Basundi

Basundi is one my favorite dessert.  Also most of yours favorite too. Its very easy to make with very few ingredients, but takes little bit time.

Ingredients:

Milk - 6 cups
Sugar - 2 1/2  to 3 cups(depends on your sweet buds)
Almonds - 6 (chopped)
Pistachios - 6 (chopped)
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

Method:

1) Pour the milk in a pan, preferably wide and non-stick. Place the milk pan in low flame and keep on stirring it in equal intervals. Also put a ladle in the pan, so that the milk doesn't boil and spill out.

2) Let it boil until the milk reduces to 1/3 rd of it.

3)  Add the sugar to the milk and keep on stirring.

4) Once the sugar dissolves and the milk thickens switch it off and add cardamom powder and the chopped nuts. (Reserve few of them to use while serving)

Let it cool and serve it with few nuts on top.

Yummy and delicious basundi is ready to taste.

Drumstick Sambar for Rice (without Sambar Powder)

This is an instant sambar, that can be made without sambar powder. Just with the spices available at home, we can make this within minutes. It tastes delicious and goes very well with rice.

If you are running out of sambar powder or if you want to try different sambar, without the usual sambar taste, then this is for you. Try this and you will really love it.

Ingredients:

Drumstick - 2 (cut to small lengths)
Tomato - 2 (cut to cubes)
Tamarind - small lemon size
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Corriander powder/Dhania - 2 to 3 tsp
Hing/Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Mustard - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Corriander leaves/Cilantro - 5 to 6 sprigs
Oil - 2 tbsp

For grinding:

Coconut - 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Pearl onion/shallots - 3 to 5

Method:

1) Heat a pan and add cooking oil. Once hot, add mustard seeds. Let it splutter. Then add urad dal and curry leaves. Then add the cut vegetables drumstick and tomato. (you can add any vegetables like brinjal, lady's finger)

2) Saute if for about 3 to 5 mins and add all spice powders.

3) Saute it for 2 to 3 mins and once the oil seperates, add tamarind water. Also add salt to it. Let it boil.

4) Meanwhile make a ground paste with coconut, cumin and onions.

5) Once the vegetables are tender, add the coconut paste to it.

6) Let it boil for 2 mins. Garnish with corriander/cilantro leaves and delicious sambar is ready to go with hot rice.

Instant, yet delicious sambar is ready to taste.