Homemade Khova / Khoa ~ Indian Basics Step by Step Recipe!

The sky was gloomy, with impending rains on the sight. After few minutes it started pouring. It didn't look like it was 7 in the morning. I had plans to make khoa, was wondering if I would be able to or not, while I was stirring a hot cup of coffee! First I thought I would get the regular cooking on way. Once it was all done, and kids sent to playschool, I thought I would start with the preparation.

Before we can proceed, decide whether you really want to make Khova or Mawa at home! Because that requires patience and lot of LPG gas! That was the statement Athamma gave at the end of the process. We were not intimidated by the time, but at the amount of cooking gas that was used up. If you want to save energy this way, I suggest buy a slab of unsweetened Mawa from your dairy store, especially if you have a good reliable one like we have as Aavin. Infact I remember eating the best palkhovas and khoas from Aavin.

But when you decided to make things from scratch, you got to take the bull by its horn as they say right. I have read of sweets shops that have big boilers, boiling tons and tons of milk to get the khoa. Well I can imagine that. When all I was boiling was about 1 & 1/2 liters of milk. You would really need the most sturdy and thick bottom pan you have. Then of course arms that don't mind the stirring!

If you have a non stick pan is fine, else a thick bottom kadai as this one is fine for the job.

Get the milk boiling, ensure you keep an eye on the milk not spilling over!

Keep stirring.....

After about 45 mins or so, you better simmer the gas to low, but continue to stir. If you have somebody to take in your place, it is good if they can continue to stir! (I know it is hard not to miss the fun at FB, Twitter both of which has that irresistible question .Whats on your mind!or What are you doing? I typed eagerly "Stirring pot of milk!)


Finally the result of hard work or rather sweat, the milk is reduced to khova.

Of course, when I did Palkova in Microwave, it was much simpler as I added the sugar and ghee and stirred constantly. Whereas here it is just milk. And getting the right consistency is more important here as your end result depends on the making of Khova.

Since the secret is out of the bag, I might as well confess that I was embarking on the mission of making Gulab Jamun at home. So water content or the softness of the khova is very important. Do not over cook it after it got reduced.

Remove once you see the milk solids become dense. The khova should be soft and not very hard or crumbly


Homemade Khova or Mava (Unsweetened Mawa)

You need:

Milk - 1 & 1/2 litres
Thick bottom kadai or non - stick pan

Yields - 1 & 1/2 cup or more of Khova


This can be used for Gulab Jamun, Palkova, Carrot Halwa and many more sweets.

Enjoy the khova and have a great weekend!

South Indian Chivda or Mixture ~ Indian Savories Step by Step!

For people down south, mixture may not be something very different or unique as it gets done for every festival or function at home. A decade ago, one wouldn't think of buying such savories or sweets from Shops, but these days you get everything from the shop. Yet it can't beat the taste like the one homemade one!

Amma is known for her lip smacking mixtures or the South Indian Chivda. The many things that go into it can be variable, yet the constant ones of the mixture makes it such a delicious snack time treat. She always makes this for Deepavali. But this season we couldn't make it. Since I told her that I got to learn this, she said she will make it again.

So I learnt and made and also tried to capture it as essence. This was to be part of my book. But I thought having taken step by step pictures, it would be more beneficial sharing it here.

Lets get the oil hot while we mix the batter ok!

For minimum and better usage of the oil, the ingredients are got to be cooked in the manner specified.

Preparation Time : 15 mins
Cooking Time : 15 mins
Yields : 1 & 1/2 kg of savory mixture app.
Cuisine : South Indian

First lets get the Omapodi ready as explained in the previous post!

Then fry the kara bondi and keep it aside. Same time goes in one or two twigs of curry leaves along with crushed garlic for added kick! Top it on the kara boondi.

Next fry the whole raw peanuts/ groundnuts till golden in colour. Then goes the Fried Gram till done. Fried gram does not take much time. So keep eyes wide open to remove them as soon as you put them in the oil. Cashew nuts are fried followed by this. Wondering where they are?..well they were in the mixture finally..:)

Sprinkle 1/2 tsp chili powder and salt to taste over the fried nuts and mix.

Finally goes the Poha or Attukulu. This also takes hardly few seconds for getting fried and should not be left for long. This tends to blacken the oil, so this is the last item to be fried. Remove and drain on a kitchen towel. Sprinkle a pinch of turmeric powder and salt over the fried poha and mix.

Now comes the mixing part, after all this snack is called the mixture in the South right!

First take the kara boondi in a wide mouth bowl, sprinkle little salt and chili powder. Crush the curry leaves, garlic and mix to the boondi roughly.

Then add the fried nuts. All these can be tossed about when you have a good wide bowl.

Top it with the fried poha..

Then goes the crushed Omapodi or Sev

Now with both hands mix everything together from bottom to top and repeat until you see that everything is mixed well.

Finally check for salt and spice, you will surely need to add some more chili powder. So sprinkle it over the top and repeat the process of mixing together.

I know what you are thinking! No you won't feel the chili at all..

Finally fill up pretty glasses and click pictures of them for posterity!

Now let me recap the recipe in one place!

South Indian Chivda or Savory Mixture!

Omapodi as made here.

For making Kara Bhoondi

Besan - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Cooking Soda a pinch
Water for mixing

Other ingredients needed:

Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves - 2 -3 twigs
Whole Cashewnuts - as per wish
Fried gram- 1/4 cup
Beaten Rice / Poha / Attukulu - 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder - app 1 tsp
Chili powder - 2 -3 tsp (as per taste)
Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

Special Utensils:

Boondi ladle for making boondi
Slotted ladle
Kadai / Deep bottom pan for frying

Method to prepare:

For making the Kara Boondi

In a bowl , take the besan, salt, cooking soda and mix well. Add water slowly and mix to get a lump less batter. The consistency of the batter should of pouring one. When you pour a ladle ful of batter, it should fall down freely.

Heat a pan with oil. When it is hot, scoop a ladleful of batter and place the boondi plate or ladle over the hot oil and pour over it. The boondi ladle should not rest on the pan, but gently hover over it. And you can press down the batter, which will fall like drop shaped boondi into the hot oil. Simmer the flame and cook all sides to ensure you get a crispy boondi.

Repeat till you are done with the entire batch.

Other ingredients.

Wash and pat dry the curry leaves along with the stack. Drop them into hot oil. Ensure you move away as it will sprinkle out oil. Add few crushed garlic along. Fry for a min and remove.
Top over the kara boondi.

Next add the peanuts, fry till it is cooked on all sides. Then goes in the cashewnuts followed by the fried gram. Remove all fried nuts to a kitchen towel and sprinkle chili powder and salt over it.

Finally goes in the beaten rice or poha into the hot oil. This has to be fried last as it tends to leave out black colour to the oil and also tends to absorb more oil. This takes a minute to get cooked. Remove to a napkin/ kitchen towel.


Mixing the Mixture!

Take a wide mouthed bowl, add the kara boondi first, crush the curry leaves and garlic and mix along with the boondi.

Next add the fried nuts, followed by poha, finally with crushed omapodi.

When you are done with mixing with all the ingredients, check for salt and spice. Add more chili powder over it and mix again.

Notes:

1. The batter for the boondi should be very thin and should be cooked very crisp.
2. Pat dry the curry leaves before dropping them into hot oil.
3. Remember you are adding salt at various stages, so check before you add each time.
4. When it becomes cool, store the mixture in a air tight container.
5. I suppose the shelf life can be about 10 days but I can't vouch because it never stays for that long at home!
   

Enjoy this savory treat anytime of the day!

Omapodi or Sev ~ Indian Savory Snack!

I turned one leaf up on the table calender to notice it is already November! The picture on my beautiful table top calendar is a south Indian Thali. I remember flipping through the leaves and seeing this breathtaking picture thought November is too far away. And here I am, looking at it every other moment and enjoying how well that picture has been taken.

Weekends are no doubt very hectic these days. Kids really let their hair down when on a holiday. That reminds me that they are due for their hair cut, which has to be a well planned tour. Well that again reminds me that Chinnu has been wearing the same shirt and pant for the last two days. He likes that pant so much that he refused to part with it, even for a wash. He slept with it on for the last two nights. Last time, I luckily had Peddu's pant washed, so tricked Chinnu into wearing it. This time no such luck. He really has a strong mind of his own. But I never thought he would bring it to force on such things!

Coming to the cooking part, I have enough drafts to last me a while, though on regular basis I haven't been cooking anything new. The usual stuff with the usual combos! But this is something that I planned for Diwali, finally got around learning it from Amma only last week.

Omapodi or Sev

Besan/ Chickpea flour - 1 cup
Rice flour - 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Ajwain/ Vaamu powder- 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Water - as required
Oil for deep frying

Ajwain is known as Caraway or Carom seeds
Special Utensils

Muruku maker or press with Sev press (Very thin holes)
Slotted ladle

Method to prepare:

In a bowl, take besan, rice flour, ajwain powder/ ajwain water, salt, Red Chili powder and mix together* See notes

Slowly add water and mix well to get a drink dough that is soft enough to pass through the press. When you press down you should get it flowing easily but not very loose at the same time.

Meanwhile get the press ready. Fill the press with the dough and close as shown here.

Heat a pan with oil., when it becomes very hot, simmer the flame. Take the filled in press and directly press over hot oil in a circular movement for about 3 -4 circles.

Cook over medium flame and turn over to ensure both sides are cooked to golden colour.

Once done, remove to a kitchen towel.

This can be crushed into smaller bits, to be used as the sev in Bel puri, Or as one of the items in Savory mixtures or just as such.

Notes: The dough should not be very thin. At the same time not as thick as chappati dough. Somewhere in between!..:)

When you have to use Ajwain in snacks as these, you can use it in two ways.

1. Soak Ajwain in 1/2 water for 10 mins, grind in a mixer. Strain through a sieve and use the water while mixing the dough.

2. Heat a pan, dry roast the Ajwain, allow to cool and then grind to a powder.

You can follow either of the above methods when you want to use ajwain in the savories.

Baby Corn, Potatoes Stir Fry in Microwave!

It's been raining the past two days. Well can declare that a seemly winter is here finally!, though you can hardly call this very chill. As always, it rains in the night and by morning mostly it is just drizzling. The roads are really bad with full of water clogging all over. You really have to fight your way out at places. But when you past that and have the road a bit free and for yourself, you can really enjoy! The cool weather with slight drizzling, you can but only ride slow to enjoy the serene feeling.

I always think certain dishes I should plan and cook, but procrastination has become my second name. Our renovation has come to some manageable stuff, still long way to get better. So I hardly can cook much to experiment. Of course, I offer that as an excuse! When Suma decided on Fresh produce for this month's Microwave Cooking, I thought I would do one of those gravies with vegetables. But then that has to wait. Meanwhile, here is yet another simple way of making potatoes combined with baby corns for a quick sides for rice or chapatis!

Before I jump on to the recipe, wanted to share that I have invited PJ to share her knowledge as a dietitian to talk about Nutrition for Children, do check it out!

Baby Corn, Potatoes Stir Fry in Microwave!

Ingredients Needed:

Potatoes - 2 medium
Baby Corns - 4 nos
Turmeric powder a pinch
Salt to taste
Red Chili powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp

Seasoning
Oil - 1 -2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 4 -5

Method to prepare:

Wash and peel potatoes and chop into 1" pieces. Remove the husk from the baby corns, chop into same size as of potatoes.

In a microwave safe bowl, take the chopped vegetables, add enough water to cover it. micro for 5 mins. Stir in intervals of 2 minutes.

It will not be fully cooked, but drain the water.

If you are using the same bowl, wipe it clean, add the oil. Micro for 1 min for the oil to get hot. Add in the seasoning ingredients and micro for another min.

Then add in the drained vegetables, add salt and turmeric. Micro for 3 mins. Stir again, add in the chili and coriander powder.

Micro for 5 mins, stirring in intervals. Check if it is done, else micro for another 2 mins.

Finally sprinkle the garam masala.

This is mostly semi done, but I like that way.

Sending this to Suma who is hosting the Microwave Easy Cooking event, themed on Fresh produce!

Aloo Matar Masala yet again!

I still have couple of more to do on the Diwali snacks, but I thought I will give a break here! The weekend went off too soon to realize. Hubby dear was not in town on Sunday, so Athamma said she and FIL, who has come down for the weekend, would take the kids to the temple nearby. The temple has some ducks and fish for which the boys were crazy few months ago. They used to want to visit those ducks and fish everyday and hubby dear used to take the three for a ride round the campus.

I remember my first visit with the kids to see those ducks and fish. The boys were so excited showing me the three ducklings, with the mummy duck and daddy duck. Why is that they always want to see the M & D with 3 kids! Konda even asked why all my stories always has 3 kids now. Well!

Anyway they came back home with tales on how big the fish were and what the ducks did. Since I told Amma that I will make breakfast for them, I thought it would be good to make something different from the Tomato Kurma or Veg Stew. Also Dad doesn't like Tomato Kurma, I really don't know why! But this was good enough reason to try again the recipe that my office cook did. I changed a bit from my last time, so can believe that change brought in much more taste than before!
Essentially it is the same dish, with few modification!

The renovation at home robbed me of my make shift studio, until I find a better place, this is going to be it! I wasn't really happy with the set up, but I can't complain.

Aloo Peas Masala ~ Potato with Fresh Peas in Gravy

Preparation Time : 10 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins
Serves - 4

Ingredients Needed:

Potatoes - 250 gms
Fresh Peas - 100 gms
Onions - 2 medium
Tomatoes - 3 medium
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Clove - 2
Cinnamon - 1"
Cardamom - 2
Bay Leaf - 1
Chilly powder -1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - for garnish


Method to prepare

Pressure potatoes till tender, if you want you can add the fresh peas and cook for another whistle. If you like the taste other wise, use it as such, it normally gets cooked fast.

Chop Onions and tomatoes roughly. Heat a pan with a tsp of oil. Roast both seperately till well done. Cool, grind to fine paste.

Heat a kadia with oil. Add whole spices. You can also use the same cooker after removing the boiled peas and potatoes.

Fry the onion paste along with ginger garlic paste. Sauté well to ensure it doesn't burn.

Then add tomatoes puree. Add chilli powder, garam masala and salt. Check spice and add more if you need.

Cook in sim for 5 mins, till its cooked well. Then add the cooked potatoes and peas. Mix well and add coriander.

Let it cook for 10 mins or till gravy thickens.

Serve with Rotis or Pooris. If you want to try differently try with Appam or even Dosa, it tasted great!

If you love those really soft spongy like appams, then please do hop to make them!

Will be back with another Diwali delicacy! I am making you have enough for the next year!..:)

Sending the Appam with the Aloo Matar Masala to Meeta for her Monthly Mingle which is themed on Brunch! I know I know some might think Aloo Matar Masala for Brunch??..Well since I served this for Sunday Brunch, I think one doesn't mind dipping into one!

Mixed Dal Muruku ~ Deepavali Savories!

I know you must be wondering why I am still talking about Deepavali? Well naturally after making few new snacks, I can't resist not talking about them right. Especially when they are my favorite snacks. I am sure Murukus are favorites for most.

I was particular that I learn couple of snacks this time. So asked Amma to think of new dishes that she can teach me. This Mixed dal murukus are one of them. Amma made so much as she had to share with the neighbors. She had started on the first batch by the time I came in. So I ended up making only the rest of the batch.

Murukus came out so well, and I was really happy that kids liked it very much. This infact was Konda's snacks for 3 days!

Before I jump to the muruku recipe, sweeten yourself with this Banana Halwa!

Mixed Dal Murukus:

Please read the process I followed for making murukus from this Muruku post!

Raw Rice - 3 cups (600 gms)
Bengal gram - 75 gms
Urad Dal - 50 gms
Split yellow moong dal - 75 gms
Butter - 100 gms
Water as required to knead

For Seasoning

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds- 1 tsp
Asafetida/ Hing - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying


Method to prepare:

Wash and drain the rice. Shade dry the Rice for 1/2 hr. Dry roast all the dals to light brown. Allow it to cool.

Grind the rice to a fine powder followed by all the dals.

In a wide vessel, take all the flours along with salt. Mix well. Add cumin, Sesame seeds to the flour, mix well.

Whether you use Asafetida powder or the solid ones, you got to mix it in water, make sure it is dissolved before adding to the flour. If its not dissolved properly, when deep frying the muruku, there are chances for the hing to burst our due to air bubbles.

Mix in the hing to the flour and finally add the butter. Gather everything well and you will get more of a crumbling mixture. Now slowly add water and knead a dough which is little more softer than the puri dough.

Heat a kadai with oil enough to deep fry. Once the oil is hot enough, simmer to low flame.

Take the Muruku Aachu, wash and wipe it clean. Then divide the dough into equal balls. Fill the Muruku maker with the dough. You can either press it directly over the flames or press over a paper or slotted spoon and gently slide it down the hot oil. But since the quantity mentioned here is less, you can press it directly over the kadai.

Cook over medium flame, using a slotted spoon, turn it over to other side to ensure both sides turn golden colour. You will know by seeing the colour that its cooked. Remove to a kitchen paper and store it in a air tight container.

Happy munching!

7 Cup Burfi ~ Indian Sweet for Deepavali Step by Step!

It's a nostalgic feeling this time around. With memories gushing in and one's wanting to capture every moment in frozen capsules, to savour what the new feeling gives in and caressing the old ones that gushed in. Maybe it is only a perceived notion that new memories replace the old ones? But it is not for me. Deepavali will always bring back those many childhood festive days spent with my brother, those excited moments spent conspiring with him on when to get up and what to do on the day. Rarest were the moments that get my brother talk, and those were Deepavali crackers, plans on how to do used to be one of those.

It has always been a tradition that me and brother followed at parent's place. To start the day with a 100 wala the first thing in the morning. Another was the fact that we got to wait till Amma gives us after pooja. We wriggled out of this practice few years, but most time, she used to get up as early as we did, finish all the oil bath, and in all grand finale, do the morning pooja, before handing over the 100 wala to Sree for the first one to be lit up. Of course, this changed over years. Years later saw me struggling to get him interested in doing the honours. Childhood fancies hardly remain so ever right!

And after marriage, both of us stopped observing that age old tradition. In the last 10 years, I don't remember either of us trying to even make an effort. But I remember every single year before that with vivid details that will last a lifetime! And can never stop talking about them or wishing those days are here again.

It only made things more bitter sweet this year as it fell on Sree's birthday. With Konda showing the same excitement we felt ages ago, I imagined we were in a different time. With 5000 miles separating us, a phone and web cam was the connecting links between us. With Peddu singing Ba ba Black sheep to his Mama, who was dancing to his tunes, with eyes welling with tears I heard Daddy say it would truly be a celebrations for Sree as his day was made talking to his nephews.

Deepavali remains an eve to pause to think back on what was important to us. To make it memorable for our kids. Like us, they may think back on this day and cherish their golden childhood and continue the tradition. The day might have been lot less noisier than all the years before, but it didn't lack any of the spirit or the want to savor the moment!

I hope the day was as good as you hoped it to be!

Before I jump on the recipe, I wanted to mention that I was featured here.

Ok, here is the recipe for the 7 cup Burfi that Amma gave me. She said she has been having this recipe for so long, wanting to make it yet time was never right. There are many proportions to this 7 cup Burfi, the name comes from the fact that 7 cups are used to make this simple sweet. She was happy that I finally made it.

The recipe is very simple, and I don't think it will fail. Whoever had a bite of this, were pleased on how tasty it was and the fact that it wasn't so rich as Mysore Pak, yet tasted as good as it does. I don't think I can compare to it. But essentially you can!

Since I took all the pictures in different stage, lets do a step by step!

Measure all the ingredients and keep next to each other for a pretty pose! I hardly take so much efforts if otherwise. After all when posing one should try to look neat right!

If you are wondering what was missing, yea the ghee cup is missing from the shoot. You can think of it as invisible one, ok!

Besan, Milk, Cashew Nut powder, Grated Fresh Coconut, Sugar are in 1 measuring cup

Once the clicking is done, take all of them in a sturdy kadai or deep bottom pan.

First goes the cashewnut powder, grated coconut, then the Besan.

Then goes the milk!..ok I didn't' wait till it was brimful!

Pour in the Ghee/ Clarified butter and place the kadai on high flame. Check the time!

With a slotted ladle, keep stirring to mix in the flour well with all the ingredients. Remember the flame is high, so you got to keep stirring well.

After exactly 10 mins, you will find the mix coming together and lots of bubbles forming. At this stage, reduce the flame to low.

For the next 10 mins, you got to cook the mix in low flame, constantly stirring to ensure the bottom doesn't get burnt!

Have a greased plate ready next to you. Exactly after 10 mins, you can blindly switch and pour over the greased plate. Holding on the sides of the plate, so that you don't burn yourself, gently pat the plate on the floor. This way your mix gets spread evenly.

Allow it to rest for 10 min, and using a greased a knife make either diamond or square shapes as in the picture. If you are wondering why the surface doesn't look pretty, it is because I used a greased spoon on the top to spread it even. It resulted it giving a cracked look. To avoid this, you can gently pat it down so that it gets spread evenly on its own.

Once it is completely cooled down, gently cut again on the perforated spots.

The recipe details again.

7 cup Burfi Recipe

Chickpea flour / Besan - 1 cup
Sugar - 3 cups
Ghee - 1 cup
Cashew nut powder + Grated Fresh Coconut - 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup

Method to prepare:

Take all the ingredients in a thick bottom kadai and put on high flame.

Keep stirring to ensure the flour gets mixed well and sugar starts melting.

After 10 mins, reduce the flame to low and continue stirring. You will find bubbles coming out and the mixture starts leaving the sides.

Take a square or circle plate and grease it with ghee. After 10 mins, the batter consistency will be thick and you can see the bottom. Ensure it doesn't get burnt in the bottom.

Immediately pour the batter on the greased plate. Allow it to sit for 10 mins, then with a greased knife make marks either as diamond or square.

Allow it to completely cool, then cut on the perforated lines to break into pieces.

Note: All the ingredients are directly added together and cooked. There is no need to roast the flour or powder the sugar. There is no roasting involved in this recipe.

Do make this and enjoy. I am sure you will get addicted to the taste.