Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year.... 2007!

The recipe that I have chosen today for the eve of New Year is Makhane Ki Kheer, which is my all time favourite. Lets start with a little introduction about Makhana, which can be used with vegetables, in sweets and also makes a nice snack when roasted.

Makhana (Euryale ferox) , a dry fruit, famed for its easy digestibility, high nutritional contents and wide use in religious fasting by people all over India is a major product in Madhubani, Darbhanga, Purnea, Supaul and Sitamarhi districts of Bihar. Also known as a water fruit, it is popped kernel of gorgon nut or fox nut, prepared from lotus seeds, is widely used for preparation of its kheer and pudding. It is considered pure enough to be offered even to the God. According to a popular adage in Mithila, betel leaves and makhana are not found in heaven. So one should relish them on earth so as not to regret later. Makhana is eaten in various forms, the commonest being salted puffs. Kheer (a dessert usually prepared with milk and rice) prepared with makhana is a mouth-watering delicacy. So lets get cooking something sweet on the first day of the New Year - 2007.

I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and may each day of the coming New year is as Sweet as my Kheer...Enjoy!


Serves 6-8
Serving Size 3Tbsp
Ingredients:

Milk (1 lt)
Condensed milk (1/2 Cup)
Makhana (100 gm)
Sugar (3/4 Cup, or to taste)
Almonds (2 Tbsp)
Cashews (2 Tbsp)
Pistachios (2 Tbsp)
Chironji (2 Tbsp)
Kishmish (2 Tbsp)
Cardomum Powder (1 Tsp)

Method:

  1. Heat a pan and roast makhanas till they are crispy and no need to use any oil for roasting them.
  2. Now put them in a food processor and grind them while pulsing the food processor. They should be coarsely ground. Keep aside.
  3. In a large pan, bring the milk to boil and add coarsely ground Makhanas in it with cardomum powder and condensed milk . Simmer for almost 2-3 hours on a low flame.
  4. Keep on stirring in between making sure that it doesn't burn from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Coarsely chop all the dry fruits accept Kishmish and Chironji. Keep aside.
  6. Now add sugar to the milk along with all the dry fruits, keeping 1 tbsp of coarsely chopped mixed dry fruits aside for garnishing later on. Simmer for another 20-30 minutes.
  7. Serve hot or cold garnished with varq (silver foil/leaf) and dry fruits.

20 comments:

Vini K said...

Hi Nidhi,love makhana...kheer looks so beautiful!Wish you a very very happy new year dear!

archana said...

Wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I have never tasted this dessert, will have to look for Makhana now. Thank you.

TNL said...

Wow...that looks so good! All the best to you and family for the new year!

Hugs,Trupti

Bong Mom said...

Hi Nidhi, Yeah even my Mom makes this though I have never tried it
The kheer looks really good
Happy New Year

Anonymous said...

It looks extremely tempting... feel like grabbing it!

Wishing u and your family a vety happy newyear.

Madhavi.

USHA said...

Hi Nidhi,

Wow!looking delicious and tempting.Wish you a happy new year....

Anh said...

Happy New Year Nidhi! :)

Unknown said...

Wish you a happy and properous new year...kheer looks delicious...

Seema Bhat said...

Nidhi:
Looks wonderful for New Year. Since its not available in heaven lets all grab and gulp then to our satisfaction right away.Thank you so much and wish you a very happy new year.
Seema

Lakshmik said...

Hi Nidhi

Thanks for visiting my blog. Wish you happy new year too! I like the recipes on your website. They are unique. I am going to add you to my blogroll soon. Also the recipe for the kheer looks good too. BTW, what is Makhana - what is the English term for it.

Anonymous said...

hey nidhi..thanks for visiting and your lovely wishes.
I wish you a very happy new year too.May all your dreams come true !
Happy blogging and looking forward to many many more wonderful recipes in your blog !!

sra said...

Hi Nidhi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Happy New Year to you and your family. This is a very informative post!

Viji said...

Hi Nidhi, Nice presentation. Happy new year. Viji

Sri said...

Hi Nidhi...wow that's one healthy dessert looks really delicious. Even you strawberry looks lovely.
Happy New Year to you and your family.

Lisa Johnson said...

Yum that looks good! And I just saw the beautiful strawberries below too. Wonderful! Have a happy New Year!

Dr. Soumya Bhat said...

Hey this is mouth watering indeed

Nidhi said...

Thanks so much to all of you for your wonderful wishes and wish you the same... :)

Sorry lakshmik, I don't know what is it called in English, but I have made it a hyperlink if you can find out something from that and have also given some intro about it in the begining of the post.

Thanks...

Nidhi

Nidhi said...

Hey Lakshmi, I will soon post a picture of it, so that you can easily recognise it in the Indian store.

Thanks, Nidhi.

Rajani said...

Hi Nidhi, discovered your blog today.love makhana kheer, and was googling for some other dishes on it. Do drop by my blog.

aaksaa said...

hi nidhi, always wanted to try makana kheer and was trying to find the right receipe and then i came accross your blog. Will prepare it tommorrow as it is the occation of Varamahalakshmi pooja .
Thank you for information on the makhana....