Jamun Icecream / Indian Java Plum Ice cream

Jamun or Indian Java Plum or Indian BlackBerry which we get in summers is a powerhouse of nutrition.It's health benefits are known to all.They have medicinal benefits also. .

It's polyphenolic compounds are effective against many diseases like diabetes,  arthritis, asthma,stomach ulcers and even cancer.

It also increases Haemoglobin,  cures liver diseases and high blood pressure.

I am in love with this fruit and so is my husband but when it comes to my kids, they detest it to the core.But if they loathe it , I can't deprive them of its benefits so I keep on trying different methods to feed them this nutritious fruit.

This time I thought of making Icecream out of it which no kid dislikes.

Ingredients : 

450 gms. Black Plums, pitted

1/4 cup Water

1 tsp Lemon Juice 

3 Egg Yolks

                   1/2 cup Sugar
                   1 cup Milk
                   1 cup Cream

Directions : 

1 : Blend pitted jamun,lemon juice and water to a smooth paste.

2 : Whisk sugar with yolks till it turns pale yellow and thick.

3 : Heat milk in a saucepan but don't let it boil.

4 : Very slowly add this to egg mixture, folding it all the time.

5 : Pour it into pan again and simmer it .Don't let it boil.
6 : Remove when it's of custard's consistency. 
7 : Let it cool and add plum mixture and cream.
8 : Stir it nicely
9 : Pour it into loaf tin and cover with cling film.
10.Freeze it overnight. 

Trust me , it's worth a try. 

Chocolate and Oats Cheesecake

Ingredients: 

6 tbsp . Oats ( roasted and powdered ) 

3 Digestive Biscuits  

1 1 / 2 tsp Butter  ( at room temperature ) 

150 gms Cream Cheese ( at room temperature ) 

3 tsp Sugar

100 gms Chocolate 

Directions : 

1 : Crush digestive biscuits to a fine powder and add Oats and Butter.

2 : Mix it properly and put it in a mould.

3 :Press it lightly and refrigerate it for 15 minutes. 

4 : Whisk Cream Cheese and Sugar till Sugar dissolves.

5 : Melt chocolate on a double boiler and let it cool down a little.

6 : Add it to cream cheese  and give it a  nice whisk.

7 : Pour it into the mould over oats mix.

8 : Refrigerate for 4-5 hours. 

9 : Unmould with a wet knife and serve.

Saffron, Rice and Oats Phirni

   Ingredients : 

1.5 ltrs Milk 

75 gms. Rice 

4 tbsp Oats

100 gms Sugar

1 tsp Cardamom Powder 

Few strands of Saffron 

1 / 4  cup Warm milk

Few Slivered Pistachio 

Few Slivered Almonds  

This picture was inspired by pictures of one of my favorite food blogger Ms. Farrukh @cubesandjuliennes 

 Directions : 

1 : Soak saffron in 1/4 cup Warm milk.

2 : Wash and soak rice in water for an hour.

3 : Drain and let it dry for an hour. 

4 : Grind it to s coarse paste.

5 : Heat milk in a thick bottomed vessel. 

6 : When it boils,reduce the flame and cook till it is 1 / 2 of its quantity. 

7 : Now add powdered rice along with roasted and ground Oats. 

8 : Keep on stirring it. 

9 : Add sugar, saffron milk and cook on low flame till you get thick creamy consistency. 

Add cardamom powder and cook for 2-3 minutes.

           

10 : Let it cool down and pour into earthen pots.

11 : Refrigerate for 4-5 hours. 

12 : Garnish with almond and pistachio slivers and a few saffron strands. 

13 : Serve chilled.

Vegetable and Oats Biryani

                           Ingredients :

1 kg Basmati Biryani Rice

500 gms Mixed Vegetables
(Potatoes, Peas, Cauliflower, Carrots , Beans)

1 cup Onions 'slices; deep fried

1 Bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp Jeera/cumin seeds

4 Onions' slices

1/2 cup Mint,  chopped

1 / 2 cup Coriander leaves,  chopped

Few strands of Saffron

1/2 cup Warm milk

Few drops of Rose water

2-3 Cloves

2-3 Cinnamon sticks

2 Star Anise

2 tbsp Ghee

For marination :

1/2 kg. Yogurt,  whisked

5 tbsp. Oats

1 tsp Salt

3/4 tsp Red chilli powder

1 tsp Degi Mirch /Kashmiri Red  chili powder

1 tsp. Haldi powder /Turmeric powder

1 tsp. Garam Masala

1/2 tsp Grated nutmeg

1 / 2 tsp mace powder

2 tsp Ginger Garlic paste

1 Green Chilli, finely chopped

1 tsp Cinnamon powder

Directions :

1 : Wash and soak rice for 30 minutes.

2: Clean and chop vegetables in any shape you wish to.

3 : Make a marinade of all the ingredients under marination.

4 : Marinate vegetables for half an  hour.

5: Soak saffron in warm milk and keep it aside.

6: Heat oil in a thick bottomed vessel.

7 : Add 1 Bay leaf ,

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp Jeera/cumin seeds

8: When it crackles, add onion slices and cook them till they are golden brown in color. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté.

9:Now add vegetables and saute till half cooked.

10. Boil rice in salted water along with cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and cardamom.

11. Remove from flame and strain when they are 3/4 done.

12: In a thick bottomed vessel,  spread a layer of vegetables with its gravy, then a layer of rice. Pour a tbsp of ghee. Sprinkle rose water, saffron milk, 1 / 2 of fried onions, Mint and coriander.

13: Again repeat with rest of the rice and vegetables and onions. Again pour a tbsp of ghee.

14: Cover it tightly with the lid and seal it with wheat dough.

15: Place it on hot tawa/griddle and cook on slow flame/dum for 20 minutes.

16: Let it be there for 10 minutes and then remove the lid.

17: Serve with gravy , mint sauce and onion rings.

Oats Pav Bhaji

                        Ingredients:
For 6-8
4 ktbsp. Oil
8 Onions (finely chopped )
8 Tomatoes ( finely chopped )

1 tsp Garlic paste
4 Cups Water
1 kg. Potatoes  (boiled)
5 tbsp Oats
1 1 / 2 cups Cauliflower(chopped )
4 Carrots (diced )

1 / 2 cup  Peas
1 Capsicum ( chopped finely )
3 tbsp Pav Bhaji Masala
Salt, to taste
1  tsp. Red Chilli Powder

For garnishing:
Chopped Coriander leaves
Chopped Onions
Lemon Wedges
Cube of butter

                       Directions :
1 : Heat oil in a thick bottomed vessel.
2 : Pressure cook vegetables and lightly mash them.
3 : Add garlic to oil and sauté till golden brown.

4 : Add chopped onions and cook till they are golden brown in color.
5 : Add chopped tomatoes and cook on low flame till they are mushy.
6 : Now cook on high flame till it leaves oil.

7 : Add salt, red chili powder and pav bhaji masala.
8 : Add boiled and mashed potatoes,  vegetables and Oats .

9 : Cook on low flame till its mixed properly.
10 :Cook for 5 minutes on high flame.

11 : Serve with chopped onions, chopped coriander leaves, butter and lemon wedges.