Dessert Recipes (Most Popular)
These Milk Squares or Barfi are a much loved treat in all Indian households.The old method of preparing this Sweet calls for cooking the Milk in a wide mouthed, heavy bottomed pan and stirring constantly till it solidifies.Not just Time consuming but exhausting too.
This is a lighter Recipe and healthier because it has lesser calories than the original and is quicker to make.Tastes good too----purists however may not agree!!!
Papaya has large amounts of Pectin which helps it set without adding any Gelatin.Besides it has a unique taste,rich colour and plenty of Nutrition.Most of the time it does not need added Sugar---being naturally sweet as well.This is a favourite Dessert of mine as a Diabetic who has limited Fruit choices.
This Sweet is made from a special varity of Bananas called 'Rajali' or 'Kingly' Bananas.These are specially grown at Vasai or Bassein as the British called it and are highly valued for their unique taste.Available during the Monsoon period these are used to make various Sweets and certain Savouries for those Fasts where we do not eat any Cereals for 24 hours.This is one dish which is very popular and well loved by all.
Any ripe Bananas can be used instead of these to make this Sweet.
Most of the people in our complex are Vegetarian---and being Vegetarian in India means not eating any Non-Vegetarian Food---this includes Fish as well as Eggs.Anuradha is an expert at adding various Ingredients while making this Cake-----she flavours it with fresh Fruit Pulp and it really makes a very tasty treat!!!!
This is a favourite sweet in the Konkan,Goa and Karwar regions specially during the month of Shravan(mid July-mid August).As Coconuts and Rice are the main crops in that region this is made with these two things and adds a sweet touch during the Poojas during that month.
We use a 'Sora' or a wooden Mould.It is a hollow Teak Wood Cylinder with handles.Thin Brass discs fit into one end while another solid Wood Cylinder---also with handles,forms the other half.This fits into the hollow Cylinder. By applying pressure the Dough is forced out through interchangeable brass discs with have various shapes on them.These are something like the nozzles in an Icing Gun.Today Steel Soras are also available on which we need to use far less pressure and therefore are way easier to use.We use the medium Vermicelli mould for these.
This popular Dessert is made from the Colostreum rich Milk produced by Cows who have just calved.The thick Milk produced by these on the first three days is mixed with regular Milk,Sugar,Saffron Threads and Cardamom-Nutmeg Powders and steamed.When set this is cooled to room temprature,cut into squares and served cold.
However due to religious constraints, this Milk is not used for any Poojas or any auspicious Occasions.Hence this is a Dessert eaten only during non-religious get-togethers.
We do not like too sweet desserts in our house but do adjust the sweetness to suit personal tastes.
This is very special Bengali Dessert which I just love immensely.Made from whole Cow's Milk it is very simple to make but really great on taste.In the Winters this is made with Date Palm Sugar(Nolen Gur) which elevates the taste even further raising it to divinity!!!
Traditionally set in Earthern Ware Pots this is one of the simplest but best Desserts India has on offer!!!
This is another popular traditional Marathi Sweet.My Mother and Grandmothers always kept these ready to serve any one who may pay a visit.A fresh batch would be made as soon as the earlier one got over.These are nutritious and keep for a month or two on the shelf in an airtight jar.
I used to make this often because I love Kulfi and am not too fond of machine made Ice Cream.This Milk based Dessert is of such a creamy and smooth texture that the Saffron Threads add to the taste.You can convert this basic recipe into a Dry Fruit one by adding slivered Dry Fruits like Almonds and Pistachioes to give it a richer taste.Chopped Cashew Nuts,Dried Figs and Apricots as well as any Fresh Pureed Fruit can be used.Ripe Strawberries,Mangoes and Custard Apples are also favourites.Add these to the basic recipe given here.
This is accompanied by the Vermicelli Threads dipped in any Sherbet Concentrate preferred.I use an Indian Sherbet called 'Rooh Afza' which is available the World over.Made from Water Melon Juice and many other Ingredients it helps to keep the body cool during the hot Indian Summers particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain made famous by Sir Rudyard Kipling as the 'dusty,dry and windy Plains' of India.These lie just below the Himalayas and it's Foot Hills in the North of India.
Diwali is one of India's premier Festivals and is a time for celebration and family.
This is a popular Sweet traditionally made during the Festival of Lights or Diwali which falls during late October to mid November depending on the lunar cycle for the months of Ashwin and Kartik.
Traditionally five-six Sweets and five-six Savouries are prepared for this 15 day period which starts with Vasu Dvadashi in Ashwin and ends with Tulsi Vivah in Kartik.
Large boxes full of home-madeSweets and Savouries are exchanged and a lot of family get-togethers are held during this period.
This was a recipe that called for all granulated sugar. i replaced half the sugar with splenda and saved half the calories! You can also use an actual vanilla bean for more flavor. And sometimes i add lemon zest for a change. Enjoy!
My favourite apple crisp recipe, tweaked a little. Still has all of the flavour, its just a little bit better for you! This is a VERY forgiving recipe, so please play with it to suit your taste.
Original Recipe:
1 C flour
1 C oats
1 C packed brown sugar
1C margarine or butter (hard)
cinnamon
Pretty much the easiest lemon curd in the world. I had to fiddle with a couple of recipes to get this one right, but its fantastic, and really only has 2 steps. So... You're welcome.
The idea of a baked apple never really appealed to me... until I tried this recipe. Not mushy at all, and very flavorful. Very tasty way to eat an apple. Sort of like apple pie, without all the headache.
So easy and SO delicious. Not exactly low-calorie, but not the worst thing to quell your chocolate craving!
I bake this bread pudding in two 5 1/2" ramekins for a big dessert for 2, but you could bake it in one 8x8 pan, or even bread pans. I like to top it with whipped cream (calories not included).
No-Bake cookies. Especially in the summer when no one wants to deal with the oven, who doesn't love these light and fluffy chocolate-peanut butter treats? Even though they're packed with oats, the original recipe is the host for an entire stick of butter and an ungodly amount of white sugar! My mom used to make "diet" versions of these with margarine and aspartame sugar substitute. Lower in calories? Yes. Actually good for you? Not so much. So I've developed a recipe that satisfies my sweet tooth and chocolate-peanut butter addiction. Low in sugar, high in fiber and protein, these sin-free cookies save me!
Vegan! Uses tofu for the thick mousse-y texture! Male omnivore approved.
Thought I was doing a good thing, but this is definitely NOT for anyone that is watching sugar & carbs.