Chocolate Almond Nuggets

Chocolate with nuts is a classic combination. This homemade fudge is hard to resist. Enjoy this easy to follow, simple recipe for Chocolate lovers.

Ingredients:

• Semisweet chocolate chips - 2 cups (12 ounces)
• Heavy whipping cream - 1/2 cup
• Powdered sugar - 1 cup
• Butter - 2 tbsp
• Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp
• Roasted chopped Almonds - 1/2 cup

Method:

1. Melt chocolate over double boiler.
2. Add cream and stir in sugar. Keep stirring until it becomes smooth.
3. Add butter, vanilla extract and stir to blend well. Stir in Chopped almonds.  Mix well.
4. Butter a smooth plate. Pour the chocolate mix into the plate and refrigerate for couple of hours.
5. Cut into desired shapes. Store between parchment paper to avoid sticking.

Enjoy anytime.

Rasmalai: A melt in your mouth dessert

Rasmalai is a delicate and flavorful Bengali dessert. It is easy to prepare at home with a few ingredients. Rasmalai is milk patties soaked in cardamom and saffron flavored milk. It has very delicate flavor and is served chilled after the meal.

Ingredients:
For Rasmalai: Approx. 6 servings

Whole Milk – 1 gallon
Lemon juice – 1 tbsp OR Vinegar – 1 tbsp
Kesar (saffron) – 1/4 tsp
Almonds – 12
Pistachios – 10
Crushed cardamom seeds – 1 tsp
Sugar – 1.5 cups
Rose essence – 8 drops

Method:
Making Paneer or Cheena:

1. Squeeze fresh lemon juice in a bowl and keep aside. OR if using vinegar, add 1 tbsp vinegar to half cup water and keep aside.
2. In a heavy bottom pan, boil half gallon whole milk.
3. When milk comes to a boil, gradually add lemon juice or vinegar solution to it. Stir the milk gently and it starts curdling. Very soon the whey is separated from the curdled milk. Turn the heat off.
4. Now in a strainer, line the muslin cloth. Strain the above curdled milk from this cloth.
5. The solids on the muslin cloth are “paneer” or “cheena”. Wrap the paneer in a muslin cloth and rinse it under cold water for couple of times. Rinsing helps in taking out vinegar or lemon taste from the paneer. Squeeze well.
6. Hang this wrapped paneer to take out the excess water squeeze the cloth, or press the wrapped paneer under a heavy pan for about one hour.
7. Paneer or cheena is ready to make rasmalai.

Making the Rasmalai:

3. Take fresh paneer or cheena on a large plate or surface. Knead it for at least 5 minutes. Make soft and smooth dough of it. Kneading is one of the most important parts of making rasmalai.
4. Once the paneer becomes very soft and smooth, divide the dough into 10 equal parts and roll them in smooth balls and flatten them a bit to form small discs shape.
5. Meanwhile, on medium high heat in a large vessel, boil 6 cups of water and add 1 cup of sugar to it. Mix well.
6. Add the above paneer discs to the boiling water very gently. There should be enough room for the discs to expand. Cover the lid for 2-3 minutes. Stir gently and let it boil for 5-6 more minutes.
7. Check the rasmalai patties, as they are almost doubled in size. Turn the heat off.
8. Carefully take the patties out of the sugar syrup. Squeeze them gently. Keep aside.
9. To prepare the malai, take the remaining half gallon milk in a non stick pan and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Milk reduces and starts to thicken.
10. Add half cup sugar, rose essence, cardamom and saffron. Mix well.
11. Now carefully add rasmalai patties to this milk. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
12. Turn the heat off and let it cool completely. Keep it in the refrigerator.

Garnish and serving suggestions:
Garnish with sliced almonds and pistachios and serve chilled.

Fresh Mangodi ki Subzi

This recipe comes from the western state in India, Rajasthan. Mangodes are usually sundried mini dumpling made up of lentil flour. But in this recipe I prepared fresh Mangode to make this curry. It gievs more delicate taste to the curry.

Ingredients: For approx. 4 servings
To make mangode:
Yellow moong dal - 2 cups
Gram flour (besan)  - 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Red chili powder - 1 pinch
Jeera  - 1 tsp
baking powder - 1 pinch
Cooking oil for deep frying
Salt as per taste

To make curry:
Yogurt  - 1/2 cup
Asafoetida powder - 1 pinch
Bay leaf  - 1
Cumin seeds  - 1/2 tsp
Dried red chilies - 2-3
Ginger paste  - 1/2 tbsp
Tomato puree  - 2 tbsp
Garam masala powder  - 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder  - 1 tsp
Coriander powder  - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder  - 1/2 tsp
Cooking oil  - 2 tbsp
Salt  as per taste

Method:
To make Mangode:

• Soak green moong dal overnight. Next morning, grind moong dal using very little water.
• In a bowl combine, moong dal mix, besan , turmeric powder, red chili powder, jeera, baking powder and salt. Mix well and prepare a pakora consistency batter.
• In a pan, heat the oil for frying. Deep fry small mangode in medium hot oil using small spoon. Fry till mangode turns golden brown. Drain them on kitchen towel and keep aside.

To make curry:

• In a bowl, add yogurt, besan, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and salt. Mix well till it becomes smooth. Keep aside.
• In a pan, heat 2 tbsp cooking oil. Add bay leaf, asafetida powder, cumin seeds, dry red chilies and sauté.
• When it crackles, add ginger paste, fried mangode, tomato puree and yogurt mixture. Add one cup of water and mix well. Let it simmer 3-4 minutes. Add garam masala powder and its ready to serve.

Garnish and Serving suggestion:
Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve hot with fresh chapatis or fragrant basmati rice.