Sunday, December 22, 2013

Almond + Besan Wheat Holige

Almond  ( Badami in Kannada ) + Besan (Kadale Hittu in Kannada language)  Wheat Holige is a sweet dish and you can enjoy these holiges  (pooran Poli) at any time of the day and all age group will surely like it.
Normally Holige is done with Maida. Here I have used wheat flour.

Eating Almonds yield many benifits like they reduce heart attack risk. They lower the bad cholesterol. They protect artery walls from damage. Almonds help build strong bones and teeth. They provide healthy  fats. They nourish the nervous system. They help provide good brain function. Using almonds have many more benifits.
Besan is naturally higher in protein, Contain good amount of vitamins and minerals and it is gluten free.
Wheat flour contains vitamins, protein and fiber.
Almond Besan Wheat Holige  stuffing is prepared using milk, sugar, almonds,besan and cardamom.
Outer layer dough is prepared with wheat flour instead of maida.
Almond + besan Holige can be had for lunch during festivals and also you can have them for evening snack. You can also pack them for your kid's lunch-box as snack for the school going kids.

Things Needed : 

For the stuffing  
Milk :1 cups
Sugar : 1 1/2 cups
Almonds : 1 Cup
Besan :  2 Table spoons
Coconut : 1/2 cup
Cardamom : 6 to 8 pods

For the outer layer
Things Needed :
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Water : required
Salt : a pinch
Oil : 1 Cup


Method : 
For stuffing : Sweet mixture: (Hoorana)
1. Powder cardamom and Almonds, dry grind coconut and keep it aside.
2. Boil Milk and add sugar to it.
3. Add Almond powder to the milk and mix it well.
4. Keep stirring. Add dry ground coconut and besan to the mixture.
5. Stir continuously till it stars to leave the pan. Add a spoon of ghee.
6. Now remove the mixture and put it in a bowl. Let it cool.
7. Mix the mixture nicely when it cools and keep it aside.




Chapati dough ( The outer layer ) :
1. Take a bowl and put wheat flour and salt. Put required water and prepare chapati dough.

Now Almond + Besan wheat Holige.
1. Knead the chapati dough and divide them into small portion. (little bigger than lemon size).
2. Keep a small portion of  dry wheat flour in a small bowl.
3. Take a small ball and roll out to small papad size.

4. Keep a tablespoon of sweet mixture and cover the chapati from all side and bring it ball shape.
  ( like aloo stuffing).




5 Now take that sweet mixture ball and roll a little on dry wheat flour and roll like a chapati.


6 Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle little oil on the pan.
7 Now put the sweet chapati on the pan and cook on both sides. Use little oil on both sides.

8 Repeat the same with remaining dough.
9. Serve Hot Amond + Besan Wheat Holige with a teaspoon of ghee on the top.


Note : Do the whole process of sweet mixture on low flame. If you feel the mixture is still liquidy use little more besan and mix it nicely. No need to add more ghee or oil to it. Once the mixture is cooled it thickens. You can reduce or add the amount of the sugar as your wish.
Serves :  3 to 4
Time : 40 min.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Dhokla

Dhokla is a yummy dish from North India, especially Gujarat. Now a days most of the Indian dishes are very popular and available in any corner of the world I can say. Especially children love to have this Dhokla, even the elders do not fall behind to have this dish. This is a steamed snack and it is prepared with Besan  (chenna dal) flour, curd and very little spice. Dokla is a healthy dish and we can have this  food  for breakfast, snack in the evening or for dinner too.


Besan flour is made of Channa dal and it contain proteins vitamins minerals and it is gluten free. Besan has high nutritive value, good for weight loss and helps to control diabetes.
Medium sized Rava (Samolina) is also added with besan to give a good texture to dokla.
Rava is high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and fibre with some iron, zinc, manganese and copper. It is very low insaturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and contains zero trans fatty acids. It is high in vitamin E and contains a fair amount of the B complex vitamins. (Especially folic acid). Samolina has a low glycemic index which is good news for people wishing to control or reduce their weight and blood sugar and diabetics.
This Dhokla recipe is very easy and can be prepared with little spices and definitely loved by all age group people. I have not added any cooking soda while preparing the dough. Eno salt should be added just before cooking. Remember to use sour curd to get good result.

Things Needed :
Besan flour : 2 cups
Rava (medium size) : 2 Table spoons.
Sour curd : 1 Cup
Salt : to taste
Water : Required
Oil 1 Table spoon.
Mustard seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Sugar : 1 Tea spoon
Curry leaves : 8 to 10
Eno Salt: 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 1


Method :
1. Take a big bowl and put besan, rava, salt and curd. Mix it nicely. Wash and cut green chilly and curry leaves and keep it aside.



2. Add water if required (idli dough consistency) and mix it nicely and keep it aside for 5 to 6 hours to ferment.

3. Now take the ferment dough, mix it thoroughly.
4. Keep ready the pressure cooker or Idli cooker on the fire. Put 2 to 3 cups of water at the bottom of the cooker and keep a bowl upside down. Keep a plate on the top of the bowl.
5. Apply oil to the dokla container and keep it aside. ( any bowl or plate can be used which is fitting inside the cooker. Pressure cooker container also will do).
6. Now keep the idli cooker or pressure cooker on the fire and heat.
7. Add Eno salt to the ready dough and mix it properly and pour this dough to the oil applied container and keep it in the idli cooker and cover the lid.
8. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes and put off the gas.


9. Now remove the ready dhokla from the container and place it on a plate.

10. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds and let it spurt.
11. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly to the spurt and put off the gas. Put a spoon of sugar to the spurt mixture and add 1 table spoon of water. Mx it well.
12. Put the spurt mustard mixture on the top of the Dhokla and spread it nicely . Cut them in to small pieces.

Serve this Dhokla with your choice of chutney .


Note : You must mix the dough nicely ( You can use an egg beater to smoothen the dough).
You can also use coriander leaves to decorate the Dhokla. Do not use lot of water either to prepare the dough or to the spurt mixture. Good texture dough will result in good, soft Dhokla. No need to add any extra bicorbonate Soda or cooking soda.

Cooking Time 20 minutes.
Preparation time :10 minutes.
Time to ferment : 5 to 6 hours.
Serves : 3 to 4


















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author
My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, travelling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.
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