Kaddu (Pumpkin) Ki Sabji

Kaddu ki Sabji

 I remember my mother cooking this sabji for us and I would love to eat it with plain paratha. I like the sweet and savoury flavour of this dish. The bengali spice paanch phoran gives it an amazing flavour. When I moved to Dubai after my wedding I made sure to carry paanch phoran in my luggage  Let me go ahead with the recipe now.

Ingredients:

550 gms kaddu/pumpkin- seeds removed, skin peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup  parboiled black channa (black chickpea), soak the channa overnight and then parboil it

1 tsp coriander-cumin powder (I have made this powder at home by grinding equal quantity of coriander seeds and cumin seeds)

1/2 tsp turmeric

Salt to taste

1-2 tsp white granulated sugar, adjust to taste (I have added 2 tsp sugar)

2 red dry chillies

1 bay leaf

1 tsp paanch phoran ( a type of bengali spice)

Chopped coriander leaves 2 tbsp

1 tbsp oil

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Add bay leaf, red dry chillies and paanch phoran. When the cumin in paanch phoran starts crackling add the pumpkin, channa and turmeric. Give it a stir to mix the pumpkin with other spices.

Cover and cook on low heat until the pumpkin is soft and mushy.

Now add salt, sugar, coriander-cumin powder and stir. Let it cook for another 3-4 minutes on medium heat or until all the water has evaporated. I like to mash the pumpkin in this sabji as you can see in the picture.

Switch off the flame and add coriander leaves. Mix again. 

Serve it hot with chapati or paratha.

Tips!!

If you like sour and sweet flavour then add 1/4 tsp of mango powder/amchoor to the sabji.

Kaddu ki sabji

Gajar Halwa Barfi

This Diwali I decided to make Gajar Halwa Barfi. Gajar Halwa is one of my favourites so I thought of giving it a barfi form this time.

Gajar Halwa Barfi

Ingredients for Khoya:
3 cups full cream milk
Method:
In a heavy bottom pan, bring the milk to a boil.
On medium to low heat cook the milk until it is reduced to a thick consistency. All the water in the milk will evaporate and you will get granulated khoya. You have to keep stirring occasionally in the beginning and towards the end stir continuously so that it doesn't burn.
Ingredients for Barfi:
500 gms carrot
1 litre full cream milk
6 tbsp white granulated sugar, adjust as per taste
1 tbsp ghee/clarified butter
1/4 tsp freshly grounded cardamom powder
Almonds/pistachios for garnishing
Method:
Wash and peel the carrots. Grate the carrots using the fine side of the grater.
Take a baking tray and place parchment paper in it.
Melt ghee in a heavy bottom pan.
Add the grated carrots to the ghee and saute for 5 mins on medium heat. Do not let it brown.
Now pour the milk and stir. Simmer and cook until most of the liquid has dried out. Keep stirring occasionally.
Add sugar and cardamom powder,mix well. Add the khoya and cook until all the liquid has dried completely. Now the halwa will start leaving the sides of the pan.
Transfer the halwa to the baking tray. With the back of a spoon spread the halwa. Keep the thickness as per the thickness of the barfi. Smooth the top using a piece of parchment paper.
Garnish the top with almonds or pistachios (I have used almonds) and let it cool completely. Refrigerate for sometime and then cut into desired shapes and sizes.
 

Gajar Halwa Barfi