Dance with the Traditional Drink on Holi

Winter in India is a big deal in the Northern part. Winter comes to an end in the month of March which marks the arrival of spring, a season of colors. Years ago, Indians came up with a festival “Holi”. Also known as festival of love, victory of good over evil (unlike Diwali, which is quite sober as compared to Holi) and for some, this is an excuse to meet old friends and family. Well, everybody has their own excuse to celebrate and color anybody they come across. This is the beauty of Holi. Celebrations are day long and in some parts of India it goes on for 2 weeks.

People move out of their houses and go to each others house, throw colors. You can see them everywhere, dancing, laughing, dragging each other to throw colors. In Mathura (around 100 miles from New Delhi) women playfully beat their husbands. Where do you think this energy comes from, as food is cooked from oil which eventually slows people down? May be this Thandai is where all the happiness comes from. Thandai, the traditional Holi drink, is the perfect source of energy and unlimited source of ecstasy which has been a part of the Indian culture from ancient times. Hope you've enjoyed my last blog, Red Meat Recipe. This time let’s dance to the beat of drums and celebrate Holi with vibrant powdered and wet colors and of course the Thandai.

Thandai Recipe

Ingredients:-

1 1/2 litre milk,

Few ice cubes,

6 peppercorns,

6 teaspoons sugar,

10 peeled almonds,

2 teaspoons fennel seeds,

1 teaspoon  poppy seeds essence,

250 grams sweetened condensed milk,

1/2 teaspoon pinch powdered cardamom.

Preparation Method:-

1. Grind well the peeled almonds, cardamom and fennel seeds to a fine paste and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Strain the mixture well.

2. Take crushed ice cubes in a glass till half and fill the rest with the above mixture.

3. Serve garnished with rose petals. This makes for 12 glasses.

Wish you a colorful Holi!

Happy Holi With Malpua

The highlight of Holi certainly begins with Rabri and Malpua. Hope you liked the delicious rabri recipe that we shared last time. Malapua is a popular sweet served on the religious festival, Holi. Malapua is an pancake served as a dessert or a snack. Let's have a look at this sumptuous Indian dessert.

For the Syrup:-

1 cup sugar,

1 cup water,

Saffron strands,

1/2 tsp cardamom powder.

For the Malpua:-

500 gms all purpose flour,

1/2 tsp baking powder,

400 gms sweetened condensed milk,

Slivered almonds and pistachios to garnish,

Clarified butter.

Preparation Method:-

1. Mix milk and 1 cup of sugar in a thick-bottomed pan. Cook to reduce it to a fourth of its original volume while stirring frequently.

2. Remove it from the fire, allow cooling and then chill it in the refrigerator. Mix equal quantity of sugar and water in a pan. Boil it until a single-thread consistency is obtained.

3. Add cardamom powder, saffron threads and mix well. Keep it aside to use later. In a large mixing bowl, blend the condensed milk, flour and baking powder together to form a smooth batter.

4. Meanwhile heat enough clarified butter in a deep frying pan to cook the malpuas. Pour the batter into the clarified butter to form circles about 4 inch in diameter.

5. Cook till golden brown. Remove from the clarified butter and put directly into the sugar syrup. Remove after 3 minutes and drain on a wire rack.

6. Now to serve, place 2 malpuas in a plate, spoon rabri over them and garnish with slivered nuts.

Enjoy Holi with delectable malpua!!

Rabri Recipe and The Festival of Colors (Holi)

Holi is one of the major festivals of India and is the most vibrant and colorful of all the Indian fests. Holi symbolizes the dawn of the spring season. It is celebrated in many parts of South Asia, covering Nepal as well. The Holi celebration start with a Holika bonfire, which is held on the night before Holi. The coming morning is free for all carnival of colors. People are involved in merry making by applying colored powder at each others.

Everyone plays and chases each other with dry powder and colored water. Some also carry water colors guns and small colorful water filled balloons. The festival also includes ‘matki phod’ (breaking the pot) competition. People sing and dance on the regional or Bollywood songs. “Dhol” or drum adds to the party mood. Rabri and malpua is the best dessert combination served on the auspicious occasion of Holi. So let’s welcome the Festival of Colors with the Rabri.

Ingredients:-

10 Cups milk,

4 Tablespoons sugar,

4 Pieces green cardamom seeds,

4 Drops of kewra essence,

1 Pinch of green cardamom powder,

1 Pinch of pistachio powder.

Preparation Method:-

1. Take a deep pan and add milk. Bring it to boil.

2. Add the sugar and cardamom seeds. Leave it to simmer over a low heat for 2 hours until the milk is reduced to one quarter.

3. Remove from the heat and add the kewra essence. Kewra essence is concentrated oil made from pandanus flowers used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine.

4. Sprinkle with the cardamom and pistachio powders and serve hot or cold with malpua.

Enjoy the festival of colors with sumptuous dessert!!!