Make the most of this festive season with unique desserts
Beetroot halwa and gulab ki kheer will add the necessary healthy twist to your menu.
By ET Online |
Agencies
Apple jalebi, beetroot halwa and rose kheer will be a hit this Diwali.
Festivities are incomplete without mouth-watering desserts. This festive season, keep the ordinary out and bring in the uniqueness with these delicious sweet dishes.
These recipes are easy to make, and will be a hit in your family.
Beetroot Halwa Method: - Rinse, peel and grate the beetroot - In a kadai on deep thick bottomed pan, combine milk and grated beetroot - On a low-medium flame, bring the whole mixture to boil and then simmer - Keep on stirring at intervals when the mixture comes to a boil and while it simmers as well
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- The grated beetroot will cook in the milk and the mil will start to reduce and evaporate - When the milk has 75 – 80% reduced, add the ghee and sugar to the halwa mixture - Stir well and continue to simmer and cook on a low flame - Do keep stirring the beetroot halwa in between
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- Towards the end, add the cashews, cardamom powder and raisins. Simmer till all the milk is evaporated. Switch off the burner - Serve hot, warm or chilled as you wish
(The recipe is curated by Executive Chef Abhijeet Thakre, Taj City Centre Gurugram)
Ingredients: Full Cream Milk: 1 ltr Rose Water: 5ml Attar: 1 drop Kewra Water: 5ml Sugar: 40 gms Rose Petal (desi): 40 gms Saffron: 0.01gm Pistachios: 10 gms Cardamom Powder: 5gms
Gulab Ki Kheer Method: - Reduce the full cream milk in a lagan with sugar make a thin rabri - Add gulab jal, ittr, kewra,cardamom powder and fine chopped rose petals - Serve cold and garnished with pistachios and saffron
(The recipe is by Ahsan Ali Qureshi, Co-Founder, Cross Border Kitchens)
APPLE JALEBI
Ingredients:
For jalebi: Apple: 2 All-purpose flour: 1 Cup Cornflour: 2 Tsp Active dry yeast: ½ Tsp Ghee: 1 Tbsp Sugar: 1 Tsp A pinch of salt Pistachios, chopped: 1 tsp Oil/ Ghee to fry golden brown
For sugar syrup: Sugar: 1 Cup Water: 1 Cup Lemon juice: ½ Tsp Few strands of saffron
Apple Jalebi Method:
For sugar syrup - In ½ cup lukewarm water, dissolve yeast with ¼ tsp sugar - Keep aside for 5 – 10 minutes. It will become frothy
For jalebi: - In a mixing bowl, add maida, cornflour, sugar, sugar and salt. Mix and add the yeast solution to it. - Add ghee and more water to make a thick batter. Little less than ½ cup approximately - Keep aside, covered, for an hour. After an hour, mix well to get a smooth batter - Boil water and add sugar, saffron to it. Boil for 8 minutes approximately - Once, one string consistency is reached, add ½ tsp lemon juice - Slice the apples into thin slices. Remove the seeds part - Heat oil in kadai, once hot, put the flame to medium - Dip the sliced apples in the batter to coat it evenly everywhere. Carefully drop in the oil - Pour the hot oil over while it gets cooked. Flip and cook other side too until crispy and golden - Soak in the warm sugar syrup. Let it soak until you add the next one - Drain over a strainer to remove excess syrup. Garnish with pistachios
(The recipe is curated by Executive Chef Abhijeet Thakre, Taj City Centre Gurugram)
This Diwali, Throw A Luxe Virtual Party Like The Hindujas
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Billionaire Ashok Hinduja (left) ushered in his 70th birthday in July with a lavish, private music concert held virtually. It showed that even in these socially distant times, the ‘big, fat, Indian celebration’ hasn’t disappeared but instead evolved into something more intimate and personalised.
Here are a few tips to make your next virtual celebration, be it a wedding, birthday or Diwali party, feel more luxurious and memorable.
Billionaire Ashok Hinduja (left) ushered in his 70th birthday in July with a lavish, private music concert held virtually. It showed that even in these socially distant times, the ‘big, fat, Indian c..
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The best way to make a video call celebration memorable is to focus on the small details — decor, colour palette, food — and make them reflect your personality. “It’s about making that one family table as grand as you’d like instead of ten tables with understated decor,” says Vandana Mohan, founder, The Wedding Design Company, explaining how virtual weddings have retained that special touch even in the pandemic.
Paying attention to the little things can also help guests feel more included. “Some couples get special Zoom backgrounds designed for guests who can’t make it. Or they send them specialised hampers (with candles, silk flowers, handmade chocolates etc.) so that they feel like a part of the festivities,” she adds.
The best way to make a video call celebration memorable is to focus on the small details — decor, colour palette, food — and make them reflect your personality. “It’s about making that one family tab..
Read More
“Gift hampers are becoming more innovative, personal and luxurious in these times to make every single absentee guest feel special,” says Bhavnesh Sawhney, co-founder, FB Celebrations.
Sawhney recently curated an intimate 50th birthday where guests, both those present and absent, were sent stainless steel hip f lasks (worth `975 each) personalised with their names and frames with a handwritten Rumi quote as a token of love. “The gifting aspect can really make one feel special even miles away, especially when it is curated. These gifts can go hand in hand with the distribution of invites, especially for the older family members, who do not have access to e-invites as young people do,” he adds.
“Gift hampers are becoming more innovative, personal and luxurious in these times to make every single absentee guest feel special,” says Bhavnesh Sawhney, co-founder, FB Celebrations.Sawhney recentl..
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Food is another way hosts are personalising their parties. Some couples send their guests curated hampers of dry snacks and premixes of cocktails so that they can enjoy the virtual party experience together. “Another option is having catered meal boxes delivered to the homes of guests from their favourite restaurants or an array of fabulous home chefs,” says Sawhney.
Food is another way hosts are personalising their parties. Some couples send their guests curated hampers of dry snacks and premixes of cocktails so that they can enjoy the virtual party experience t..
Read More
Technology is critical when planning a virtual celebration. Plan ahead and consider potential problems like audio issues, bad lighting, incorrect positioning of the camera, the possibility of people talking over each other, etc.
“The multi-camera set-up must be positioned for optimal viewing. Switching between cameras is important to provide some visual relief to guests. The lighting has to be magical. Guests should feel like they are not merely watching a video and that their online presence actually matters. Invest in an emcee who will welcome guests and keep them engaged with fun activities and entertainment planned for every minute of the call,” Sawhney suggests.
Technology is critical when planning a virtual celebration. Plan ahead and consider potential problems like audio issues, bad lighting, incorrect positioning of the camera, the possibility of people ..
Read More
Special music, food or a dress code can help the party feel more put-together and professional. For Ashok Hinduja’s 70th birthday, music was the signature touch. “Music makes a party!” recalls wife Harsha. “We had three renowned maestros — Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sonu Nigam and Anup Jalota — who set the mood for the celebration. They sang Ashok’s favourite songs and took requests from our family and guests.”
Special music, food or a dress code can help the party feel more put-together and professional. For Ashok Hinduja’s 70th birthday, music was the signature touch. “Music makes a party!” recalls wife H..
