porridge that is made fresh and it can be made within an hour. The undalu is the main player of the game, a tad high patience is required to say the least. Each grain of undalu is molded from a mixture of whole wheat flour individually using nothing but bare hands. 

More about Basava kajjam 

Basava kajjam is an age-old traditional dessert prepared using Moong dal, whole wheat flour, milk, jaggery and nuts. And what makes this dessert special is the mini wheat flour balls, we call them as undalu. Traditionally they are shaped as tiny balls similar to the size of split moong dal. Making these tiny wheat flour balls requires huge amount of patience, but trust it is all worth it. Just a tablespoon of this dessert will take you back to your grandma’s kitchen. 

This traditional dessert is absolutely comforting, and nourishing, each spoon of this dessert feels like a warm hug. Even though I’m from Telangana, I have never tasted or heard about this dish until my dear friend Chandana has shared her heirloom recipe with me. She was sweet enough to share the details of the recipe and allowed me to share it with you all. Please do checkout her Instagram page, she’s a passionate cook and has immense love for her culinary heritage of Telangana.

She told me that her Grandma used to make this dessert specially for her in her childhood. And that this dessert is traditionally made on festivals like Maha Shivaratri and Bathukamma as an offering to the deity. Also I have done a little research on this regional delicacy, where some people call this dish as BASAVA GARJANAM. With the rustic Telangana dialect, the name could have been slowly settled as BASAVA KAJJAM. 

Ingredients needed for BASAVA KAJJAM

  • Moong dal
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Jaggery
  • Milk
  • Nuts
  • Ghee

How to prepare this Dessert?

Initially we need to soak the lentils for about an hour or two, which helps in cooking the lentils quickly. In the meanwhile we need to make a firm dough of whole wheat flour. Rest the dough for 30 min, later make tiny balls/undalu using dry flour and keep aside. 

Now we need to cook the wheat flour balls in the boiling water, add soaked moong dal and cook until the wheat flour balls are 90% cooked. Add in jaggery, milk and cook for 5 more min. Later roast some nuts in ghee and add it to the cooked moong dal and wheat flour balls. Basava Kajjam is all ready to Serve now.

Is this dish VEGAN ?

You can make this dish VEGAN-FRIENDLY by substituting the regular cow milk with plant based milk. Skip roasting the nuts in ghee and add them directly while cooking the wheat flour balls.

And if you have GLUTEN INTOLERANCE, I would suggest you to use gluten-free flour to make Undalu/balls.

Checkout more traditional festive foods and more Telangana delicacies.

Godhuma thalikala payasam

Kanda gadda Bakshalu

Pappu bakshalu

Nuvvula bakshalu

Vadapappu bellam panakam

Godhuma Nooka sheera

Shegala payasam

Sattu Pindi

Print

BASAVA KAJJAM

A divine and delicious moong dal and wheat flour balls porridge, which is sweetened with jaggery. An age-old recipe from the Land of Telangana.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian, Telangana
Keyword Bathukamma special, Porridge, Telangana cuisine
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Soaking time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 4 Servings
Author Shravani Abhishek

Equipment

  • Saucepan

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Split moong dal
  • ½ cup Whole wheat flour
  • ¾ cup Jaggery
  • cup Milk
  • ¾ cup Water
  • ½ tsp Cardamom powder optional
  • 2 tbsp Ghee optional
  • 1 tbsp Melon seeds optional

Instructions

Prepping

  • Wash and soak the moong dal for about an hour.
  • Take a mixing bow, add whole wheat flour, add water gradually and knead to make soft dough. (Similar to the Indian roti dough)
  • Cover the dough and let it rest for 15 mins.

Make the Tiny wheat flour balls

  • Take a wide plate and sprinkle some dry wheat flour on it. Now take a handful of dough at a time, take a tiny amount of dough to the size of moong dal/coriander seed and roll into a ball.
  • Now place the rolled tiny wheat flour ball on the plate with dry flour.
  • Repeat the process for the remaining dough.
    Note : You can skip this time-consuming process by rolling the dough into flatbread and then cut into diamonds.

Let's make BASAVA KAJJAM now!!

  • Heat a saucepan, add water and bring it to a rolling boil.
  • Now add in rolled tiny wheat flour balls, soaked and drained moong dal and give it a good mix.
  • Cover the pan and let them cook on a medium flame until the moong dal is fully cooked. This will take around 15 min.
  • Now add in milk, grated jaggery, cardamom powder (if using) and cook until everything is cooked thoroughly.
  • Heat a small pan, add ghee and once its hot add in melon seeds and fry for 30 secs. Add these roasted melon seeds to the cooked BASAVA KAJJAM.
  • BASAVA KAJJAM is done and it's all ready to be served. Dig in and enjoy.

Notes

  • You can skip the rolling of wheat flour balls and instead roll the dough into flatbread and then cut into diamonds using knife or pizza cutter.
  • If you want a vegan version, substitute the Regular milk with Plant based milk or you can just totally skip adding it. Also, do not roast the melon seeds in ghee, instead add them while boiling the moong dal.

 If you’ve tried this recipe, please share your valuable feedback in the comments below. Also you can Tag your photo and share it with #mycurryveda on Instagram @mycurryveda  or on Facebook . Also follow @taste.of.telangana on Instagram for more traditional recipes, culture and stories.

The post BASAVA KAJJAM appeared first on mycurryveda.

KANDA GADDA BAKSHALU

8 March 2021 at 03:10

Kanda gadda bakshalu is an authentic sweet potato stuffed flatbread savored on Maha Shivaratri in the Telangana region. These Bakshalu have an utterly creamy, healthy and divine sweet potato stuffing, and my kid absolutely loved it. Sweet potatoes are a great source of fibervitamins, and minerals. Additionally, they support Healthy Vision, enhance Brain Function and Boost Your Immune System.

Sweet potatoes have a dense fiber composition, and it satiates the hunger for longer periods. Hence, in Indian subcontinent we widely use it as fasting food. On Maha Shivaratri, majority of devotees observe a special fast consisting largely of fruits along with plenty of water and milk which keeps them hydrated. And sweet potatoes are fast friendly, filling and healthy. So these Bakshalu makes a great recipe to make on this coming Maha Shivaratri.

Significance of Maha Shivaratri

The festival of ‘Maha Shivaratri’ which literally translates to ‘the greatest night of Shiva’ is one of the most revered Hindu festivals across the Indian subcontinent. The Temples across the nation witness an outpour of devotees who gather around the Shiva Linga with their abundant offerings to appease Lord Shiva. Prayers and vigils go on throughout the night of Maha shivaratri. But what makes the festival special is its characteristic fasting or the Maha Shivaratri Vratam. The vratam marks a very high significance for every Shiva devotee, with some opting to even go on fasting through the day without a single drop of water. But majority of the devotees observe a special fast consisting largely of fruits along with plenty of water and milk which keeps them hydrated.

What are Bakshalu?

Bakshalu are a traditional delicacy, that we make on festivals or special occasions as an offering to the deity. These bakshalu are stuffed flatbreads, which can be made sweet or savory. In the Telangana region, Bakshalu are a traditional dessert or sweet and it has various stuffings. And stuffings like chana dal, moong dal, sesame seeds, sweet potato, Kova, etc. are used.

Now call this bakshalu poli or Holige, obbattu, bobbatlu, burelu, polelu, vedmi, boli this one dish has many names and avatars across diverse India.

In certain regions of Telangana, people call these Kanda gadda bakshalu as Mouram gadda polelu or mouram gadda bakshalu. This Kanda gadda bakshalu are specially prepared for the Maha Shivaratri festival for the kids, as they are fasting friendly and filling too. 

Ingredients needed for Kanda gadda bakshalu

  • Kanda gadda – Sweet potatoes, they are also known by Mouram gadda, Ratnapuri gadda in the Telangana region. 
  • Jaggery / Sugar – As sweet potatoes alone are sweet enough, we will be using minimal amount of sweetener.
  • Cardamom – this is completely optional
  • Whole wheat flour – You can also use Maida / All purpose flour instead.
  • Oil
  • Ghee

How to prepare this Kanda gadda bakshalu?

 Like every other flatbread, this bakshalu can be either made with Maida/all-purpose flour or Whole wheat flour. And I like to use whole wheat personally as it’s more healthy and that’s what I have grown up eating. So if you prefer using All purpose flour or maida please feel free to use it according to your convenience.

Stuffing – First step steam the sweet potatoes, later mash them with jaggery / sugar, and keep them aside.

Now the kind of sweet potatoes we get in India are quite fibrous and stays firm when boiled or steamed. They doesn’t require any further cooking after steaming them. You can just steam/boil them, peel the skin, mash them with jaggery powder/sugar.

And as I’m staying in the US, the sweet potatoes, which I get here are quite soft, when I steam/boil them they turn very mushy. Hence, I cook the mashed sweet potatoes slightly until they turn firm.

Dough – This bakshalu can be made with two kinds of dough, One is the wet dough that has been soaked in oil for hours and the other is a semi-hard dough that we regularly use to make roti. If you are using slightly firm sweet potatoes that we get in India, I would recommend you to use the firm dough. And if you are using the American variety of sweet potatoes then go for the wet dough.

Is this recipe VEGAN ?

You can skip the ghee part while roasting the Bakshalu or stuffed flatbread to make it vegan-friendly. If you have Gluten-intolerance, please substitute the whole wheat flour with gluten free flour to make these Bakshalu.

Serving suggestion

These Kanda gadda bakshalu/polelu are  traditionally served with warm milk. But a simple drizzle of ghee on warm Bakshalu is good enough for savoring.

Checkout more traditional festive foods and more Telangana delicacies.

Godhuma thalikala payasam

Pappu bakshalu

Nuvvula bakshalu

Vadapappu bellam panakam

Godhuma Nooka sheera

Shegala payasam

Sattu Pindi

Print

KANDA GADDA BAKSHALU

A divine sweet potato stuffed flatbread, which are utterly delicious, healthy and filling. Makes it a perfect fasting friendly food.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Indian, Telangana
Keyword Bakshalu, Stuffed flatbreads, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10 Servings
Author Shravani Abhishek

Equipment

  • Griddle
  • Steamer

Ingredients

Stuffing

  • 3 Sweet potatoes
  • cup Jaggery powder
  • ¼ tsp Cardamom powder

Dough

  • cup Whole wheat flour
  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • ½ cup Water *more as needed to make pliable dough

Instructions

Stuffing

  • Heat a steamer, add water in the pan and place the sweet potatoes cut into discs on the steamer rack.
  • Cover the pan and let the sweet potatoes steam until they are soft and mushy. It may take around 15 min. Turn off the heat and let them cool down to room temperature.
  • Later peel the skin of sweet potatoes, mash them and add cardamom powder, jaggery powder/sugar as per your taste preference.
  • If the stuffing is too wet, then cook the mashed sweet potatoes on medium flame until it turns firm.
  • Later divide the stuffing into 10 equal portions, roll them into a ball and keep aside.

Dough

  • In a mixing bowl, add whole wheat flour/APF , tsp of oil and water. Bring everything together and knead until it is soft and pliable.
  • Add 2 tbsp oil and keep it covered for 2 hours. Let it remain soaked in oil. The more it rests in oil the more softer the bakshalu will be.

Let's prepare some KANDA GADDA BAKSHALU now !!

  • Take a silicon sheet/ziploc bag/banana leaf, grease the surface. Take handful of dough and place it.
  • Grease your fingers with oil and flatten the dough with your fingers to form a small circle.
  • Place a small ball of sweet potato stuffing in the center and seal it on all sides forming a small ball.
  • Now flatten the ball with the stuffing inside to form a thin Baksham.

Roasting the KANDA GADDA BAKSHALU

  • Grease the tawa slightly with ghee and heat it. Now invert the silicon mat/ziploc bag/banana leaf with the Baksham over the tawa. After a few seconds, gently remove the silicon mat/ziploc bag/banana leaf.
  • Now cook the Baksham both the sides until golden brown on medium heat.
    Once cooked, apply ghee all over the surface and remove from heat. Now Kanda gadda baksham is ready to be served. Enjoy it warm.

Serving suggestions

  • Serve hot Kanda Gadda bakshalu with some warm milk or drizzled with ghee.

Notes

  • If you are using the American variety of sweet potatoes, they tend to turn mushy or sticky when steamed/boiled. So cook the stuffing on medium flame until it turns slightly firm.

 If you’ve tried this recipe, please share your valuable feedback in the comments below. Also you can Tag your photo and share it with #mycurryveda on Instagram @mycurryveda  or on Facebook . Also follow @taste.of.telangana on Instagram for more traditional recipes, culture and stories.

The post KANDA GADDA BAKSHALU appeared first on mycurryveda.

BANKA LADDU

20 February 2021 at 19:39

Banka laddu, made using edible gum resin (banka/gond), cashews, almonds, khajoor, and all the wintery goodness. A quintessential winter food, which is utmost divine, delicious and nourishing which keeps you warm in chilly winters. These energy balls are rich in calories and nutrients and hence ideal for kids and the elderly. Also, these are given to Lactating or postpartum mothers to regain strength, helps in speedy recovery and provides nutrition. Hence these laddus are more of a medicinal confection than indulgent food.

What is Banka or Gond ?

Banka or Gond is an edible gum collected from hardened sap sourced from wild-growing acacia plants. Banka is a Telugu(more in Telangana) term for glue or gum substances, hence the name. 

Edible gum has a lot of medicinal value. It not only cures heat-stroke yet it even combats constipation, improves the health of skin and hair along with increasing our overall immunity. My grandmother used to say that winter is the perfect time when your body has the maximum capacity in absorbing calcium. And this edible gum helps in soothing inflammation, lubricates joints, and reduces joint stiffness caused by arthritis. Besides protecting against cold, gond is used to heal wounds. It is also known to treat cardiovascular ailments and chronic kidney diseases. 

More about Banka laddu

 Banka laddu or Dinkache ladoo or Gond Ke laddu, as the name suggests are prepared with Gond or Edible Gum. It is a popular sweet, that is made in Many regions across India during winters. 

The recipe I’m sharing here is an heirloom recipe that has been passed down from many generations. And our version of Edible gum laddu calls Dry Fruits, Nuts, Seeds, and lots of ghee. This laddu is usually looked at and served as a medicinal food rather than a delicacy. Hence it is mostly served with a glass of warm milk first thing in the morning. 

These nourishing energy balls are considered very healthy to consume in Winters due to their rich ingredients which are warm and keeps our body protected from the chilly winters. Also, these are made for postpartum mothers or lactating mothers, which helps to keep the body warm and helps in lactation. These Banka laddus are great nutritious snacks for kids and toddlers, as they are rich in iron, calcium, and protein.

Ingredients needed for Banka laddu

  • Banka / Gond –  Edible gum sourced from the Acacia plant. It is quite odorless and tasteless. 
  • Nuts – Nuts are the essential part of these laddus and I have used Cashews, marking nut, Pistachios, and walnuts here. 
  • Dried fruits – Traditionally we use khajoor powder(dried dates powder), as I could not find the dried dates here, I used Medjool dates instead.
  • Ghee – Ghee acts as the binding agent here, so do not skip on the ghee. It adds richness, flavor, and essential nutrition to the ladoo.
  • Seeds – I have used Almonds and Melon seeds here. You can also add poppy seeds for extra nuttiness and richness. 
  • Dry Coconut – We add a little amount of dried coconut here, which adds a lovely coconut flavor and nutrition.
  • Spices – We are going to add Ginger powder(sonti podi/ saunth), pepper powder, and Nutmeg. They provide flavor and helps in providing warmth to our bodies. 
  • Sugar / Jaggery 

How to make these Banka laddus?

 With diverse cultures and cuisines across India, the foods have regional influence and hence it varies with each region. You can see many Gond ke laddu recipes on the internet, where some add whole wheat flour, and some just use dried fruits and nuts. Unlike many recipes of Gond ke laddu you find on the internet, we don’t roast or puff of gond crystals. Instead, we just grind them as is, and we do not roast any ingredient too, just powder up everything and add piping hot ghee to shape the laddus. 

Check out more delicious desserts and Indian sweets from my blog.

Sunnundalu

Shakkarpara

Motichoor laddu

Shegala payasam

Sabudana payasam

Palm jaggery whole wheat biscuits

Penilu

Badusha

Print

BANKA LADDU

A quintessential winter laddu made of edible gum, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, ghee and jaggery.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Indian, Telangana
Keyword Laddu, Vegetarian, Winter special
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 25 Laddus
Author Shravani Abhishek

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Saucepan

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup Banka or Edible Gum
  • 1 cup Cashews
  • ½ cup Almonds
  • ½ cup Khajoor or Dried dates or use medjool dates
  • ¼ cup Dried coconut
  • ¼ cup Pistachios
  • ¼ cup Walnuts optional
  • ¼ cup Jeedi palukulu or Marking nuts optional
  • ¼ cup Melon seeds optional
  • 1 cup Jaggery powder Or use powdered sugar
  • 1 cup Ghee

Spices

  • 1 tsp Pepper powder
  • 1 tbsp Sonti podi or ginger powder
  • 2 pinches Nutmeg powder

Instructions

Preparing laddu base

  • Grind the cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts to a fine powder and add it a large mixing bowl.
  • Now grind the dried dates to a fine powder and add it to the mixing bowl.
    Notes : If using medjool dates, just chop them up, grind to a smooth paste and fry the date paste in ghee for 4-5 mins until it loses its raw smell and turns into a lump.
  • Now grind the dried coconut, marking nuts, melon seeds separately and add it to the mixing bowl.
  • Now the crucial ingredient, Banka or Gond or edible gum Add it to the blending jar and grind to a fine powder. And transfer this powder to the mixing bowl.
  • Time to add in pepper powder, sonti podi or ginger powder, ground nutmeg, jaggery powder to the mixing bowl with all ground nuts and seeds. Give everything a really good mix.

Heating the ghee

  • Now heat a saucepan, add ghee and bring it to a smoking hot point. Turn off the heat.

Let's roll some BANKA LADDUS now!!

  • Take 3 cups of laddu base ie., all the powders to a smaller mixing bowl, make a well in the center and add few tbsps of piping hot ghee.
  • Start bringing the laddu mixture and ghee together, and try to bring everything together to a tight sticky dough consistency.
  • When the laddu mixture is still hot and pliable, take a heaped size portion of it in a spoon or in your palms. Roll the mixture and Shape in a round laddu. 
    Note : In case the laddu mixture is too hot intolerable, then do wait for some minutes. Avoid burning your hands. If the mixture does not hold shape, then add 1 to 2 tablespoons of hot ghee.
  • Place the rolled laddus onto a wide plate, and repeat the process for the remaining laddu mixture.
  • Leave the rolled laddus to dry overnight or 4-5 hours at room temperature.

Storage instructions

  • Transfer the dried banka laddus to a clean and dry Airtight container. These laddus stay good upto 6 weeks.

Serving suggestions

  • Serve laddu with a warm glass of milk or just as is.

Notes

  • If you cannot find dried dates, use medjool dates instead, just chop them up, grind to a smooth paste and fry the date paste in ghee for 4-5 mins until it loses its raw smell and turns into a lump.

 If you’ve tried this recipe, please share your valuable feedback in the comments below. Also you can Tag your photo and share it with #mycurryveda on Instagram @mycurryveda  or on Facebook . Also follow @taste.of.telangana on Instagram for more traditional recipes, culture and stories.

The post BANKA LADDU appeared first on mycurryveda.

10 Popular Indian Sweets and Desserts You Can Order On Train

20 January 2023 at 03:14

Our country India is full of versatility, different traditions, cultures, and tastes. If we talk about Indian cuisines then Indian sweets need no introduction at all. In India, sweets are called “Mithai” which is an important element in Indian cuisine because without sweets any ceremony is totally incomplete. When it comes to food, Indian sweets are popular all over the world for their distinctive taste and unique flavors. Different places in India have different cultures, traditions, and tastes. From north to south when the place changes then their taste and preferences of food also change. Indian sweets take attention to all festivals, functions, and different celebratory occasions because they are colorful, mouth-watering, and delicious in taste.

railrecipe special offerOder Food on Train and Get Attractive Discounts

Apart from having sweets they also love to gift them to their loved ones. According to a recent survey it is found that nearly eight out of ten Indians choose clothes and sweets as the most preferred gift items which means that 77 percent of Indians choose sweets to gift their close ones. Indian sweets don’t need a long list of ingredients because there are only a few common ingredients that are used in Indian sweets like Milk, condensed milk, cardamom, flour, sugar, nuts, ghee, and khoya (a semi-solid dairy products made by slowly boiling milk until it thickens). Indian sweets are enough to thrill your taste buds and stimulate your senses with their flavourful and unique taste.

History of Indian Sweets

Our country India not only has a rich cultural history but also it is associated with sweets that have an old history as well. Do you know? Indians were the first to refine sugar, at around 500 BC and by 300 BC. Every Indian sweet has its own history that is very interesting just like the oldest reference to jalebi was made in the 15th century. The origin of sweets in our country and subcontinent has been traced to at least 500 BCE. In ancient Sanskrit literature, Rigveda mentions a sweet cake made of barley, Hence Indian sweets history is very interesting.

Also, read: Enjoy Continental Dishes on Train

Words are not enough to describe the popularity of Indian sweets because sweets are something that attracts a large number of people in our country. For Indian people, sweets are the best way to express their feelings because they offer /serve sweets on each and every occasion. It is very popular in India that “kisi bhi subh kaam se pehle meetha khana chahiye” (have something sweet before beginning some auspicious work) Hence they prefer sweets more than any cuisine.

Now, you can have popular Indian sweets while traveling via train because IRCTC-authorized e-catering service RailRecipe is here to serve you the best during your journey. We are linked with multiple e-catering partner restaurants that are FSSAI approved and deliver fresh healthy and hygienically prepared food on trains. So, now you can order your favorite sweets on the train. Some of the most popular Indian sweets are mentioned below that you can order while traveling on a train.

Gulab Jamun

gulab jamun on train

If we talk about Indian sweets then Gulab Jamun needs no introduction because it is one of the most popular Indian sweets due to its delicious taste and silky texture. Apart from other sweets, Gulab Jamun is popular all over the world. From east to west and north to south this sweet dish has its own fan following. Gulab Jamun is basically soft delicious small balls made with milk solids, flour, and a leavening agent, after that these balls are fried in ghee and soaked in saffron and cardamom flavored sugar syrup and enjoyed.

It is believed that Gulab Jamun originated in India but it is not true because this sweet dish was first prepared in medieval India and was derived from a fitter that Central Asian Turkic invaders brought to India. It is also said that Gulab jamun was accidentally made by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s personal chef. God knows what the exact truth is but this sweet dish is enough to satisfy your sweet cravings. So, next time whenever you travel via train don’t forget to order delicious Gulab Jamun with RailRecipe.

Gajar Ka Halwa

gajar ka halwa

If we talk about winter sweet dish then Gajar ka Halwa or carrot halwa will be the first that strikes our mind Because fresh red carrots (Gajar) is only available in the winter season. This sweet dish is popular in north India but people from all over India love this cuisine due to its unique flavor. This halwa is made with fresh-graded carrots, full-fat milk, ghee, and sugar and garnished with dry fruits. Now, you can order your favorite Gajar ka halwa while traveling by train with RailRecipe.

Ghevar

ghevar on train

Ghevar is a disc–shaped sweet cake made from ghee, flour, and sugar syrup and topped with Rabdi (sweet condensed milk) and dry fruits. Ghevar originated in India and especially it is a Rajasthani cuisine. Apart from Rajasthan, this sweet dish is also popular in other stared like Haryana, Gujrat, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. This sweet dish tastes very delicious and comes in different varieties like Mava Ghevar, Malai Ghevar, paneer Ghevar, etc. Now, you can order this unique sweet dish while traveling on a train all you need to do that just order on RailRecipe App or you can also call us at 8448440386.

Rasgulla

rasgulla on train

Some Indian sweets need no introduction and Rasgulla is one of them because of its delicious taste and soft and spongy structure. It is also known as Rosogolla or syrup-filled roll and it is popular all over the country but especially in Kolkata. Rasgulla is one of the most popular Indian sweets and doesn’t need a long list of ingredients because it just needs Indian cottage cheese and sugar syrup. Rasgulla is basically a juicy milk-based sweet dessert loved all over India.

Jalebi

jalebi on train

JALEBI is a very popular Indian sweet snack cum dessert originating in Western Asia and loved all over the country. Jalebi is a spiral-shaped Indian sweet made by frying method and takes very less time in making. It is made with maida (all-purpose flour), gram flour, and sugar syrup. It is sold in all sweet shops in our country but it is also a popular street food sold by many street vendors in western and northern Indian cities and towns. In some states like Gujrat people consume Jalebi as breakfast. Now, you can have this amazing sweet snack while traveling via train by placing your order on RailRecipe.

Mysore Pak

mysore pak on train

Mysore Pak is a popular and traditional sweet dish of Mysore in the Karnataka state and also Tamil Nadu, prepared especially during Diwali or other festivals. Mysore Pak is made with three ingredients- gram flour, ghee, and sugar. This sweet dish is popular due to its unique taste and flavor. The taste of Mysore Pak is enough to stratify your taste buds this traditional sweet dish is made with a unique combination of pure desi ghee and gram flour.

Kaju Katli

kaju katli on train

Kaju Katli is known as the “King” of Indian sweets due to its high demand and expensive rate in the Indian market. It is a delicious traditional north Indian sweet made with cashew nuts (Kaju), sugar and cardamom powder. It is a very popular Indian sweet and probably the most gifted one during Diwali or other festivals. Kaju Katli is also known as “Kaju Barfi” by Indian people. Kaju Katli is one of the most delicious desserts of all time. So, next time whenever you will travel by train then do not forget to order delicious and mouthwatering Kaju Katli on the train on RailRecipe.

Khaja

khaja on train

If you are from Andhra Pradesh then Khaja needs no introduction for you because it is very popular in this state. Khaja is an Indian sweet made by deep frying flour and ghee mixture. It is a traditional coastal dish that is prepared from a few ingredients; it is essentially layered fritters dunked in sugar syrup. Khaja is very famous in Bihar and Uttar-Pradesh as well.

Motichoor Laddu

motichoor laddu on train

Motichoor laddu is one of the most popular Indian sweets with a huge fan following. In India, any festival or function is totally incomplete without motichoor laddu due to its soft texture and delicious taste. This sweet is also used for offering God and Goddesses as Prasad during festivals and auspicious occasions. This laddu is prepared from tiny gram-flour balls, sugar syrup, and other flavorings. The small and tiny gram-flour balls are fried in hot ghee and then soaked in sugar syrup infused with different flavors like saffron, cardamom, and rose water.

Rasmalai

rasmalai on train

If we talk about authentic Indian sweets then Rasmalai needs no introduction because it is one of the most popular Indian sweets due to its super soft and spongy texture and delicious taste. Ras malai is known as the royal sweet often served at weddings and eaten on special occasions. Ras malai is nothing but soft and spongy cottage cheese balls dunked in silky sweet Kesar-flavored milk. Ras malai is also called ross malai which is a super classic and royal Bengali dessert. So, next time whenever you crave something super delicious and tempting then kindly order your favorite Indian sweet from RailRecipe.

See more: Top Indian Foods You Should Try Once in Life

RailRecipe is working so passionately to deliver the best and most delicious food in your train boogie. So, next time whenever you crave something sweet then we are here to satisfy your soul by providing you with healthy, fresh, and hygienically prepared food on the train. All you need to do that just place your order on our official website www.railrecipe.com or you can also call us at 8448440386.

How to order your Favorite Sweet on RailRecipe?

Indians don’t need a special occasion to have dessert, especially when it’s sweets because they love sweets the most. If you are worrying about how you can order your favorite sweet during your train journey then here I have mentioned the step-by-step process of ordering food on RailRecipe.

  1. You can order online food from Indian Railways in mainly 3 ways. First, visit our official website railrecipe.com or download our RailRecipe app. You can also call us at 8448440386 for placing your order.
  2. Enter your 10-digit PNR number.
  3. Now you have to select the appropriate station where you want to receive your food order.
  4. Select your favorite sweet you want to have during your train journey.
  5. Apply discount coupons or promo codes for additional discounts on your food orders.
  6. Kindly proceed to checkout for the next step.
  7. The next step will be the payment option. Kindly choose your appropriate payment method, you can make payment either online or COD (cash on delivery).
  8. Now, sit relax and enjoy your favorite ordered meal while traveling on a train.
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