Fig Choco Milkshake

Refreshing healthy milkshake for this Hot Hot summer. Figs have a rich source of calcium, fiber content,potassium, magnesium, Vitamin K etc.. They have rich source of flavonoids too.

Serves 4

• 6-7      - Dry figs (If, you have fresh ones you can use them too)
• 1/2 ltr  - Chilled skimmed milk
• 2 tbs    - Condensed milk
• 4-5      - Plain chocolate biscuits
• 3         - Honey ( If you prefer sugar add 3 tbs)
• 100 ml - Hot water
• Ice cubes

Method/Vidhiee:
1. Take some dried figs soak in warm water for 10 mins.
2. When they turn soft blend them in a blender and make smooth paste.
3. In a juicer jar add in the fig paste, chocolate biscuits, condensed milk,honey,chilled milk.
4. Milk can be raw skimmed one or you can boil it and chill it.
5. Blend them well in the blender.
6. Add few ice cubes and crush them along.
Serve chill with the froth floating on the top.
Definitely its a refreshing and a filling drink.

Happy Holi

For a change try these instead of Thandai     Cold/Hot Beverages

Koftha Badami

Kofthas - Are generally drenched in pulp of tomato puree and onion paste or in turn in yogurt.
Lots of Badam/Almonds where dumped inside my refrigerator  I decided why not try a gravy dish which would obviously be rich, creamy and tasty :)

• 150 gms - Badam/ Almonds
• 1           -  Medium size carrot
• 6 to 7    -  French beans
• 2           -  Medium sized potatoes
• 2           -  Medium sized onions
• 2           -  Green chilly
• 50 gms   -  Fresh green peas
• 2 tbs      -  Chilly flakes
• 1/4 tbs   -  Dry oregano
• 1 tbs      - Kashmiri chilly powder
• 1/4 tbs   - Turmeric powder
• 1/4 tbs   - Aamchoor or dry mango powder
• 2 tbs      - Gram flour/besan/kadala mav
• 1 tbs      - Rice flour/chawal ka atta/arici mav
• 1/2 tbs   -  Saunf
• 1 inch    - Cinnamon/dalchini/pattai
• 2           - Cloves
• 2 tbs      -  Dry kasoori methi / fenugreek leaves/vendhaya elai
• 1/2 inch -  Ginger
• 3 pods   -  Garlic
• 1 tbs      -  Garam masala powder
• 200 gms -  Oil to deep fry
• 4 tbs      -  Oil to make gravy
• 500 ml   -  Water
• Salt to taste

Method/Vidhiee:
1. Boil water and soak the almonds for half hour.
2. Drain water and remove the skin off from the almonds.
3. Grind them adding some water to fine smooth paste.
4. Meanwhile, finely chop carrot,de-skinned potatoes,beans,onions and slit green chilly.
5. Steam them and mash them when they are done.
6. Add in the red chilly powder,turmeric,salt-1/2 tbs, aamchoor powder,gram flour,rice flour.
7. Knead them into a tight dough. If, required sprinkle water.
8. Make small medium sized balls and rest them aside.
9. Heat oil in a deep fry pan for frying the vegetable balls.
10. Once oil is hot drop in slowly the balls and fry them till they turn golden brown.
11. Transfer them on to a absorbent paper.
12. In another pan add in oil. Once it turns hot add in cloves,cinnamon,sauf.
13. Do not burn them add in the onions and slit green chilly.
14. Fry onion till they turn golden brown.
15. Meanwhile grind the ginger and garlic into fine paste.
16. Once the onions turn golden brown add in the garlic ginger paste.
17. Saute them till the raw smell fades away.
18. Now add in the boiled green peas to it.
19. Lower the flame. Add some more water to almond paste.
20. Pour them on to the onion peas mixture.
21. Add in required salt,oregano(In order to give a Italian touch) and chilly flakes.
22. Drop the vegetable kofthas into the badam mixture.
23. Drench the kofthas into the almond gravy.
24. You can add more water if you want to make it a thin gravy.
23. As i made it as a thick dry one i avoided water a bit.
24. Add in kasoori methi at last and mix well.

Serve rich,tasty,less spicy hot Koftha Badami with phulkas, chappatis, butter nan.
The gravy version would be suitable for jeera rice.

Peas Mothia Pulav

Peas pulav with slight changes..

• 200 gms - Green Peas (Fresh) If, you are using dried peas soak them for atleast 3-4 hrs
• 500 gms - Basmati Rice
• 3 tbs      - Light Olive oil
• 1 ltr       - Water
• 2           - Cloves/Krambu/Loong
• 1           - Elaichi/Cardamom/Elakai
• 1 inch    - Pattai/Dal chini/Cinnamon
• 1           - Bay leaf/Tez patha/Brinji elai
• 1 tbs      - Jeera
• 1           - Green chilly
• 1/2 tbs   - Sugar
• Salt to taste
To make Mothias
• 100 gms - Gram dal powder/Kadala mav/Besan
• 20  gms  - Dry rice powder/Arici mav/Chawal ka atta
• 2 tbs      - Dry Kasoori Methi/Dry Vendhaya Kerai/Dried Fenugreek leaves
• 1 tbs      - Red chilly powder
• 1/2 tbs   - Turemric powder
• 1 tbs      - Olive or refined oil
• 200 gms - Oil to deep fry
• Salt to taste

Method/Vidhiee:
1. Wash and soak rice in water for 10-15 mins
2. In a pan add in oil. Once its hot add in the jeera,cloves,cardamom,cinnamon,bay leaf.
3. To it add green chilly and green peas.
4. Saute for a minute and add salt to it.
5. Mix well and saute again for 3 mins.
6. Drain the excess water from rice and add it to the peas mixture.
7. Saute for a min and transfer to the rice cooker.
8. Add 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups of water depending on the rice you choose.
9. Add in the butter at last if required for richness.

To make Mothias
1. In a bowl add the gram dal powder, rice flour,red chilly powder,turmeric powder,salt.
2. Mix them well and add kasoori methi.
3. Sprinkle water and mix the flour into thick dough.
4. Add in oil and mix well.
5. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
6. Make small balls and once the oil is hot deep fry them.
7. Once they turn golden brown transfer them onto a tissue paper.

Final step once the rice is done add in the mothias and mix gently.
Serve hot with any gravy dish.