Moong Dal Ladoo

Moong Dal Ladoo is a delicious Indian sweet made with roasted yellow moong dal, ghee, and sugar, flavored with cardamom. These golden ladoos are soft, rich, and melt in your mouth.

 The roasted moong dal gives them a nutty flavor, and the ghee adds a smooth, buttery texture. Often topped with nuts, they are a perfect treat for festivals, special occasions, or just to enjoy as a healthy, homemade snack. Simple yet full of flavor, these ladoos are both tasty and nutritious!

Ingredients:

• Moong dal (yellow split gram) – 1 cup
• Ghee – 1/2 cup
• Caster sugar  – 1/2 cup (adjust to taste)
• Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) – 2 tablespoons, finely chopped 

Procedure:

1. Roast the Moong Dal:

   • Wash the moong dal thoroughly and dry it completely on a clean cloth.
   • Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and dry roast the moong dal on low-medium flame until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. Stir continuously to prevent burning.
   • Let it cool slightly, then grind it into a fine powder using a blender or grinder.

2. Prepare the Ladoos:

   • Heat ghee in a pan to melt it. 
   • Add the ground moong dal powder to the molten ghee and stir continuously.
   • Add the caster sugar, cardamom powder, and the chopped nuts. Mix thoroughly to combine.

3. Shape the Ladoos:

   • While the mixture is warm, take small portions and shape them into round ladoos using your palms.
   • If the mixture feels dry, add a little warm ghee to help bind it.

4. Cool and Store:

   • Place the ladoos on a plate and let them cool completely.
   • Store in an airtight container. These ladoos can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.

Quesadilla

Quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla that is stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, corns, beans and other fillings along with some spices, and then toasted. 

This recipe is the creation of my 12-year-old daughter, who has been experimenting with her culinary talents. She’s become my newest source of inspiration and creativity in the kitchen! I am so proud of her!!

Ingredients:

• Corn tortilla wraps (We used Coles Burrito Tortilla Wraps)
• Boiled corn
• Black beans
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped tomatoes
• Chopped capsicum
• Sliced Olives
• Sliced Jalapenos
• Onion powder
• Salt
• Oregano

Procedure:

1. Take a big mixing bowl and add in all the above ingredients except for the Tortilla wraps and cheese.
2. Take a Tortilla wrap and lay it on a clean surface.
3. Sprinkle some shredded cheese over half of the tortilla
4. Then spread the mixture on the same half side of tortilla
5. Again sprinkle some shredded cheese on top. Layering like this helps sealing the tortilla
6. Fold the upper half to create a half moon shape
7. Grill it on a toaster
8. Cut into two pieces and serve

Paneer Puffs

This recipe is one of my own creation and I am very proud of it. 

Anyone who tastes it, falls in love with it!

To be honest, the preparation method is not very simple. It does take time and patience to get this done with perfection. But at the end, you will realize its worth the effort.

Ingredients:

For Paneer stuffing masala:

200 gms Paneer - cut in cubes
1 cup Green, Yellow and Red Bell peppers - cut in cubes
Half Onion - cut in cubes
2 Tomatoes - chopped finely.
1 tbsp Kasuri Methi
Cumin seeds (Jeera) - half tsp
Fennel (saunf) Seeds - half tsp
Coriander seeds (hand crushed) - half tsp
Ginger-Garlic paste
Hing

Coriander powder - half tsp

Cumin powder - half tsp
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Salt
Oil

For Puffs:

Paneer stuffing (recipe given below)
Puff Pastry Sheets - 3


Procedure:

Preparing the Paneer stuffing masala

1. In a vok, add oil, and hing, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and coriander seeds.
2. Add the ginger garlic paste and cook it till the raw smell of the garlic disappears
3. Next add the bell peppers and onion and cook it on a high flame for 2-3 mins till it is half cooked. 
4. Add the chopped tomatoes. Let it cook properly on a medium flame. Add salt.
5. Add the red chili powder, Garam masala, Coriander powder and the Cumin powder and mix well.
6. Slowly add paneer cubes and let it cook on a low flame.
7. Add the Kasuri Methi and mix again.
8. Keep this aside, spread it on a plate and let it cool down

Preparing the Paneer puff

1. Thaw the puff pastry sheets by keeping it out at normal temperature for about 15 - 20 mins.
2. Meanwhile, we can prepare the paneer stuffing masala for the puffs. (Explained above)
3. Take a puff pastry sheet and using a pizza cutter or a knife divide it into 4 equal parts by cutting once vertically and once horizontally
4. Place the masala at the middle bottom portion.
5. Press the sides to stick it and using a fork, try pressing on it. It helps in binding the sides well as well as gives it a nice look.
6. As you are preparing the puffs, Preheat the oven for 10 mins at 180 degrees.
7. Bake the puffs for 30 mins till it is nice golden brown.

The Paneer Puffs are ready to serve.
Serve it with ketchup.

Barbeque Party - Panner Skewers with Veggies

 We have this amazing Metador Charcoal Bbq and its a welcome addition to our kitchen experiments in summer.

We love to Barbeque Paneer skewers along with Portobello Flat Mushrooms, Corn, Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, etc , etc

Corn on the cob tastes really amazing - juicy and sweet

Portobello Flat Mushrooms is delicious as well. Toss them along with some olive oil, Italian seasoning like Oregano, salt and pepper and just barbeque , it takes them at the next level, very delicious and juicy.

Onions, carrots, sweet potatoes and potatoes can be barbequed with no seasonings, they get a very smoky and unique flavor.

We also tried the Halloumi Cheese, but not really a big fan of that 

And Last , but not the least, Paneer Skewers, which is the highlights of your Barbeque Party

Prepare the marination by mixing Curd, Garam Masala, Chili Powder, Corainder Powder, Cumin Powder,  Salt and Besan in a bowl. Toss the cubed Paneer and cubed veggies like Onion, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Bell peppers, etc and put them on skewers. sprinkle some ghee or butter and barbeque them. Enjoy the skewers with mint chutney.

Spinach Pasta

This is a quick and easy recipe to prepare the green pasta sauce, based on spinach puree.

Its super healthy, full on flavor and just delicious!!

Do try it out!

 Ingredients

Pasta - 1 cup
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Spinach - 1 bunch

Pepper - fresh ground
Garlic - finely chopped - 4 petals
Parmesan Cheese - for garnish

Lemon - while serving

Oregano - garnish
Salt
Water

Procedure

1. Boil the pasta of your choice along with salt till the pasta is soft. Drain the water and keep aside
2. Wash the spinach thoroughly and blanch it and keep aside to cool.
3. Once its cooled, blend it in a mixer to a smooth paste.
4. In a pan, pour 2 table spoon olive oil, Add the chopped garlic and fry them till raw smell disappears.
5. Next add the spinach puree and let it cook for a couple of mins.
6. Add salt and pepper for seasoning.
7. Finally add the cooked pasta. Add salt if required
8. Stir well and turn off the gas
9. Sprinkle some lemon juice while serving
10. Also garnish with Parmesan cheese, oregano and pepper 

The delicious Spinach Pasta is ready.