Brown Rice Khichadi

I was wondering if we could ever use Brown Rice in Khichadi and that inspired me to make it. Guess what! It turned out Awesome !
It is super healthy and delicious Khichadi. 

Ingredients:
1) Brown Rice - 1 Cup
2) Black Split Urad Daal  - 1/2 Cup
3) Ginger/Garlic/Green Chilli Paste - 1/2 Tbsp
4) Onion - 1/2 Cup finely Chopped
5) Tomato - 1/2 Cup finely Chopped
6) Carrots( finely chopped) + Peas - 1/2 Cup
7) Coriandar - Zira Powder - 1 Tsp
8) Garam Masala -  1/2 Tsp
9) Coriandar(AKA Cilantro) - 1/2 Cup 
10 Ghee - 1 Tbsp
11) Zira - 1/2 tsp
12) Kadi patta - 4-5 Leaves
13) Red Chilli - 1 Whole Chilli
14) Salt as per your taste
15) Water
16) Turmeric - 1/4 Tsp
17) Red Chilli Powder - 1/4 to 1/2 Tsp (as per Spicy level you want)



Steps:
1) Cook Brown Rice and Black Split Urad Daal in pressure cooker with 3 times of water. Add 1/4 tsp salt and little Turmeric for cooking.

2) Heat Ghee in a Pan, add Zira, Kadi patta, and Red Chilli (Break it to half) [ Here you can add clove and cinnamon stick ]
3) Add Onion and fry till light brown
4) Then add ginger/garlic/green chilli paste and mix it well
5) Now add Tomato and half of the Cilantro and Salt (1/2 Tsp) mix everything well. Allow this to cook for 5 mins on medium flame.
6) Now add Carrot and Peas and turmeric. Mix everything and allow it to cook for another 5 mins.
7) Now add red chilli pwder, coriander - zira powder and garam masala and 1/2 Cup water and mix everything well. Cover the pan and let it cook for 1-2 mins
8) Now add cooked Brown Rice and Urad daal Mix into the Pan and mix well everything. At low flame let the khichadi cook for 2 mins.

Tadda Khichadi is ready!! Use the remaining Coriandar for garnishing on top and server hot.

Palak Halwa

Being a Big Fan of Master Chef, this is the first recipe i tried following it. I never thought Palak as a dessert, but after making this Halwa it has become my Favorite Sweet !

Ingredients :
1) Palak - 1 Bunches
2) Ricotta Cheese - 200 gms 
3) Khoya - 1 Cup
4) Cinnamon Powder - 1 Tsp
5) Fresh Berries (Strawberry, Blue Berry, Cranberry etc any Berry of your choice) 
6) Sugar - 1 Cup
7) Milk - 1.5 Cup
8) Basil Leaves - 4-5 leaves (Optional) 
9) Pistachio (Chopped) 

Steps :
1) Boil Milk, add Palak and Basil Leaves in milk and cook till Palak becomes soft. 
2) Filter the milk and then crush cooked Palak and Basil Leaves to make a smooth paste. Keep this paste aside for now.
3) Heat a pan and add Khoya let it become little soft. 
4) Then add the Palak-Basil Paste to it and keep stirring every min till Palak is cooked well.
5) Now add Ricotta Cheese and mix it well
6) Add Cinnamon powder, Pistachio. Mix everything and cook for 2-3 Mins.
7) Now add fresh berries and mix it well. Turn of the Gas and leave it for 1 Min.
8) Now transfer the Halwa to the serving Bowl and decorate with Fruits, Pista or Basil Leaf (as per your creativity)

Once it cools down its ready for serving. I didn't like it hot, but you can also serve hot if you like it :).

Mango Barfi

With start of Summer I always remember my favorite fruit Mango (The King of Fruits). Yumm!! Just Love It ! As I am sweet lover, thought of trying some quick and different sweet, so here is a simple barfi recipe. 

Ingredients

1) Mango Tin Ras  - 1.5 Cup ( If you have time you could also take fresh Mango and make Mango Pulp and add Sugar to the pulp equivalent to the quantity of pulp , i.e 1:1 it can vary if you like more or less sweet)
2) Paneer - 1 Cup
3) Milk Powder - 1 Cup 
4) 1 Tsp Ghee for greasing 
5) 1 Cup dry fruits (add of your choice - Pistachio (Pista), Almond (Badam), Cashew (Kaju) ) 
6) Cinnamon Powder - 1/8 Tsp
7) Cardamon Powder - 1/4 Tsp


Steps:

1) Take a pan and heat it up.
2) Now add Mango Ras [OR Mixture of Sugar and Mango Pulp] and Paneer
3) At medium flame continuously stir the mixture till 15-20 mins.
4) Now add Milk Powder and stir till the mixture combines well (should be like a loose dough)
5) Add cinnamon powder, cardamon powder and half cup dry fruits and mix it well 
6) Take a plate and grease it with ghee
7) Place the barfi mixture in the plate and tap it well. 
8) Garnish with remaining dry fruits and press little so it sticks well to the Barfi.
9) Let it cool down and then cut into pieces.