Dates Halwa (Khajoor ka Halwa)

 Dates Halwa (Khajoor ka Halwa)

Dates Halwa is a rich, indulgent Indian dessert that gets all its sweetness from Dates. It is a rich, naturally sweet Indian dessert made by cooking pitted dates with ghee, nuts, and aromatic spices.  no sugar needed, this halwa is a festive favorite that's also surprisingly nutritious. Serve warm for the ultimate comfort dessert! 

Ingredients:

Pitted dates - 1cup (soaked in 1 cup hot water for 30 minutes)

Ghee -1/4 cup (divided)

 Cardamom powder-1/2 tsp

Cornflour -1/4 cup mixed in ½ cup water (slurry, optional for a firmer fudge-like texture)

Chopped or roasted nuts- (cashews, almonds, or walnuts)- 10-12

 

Method:

1. Soak the pitted dates in hot water for about 30 minutes until soft. Transfer them into a mixer and grind into a smooth paste.

2. Heat 2–3 tablespoons of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan (kadai) on low to medium heat. Add the date paste and sauté well for a few minutes.

3. Add Slurry -pour in the cornflour-water slurry while stirring continuously to prevent lumps.

4.Gradually add the remaining ghee bit by bit while stirring the mixture constantly until it glosses up and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan.

 

5.Stir in the cardamom powder and roasted cashews or walnuts.

 

6. Press the mixture into a ghee-greased tray, let it cool for 30 minutes to an hour, and slice into pieces.

Eggless Dates and Nuts Cake

 An eggless dates and nuts cake is a moist, naturally sweet tea-time treat made by blending soaked dates with milk and oil, then folding in whole wheat or all-purpose flour and chopped nuts/walnuts. It is a healthy tea time cake recipe as it is sweetened with dates and  nuts.

My Dates cakes Links below 

Eggless Banana Cake with Raisins, Dates & Nut 

Arabic Dates and Honey Cake

Eggless Date Cake..

 

Dates Cake is a moist and delicious cake that is very easy to bake and tastes very yummy. the sweetness of the dates and the nuts  giving a nutty flavour .My family liked very much.

 

Ingredients:

 All Purpose Flour- 1 cup

 Dates (seedless)- 10 to 15

 Milk - 1+ 1/3 cup

Sugar-1/4 cup

 Oil- 1/2 cup

Chopped Nuts- 1/3 cup (Badam & Cashew)

Cinnamon Powder- 1/2 tsp(Optional)

 Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp

 Instant Coffee- 1 tsp

 Baking Powder- 1 tsp

 Baking Soda- 1/4 tsp

 

 Method:

1. To a bowl add 15 medium sized dates add ¾ cup milk, instant coffee soak for minimum 30 minutes

2: Sieve together dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt together. Keep these dry ingredients bowl aside.

Dusting chopped nuts with flour (Take 1 tsp flour from it and dust it over 2 tbsp chopped nuts. This prevents nuts from sinking.).

3.Grind the soaked dates and milk together to make smooth paste. Add oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon powder to it and whisk well. Keep it aside.

4.Set the oven for preheating at 180°Celsius (356°F). Prepare the cake tin by lining it with parchment paper and then brushing some oil over it.

5.Add the dry ingredients to dates mixture gradually while adding remaining milk little by little. Mix the batter

6.Don’t over mix the batter. Fold the dusted wnuts gently in it. Pour it in the prepared cake tin and top up with remaining chopped walnuts.

7.Bake this dates cake at 180°C  for 20-25 minutes. Check the center of loaf after 30 minutes with the help of a skewer. If it comes out clean the cake is done else bake for 5 more minutes.

 8. Cool down the cake in tin for 10 minutes then demold. Cool down completely then slice and serve.

 

Cherry Halwa

 Cherry Halwa is a vibrant, ruby-colored Indian dessert that balances the natural tartness of fresh cherries with rich, buttery textures. It is Infused with warm cardamom, ghee, and toasted nuts. Served warm or chilled, it offers a luxurious texture, subtle sweetness, and a stunning colour that makes it as visually appealing as it is comforting with its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth. A dessert fit for any celebration or as a special treat!

Ingredients

 Cherries Pitted- 2 Cups

 Corn flour-2 tsp

 Water- 4 tsp

Ghee- 1 tbsp

 Nuts-Handful( I added Cashews)

 Sugar-1 Cup

Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

 

METHOD:

 1. First pit(Remove Seeds) the cherries, cut them into half and keep aside.

2. Mix the corn starch and water nicely in a small bowl and keep aside.

3.Add the ghee to a nonstick pan. Once it is hot, add the nuts and fry until slightly golden. Remove the nuts from the ghee and keep aside.

 

4.To the remaining ghee in the pan, add the pitted cherries. Saute and cook the cherries in medium flame  for about 3 mins until the point when the cherries start to soften.

5.Now add the sugar to the pan. Continue to cook by stirring occasionally. While stirring crush the cherries with the ladle. The cherries will leave out water, bubble up and cook in their own juices. Continue this process for until the cherries are almost soften.

 

6.Now, add the corn starch paste to the pan. Mix well. The cherries will now start looking glossy. Continue to cook, by stirring constantly, until the mixture just starts to thicken.

 

7.Add the remaining ghee Mix and keep cooking the halwa till it thickens, turns glossy, and doesn't stick to the pan. Add cardamom powder and  nuts mix well. Turn off the flame

Serve hot or cold in small bowls.

 

Cherry Fruit Rasam

 Cherry Fruit Rasam

 Cherries are a nutrient-dense fruit packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Rich in vitamin C and potassium, they help boost the immune system. Regular consumption offers several key health advantages. Yesterday in market I bought cherries along with fruits but it was bit sour. Inspired by Vidhya’s blog I thought of making cherry Rasam/ Soup Made by adding fresh cherry fruit puree and tomatoes to traditional rasam spices. It provides a unique citrus twist and is high in Vitamin. Already I made PineAppleRasam, Lemon Rasam, Jeera Rasam , (Amla Rasam-I didn’t post in blog)

Cherry Rasam is a unique, sweet, spicy, and tangy South Indian soup. It blends tomato with the natural sweetness of fresh cherries, rounded out with classic aromatic spices. It can be served as a hot appetizer or poured over steamed rice The natural sweetness from the fruits intensifies the flavor of the food.

 

Ingredients:

Fresh Cherry–-15chopped (5chopped pieces and 10 pieces for puree)

Tomato –Chopped  1 cup

Toor dal - 1 cup cooked

Turmeric-1/4tsp

Rasam powder – 2 tsp (roast 3 red chilies, 1 tsp peppercorns, 2 tbspn coriander seeds, 2 tsp cumin seeds and make a fine powder)

Green chilli-1

Salt – as per taste

Seasoning (Ghee 1 tsp, Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp, Jeera 1/2 tsp, Curry leaves few, Asafoetida 1/2 tsp)

Chopped coriander leaves for Garnishing

 

Method:

1.Wash the cherries and discard the stems. Pat them dry .

2.Cut five cherries into small pieces and grind the remaining ten cherries coarsely without adding any water.

3.Meanwhile pressure cook toor dal and puree the dal.

 

4.In a saucepan add the ground cherries, cut cherries, tomato , Ginger,Rasam powder, turmeric powder, salt, ground pepper, salt.

5.Add two cups of water and mix thoroughly.

 

6.Now bring this mix to a boil over medium heat. Now add the  dal,curry leaves, cilantro and remaining one cup of water. Mix well.

 

7.Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the rasam until it becomes frothy on top. Then turn off the heat.

8.In a separate tempering pan, melt the ghee. When the ghee is hot, add Mustard seeds  &the cumin seeds and fry for few seconds.

9.Transfer this seasoning to the Rassam, and add chopped coriander leaves and cover with a lid and remove from flame. 

10.Finally, add two to three pitted cherries to garnish and serve hot

Quick, tasty sweet , sour &spicy Cherry rasam is ready!

Fruit Mixture-SummerTreat!

 Fruit Mixture-SummerTreat!

Fruit Mixture is a popular street food in Tamilnadu and it can be found in every juice shop. It is the best summer drink and the taste of this mixed fruit juice differs as we move from one region to another within Tamilnadu .Mixed fruit juice is a refreshing beverage blending various fruits like pineapple, mango, watermelon, and passion fruit, providing a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants, and natural sugars. It is a hydrating, nutritious alternative to soft drinks, best enjoyed fresh or without added sugar. Popular homemade combinations include citrus, berries, and tropical fruits.

 

Try this homemade mixed fruit juice packed with vitamins & natural sweetness! Perfect for energy, digestion, and summer hydration

 

Ingredients

 Ripe papaya cubed-1 cup

 Banana-1 riped

 Mango finely chopped-4 tbsp

Apple finely chopped-  4 tbsp

Black grapes-    4 tbsp

Pineapple finely chopped -  4 tbsp

Dates- ½ cup(seedless) 

Honey- 1 tsp

Water-    ½ cup

Sugar- 1 tbsp

 Few ice cubes

 *Add little sugar if you are not adding nanari syrup

 

Method:

 1. In a bowl add the banana and dates.Mash this well using a fork. Do not puree

 2. In a mixie jar add the papaya cubes and add ½ cup of water.

 3.Make this into a fine puree. Add this to the bowl.

 4. Now add the apple, mango, pineapple and grapes.

5. You can add 1 tbsp of sugar if needed.

6. Now add in the ice cubes.  Mix well.

 7. Pour this into the serving glass and Serve chill.

Note:    This will be slightly thick and not like a regular juice. You need to pour this into the glass using a ladle.

    Enjoy Tamilnadui special fruit mixer.!