Happy Raksha Bandhan with Indian Desserts

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is one of the most important Hindu festival. This year it is falling on August 10, 2014. It is a bond of protection. It is a ceremony that includes tying of sacred thread (now-a-days fancy ones), on the wrist. Sisters tie this thread on their brother’s hand signifying eternal bond of love and the promise to protect them throughout their life. According to Hindu mythology, Indrani, the wife of Lord Indra started this practice. Lord Indra had lost his kingdom when he had a fight against the demons. Lord Vishnu advised Indrani to recite sacred prayers and tie a sacred thread around her husband's wrist, and as she did so, Lord Indra defeated the demons and got back the throne. Rakhee signifies protecting the weak. Raksha Bandhan is accompanied by number of Indian desserts and sweets like ladoos, gulab-jamun, barfi, rasgulla etc. Here, I present before you tasty Indian Desserts.

Gulab Jamun - Gulab Jamun are dumplings made up of thickened or reduced milk that is soaked in rose flavored sugar syrup.

Ingredients:-

3 cups Sugar,

6 cups Water,

1 cup Double cream,

3 cups Powdered milk,

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour,

2 Tablespoons Rose water,

Sunflower oil for deep frying,

1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder,

1 Tablespoon Cardamom powder.

Preparation Method:-

1. Mix the water and sugar in a deep pan and boil till all the sugar is dissolved. Turn-off the flame and add the cardamom powder and rose water. Mix well and keep aside. Mix the milk powder, all purpose flour and baking powder, well. Add a little of the thickened cream at a time to them and knead to make a dough that is medium soft but not sticky. Don’t use all the cream.

2. Make small balls of dough with the palm. Heat the oil for deep frying in a wide pan on a medium flame. Fry the dumplings, stirring often to brown completely. Do not cook on very high heat as the dumplings will burn on the outside and remain raw inside.

3. When cooked, drain, remove the dumplings from the oil and transfer immediately into the sugar syrup. Repeat this till all the dumplings are cooked and added to the syrup.

4. Allow the dumplings to soak in the syrup for 2 hours before serving. Serve with ice-cream or condensed milk.

Rasmalai - Rasmalai is another popular Indian dessert that is prepared from Indian cottage cheese. Ras stands for juice and malai means cream. Rasmalai means the spongy cottage cheese balls soaked in goodness of rich saffron flavored creamy cool milk. First of all, the milk made thick on slow heat, stirring it again and again with strands of saffron and sugar. Then the already prepared spongy cottage cheese balls are thrown in the milk, allowing it to soak the milk but not completely. It is garnished with slivered pistachio and cashew nuts. It is served either cold or at room temperature. 

Happy Raksha Bandhan!

Brad Pitt and His Love for Indian Food

Brad Pitt loves Angelina Jolie from the bottom of his heart. But it is often said, there is no sincerer love other than the love for food. Let’s see what the heartthrob of millions, Brad Pitt actually loves to eat.  "He really misses their Indian takeaway nights from where they lived in Surrey, 2006. Angelina arranged a surprise for a load of it to be cooked and flash-freeze packed for her to fly home" says a source. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visited India in the year 2006. They also enjoyed an auto ride in Mumbai. During his visit to India, he was really fascinated by Indian food.

Let’s have a look at what among the Indian cuisine, he still misses. Indian cuisine or South Asian cuisine is unique coz Indian food is different in different part of India itself. From Rajma-chawal in the North to Masala Dosa in the South, India is diverse as far as food is concerned. Yes, Brad Pitt is in love with North Indian curries. He loves lamb bhuna, chicken korma and chicken tikka plus beer. Curry and beer, perfect combination. Isn’t it? So what is so special about the Indian curries?

Lamb Bhuna (Roasted Lamb Curry) - Lamb Bhuna takes time to be cooked but the result is really worth it. It is a relishing curry, flavoured with home-roasted and ground spices that blend very well with succulent cubes of lamb. It is serve with steamed rice. 

Chicken Korma (Creamy Chicken Curry) - Chicken korma consists of of boneless pieces of chicken. Chicken is cooked with almond sauce and Indian spices. The aroma of garlic, ginger and the homemade cream completely satisfy the taste buds. It is served with steamed rice, tandoori roti or naan. Tandoori roti (Indian bread) is made with up of wheat flour. It is traditionally cooked in clay oven. Naan is flat-bread.

Chicken Tikka (Skewers and Curry) - Chicken tikka is of two types, in form of skewers and in form of curry. I have written on Reshmi Kebabs, do check it out. It’s somewhat similar

• Chicken Tikka (Skewers) - Quick and easy recipe, that is made up of marinated chunk of boneless chicken. It is grilled/roasted or barbecued and is ultimate Indian spicy comfort food. It serves as a great appetizer, and is very common in Indian weddings and parties. It goes very well with hard drinks, especially beer and variant mocktails. Punjabi’s love it. It is served with naan and mint chutney.
• Chicken Tikka (Curry) - The creamy, red color chicken curry is so very appealing to the eyes. It is loaded with lemony garlicky zest plus thick cream from the healthy buffaloes of Punjab, he he! The grounded spices and creamy chicken is something our taste buds will always desire for. Ready-made curry-mix is also available in the shops, we just have to cook according to the package’s direction.

This is the reason why Brad Pitt fell in love with Indian food. I must compliment, really strong bond!!