Quinoa and Basil Patties with Mango Salsa

I am so much in love with nuts and basil that I incorporate them in almost everything. ..be it smoothie, chicken,  patties, yogurt,salads. ..list is endless.

Though the benefits of nuts and quinoa are not unknown, I love the nutty and brilliant flavor they impart to the dishes.

With mango widely available in this season there is no need to deprive yourself of its benefits and  yummy taste.

    So toss in some herbs ,peppers and serve this Salsa with Quinoa patties

1/2  cup Quinoa

1 cup Water

3 Boiled Potatoes

1 1/2 cups Bread crumbs

3/4 cup Basil leaves (chopped )

1/2 cup Slivered Almonds

3/4 tsp Salt,to taste 

1/2 tsp Paprika

Oil for shallow frying

Directions:

1: Cook quinoa in 1 glass water 

 as per instructions . 

2: Cool them and add rest of the ingredients except oil.

3: Mix it properly.

4: Make its balls and flatten them to give it a shape of patties . 

5: Shallow fry them in hot oil and serve with mango salsa . 

  

Mango Salsa

                    Ingredients :

1 Mango

1/4 cup Red Pepper(chopped)

1/4 cup Capsicum (chopped)

1 Lemon's juice

1 tbsp Mint (chopped)

2 tbsp Coriander ( chopped)

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder

Mix all the ingredients and serve.

Mango Salsa..

No Churn Eggless Mango Ice Cream

            A delish dessert made with fruits or other ingredients is often a requisite in scorching heat or to pacify our sweet tooth. Cravings for this frozen treat invariably ends with a halt at an Ice cream vendor.
                 

               What if you could make Ice creams at your own pace, as per your taste, in the comfort of your home??

            Shed your inhibitions and give it a shot......trust me, this is not rocket science.
           

                             Ingredients :

500 ml Cream (I used Amul)
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
250 gms Condensed Milk
2 cups Mango puree
1 cup Chopped Mango
   

                              Directions:
1: Put cream in a bowl.
2: Whisk at a medium speed till it turns into soft peaks.
3: Add Condensed milk and fold till well combined.
4: Add mango puree and fold once again till well incorporated .
5: Add chopped mangoes and pour in an ice cream container.
6: Seal with Cling wrap and freeze it for 4-5 hours.

Chicken Korma

    

Chicken Korma is a Mughal speciality which came to India through Muslim rulers ruling from 16th to 19th Centuries. 

    It is a rich yellow  colored gravy with chicken pieces prepared using  cashew nuts, poppy seeds and yogurt but here I have given it a twist since its lighter on tummy.

     
      There are different ways of cooking this dish in different parts of India.

                   
                           Ingredients :
6 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Grated Ginger
1 tsp Minced Garlic
1 Bay Leaf
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
3 Cups Pureed Onions
2 Black cardamoms
2 Cinnamon sticks
200 ml Tomato Puree
3/4 tsp. Red Chilli powder

                  
Salt , to taste
2 tsp. Cumin Powder
2 tsp. Coriander Powder
3/4 Cardamom Powder
3 tsp. Dry Fenugreek Leaves
1 Chicken (divided into small pieces)
3 cups Water
1/2 cup Cream
3/4 tsp Garam Masala Powder

                    Directions:
1 : Heat oil in a thick bottom pan.
2 :Add ginger and garlic.Saute till Golden Brown.
3 :Add a Bay Leaf.
4 :Add Cumin seeds and when it crackles , add pureed onions.
5 : Add cinnamon sticks and Black Cardamom.

6 :Cook till puree is golden brown in color.
7 : Add Red chilli powder, salt, roasted Cumin powder , coriander powder, Cardamom powder, Fenugreek leaves.
8 : Cook till it leaves oil.
9 : Add chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes.
10 : Add water and mix it properly.
11 : Cook till gravy is thick and chicken is cooked completely.

12 : Let it cool down for atleast 15 minutes.
13 : Add thick cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
14 : Add Garam Masala powder.
15 : Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve with paranthas.

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.