Diwali Special
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights which symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”. Lets celebrate this Diwali with some delicious cuisines.
Karanji/ Gujiya
Karanji/ Gujiya is basically a deep fried sweet dumplings prepared sugar and coconut stuffing. this is a maharshtrian and south indian special delicacy prepared especially during diwali festival. Lets have a look at the recipe.
Ingredients
For Stuffing:
- ¾ cup dry coconut / kopra / desiccated coconut
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds / khus khus
- 5 cashews, chopped
- 10 rasins, chopped
- 5 almonds, chopped
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder
For Dough:
- 1 cup maida / all-purpose flour / plain flour
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp ghee, hot
- ½ cup warm milk, or as required to knead dough
How to make Karanji
Karanji Stuffing Recipe:
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take dry coconut.
- further add powdered sugar and poppy seeds.
- later add chopped dry fruits.
- then add cardamom powder and mix well.
- finally, the stuffing is ready to prepare karanji. keep aside.
Karanji Dough Recipe:
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take maida and salt to taste.
- further pour very hot ghee over maida.
- now rub and crumble the dough well between your hands.
- furthermore, add milk and knead the dough.
- further, cover with a moist cloth and rest for 30 minutes.
Karanji Recipe:
- now pinch a small ball sized dough and roll it to a ball.
- further, roll to a slightly thick puris and cut to a round shape.
- also grease with warm milk to the edges of the puri.
- now place a tsp of the prepared coconut stuffing in the middle of the puri.
- now stick the edges together and press slightly.
- furthemore, press the edge gently and fold it inside.
- now take the tip that comes out press it again and fold it.
- furthermore, deep fry the karanjis till they turn golden brown.
- finally, drain over the kitchen towel and serve.
Butter Murukku
Butter murukku is basically, a deep fried snack recipe prepared especially during festival like diwali. Lets have a look at the recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice flour
- ½ cup besan / gram flour
- 2 tbsp roasted chana dal / roasted bengal gram / putani
- 1 tsp jeera / cumin seeds
- pinch of hing / asafoetida
- salt to taste
- 1-2 tbsp butter
- water to knead soft dough
- oil for deep frying
How to makeButter Murukku
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take rice flour.
- further to that add besan and powdered roasted chana dal.
- also add cumin seeds, hing and salt.
- lastly add butter and crumble well with flour.
- now slowly add water as required and start to knead. knead to smooth and soft dough.
- furthermore, take star mold and fix to the chakli maker.
- also grease the chakli maker with some oil.
- now make a cylindrical shape out of dough and place the dough inside maker.
- also tighten the lid and start preparing chaklis.
- directly press the chaklis into oil breaking into 3-4 inch pieces. fry chaklis on medium flame.
- flip the chaklis and fry till they turn golden brown and crispy from both sides.
- drain them to the paper towel.
- finally, serve chakli with masala tea or masala milk.
Kaju Pista Roll
Kaju pista roll is basically an indian dessert recipe prepared from powdered cashew powder and pistachios powder. Lets have a look at the recipe.
Ingredients
For Pistachios Dough:
- ¾ cup pistachios / pista, powdered
- ¼ cup sugar, powdered
- 3 drops of green food colour, optional
- 1 tbsp milk powder
- 3 tbsp water, or as required to prepare dough
For Kaju Dough:
- 1 cup cashew, powdered
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1/8 th tsp cardamom powder / elaichi powder
- 1 tsp ghee/ clarified butter
- silver vark / saffron – optional
How to make Kaju Pista Roll
Pistachios Dough Recipe:
- firstly, in a large mixing bowl take pistachios powder and powdered sugar.
- also add green food colour and mix well.
- now add water little by little and knead.
- further, add milk powder and knead to a non sticky dough.
Sugar Syrup Recipe:
- firstly, take sugar and water.
- furthermore, stir the sugar syrup till it forms 1 string consistency.
Kaju Dough Recipe:
- firstly, add cashew powder to sugar syrup and give a good mix.
- further, add cardamom powder add a tsp of ghee.
- continue till the dough is formed leaving the pan.
- transfer the cashew dough on to the butter paper.
- furthermore, grease your hand with little ghee and knead 30 seconds.
- finally, roll the dough lightly thick.
Kaju Pista Roll Recipe:
- firstly, cut the rolled cashew dough to half.
- further, take prepared pistachios dough and roll into a long cylinder.
- then slowly start to wrap the cashew sheet and roll enclosing the pistachio roll.
- then slowly roll to make the kaju pista roll smooth and uniform cylinder.
- finally cut the roll 2 inches long and serve.
Kaja
Kaja is a traditional layered sweet recipe prepared from maida or plain flour. Lets have a look at the recipe.
Ingredients
For Dough:
- 1 cup maida / plain flour
- 2 tbsp ghee/ clarified butter
- ¼ cup water
- oil for deep frying
For Sugar Syrup:
- 1½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder / elachi powder
- 1 tsp lemon juice
How to make Kaja
- firstly, in a large bowl take 1 cup maida and add 2 tbsp ghee.
- crumble and mix well making the flour is moist.
- now add ¼ cup water and knead smooth and soft dough.
- grease the dough with oil. cover and rest for 15 minutes.
- dust the dough with maida and roll with the rolling pin.
- roll as thin as possible making sure to dust maida as required.
- now cut the sides forming a large square/rectangle.
- start to roll tightly from one side.
- dust maida on each roll to prevent layers from sticking to each other.
- roll the cylinder tight to remove any air gaps if present.
- cut it into 1 inch pieces and slightly flatten.
- fry on low-medium flame till they turn crispy and golden in colour.
- immediately drop the fried kajas into the warm sugar syrup.
- soak them in the syrup for 5 minutes.
- finally, serve madatha kaja or store in an airtight container for 10-15 days.
“Celebrate the triumph of good over evil with a feast fit for royals. Wish you all a happy and prosperous Diwali”
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