Spicy Matri

This is one of my favorite Matris I have learnt & make it quite often.. It is vey east & tasty snack...

Ingredients:

Maida - 2 cups
Ghee - 4 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Carom Seeds (Ajwain/Omam) - 1/2 tsp
Amchur Powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli Powder -1 tsp
Channa Masala - 1 tsp (I used Everest brand!)
Dhania Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil for frying & tempering

Method:

1. Knead maida, ghee, some salt, carom seeds to a soft dough and allow it to rest for 15 to 20 mins
2. Make 8, 1/4 inch height chapati and cut into diamond shapes around 1 inch
3. Deep fry them till they turn golden brown
4. Now heat a small tempering kadai, add 4 to 5 tbsp heated oil, add salt, red chilli powder, Amchur powder, dhania powder, turmeric powder & turn off the heat
5. Quickly add it to the fried Matris and mix well.
6. Allow it to cool & store in air-tight container.

 

Mysore Pak

This one I totally dedicate this post to my Chachi (Chitti) who told me the exact recipe of how it is made.

Mysore Pak is one my favorites to make during festivals.

Ingredients:

Good Quality Besan/Chana Dal flour - 1 cup
Sugar - 2 1/4 cup + Garnish
Ghee - 2 1/4 cup
Water - 1 cup
Milk - 2 tsp

Method:

1. Grease a steel tray with Ghee
2. Heat a Kadai and dry roast Besan till its raw aroma goes
3. Sieve the roasted Besan for no lumps
4. Take a small kadai & keep on heating the Ghee on low flame
5. Take a Heavy Bottom Kadai (not a non-stick), add Sugar and water till it boils.
6. Add milk & allow it to boil & remove the dirt of sugar which forms on the corner.
7. Heat till you have 1/ 1.5 string consistency of sugar syrup.
8. Slowly add the Besan to sugar syrup with no lumps
9. Add heated ghee to the Besan Sugar mix, one ladle at a time, mix the ghee & then add another ladle till the ghee is finished and the mix starts leaving sides
10. Just before the entire mix starts frothing, add one last ladle of ghee & slightly mix
11. Immediately pour the mix on the greased tray. DO NOT TAP the tray. Just move it. Sprinkle sugar on it.
12. Cut into pieces when it is slightly cooled off. Store it in an air tight container when it is completely cooled.

Tips:

• The Measurement is very important.
• Quality of Ghee & Besan will surely affect the taste of Mysore Pak
• String 1.5 in Sugar syrup means there will be one string & another string will  not be a complete on when you press & open your index finger & thumb with Sugar syrup

 

Pista Kalakand

I made lot of variety sweets & savories this Diwali.. My daughter also loved all the snacks..
 
This one I made as instant Pista Kalakand which you can make in a jiffy..

 

Ingredients:
 
Khoya/Mawa - 200 gms
Paneer - 200 gms
Powdered Sugar - 200 gms
Cardamom Powder - 1 tsp
Pista - 2 tbsp. (powdered) & some for garnish
Ghee - 2 tbsp. + greasing
 
Method:
 

1. Heat Ghee in a Kadai, add crumbled Khoya and let it sauté till the raw smell goes off. But you need not change its color
2. Add crumbled Paneer to it and again sauté till they are well combined and do not change color.
3. Add Cardamom Powder & Pista Powder & stir for two mins.Turn of the heat & allow it to cool
4. Grease a plate & keep it ready.
5. You need to add powdered sugar when the Kadai is slightly above room temperature but the mixture of Khoya-Paneer is still warn & you can touch with hands
6. Mix the sugar well & pour the mix on the greased plate. Garnish the mix with pista & slightly press.
7. Refrigerate the plate for 2 to 3 hrs
8. Warm the base of the plate by immersing in warm water & cut it into pieces. Store in Box in fridge.

 Tips:

• Step 5 is very important as it will determine if your Kalakand has come out well or not.
• Allow the mix to cool in natural way to the right temperature
• You can add Saffron-Milk, Almonds, Cocoa Powder etc. to enhance taste & create different versions of Kalakand
• This will last for a week if refrigerated.