ORANGE PANEER WITH CHILLIES | PANEER IN MANDARIN SAUCE | COTTAGE CHEESE IN MANDARIN SAUCE | PANEER IN ORANGE SAUCE

I have tried Vegetarian version of Orange Chicken.It is very easy to make.Kids will love it too.

IT makes a delicious food on Vrat/Upaas/Fasting.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Paneer or Cottage Cheese  -  300 Grams,Cut into Dices.
   
2. Orange Sauce - 1 Cup. Recipe for home made Orange Sauce here.
3. Green chillies - 2 (Chopped)
4. Beaten yogurt - 3 Tbsp
5. All Purpose Flour - 1/3 Cup and as needed ( Sifted to avoid the lumps)
6. Salt for Taste
7. Baking Soda - 1/8 Tsp
8. Oil for frying

STEPS

TO MAKE PANEER NUGGETS

• Keep Oil for heating on medium flame.
• While it is heating up, marinate Paneer chunks with beaten yogurt.
  
• Add Salt and Baking Soda to Flour
• Then dip the marinated paneer in dry flour as you see in the photo.
  
• Check if the oil is hot ebough to fry by frying a small piece of Paneer.
• Deep fry the Paneer.When theya are fried, they become nice,crunchy nuggets.
  

TO MAKE ORANGE PANEER :

• Keep a shallow pan for heating on medium flame.
• Add Orange Sauce and Chopped Chillies to the pan.
• Once the sauce starts to heat up, add the nuggets and mix well.
• Keep on stirring until all the sauce is absorbed by Nuggets.
• See the photo below to have an idea, how it works.
  
• Orange Paneer is ready to be served.
• Makes a perfect appetizer.Also,goes well with noodles or Rice.
  

TIPS: 

• You can add dry chilli flakes instead of Green Chillies.
• You can choose not add Chillies if it is for kids

HOME MADE ORANGE SAUCE | HOME MADE MANDARIN SAUCE

I like Oranage Chicken a lot and always wondered about delicoius Orange Sauce.So I decided to give it a try and it was a succesful experiment.Very easy and less time consuming.
If you see the ingredients, it makes a wonderful recip for Vrat/Upaas/Fasting too.

Recipe for ORANGE PANEER

SERVINGS :  yields 1 Cup of  Sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Mandarins - 5 (Ripe and peeled)
2. Jaggery or Brown Sugar - 3/4 Cups (I used Punjabi Shakkar,which almost tastes like Jaggery/Gud/Gur.)
3. Water  - 1 Cup
   
   
   

STEPS:

• Transfer peeled Maderins to blender and make puree.
• Strain it to get the fresh Juice.It makes 1 CUP of fresh ORANGE Juice.
• In a pan, mix Orange Juice,Jaggery and water.Stir well until jagerry is dessolved.
• Keep it to boil on medium flame on smaller burner or Coil.Keep stirring ocaassionally.
• Boil until the mixture is reduced to around half the intial quantity.Also, you will see that the sauce has started to stick to the pan.
• That menas, it is time to put the flame off and let it cool down.
• Add salt at end and mix again.
• The Sauce is ready.Can be used with Paneer,Tofu,Chocken Nuggets etc.
  

TIPS:

• You can use white sugar if you like.That gives better tranperancy to the sauce.
• This sauce is neither too thick nor too runny.
• You can make ahead of time and refridgerate it.

MANGO SHEERA BURFI | SOOJI HALWA BURFI | आंब्याचा शिरा

Sheera is a sweet dish made from Rava/Sooji/Semolina.It is very famous all over INdia with just differnt names like Sheera,Sooji Hawa,Rava Kesari etc. On any good occassions, Sheera is offered to God and then distributed as prasad among Family and friend.When something good happens like Exam results,Job or any wish you had comes true, it calls for celebration.First thing that comes to mind is preparing Sheera/Halwa.It has a very important place in every Indian's heart.

Today,I have made it with Mango Pulp.Also,I tried to give it little different shape.So I made it in the form of Burfi or Fudge.So, the recipe is same but the presentation is different.I have  added no color while making.The color is because of Mango Pulp.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Sooji/Rava/Semolina -  1 Cup (You can roast while making or you can use roasted sooji that is available in the market)
2. Sugar - 3/4 Cups
3. Mango Pulp - 3/4 Cup (fresh or Store brought)
4. Green Cardmom - 1 (DO NOT CRUSH).We will use it whole
5. Ghee - 4 Tbsp (1 Tbsp for roasting the Rava
6. Cashews for Garnishing

STEPS:

• In a pan, add 1 Tbsp of Ghee,Rava and start roasting.Do it on the medium flame.It takes around 5 to 8 minues to roast.If you are using roasted Rava,you can skip this step.
• When it is roasted, transfer it to a plate (Keep the plate ready before hand).
• Now in the same pan, Add 3 Cups of water,Sugar,3 Tbsp of Ghee and Cardmom whole.Let it boil until sugar is dessolved completely.
• Now add Mango Pulp.Mix well.
• Start adding roasted rava a little at a time.Add a little,then give a stir.Repeat this until all the Rava is added.This way, there is no room to form the lumps.
• Now, be little cautious because when it starts boiling, the bubbles burst and little drops of sheera migh spill on you.So let it boil alon until you see the water.
• Once you see that it is thickening, keep on stirring continuously until it becomes thick and soft.
• Now spread in a plate as shown in the photo.Spread evenly and let it cool down to be warm.
  
• Now with greased knife,cut into burfi and decorate with Cashew or any dry fruits you like.
  
• It is ready to be served.
  

TIPS:

• Do not add dry fruits while cooking.Or else,you can see in the photo, how it can cause difficulty for cutting.
• You can add finey chopped dry fruits though

उपासाचि कैरी चि चटणी | RAW MANGO CHUTNEY FOR VRAT/FAST/UPAAS/UPWAS

If you are craving for some hot,spicey,savory,tangy or in short "Chatpata" food while obesrving the fasts, this recipe is the perfect answer then.It is Hot,Spicey,tangy,sweet and brings great delight to your soul.

I was so craving for some spicey food for my taste buds and came uop with this ultimate "Teekhi Chatpati Chutney".Very simple to make.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Raw Mango or Kairi - 1 (Peeled and chopped)
2. Green Chillies - 5 (Chopped)
3. Salt to Taste
4. Jaggery - 1/4 Cup
5. Red Chilly Powder - 1/2 Tsp(Optional)
6. Roasted Peannut powder - 1/2 Cup (Coarse texture preffered)

STEPS:

• Add Raw Mango,Green Chillies,Jaggery,Red Chilly Powder and Salt to blender.
• Blend it until it becomes puree.
• Take it out in a bowl.Add the Coarse Roasted Peanut Powder and mix well.I prefer to keep it coarse because itbrings nice crunchy texture while eating.
• Chutney is ready to serve.It can be served with Sabudana Khichadi,Vrat Cutlets,Vari chi Khichadi,Shabudana Vade,Shabudana Thalipeeth etc.

VARI CHI KHICHADI | वरीची खिचडी | SAMO KHICHADI

It is very simple to prepare.It is mainly consumed during fast or Upaas or Vrat.Keeps your stomach full for longer time. It is actually Vari cha Tandul (Meaning Vari Rice), in short called "VARI"

INGREDIENTS:

1. Samo Rice or Vari - 1 Cup)
2. Ghee or Clarified Butter - 1 Tbsp
3. Cumin Seeds - 1 Tbsp
4. Green Chillies or Dry REd Chillies - 2 (Chopped)
5. Roasted Peanut Powder - 1/4 Cup
6. Grated Cocnut - Dry or Fresh (Frozen) - 1/4.I have used fresh/frozen coconut
7. Salt to taste
8. Grated cocnut and Cilantro for garnishing - 1/4 Cup together.
9. Water - 4 Cups

STEPS:

• Heat the Pan on medium flame.Add Ghee.
• When Ghee is hot, add Cumin Seeds,Chillies and Sautee well.
• Now add Samo Rice and start roasting.Keep sauteeing until you smell the aroma of rice.Also, the color of rice changes to slight brown.That means, rice is roasted properly.
  
• To the roasted Rice, add 4 Cups of water,Roasted Peanut powder and Grated Coconut.Mix well.
  
• Close the lid and let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes on medium heat.
• Now check the consistency.You will see that khichadi is still watery and soggy.
• Now, keep on stirring khichadi until all the water is evaporated and you can grains are cooked but separate.Also, it will not stick to the pan.See the picture below.
  
• Vari chi Khichadi is ready to serve.Serve with spoon ful of Ghee, grated Coconut,Cilantro.Tastes best with Danyachi Aamti, Vrat ki Chutney, Raita etc.
  

TIPS:

• If you want to keep khichadi soft and soggy, you can skip roasting part.

Sheng Danyachi Amti/Aamti | Peanuts Curry for Fast/Vrat/Upaas | शेंग दाण्याची आमटी

It is very easy curry and tastes goods with Shabudana Khichadi,Vari chi Khichadi, Shabudana Vade, even with simply Boiled Potatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Roasted Peanut Powder - 1/2 Cup. Recipe to roast peanuts in Microwave
2. Grated Coconut - 1/4 Cup (Fresh/Frozen preffered)
3. Ghee or Clarifire Butter - 2 Tbsp
4. Cumin Seeds - 1 Tbsp
5. Green or Red Chillies - 2 to 3 (chopped).If you are using Red Chilli Powder the take 3/4 Tsp.
6. Sugar or Jaggery - 1 Tbsp
7. Salt to taste
8. Chopped Cilantro for garnishing.

STEPS:

• Heat the pan.Add Ghee.
• Now add Cumin Seeds and Chillies.Once they are fried well, add roasted Peanut Powder and Grated Coconut and sautee for about a minute,so that everything is mixed well.
  
• Add 2 Cups of water,salt and sugar and let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until peanutes are cooked well,with lid covered.
• Garnish with Cilantro.
• The Curry is ready to be served.
  

TIPS:

• You can also add boiled potatoes if you like.

MARBLE STRAWBERRY FROZEN GREEK YOGURT

Well, Title and Picture say it all.Let us go for the recipe.It looks lengthy but to describe in two sentence,it goes like this :- 1. Make two sets of Yogurt of different shades.2.Mix them together and freeze.
now, let us see step bu step recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1. Hung Greek Yogurt - 2 Cups.Click here for the recipe of Hung Yogurt. I have used Low fat Yogurt.But I Recommend using Whole fat to get thicker and Softer Texture.
2. Fresh Strawberry Puree - 1 Cup
3. Sugar - 1 Cup
   

          

STEPS:

Here we are going to make Marble Yogurt which  means we have to make two sets of yogurt mixture with different shades.Let us make two parts saying PART A and PART B.At the very end we are going to combine the two parts.

PART A : 

• Take 1-1/2 Cup of Yogurt in a Big Bowl (This is because we are going to pour Part B later in this bowl too).Importantly, Keep the bowl in Freezer for some time before we use it.
• To That, add 3/4 Cup of Sugar and 5 Tbsp of Strawberry Puree.
  
• Here comes the main part.Whisk it for 8 to 10 minutes.Make sure that Sugar is dissolved completely and yogurt has become soft.
  
• Keep it to Freeze.

PART B :

• In another bowl, Add remaining Yogurt. Add remaining Sugar and Some of the Puree.
  
• Whisk the mixture until it becomes soft, mean while adding Strawberry Puree.It will help you come up with a Pink shade you would like to have.The more the Puree is,Darker is the color.
  
• Keep it to Freeze.

AFTER BOTH MIXTURE ARE FROZEN COMPLETELY (APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LATER)

• Take out Part B mixture, Blend it completely,Put it back back to Bowl and keep in Freezer.
• Take out Part A Mixture ,Blend it completely. Do not Pour back to the bowl at this moment.
• Take out Part B mixture too.
• Start Adding Part A and Part B Mixture Little by little in the Bigger bowl and give it a mix with the help of Pop Stick as shown in Picture below.
  
• Once the mixture is set well,Keep to freeze.
  
• Let it freeze completely

NOW THE FROZEN YOGURT IS READY TO SERVE.

Impress your loved ones and your guests with this love filled Bowl

• I used low fat yogurt hence the Texture I got was little crunchy as result of low fat.Also, Sugar that has dissolved also adds some crunch to it.But the over all out come is amazing.
  

ORANGE SORBET WITH GINGER FLAVOR

A good and easy option for summers.Better way to avoid heavy dairy products and still enjoy the feeling of Ice cream.Completely vegetarian,no chemicals,no preservatives.It takes almost 24 hours to be ready for serving.Steps are more here but actual making is really easy with less involvement of time.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Orange Juice - 1 Cup (Concentrated)
2. Sugar - 1 Cup
3. Ginger Juice or Extract - 5 Tbsp
4. Salt to Taste

STEPS :

• ORANGE JUICE - Make Pureé out of Oranges.Strain the juice and keep aside.
• GINGER EXTRACT - Take around 1 inch Ginger.Chop it finely.Now smash it using Mortar and Pestle.Now add some water(2 Tbsp) and again smash it.Take the extract out, Repeat this for two to three times.Do not throw the remaining ginger.
• SORBET - The whole process takes approximately 24 hours.So one has to start the preparation the previous day to get Sorbet on the day its going to be served.
• DAY 1(In the Morning) - SORBET MIXTURE - In a pan, Add Orange Juice,Ginger Extract and the remaining ginger,Sugar,Salt and 11/2 Cup of Water.Now we have Sugar to Liquid ratio as 1:2.
• Keep this mixture to boil on medium feet.Keep on stirring so that it does not burn at the below.
• Once it starts boiling,put the flame off and let it cool down completely.
• In a bowl transfer the mixture and keep it in the freezer to freeze.Let it freeze completely.It takes around 8 to 10 hours.
  
• After it is frozen,take it out.Prick it with a fork so that it loosens up.You can easily transfer it to blender to blend.
  

• 
  
  
• Blend it neatly (I used "Ice Crush") button for this.Shuffle the mixture ass needed while blending.
• Now you can see that it is turning into nice,smooth and creamy mixture.Once blended well again transfer back to the same bowl.Make it even by patting the bowl and Keep it back for freezing for another 12 hours at least.
  
• IMPORTANT - The process of blending and putting back for freezing back has to be really quick.Do not let it melt after blending.Or else,that smooth,creamy texture we have achieved will be lost.
• DAY 2 - Now Sorbet is ready to be served for the next day.Now its ready and you can serve anytime you want.
  

Vrat ki Aloo Jeera Sabji |Upaasachi Jeera Batatyachi Bhaaji |उपासाची जीरं बटाट्याची भाजी |Cumin and Potato Sabji for Fast

There are so many occasions we observe fast.Making heavy food is not a good idea but we end up with them without any choice left.We end up consuming double the calories of what we consume on a regular day.Day is ended with guilt in mind instead of contentment and happiness.

That is why I tend to try making healthy,easy and quick recipes that make me happy.It makes me happier when I share with you all.Let us start :D

Time : 10 Minutes (Boiling time for Potatoes excluded)
Serving : 2 People

INGREDIENTS :

1. 8 to 10 Baby Potatoes or 2 big size Potatoes (I have used baby Potatoes).Make chunks as you like.
2. Ghee or Clarified Butter - 1 Tbsp
3. Green chilli - 2,chopped
4. Cumin Seeds or Jeera - 1 Tbsp
5. Lime Juice - 2 Tbsp
6. Sugar - 1 Tbsp (Optional)
7. Dates - 3 to 4 ,chopped
8. Salt or Sendha Salt for Taste
9. Dry or Fresh coconut,grated - 1/4 Tbsp
10. Coriander or Cilantro - 1/4 cup (Chopped)

• In a shallow pan,add Ghee and let it heat on medium flame
• Now add Jeera or Cumin seeds and let them fry properly.We do not want raw smell and texture but nice crunch.
• After Jeera is fried well add Chilli and Salt.
• Now, add boiled Popatoes,Sugar and Lime juice and start sauteing.Sauté until Potatoes start developing golden brown color and become crisp.
• Add grated coconut and Dates.Mix well and put the flame off
• Garnish with Cilantro while serving.

TIPS :

•  Validity of ingredients for fast changes from person to person.You can add or take out the ingredients accordingly.
• You can sprinkle grated coconut along with Cilantro as well.
• Make sure Jeera or Cumin seeds are not uncooked.That really spoils everything.

VRAT KA SALAD/ उपासाचे सॅलेड

Yes!!!!! healthy,easy and filling.Start any fast with this delightful salad.

 

Ingredients : 

1. Medium Sized Cucumber
2.  
3. Boiled Potato - 1
4. Pitted Dates - 5 to 6
5. Roasted Peanuts - 1/2 cup
6. Apple - 1
7. Dried Cranberries - 1/2 cup
8. Lime Juice - 1 Tb spoon
9. Salt to taste
10. Grated coconut (fresh or dry) - 1/2 cup
11. Cilantro,finally chopped - 1/2 cup

STEPS:

•  Dice all the ingredients (except Ingredient number 5 and 7to11) the size you like
• Mix well.To that add Peanuts,Lime Juice,Salt,Grated coconut and Cilantro and toss well.
• Salad is ready to be served

TIPS:
You can add or take out the ingredients as validity of ingredients differs from person to person in case of fasting or Vrat or Upwas.