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”

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright