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.!

Thavalai Adai / Thavala Dosa

 

Thavalai Adai / Thavala Dosa is a protein-rich tasty traditional tiffin recipeperfect for breakfast, and dinner. It is one of the Tamil Brahmin’s signature recipes.  We use varieties of dal for this adai . This adai/ dosa would taste good only if eaten hot. The crust formed on the outside portion is very delicious and coconut adds a nice flavour and Crunchiness of the dosa along with pepper gives a unique taste to the dish. A best accompaniment for this yummy and crunchy thavala dosa is Spicy Tomato Chutney or Coconut chutney. 

 

Ingredients:

For Batter:

Rice- 2cups(Boiled Rice 1 cup +Raw rice 1 Cup)

Tur Dal- 1 cup

Uraddal-1/4cup

Chana Dal-1/2 cup

Moong Dal-1/4 cup

Coconut-1/4 cup

Ginger- small piece

Redchiili-4

Green chilli-3

Pepper-1 tsp

Jeera-1 tsp

Asafetida / Hing)- ¼ tsp

Curry leaves – few

Seasoning:

Sesame oil-1 tbsp

Urad dal-1/2 tbsp

Mustard seeds-1 tsp

Method:

Prepare Dosa Batter:

 

1.Take rice, toor dal, chana dal, moong dal and url dal in a mixing bowl. 2.Add water and wash the rice and dal thoroughly. Drain the rinsed water.

3.Add fresh water and soak the rice+dals for at least 3 hours.  

4.Then drain water from soaked rice+dals and add it to wet grinder or mixer grinder. 

5.Add red chili, green chili, asafoetida, cumin seeds, pepper and grind it to coarse thick batter.

6.Add  Fresh grated Coconut,curry leaves, salt to the batter and give a good mix.

7.In a thick-bottomed frying pan, add one or two teaspoons of oil and heat. 

8.When hot, add mustard and when it starts popping, add urad dhal and asafoetida powder and curry leaves chopped finely. Fry till the urad dhal turns light brown.

Preparation of Thavala adai:

 

1.Take a thick pan (kadaai) and heat it in low flame

2.Add 1 teaspoon seasame oil and Add 2 ladles (kuzhi karandi) of batter in the pan. then add a spoon of oil around the dosa.

3. Close the pan with lid and keep the flame low and cook the dosa till it is crispy and golden brown on the bottom.

4.Flip and cook the dosa on other side till it is crispy and golden brown.

 

5. Take out the cooked dosa. Repeat the same for rest of the dosa batter.

Serve hot with Coconut chutney.