Evergreendishes

Tag: Indian sweets

  • Ash gourd Halwa | Kashi Halwa | Dum root Halwa |

    Ash gourd Halwa | Kashi Halwa | Dum root Halwa |

    Ash gourd halwa is a tasty and popular sweet of South India. It is called by different names as Kashi Halwa, Dum root halwa or Budhgumbala kayi halwa. It is rich in taste with added nuts and ghee.

    Indian sweets are of varied kind. Each state has its own exclusive dishes for every festibvbal. Ash gourd halwa is a popular sweet treat from Karnataka.

     

    Ash gourd is a healthy vegetable. It is usually used in sambar, yoghurt based dishes as majjige huli and sometimes in stir fry.  Ash gourd halwa is popular in South India and is pre dominantly made during functions and ceremonies. It is popular by the local names.

    My other halwa recipes: Carrot halwa ABC Halwa Beetroot halwa

    Ash gourd halwa / dum root halwa
    Ash gourd halwa / Dum root halwa
    ash gourd halwa / dum root halwa
    ash gourd halwa / dum root halwa

    Let’s get cooking Ash Gourd Halwa

    Ingredients:

    Measurement : 1 cup =250 ml
    • 2 cup grated ash gourd
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoon ghee
    • 5 almonds
    • 8 cashewnuts
    • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method:

    1. Remove the skin of ash gourd and discard the seeds and pith of it.
    2. Grate it. Do not discard the water.
    3. Take a teaspoon of ghee and roast the cashes, put them aside. Cut the almonds and roast them. Put them along with cashew.
    4. Now, add the grated ash gourd and roast it for four to five minutes.
    5. The raw smell of the vegetable should vanish.
    6. Add sugar and ghee to it and roast it on a low flame for fifteen to twenty minutes.
    7. Finally, add cardamom powder and remove from flame.

    Take a tip:

    • The skin of ash gourd is thick and needs to be removed carefully.
    • Increase the quantity of sugar by quarter cup, if you want it to be more sweet.
    • Raisins may be used.
    making of dum root halwa
    making of dum root halwa

    pictures in sequence are : ash gourd, grated ash gourd, sauting of dry fruits ( three pictures), sauting of ash gourd,  condensed form, adding of sugar, adding of ghee.

    (I missed taking the picture of the halwa in the pan )

    Ash gourd halwa / dum root halwa
    Evergreendishesdev

    Ash gourd halwa / Dum root halwa

    5 from 3 votes
    Ash gourd halwa is one of the finest sweets prepared in South India. It is common during ceremonies.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Course: indian sweets
    Cuisine: Indian, South Indian
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cup ash gourd grated
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoon ghee
    • 6 almonds
    • 6 cashew
    • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method
     

    1. Remove the skin and pith of the ash gourd. Grate it
    2. Take a thick bottom pan, add a teaspoon of ghee and roast the cashew and almond separately. Add the grated pumpkin and saute it until the raw smell goes and the water is condensed. 
    3. Put the sugar and ghee to it, mix and cook it on a low flame for fifteen to twenty minutes until it is done. 
    4. Add cardamom powder and remove from flame. Serve after sometime. 

    Notes

    • Use fresh and good quality (firm) pumpkin.
    • Removing the skin is not easy, do it cautiously.
    • Adjust sugar accordingly, this isn’t too sweet.
    • You can use raisins, I usually avoid it. 
    ash gourd halwa /dum root halwa
    ash gourd halwa /dum root halwa

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    If you ever prepare this dish, do tag me @foodiejayashree on Instagram, would love to see your creation.

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    Before bidding good bye, here is a tip from me : It is not dieting but eating in moderation is the key to to be healthy.

    HAPPY COOKING …until next time..!!!

  • Khaja | Kaja | Tapeshwara Khaja | Madatha Khaja

    Khaja | Kaja | Tapeshwara Khaja | Madatha Khaja

    Khaja is a traditional sweet dish from the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is layered deep fried sweet discs. It is called by different names as Khaja, Kaja, Tapeshwara Khaja or Madatha Khaja.

    It is believed to have originated  from the Eastern  parts of the former Oudh  and the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. This represents eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh and western districts of Bihar. It is also popular in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

    Khaja is a layered sweet from all purpose flour, usually filled with a stuffing of dry fruits, deep fried and dunked in sugar syrup. This is offered as prasadam in Jagganath temple at Puri.

    I have been making this during festivals and is one of the favourites at home.

    A few other festive treats from the blog:

    Khaja, Tapeshwaram Khaja
    Khaja, Tapeshwaram Khaja

    Ingredients:

    For the dough

    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon  ghee
    • 2 tablespoon milk
    • salt a pinch
    • water
    • oil for frying

    For the stuffing:

    • 2 tablespoon rice flour
    • 2 tablespoon ghee
    • 2 tablespoon cashewnuts and almonds grated

    For the sugar syrup:

    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup water
    • a few strands of saffron
    • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method:

    •  Sieve the flour, there should be no lumps in it.
    • Add ghee, milk, salt to it and mix well.
    • Add little water and mix into a dough.
    • Cover the dough and keep it aside.

    For the filling:

    • Grate the dry fruits and keep them aside.
    • Mix rice flour, rub the ghee in it and put the dry fruits to it.
    • Keep it aside.

    To make the  sugar syrup:

    • Mix sugar and water in a thick bottom vessel and cook on a low flame for five to seven minutes. Put the cardamom powder and saffron strands to it, it gives a good aroma.

    To make the khajas:

    • Take a big ball of the dough and roll into a thin sheet.
    • Spread the prepared filling over it.
    • Fold it into layers tightly. Cut into discs.
    • Take each disc and press it lightly or roll with a pin.
    • Heat oil in a pan, put the discs and deep fry till golden in colour.
    • Put them in the sugar syrup for two minutes and then remove and keep aside.
    Khaja arranged in glass plates
    Khaja, Tapeshwaram Khaja

     

    Khaja, Tapeshwaram Khaja
    Evergreendishesdev

    Khaja | Kaja | Tapeshwaram Khaja | Madath Khaja

    Khaja is a traditional sweet pastry from the Indian sub-continent. It is a layered deep fried sweet with a filling of nuts that is deep fried. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings: 20 pieces
    Course: festive treats, sweets, traditional sweets
    Cuisine: Andhra pradesh, Indian
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    For the dough
    • 1 cup all purpose flour, maida
    • 2 tablespoon ghee
    • 2 tablespoon milk
    • salt a pinch
    • water
    • oil for frying
    For the filling
    • 2 tablespoon rice flour
    • 2 tablespoon ghee
    • 2 tablespoon cashew and almond grated
    For the sugar syrup
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1/2 cup water
    • a few strands saffron
    • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method
     

    1. Sieve the flour, there should be no lumps.
    2. Add milk, ghee and salt to it. Mix it well. 
    3. Use little water and knead the dough. It should be of thick consistency. Cover with a thin cloth and keep it aside. 
    4. Mix sugar and water in a thick bottom pan and keep it to boil, put the saffron strands and cardamom powder for a good aroma. Boil it for seven minutes, you should get a string consistency. 
    5. Grate the cashew and almonds. Mix the ghee and rice flour together, add the grated nuts to it. This is the filling. 
    6. To make khajas: Take a ball of the dough, roll into a thin sheet. Spread the filling over it. Roll it tightly, cut it  into discs. 
    7. Take each disc, you can either flatten it with your palm or roll it lightly. 
    8. Heat oil in a pan. Put a few rolled discs in it and deep fry until golden in colour. Remove them on a tissue paper and repeat the same for all the discs.
    9. Put the fried discs in sugar syrup for two minutes, remove and keep them aside. 
    10. Khaja is ready to serve.

    Notes

    Heat oil in a pan, once it is hot, deep fry on medium heat. Frying on high heat will not cook it properly from inside. 

    A few other sweets from my co-bloggers

    book of handyhintsMy books on Amazon

    e-books of Jayashree, south indian breakfast, 30 tasty dal recipees, bread basket
    my e-books

    Khaja arranged in a glass plate.

    If you ever make this dish, do share it on Instagram and tag #foodiejayashree

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    book of handyhints

  • ABC Halwa for Holi

    ABC Halwa for Holi

    ABC Halwa is a Gujarati sweet dish prepared with apple, banana and carrots. It is tasty and makes a good sweet for any celebrations.

    It’s that time of the year, when the world is full of new blossoms and the weather is enchanting. A season you love and cherish, but so short lived. Winter has come to an end and summer will soon make way. It’s beautiful spring,time ,yay , it’s Holi time ! And on this ocassion I bring to you a delicious and healthy sweet dish, ABC Halwa.

    Holi is celebrated on the  day of full moon ,that is Poornima of the Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar. It usually occurs in February or March. This year it is on March 23. The next day , the citizens celebrate by playing with colour. What does Holi signify actually ? It indicates the arrival of spring, victory of good over evil, good bye to winter and also a harvest festival.

    Coming back to my dish, yes, the name is intriguing, but the taste is just too good. Apple, banana and carrots together makes this awesome dish. You can add fresh coconut to this, but I avoided as my children are fussy about it. Earlier, I used to make only carrot halwa, now the addition of fruits seems to have taken it to another level. The smell of the apples  being cooked  is  awesome. This is a popular Gujarati dish. I am sending this dish to the Holi Collection by Sonal.
    ABC Halwa
    ABC Halwa

     

    ABC Halwa
    Recipe Type: Dessert
    Cuisine: Gujarati
    Author: Jayashree
    Prep time:
    Cook time:
    Total time:
    Serves: 6
    A sweet dish with the goodness of fruits and vegetable combined.
    Ingredients
    • apple pieces 1 cup (1big apple)
    • banana pieces 1 cup (2 large bananas)
    • carrot grated 1cup (4 carrots )
    • sugar 1 1/4 cup
    • milk 1 cup
    • ghee 1tbsp +1tsp
    • salt a pinch
    • cardamom powder 1/4 tsp
    • cashew and almond pieces
    Instructions
    1. Remove the skin of apple and cut into small pieces.
    2. Grate the carrots.
    3. Chop the banana also into small bits.
    4. Take a thick bottom pan and put all the cut fruits and carrot together. Add milk and keep on a low flame to cook.
    5. Allow to cook for sometime, until the milk is dissolved and it looks as a mass.
    6. Add a tablespoon of ghee and saute the mixture for sometime. The colour changes and the ghee will be seperated.
    7. Then, add the sugar and continue to cook for some more time. All ingredients will get blended together. Put the pinch of salt.
    8. Finally add the cardamom powder and remove from flame.
    9. Take a small pan , and roast the dry fruits in ghee. Garnish it
    Notes
    • You can increase the quantity of sugar, if you want it to be more sweet.
    • Fresh coconut can be used along with the fruits and carrot.

     

    apple,banana and carrot pieces
    apple,banana and carrot pieces

    Remove the skin of apple and cut it into small pieces. Grate the carrots and chop the bananas. All are of equal measurement. I required one apple, two bananas and four carrots to make them of one bowl each.

    halwa being cooked
    halwa being cooked

    Put them in a thick bottom pan and add a bowl of milk. let cook on a low flame. Keep stirring. Once the milk has evaporated add ghee and continue to saute. As it leave the sides, add sugar (1 1/4 bowl) and cook till it melts and then thickens. You need at least twenty minutes. Finally add cardamom powder.

    ABC Halwa
    ABC Halwa

    Roast the dry fruits in a little ghee. Garnish them over it.

    ABC Halwa
    ABC Halwa
    ABC Halwa
    ABC Halwa

    Glad if you share it ! HAPPY HOLI !

     

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  • Besan ladoo / perfect besan ladoo recipe

    Besan ladoo / perfect besan ladoo recipe

    Besan ladoo is a popular dry snack prepared during festivals and ceremonies in South India. It is delicious and melt in the mouth.

    During ceremonies, it is customary to make it along with chakli, they are stored in large containers to serve the guests and other invitees. Besan ladoo has long shelf life. It is ideal to serve along with upma or a snack which can be binged anytime of the day.

    A few other snack that we often make during festival of lights  are the crunchy  murukku, nippattu, split gram murukku

    besan ladoo
    besan ladoo

    Let’s get to the Besan Ladoo recipe

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup besan
    • 1 cup castor sugar
    • 3/4 cup ghee/ clarified butter
    • a few cashewnuts
    • a few raisins
    • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method :

    Take a thick bottom pan and add some ghee to it. Add besan to it and saute it on a low flame. The colour should change to brown. After sauting for a while, add more ghee and cashews to it. Do not add cashews in the beginning, they will get burnt. Once it is done, put it in a wide plate and let cool.

    Add sugar and cardamom powder to it. Mix well. Rub it with palm to make a smooth pliable dough. This is the essence of the recipe. Shape them into ladoos and store them in a container. Besan ladoos can be kept for a month. This is gluten free snack.

    Take a tip: The castor sugar should be fine powder. Otherwise, you will feel the pinch of it while eating.

    Evergreendishesdev

    Besan Ladoo

    Besan ladoo is a popular dry snack made during ceremonies in South India.
    Print Recipe
    Course: dry snack
    Cuisine: karnataka
    Ingredients Method Notes

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup gram flour
    • 1 cup castor sugar
    • 3/4 cup clarified butter
    • cashew
    • raisin
    • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

    Method
     

    1. Take some ghee in a pan, add the besan and roast it well. Keep roasting, after some time, add the cashew pieces. A little later, put the raisins. Keep roasting, add a little more ghee, you should get a good aroma and the colour of the gram flour should be dark brown.
    2. Mix sugar and cardamom powder to it and keep it aside.
    3. Once it cools, knead the mixture well. Make balls of it and store in an airtight container.

    Notes

    • Use fine castor sugar. 
    • Roasting of the besan must be done properly to get perfect ladoos. 
    besan ladoo
    besan ladoo

    This recipe was first published in 2015, now I have redone it with better pictures and more fresh content. Old posts are lost as so many new blog posts are published each day. I have joined a group and we are Foodies_ Redoing Old Post giving a new look to our old posts.

    If you have liked this post, do leave a comment. Do try this recipe during the weekend, take a picture and share it with us by tagging @evergreendishes on Facebook or @foodiejayashree on Instagram.  I will share it further.

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  • Kadabu Ganesha Chaturthi Special

    Kadabu Ganesha Chaturthi Special

    Kadabu is a festive sweet from Karnataka. Lentil is cooked with jaggery, laced with nuts, desiccated coconut and cardamom powder, filled in thin sheets into crescent shaped and deep fried. These are absolutely tasty and usually made as an offering to Lord Ganesha.

    With the Ganesha festival fast approaching, it is time to prepare a wide variety of sweets. Modak and kadabu are usually prepared during this festival. Here is Kadabu recipe for you.Have a great festival and enjoy your time with family.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    stuffing ready
    stuffing ready

    For the stuffing :
    • Split pigeon peas ( tur dal) 1 cup
    • ghee 1/2tsp
    • jaggery grated 1 cup
    • cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
    • camphor a pinch
    • desiccated coconut 1/2 cup
    • cashew pieces and raisins

     

     

    For the covering :

    • wheat flour 1 1/2 cup
    • rice flour 2 tsp
    • ghee 1/2 tsp
    • water

    Other ingredients :

    • oil for frying
    • flour for dusting

    Method : 

    To make the stuffing: 

    Cook split pigeon pea with a little ghee and water in a pressure cooker. Once it iscooked, let the pressure release by itself. Drain the water, from the lentil. Now, you can either cook it directly in a thick bottom pan or smudge it well along with jaggery. I have a handy equipment and I use it. 

    Put the lentil and jaggery together and cook for sometime. When I pass the lentil, I get a thin, smooth consistency of it and I it is boiled. Put desiccated coconut, dry fruits and cardamom powder to it. Once the consistency is moderate, turn off the stove.

    To make the dough : 

    In the meantime, prepare the dough. It should be firm, cover it with a muslin cloth and keep it aside for sometime.

    To make the kadabu:

    • Make balls of the stuffing and keep it aside.
    • Take a small piece of the dough, roll it into a circle. 
    • Take the stuffing and elongate it between palms. Keep it on one side and slowly cover the other end and seal it. The edges can be trimmed with a curvy knife. I have a mould and I use it. The picture of the mould is given. 
    • Heat oil in a pan.
    • Once the oil is warm, slowly immerse two stuffed kadabu into it. Deep fry on both the sides on a moderate heat. Once the brown spots are visible, remove them on a plate with tissue paper. 
    • Repeat for the rest of the dough. 

    Kadabu

    Kadabu

    Kadabu is a festive sweet from Karnataka. Lentil is cooked and mixed with jaggery. It is then filled and fried in crescent-shaped, called as kadabu.
    Print Recipe
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    • For the covering :
    • wheat flour 1 1/2 cup
    • rice flour 2 tsp
    • ghee 1/2 tsp
    • water
    • Other ingredients :
    • oil for frying
    • flour for dusting

    Method
     

    1. Cook split pigeon pea with a little ghee and water in a pressure cooker. Once it iscooked, let the pressure release by itself. Drain the water, from the lentil. Now, you can either cook it directly in a thick bottom pan or smudge it well along with jaggery. I have a handy equipment and I use it.
    2. Put the lentil and jaggery together and cook for sometime. When I pass the lentil, I get a thin, smooth consistency of it and I it is boiled. Put desiccated coconut, dry fruits and cardamom powder to it. Once the consistency is moderate, turn off the stove.
    3. In the meantime, prepare the dough. It should be firm, cover it with a muslin cloth and keep it aside for sometime. 
    4. Make balls of the stuffing and keep it aside.Take a small piece of the dough, roll it into a circle. Take the stuffing and elongate it between palms. Keep it on one side and slowly cover the other end and seal it. The edges can be trimmed with a curvy knife. I have a mould and I use it. The picture of the mould is given. Heat oil in a pan.Once the oil is warm, slowly immerse two stuffed kadabu into it. Deep fry on both the sides on a moderate heat. Once the brown spots are visible, remove them on a plate with tissue paper. Repeat for the rest of the dough.  

    Kadabu

     

    This is an old post which I have redone with better pictures and text. I am sending this to Foodies_ Redoing Old Post 20, a group which I am part of. Every fortnight, a group of bloggers have decided to work on old posts which need our attention. This was one of the first few posts that I had posted in the beginning.

    If you have liked this post, do share it with your family and friends. You can save it for later use on pinterest. If you ever make this sweet dish, take a picture and share it by tagging @foodiejayashree on Instagram or @evergreendishes on Facebook. I will be happy to see and share further.

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  • Aamrakhand

    Aamrakhand,  delicacy of hung curd infused with mango puree is a Maharashtrian dish. It is similar to Shrikhand, the only difference being the addition of mango puree here. It can be used with the indian flat bread as chapati or puri or even as a dessert. (more…)

  • Sweet Pongal

    Holi, the festival of colours marks the arrival of spring. It is the time when we love to celebrate the beautiful season, which soon ends giving us the worse summer. This festival is celebrated throughout the country, though the spirit of the festival has dwindled these days. What was once a colourful play with each one immersed in pink and blue , is now reduced to a mere touch of it. Well, change is the only thing constant, I enjoying seeing the kids running splashing colours on each other. Happy Holi to all of you !

    (more…)

  • Coconut burfi

            Coconut burfi, a name familiar to one and all as ” Khobbare mittaye”  was prepared quite often earlier. But, with the changing trends and eating habits, these sweets make an occasional comeback during festivals as Dasara and Diwali.

    At times, when piles of coconut are lying in the refrigerator during certain religious ceremonies. this is the immediate sweet that comes to my mind. It is liked by all at home. (more…)

  • Moongdal Payasa or Kheer

    Moongdal Payasa or Kheer

    Moong dal is used for various purposes in our daily cooking. From salads and dals to desserts, it finds its place in some form or the other. Today, I present a traditional  Indian sweet dish. Payasa is a sweet preparation usually  of medium consistency, which are made of numerous kinds. (more…)