After months of COVID-19 pandemic curbs, what better way to see the situation return to normalcy than dipping in the spirit of the festive season.
Despite a slew of restrictions in view of the puja season, the zeal to celebrate still remains in the air. This year, as we celebrate the occasion, we can get a sense of normalcy and cheer in these tough conditions without compromising any protocols. The best way to get a hang if it is through relishing delicious food items that you have not tried before.
If you want to sweeten your experience, here are some scrumptious easy dessert recipes that can be easily prepared at home, with a few ingredients which are available in every pantry.
Paneer Kheer Recipe
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Ingredients
- Paneer - 250 gms
- Milk - 1 liter
- Ghee- 1 tbl spoon
- Sugar - 1 cup or you can adjust it according to your taste
- Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
- Mixed nuts
Method:
- Add ghee to a pan and sprinkle a little sugar on it
- After it caramelizes, pour the milk and bring it to a boil
- Grate the paneer and keep it aside
- As the milk boils, add sugar and mix it
- Add grated paneer and gently stir so that it completely blends into the milk
- Then add cardamom powder before mixing it and turn the stove off
- Cool the kheer completely and refrigerate for about 2 hours
- Garnish with mixed nuts and serve chill
Gulab Jamun
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Ingredients:
For Gulab jamun
- Milk powder - 9 tbsp
- All-purpose flour - 3 ½ tbsp
- Semolina - ½ tbsp
- Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
- Curd - 2 tbsp
- Milk - 2 tbsp
- Ghee - 1 tsp
- Ghee for deep frying the gulab jamun
For Sugar syrup
- Sugar - 250 grams
- Water - 1 cup
- Cardamom - 2-3 pods
- Rosewater - 1 tbsp
Method
- First prepare the sugar syrup in a saucepan, add water, sugar, crushed cardamom pods, rose water, and dissolve the sugar in water till it thickens on medium flame
- Turn off the flame and set aside till in use
- In a large bowl, add milk powder, all-purpose flour, semolina, baking soda, curd, milk and mix everything well
- Make a soft dough, divide the dough into equal portion sizes and roll it like a small ball without any cracks. Keep them covered
- Heat ghee in a kadai, add a small ball of the dough to check the temperature of the ghee once it's medium hot
- Start frying the gulab jamun on medium flame make sure the ghee is not too hot or else
- the gulab jamun will brown without cooking
- Fry the balls till light golden. Keep stirring gently so that it cooks from all the sides
- Add them to the sugar syrup. Allow them to rest at least 15-20 minutes
Coconut Ladoo
Ingredients
- Freshly grated coconut - 2 cups
- Ghee - 1 tbsp
- Condensed milk - ½ cup
- Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
- Mixed nuts
- Desiccated coconut for rolling
Method:
- Heat the ghee in a non-stick pan or kadhai and add the coconut and sauté on medium flame for 6 to 7 minutes or till it turns light brown in colour
- Add condensed milk, mixed nuts, and cardamom powder, mix well and cook on medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring continuously
- When the mixture coagulates properly, switch off the gas and transfer the mixture onto a plate and keep aside to cool 30 minutes
- Once cooled, divide the mixture into 14 equal portions and roll each portion into a round laddoo
- Roll each laddoo in the desiccated coconut till they are evenly coated from all the sides
Instant Jalebi
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Ingredients
- Refined Flour - 1 Cup
- Yogurt - ¼ Cup
- Vinegar -1 tsp
- Baking Powder - ½ tsp
- Water if needed to thin it down
- Ghee or Oil, for deep frying
Method:
For Jalebi Batter
- In a mixing bowl combine refined flour, baking powder, vinegar, yogurt and mix well. Set aside for 5-7 minutes.
- Add ½ cup water and whisk till there are no lumps.
- Now whisk for 2 mins so the air incorporates.
For Sugar Syrup
- Add sugar and water to a pot, heat on medium flame
- When the sugar melts, add lemon juice and keep stirring till one string consistency is achieved
- Turn off the flame and set aside till in use
For Making Jalebis
- Fill the prepared batter in piping bag or ketchup bottle.
- Heat oil for deep frying in a wide mouth pan
- Form round whirls working closely from outside to the centre
- Fry the jalebis till they turn golden in colour. Remove jalebis and immediately steep in prepared sugar syrup
- Soak the jalebis for 3-4mins. Remove and arrange on a plate
- Repeat till all the batter is used up. Serve hot.
Oats Banana Muffin
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Ingredients:
- Oats powder – ½ cup
- Banana – 1 big or 2 small
- Milk – ½ cup
- Jaggery powder – ½ cup
- All-purpose flour – ½ cup
- Oil – ¼ cup
- Baking powder – 1 tsp
- Baking soda – ¼ tsp
- Cinnamon – ¼ tsp
- Choco chips – ¼ cup (optional)
Method:
- Mash ripe bananas
- Add milk, jaggery, oil
- In a separate bowl, sieve all the dry ingredients
- Mix them well with the wet ingredients until they become lump-free
- Add choco chips (optional)
- Bake at 160 degrees preheated oven for 15 minutes
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