DEEP FRIED CUTTLE FISH RECIPE - Chinese New Year Receipes

INGREDIENTS:

375 g Fresh Cuttlefish (approx. 3 pieces)

1 Egg

1/2 cup Breadcrumbs

100 g Shredded Lettuce

SEASONING:

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp White Pepper

1 Tbsp Cornflour

HOW TO PREPARE DEEP FRIED CUTTLE FISH
Wash and clean the cuttlefish. Keep only the round portions.
Cut each cuttlefish ring into 1 cm in width.
MArinate the rings with the Seasoning for 15 minutes. Coat them with beaten egg and then breadcrumbs.
Deep fry the rings with hot corn oil / peanut oil. Remove them when they turn golden brown in colour.
Display them on a serving dish atop the shredded lettuce. Serve.

WATER CHESTNUT CAKE RECIPE - Chinese New Year Recipes

INGREDIENTS:

140 g Water Chestnut Starch

190 g Sugar

250 g Skinned Water Chestnuts (chopped into small pieces)

3/4 cup water

1 1/2 cups Coconut Milk

1 cup Fresh Milk

HOW TO PREPARE WATER CHESTNUT CAKE
Mix the water chestnut starch well with water, filter the mixture through a screen.
Boil the coconut milk, fresh milk and sugar over medium heat. Add in the shredded water chestnut and bring the mixture to a boil again.
Stir in the chestnut starch mixture.
Lightly coat a cake tin with oil before pouring the above mixture into it. Steam the chestnut paste over high heat for about 30 mins until it is cooked and firm.
Cook the cake, cut it into slices and serve.
As an alternative, you may want to shallow-fry the slices with a light cornflour coating.

DRUNKEN CHICKEN RECIPES - Chinese New Year Recipes

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg Young Chicken (frozen chicken may not yield great results)

2 slices Ginger

230 g Chinese Wine

1/2 tsp Xanthoxylum Seeds

1 stalk Chinese Parsley

2 stalks Spring Onion

2 Tbsp Salt

1.5 kg Water

HOW TO COOK DRUNKEN CHICKEN
Wash and clean the chicken. Discard the intestines and the feet.
Bring the water to a boil. Add in ginger, spring onion and xanthoxylum seeds.
Poach Chicken in the boiling water for about 15 minutes. Turn off the fire and let it soak for another 5 minutes until cooked.
Remove chicken from the stock and let it cool. Strain oil from the stock and add in the salt. Add Chinese wine when the stock is cold.
Chop the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces and soak in the wine stock. Leave in the fridge for about 6 hours and the dish will then be ready.
Sprinkle some parsley on it before serving.
Serve slightly colder than room temperature.

SHANKARPALA (SHAKARPARA)

Ingredients (शकरपारा )
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup ghee
1 1/2 cup maida (plain flour)
ghee to deep fry
Method
1.Warm the water, sugar and ghee together till sugar dissolves.
2.Add maida and knead into a soft pliable dough.
3.Divide dough into 4 parts.
4.Roll into chappatis 1/3" thick.
5.Cut with a cookie cutter or knife into small diamond shapes.
6.Lift with spatula and loosen. Keep aside on a dry cloth for 1 hour.
7.Deep fry in hot ghee over slow flame till light golden brown.
8.Drain well and keep aside till cool.
9.Store in clean, dry containers.
Making time: 45 minutes.
Makes: 2 1/2 cups.

SWEET KACHORI (GUJIA)

Ingredients:
For filling:
200 gms. khoya
50 gms milk powder
1/2 tsp.nutmeg-cardomom-cinnamon powder
For cover:
250 gms. plain flour
1 tbsp. cornflour
30 gms. ghee
For syrup:
250 gms. sugar
1 cup water
1 big pinch saffron
Ghee for deep frying
Method
1.Mix ingredients for filling. The mixture should be soft and crumbly.
2.Mix ingredients for cover. Using water knead to a pliable dough.
3.Cover with a wet cloth. Keep aside
4.Boil sugar and water adding a tbsp. of milk to clear the syrup.
5.Boil till the syrup is slightly sticky between the fingers.
6.Strain. Crush and add the saffron. Keep aside.
7.Make 15 to 16 flattish balls of the mixture.
8.Divide dough also into 15 to 16 parts.
9.Roll one part into a puri, place one mixture ball in the centre.
10.Pull up all the sides to seal the mixture and press in centre.
11.Make 5 to 6 such kachoris, heat ghee and fry on low flame till light brown, turning once.
12.Repeat for remaining kachoris.
13.When slightly cool, make a hole in the centre of each (approx. 2cm. diameter).
14.Pour about half tbsp. of syrup and roll kachori around to let the syrup spread.
15.Allow to stand for half hour before serving. Note: The unsweetened kachoris may be stored without refrigeration for one week and sweetened as required .

This can be categorised as one of desserts recipes.

See Sweet Kachori or Gujia Photo above
Serves:15 helpings .
Time required:2 hr.
Shelf life: 10 days .

MALAI LADOO

Ingredients
1/2 cup condensed milk
250 gms. paneer (cottage cheese)
2-3 drops kewra essence
1/4 tsp. yellow colour
Method
1.Mash paneer.
2.Add condensed milk and cook on slow flame, stirring continously.
3.Cook till thick and sides leave.
4.Add essence and remove from flame.
5.Mix well.
6.Pour on plate.
7.Cool. Make ladoos.
8.Sprinkle powdered elaichi and decorate.

SWEET PONGAL

Ingredients (for two people) :-
Moong dhal - 1/2 cup.
Rice - 1/2 cup.
Milk
Coconut
cashew
jaggery
raisins (khish-mish - dry grapes)
cardamom
ghee.

Method
Fry the moong dhal (before washing) till it becomes little light brown (it
will start smelling). Then soak rice and dhal separately for 10 minutes.
Thoroghly wash and keep it in cooker with the right water (lesser is o.k)and
cook it seperately (in two different containers). Meanwhile cut coconut in
very small pieces and fry in ghee. Fry cashew and raisins also separately.
Break the jagerry and put in water (very little) and make a syrup. This is
done because sometimes jagerry has mud and stones. After we make the syrup
strain it through tea strainer. Put the rice and dhal in a big vessel and
add milk (may be one cup) and cook it till all the milk gets absorbed. Add
jaggery syrup and again cook till even it gets absorbed. Add three big table
spoons of ghee, powdered cardamon and cook again for a while. Add fried
coconut, cashews and raisins.
Serve hot in two cups with a spoon of ghee.

Sweet Pingal can be made as Free New Year Recipe.

See Photo of Sweet Pongal Recipe

KHAJUR BURFI OR ROLLS

INGREDIENTS
1 tin condensed milk
1 kg khajur deseeded (dates)
250 gm mixed dryfruits (badam, cashew, pista)
1/2 cup dessicated dry coconut
Method
Break up khajur coarsely
Add milkmaid and dryfruit all in a heavy, non-stick pan.
Cook on slow flame, stirring continuously.
Do not allow to stick to bottom.
It takes a while to cook
Stir gently till a soft lump forms.
Spread some of the coconut on a butter paper sheet.
Grease hands and take a chunk of the mixture and roll into a thick roll, on the sheet, all the coconut to cover it.
Chill the rolls in the fridge
Cut into slices
Or set in a tray and cut into squares.

KAJU BURFI

INGREDIENTS
150 gm cashewnuts
400 gm sugar
elaichi powdered
silver foil (optional)
500 gm khoya
Method
Dry grind the cashew
Mix khoya (grated) and sugar
Heat in a heavy pan, stirring continuously.
Once the sugar dissolves, add the cashew (powdered) and elaichi
Cooking, constantly stir till soft lump is formed and does not stick to sides
Roll on a flat surface to desired thickness and apply silver foil.

IMARTI

Ingredients
2 cups urad dal
3 cups sugar
300 ml. water
saffron colour
1/2 tsp. cardomom ground
500 gms. ghee to fry
Method
1.Soak urad dal overnight in plenty of water.
2.Wash and drain. Grind to fine thick batter. Put water little by little.
3.Add colour and mix very well.
4.If using a mixie, beat the dal well by hand till fluffy after grinding.
5.Keep aside for 3 hours. More is weather is cold.
6.Make 1 tar sugar syrup as shown in introduction.
7.Add cardomom powder to syrup.
8.Using either an imarti bottle (with nozzle) or cloth as shown in note, form imartis in the hot ghee. Lower flame and
allow to crisp turning once.
9.Remove from ghee, drain and dip in hot syrup.
10.Soak for 3-4 minutes, drain and serve.
11.Repeat for remaining batter.
12.Make 4-5 imartis at a time, depending on size of frying pan.
Note:
Use a flat bottomed frying pan.
The imarti bottle can be substituted with a soft plastic sauce bottle with a nozzle.
If not available, take a 12"x 12" thick cloth, make a buttonhole type hole in centre.
Place over a tumbler and pour in some batter.
Hold like a pouch and press out imartis like icing.
Shape the imartis as follows, make a ring first, then form small ringlets all along the ring.
Till you come to the start.
Making time: 1 hour (excluding soaking and keeping time)
Makes: 20 imartis
Shelflife: (1) Keep unsoaked in syrup for a day. (2) Soak in syrup as required.

MOONG DAL HALWA

INGREDIENTS
500 gm Moong dal (green)
500 gm sugar
500 gm ghee
saffron soaked in a little milk
elaichi powder
water about 250 ml.
Method
Soak the dal for 5-6 hours.
Wash and remove the skins well.
Grind dal fine either in a stone grinder or electric grinder or mixie.
Use as little water as possible.
Put sugar and water in a pan and put to boil.
Once sugar dissolve add a few tblsp. of milk.
As the syrup boils the scum will rise.
Remove with a strain.
Further boil till the syrup become sticky between the fingers.
(One thread should fall when poured from a tilted spoon) keep aside.
Heat the ghee in a heavy kadai (vessel) and add dal.
Keep stirring rigorously to avoid burning.
Once the dal stops sticking to the vessel, stir gradually till golden brown, and ghee begins to separate.
Pour the hot syrup, add elaichi and dissolved saffron.
Stir very carefully, not allowing hand to be scalded. Cook slowly till all water is absorbed.
Decorate with chopped dry fruit.
Serve hot especially on a cold day

See Moong Dal Halwa Photo above

COCONUT BURFI

Ingredients
250 gms. finely grated coconut
250 gms. sugar
150 ml. water
ghee for greasing plate
Method
1.Prepare syrup with sugar and water to 2 1/2 thread consistency.
Use method as shown in introduction.
2.Warm coconut in heavy saucepan, pour in the syrup.
3.Stir well and cook till soft lump forms.
4.Spread in a greased plate. Cool.
5.Sprinkle cardamom powder (optional).
6.Cut into squares, store in airtight container.
Making time: 30 minutes
Makes: 20-25 pieces
Shelflife: 2 weeks

PATISA (SOAN PAPADI)

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup gramflour
1 1/4 cup plain flour (maida)
250 gms. ghee
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup water
2 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. cardamom seeds crushed coarsely
2 tsp. charmagaz (combination of 4 types of seeds) refer glossary
4" squares cut from a thin polythene sheet
Method
Sift both flours together.
Heat ghee in a heavy saucepan.
Add flour mixture and roast on low till light golden.
Keep aside to cool a little, stirring occasionally.
Prepare syrup simultaneously.
Make syrup out of sugar, water and milk as shown in introduction.
Bring syrup to 2 1/2 thread consistency.
Pour at once into the flour mixture.
Beat well with a large fork till the mixture forms threadlike flakes.
Pour onto a greased surface or thali and roll to 1" thickness lightly.
Sprinkle the charmagaz seeds and elaichi and gently press down with palm.
Cool, cut into 1" squares, wrap individually into square pieces of thin plastic sheet.
Store in airtight container.
Making time: 45 minutes
Makes: 20 pieces (approx.)
Shelflife: 2 weeks

BEETROOT HALWA

INGREDIENTS
1 kg beetroot (चुकुन्दर)
1 1/2 litre milk
400-500 gm sugar
elaichi powder (cardomon)
saffron few flakes
1 tbsp ghee
Method
Peel and grate beetroot
Put milk and dudhi in a heavy saucepan. Boil till thick, stirring occassionally. Once it starts thickening, stir
continuously. Add sugar and cook
further till thickens. Add ghee, elaichi, saffron and colour. Stir on low heat till the mixture collects in a soft ball or the
ghee oozes out. Serve hot, decorated with a chopped almond or pista.
See Beetroot Halwa Photo above

ATTE KA SHEERA (WHEAT FLOUR HALWA)

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp. wheat flour
2 1/2 tbsp. ghee
3/4 to 1 cup sugar or molasses (jaggery)(गुड )
elaichi powder
chopped pista and almonds
Method
Add flour and roast on slow fire, stirring continuously
Side by side add to sugar 2 1/2 cups water and keep to boil
When the atta becomes a golden brown, add the boiling sweet water
Stir gently and continuously till excess water evaporates and the ghee separates.
Decorate with chopped nuts.

See Atte ka Halwa Photo above

CARROT HALWA (GAAJAR KA HALWA)

Ingredients
1 kg juicy orange carrots
1 1/2 litre milk
400-500 gm sugar
elaichi powder (cardamom)
saffron few flakes
few drops orange colour (optional)
1 tbsp ghee
Method
Peel and grate carrots
Put milk and carrots in a heavy saucepan. Boil till thick, stirring occassionally. Once it starts thickening, stir continuously. Add sugar and cook further till thickens. Add ghee, elaichi, saffron and colour. Stir on low heat till the mixture collects in a soft ball or the
ghee oozes out. Serve hot, decorated with a chopped almond or pista.