Chikoo Shake with Coffee punch !!

Chikoo/Sapodilla/sapota is very beneficial fruit.As it contains good amount of antioxidant vitamin like vitamin  C, vitamin  A .Vitamin A is essential for vision.It  is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin.Vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agent.
         Fresh ripen fruits are good source of minerals like potassium,copper,iron and vitamins like  folate and niacin ,pantothenic  acid which is essential for optimal health as they involve in various metabolic processes in the body as cofactors as the enzymes .
                        Apart from all the benefits chikoo is a good source of dietary fibre and there fore acts as a good remedy to curb constipation.The anti- inflammatory effects properties of  chikoo is helpful for  problems like gastritis and bowel disorders.
                       As i said earlier summer fruits are my favourite i  make sure at least i have one seasonal fruit  in my daily diet.Today i have prepared simple yet tasty milk shake for my kids who love to have this as soon as they come back after their exam.This chilled shake is excellent to Beat The Heat

Ingredients:-
Chikoo-4(cut into pieces)
Milk-3cups
Ice cubes-10
Instant coffee powder-1tsp
Sugar-1/2 cup

Method:-

• Blend all the ingredients together in a blender and serve chilled.
• You can sprinkle some coffee before serving

Hyderabadi Mutton Dum Biryani!

 

Hyderabad is famous for its Dum biryani.One of them is kacche ghost ka biryani which i have tried several times and it really come out well.It is very simple and easy to make.I got this recipe from one of the TV shows in which they clearly mentioned the step by step recipe.So i too started following that exact recipe and we all loved the  end result.
              Normally in other types of biryani precooked meat is used but in hydrabad they cook meat along with rice.That means the mutton cooks  in its own juice  which is also known as kacchey Ghost ka biryani. Mutton is cooked on slow fire in the steam which know as Dum( steam).The procedure of making this  biryani is very interesting.To make it  more simple  i have  clearly mentioned the steps with the pics.So lets start with the ingredients.

1st step

2nd step

                

3rd step

4th step

5th step

6th step

7th step

Ingredients:-

Basmati rice-1/2kg

Mutton-700gm

Onion-4(sliced)

Mint leaves-2 cups

Ginger-2 pieces

Garlic-1 big pod

Cloves-10

Cinnamon-4 big pieces

Cardamom-6-7

Coriander seeds-1tsp

Jeera(cumin)1tsp

Bay leaf-3

Green chillies-10

Chilly powder-1tsp

Curd-1cup

Oil or ghee-1cup

Kesar/saffron -a pinch mixed with a tbsp of milk

                  or 

saffron color-1/4 spoon mixed with a tbsp of milk

Method of marination:-

• First make masala for marination with 1 cup of mint,ginger,garlic,5 cloves,2 cinnamon,3 cardamon, jeera,coriander seeds,6 green chillies and curd.Grind all the ingredients to smooth paste. 
• Now marinate the mutton with this paste along with salt and chilly powder for about 1 hour.

1st step:-Fry onions  in 1/2 cup ghee till golden brown .Just before taking it out.add the chillies and fry along with onions for a few seconds or till raw smell goes.

2nd step:-Boil about 2 litre  water in a  wide  big hundi or sauce pan along with Bay leaf, remaining cloves,cinnamon, cardamom.and salt to taste .when water comes to boil add the washed rice and cook exactly for about 10 mins(if you are using kohinoor charminar basmati) on high flame or till 3/4 done.Now strain the water.

3rd step:-Transfer the cooked rice to a tray or wide plate.Let it cool for a while.


4th step:-Now start making layers for which you need 4 litre thick bottom vessel or the Pressure cooker( i have used pressure cooker) and  a thick lid which exactly fits to that handi/cooker.First put the layer of marinated mutton and then spread some fried onion on top and some chopped mint leaves.The same way finish the layers with the remaining rice.At last sprinkle some safron mixed in milk.


5th step:- Make soft dough using 1 cup of wheat flour.Now seal the handi with this dough as shown in the picture.


6th step:-Now seal the handi with a lid properly make sure it is tightly closed.


7th step:-Now cook it over the low flame for about 45 mins.After 45 mins swithch off the gas and  let it stand for about an hour so that let the rice absorb all the flavours .

                                                                                                                                                                   

Serve hot with salad or special biryani chutney or with mirch ka salan as traditionally served in Hyderabad.

Banana Parata with Dalitoy... a GSB konkani cuisine

Banana parata with dalitoy

Parata is my favourite breakfast and it is easy ,healthy and good choice for kids lunch box. Here is one tasty banana flavoured   konkani parata in this i have used over ripe bananas .My kids love this  Parata a lot,instead of plain parata i prefer this banana parata for my kids lunch box as it is healty and  remains soft .Dali thoy( manglorean dal) makes very good combo ,even in local hotels they serve dal with this parata.

          

Ingredients for  the parata:-

Multi grain Wheat flour-2cups

Banana-2(small)

Salt to taste

Sugar(optional)-1tsp

Ingredients for the Dalithoy(dal):-

Toor dal/spilt pigeon peas/yellow lentil -1cup

Green chilly-4

Red chilly-2

Mustard-1/2tsp

Asafoetida-1/2tsp

Salt to taste

Curry leaves-1spring

Oil-1tsp

Method of making parata:-

• Mash banana well with salt and sugar.
• Now add Multi grain wheat flour and little water for kneading soft dough.
• Knead  dough well until it is soft and keep covered for 30 mins.
• After 30 mins make10 lemon sized balls and roll into a small circle.
• Now sprinkle some flour and brush some ghee, fold this into triangle and roll it again .
• Heat  tava/griddle and dry fry or apply some ghee  and serve hot with dalitoy.

Method of making Dali thoy(Dal)-

• Pressure cook dal till tender or about 3 whistle.
• After a its completely cool down take it out from the cooker and transfer into a sauce pan.
• Now add slit green chillies and salt to taste.
• Bring to boil until green chillies are cooked well.
• Now heat a tsp of oil  for tempering in a pan.Now add mustard and let it crackle,then add red chilly pieces followed by curry leaves and Asafoetida and pour this over the dal and dali toy is ready to serve.

Note:-You can  serve this dal along with rice too.

Banana parata and Dali thoy