Goan Doce /Doce De Grao

In Portuguese Doce means Sweet and Grao means grain/seed/bean . Doce is prepared in various ceremonies in Goa.Its part of Kuswar and is popular sweet dish prepared during Christmas. Goan Doce is a Diamond or square shape sweet dish prepared by using Chana ( split Bengal Gram),fresh coconut,sugar and Ghee. Its involves very less ingredients but requires lots of patience and energy while cooking.Its involves little similar process as Dodol . Its not only Christmas you get to eat Doce but its available in markets through out the year along withe Bibinca and Dodol. So lets begin with these sweet soft Doce in small batch.

Servings 60 pcs

Total Preparation Time : 6 hours

Cooking Time : 11/2 Hours

Ingredients

250 Gram Split Bengal Gram/Chana Dal

2 Coconut scrapped (take only white scrapped)

500 Gram of Granulated Sugar

1 Table spoon Ghee

1 Tsp Cardamom powder

1 Tsp Ghee for greasing

Method

1. Soak the Chana Dal for 3-4 hours.Then pressure cook until boil well and ground into fine paste as below.
   
2. Take the scrapped coconut and grind into fine paste.
   
3. In Deep pan add ground Chana dal,ground coconut ,sugar and start to cook.Soon you will see sugar melting and all mixture will turn into light yellow colour.
4. After cooking for around 30 to 40 min add ghee and cardamom powder and mix well.while it cook keep stirring.
5. Soon you will realise the stirring is harder and that indicates that doce mixture is into proper consistency.
6. cook until the mixture leaves the sides and bottom of pan and will form like dough.
7. Then on the clean kitchen slap apply ghee and pour the hot mixture and quickly spread well on surface with rolling pin.Take a fork and make these lines design jut on top lightly.
   
8. Cut into diamond shape or square shape and allow it dry overnight.
   
9. Once dried store in Air tight container.
   

Smileys Recipe

Smiles tried making in house on demand of my smiley lover son. Simple snack made from potatoes which can be prepared and preserved in refrigerator for later use.Its also a quick snack when unexpected guest arrives.So lets begin with Home Made Smiles .

Prepares around 20-25 smiles

Total Preparation Time : 1 hour

Cooking time : 10 min

Ingredients

6 Potatoes boiled and grated

1 small cup of grated cheese

2 table spoon of corn starch(flour)

1/2 tsp pepper crushed

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 Tsp Garlic paste/powder

salt as per taste

oil for frying

1 straw to make eyes for smiles

1 small sharp edge spoon to make smile for the smiles

Cling Cover 

Rolling Pin

round cutter

Method

1)In a large bowl add grated potatoes,cheese,corn starch,pepper,garlic paste or powder and oregano.Mix all well to a dough.should be smooth and little firm so you can roll it well.

2)Then take two cling cover,in between place a ball of potato dough and roll into thick roundel. 

3)Cut into small round with the help of cutter,then make eyes with help of straw and mouth with spoon.Dust a plate with corn starch and place the smiles.

4)Place the same smiles into the refrigerator for about 45 min and then deep fry .Serve hot with sauce.

5)For future use place the smiles in the zip pouch and use as and when required.

Besan Ladoo Recipe

Besan ladoo is a favourite of all and it is among the most common sweets in most of Indian festivals. Our moms or Grandmas always prefer to prepare them in homes with lot of love and affection as it adds lot of love that is by using Clarified butter/Ghee ;) . The main ingredients involved in Besan ladoo is Besan i.e. chickpea flour, lots of Ghee/Clarified butter, sugar and cardamom powder for flavouring, aren't these so easily available ingredients in our homes? So lets begin to make these yummy sweet roundels and enjoy the bites.

Servings 20-25

Total Preparation Time 40-50 min

Cooking Time : 25-30 min

Ingredients(use same Cup for measuring ingredient)

4 Cups of Besan/Chickpea Flour

1 Cup Ghee/Clarified Butter

21/2 Cup Sugar(ground sugar with little granules )

2-3 Tsp Cardamom Powder 

1/2 Cup Milk

Raisins for decorating

 Methods

1. Heat ghee in pan,once heated add the besan and stir the mixture well.
2. Roast the flour on slow flame until the besan changes colour to light brown and also when besan is cooked well it will become little liquid form and then it will start to leave the sides of pan.

      3.Once its cooked well then add the milk and stir well and at the same time put off the stove .Keep stirring the mixture.

       4.Allow the mixture to cool down at room temperature.Once cooled add sugar and cardamom and mix well.

       5.Make small Ladoo's and decorate with raisins. Place ladoo's in plate and let it get cooled and will become little firm so it will be easy to store.

Colocasia and Flat rice Croquettes.

Colocasia is also called as Aarvi in Hindi and maddi in konkani , its roots and leaves are also used in cooking.In Gujarat the leaves recipe is called as patra,in Maharashtra as aalu Wadi,and in few regions the leaves are also used for preparing savory curry by adding pea and cashew nuts.The Colocasia roots are also used for preparing dry dishes like dry Sabzi, kababz, and shallow fry dishes .The Colocasia once boiled is little slimy veggie so its better to have some dry dish out of it.

My mum prepares Sabzi/Bhaji of Colocasia roots which is also called as Maddi .The bhaji is papered by adding dry prawns or prepared just plain using Indian spices and it really tastes good with rice roti/bhakri. I had never tried preparing dishes out of colocasia and these croquettes are my first experiment with these healthy roots which are also rich in Iron. Its really impossible to make today's kids to feed these healthy veggies .So Tried doing healthy croquettes combining maddi/Colocasia and flat rice ( poha ) and few ingredients like cheese,smashed potato and herbs.Hope you mommies out there like the recipe.

Ingredients
4 Colocasia roots boiled
1 Boiled Potato
1 Cup Soaked flat rice
1/4 Cup spring onions chopped
1 Chopped onion
1 Cup grated cheese
1 Tsp pepper crushed
2 Tsp fresh coriander
1 Tsp Garam Masala
1 Cup Multipurpose flour paste(little watery)
Bread crumbs for coating
Oil for deep frying(can do shallow frying as well

Method
1.) Boil the colocasia roots and peel it .

2.)Soak flat rice(poha)in water and drain the extra water completely by squeezing between your palms. 

3.)Then a bowl add mashed colocasia,mashed potatoes,flat rice (poha),spring onions,fresh coriander,onion chopped,cheese,pepper crushed,garam masala and salt.

4.)Mix all the ingredients well to a smooth dough like and make sure its not watery as you wont able to roll croquettes.If its watery can add corn flour.

5.)Roll into cylindrical size croquettes and keep in plate.

6.)Then dip each croquette into maida batter and then coat with bread crumbs and place in a plate and keep in refrigerator for 5 to 10 min.

7.)Later deep fry until golden brown and serve hot with sauce or dip of your choice.

Brigadeiros /Brazilian Truffle

 Brigadeiro is a Brazilian delicacy. Brigedeiro are very important in Brazilian culture and are also said to National Icon and it is very common dessert in Brazil and its prepared in almost all the households weather rich or poor. Brigadeiros is prepared in a small ball size dessert by using Milk Maid,coco powder,butter and chocolate sprinkles to cover the outer layer. These Brigaderio is common desserts for Kids birthday parties,for friends reunions or for any other family get together. These small chocolate balls are so tempting that you cannot stop by having just one. Brigadeiros can be one more addition to my son's Birthday party.So lets begin with the procedure.Recipe credit to "Tasty" you-tube food channel.Enjoy

Servings 15-20

Total Preparation Time : 1 hours 20 min

Ingredients

1 Tin of Milkmaid

40 Grams of unsweetened coco powder

40 Grams of Butter

50 Grams of Chocolate sprinkles

20 Grams of unsweetened coco powder for coating

Method

• First Keep a pan on stove ,then add milkmaid,coco powder and butter. Mix all and cook on medium flame for about 10-15 min.
• Cook until the mixture is leaving the pan sides. Remove of the stove and allow to cool and refrigerate for 1 hour .The mixture will look as below image

• Then after one hour remove from the fridge and make walnut size roundels and roll few into chocolate sprinkles and few into coco powder and the brigadeiros are done.  
  

Goan Onion Beef

 Onion Beef is among the most easiest recipes,with less ingredients involved yet so soul satisfying dish.But the important thing involved is your patients because onion beef is a slow cooked dish.Thanks to Joyce Fernandes who through her Cookbook help us Goan to keep so much connected to our Goan Cuisine.Love to learn and cook the historical dishes.

Servings 4

Total Preparation Time :40 min

Cooking Time : 30 min

Ingredients

1/2 Kg Beef (undercut -cut into strips)

5 Large Onions cut into roundels

2 Large Tomatoes cut into rounds

3 Green Chilies chopped or cut into slits

2 Tsp Ghee/oil

1 Tsp Ginger /Garlic Paste

1/2 Tsp Crushed pepper

Salt as per taste

Method

• First Take the Beef and cut into thin strips.
• Mix the beef strips with salt,freshly crushed pepper powder,ginger-garlic paste and vinegar.Allow it to marinate for two to three hours.
• In Pan add oil and then arrange the beef strips all over the pan.Then spread the onion rings,tomatoes and green chilies over the beef.
• Cover the pan with lid and cook the beef strips on slow flame until its cooked.
• The beef will get cooked in onion juices so need need to add water at all.

PinWheel Sandwich -Kids Zone

14 November being Children's day, my son had sharing day in school and it was just a BIG question as to what to cook  past 1 week . As it is for kids, we should prepare something colour full , innovative and  healthy, as kids get bored to eat the same type of food. When it comes to my son, his demands are high as to what i should cook, and since he observes me cooking different kind of food, he expects his snack box to be different from the others . My only concern was to avoid cooking oily or deep fried snacks, so keeping all this in mind, I thought of preparing Pinwheel sandwich for his snack box, as it is normal sandwich would be difficult to handle and also they find to to heavy.Pinwheel on other hand are small bites of sandwich with different shape and with colourful layers .Picked up idea from chef Tarla Dalal.

Servings 6-7

Total Preparation Time : 30 min 

Ingredients

1 Loaf of Slice Bread 

1/2 Small Bowl Green chutney

1/2 small Bowl butter

1/2 Small Bowl Jam

1/2 Small Bowl Mustard sauce

1/2 Small Bowl Mayonnaise

1 Bowl Julianne's of red and green capsicum

1/2 Bowl of iceberg lettuce

Cling  cover to roll

Method

1)First Cut the outer edges of the Bread and roll the bread thin with rolling pin.

2)Spread Jam on one slice,mustard & Mayonnaise on one slice and Green chutney & butter on last one.

3)Place all three slices on top of the other and on top slice Place the Julienne of red and green capsicum and iceberg lettuce.

4)Roll the bread using cling  cover,tightened the cling  tight on both the edges.This will make roll firm and will help to cut the bread wheel without breaking while cutting.

5)Allow the bread rolls to rest in cling  cover for around 15 min and then slowly uncover and cut into small rounds.This will show the colourful  layers of the sandwich .The Pinwheels are ready to serve your little one and make them happy .Enjoy!!!

Goan Sardines Ambot tik |Hot and Tangy Sardine Curry|Tallyanchye Ambot tik

Sardines Ambot tik is  hot and tangy curry most of the time prepared in Goan homes . Pair it up with Steamed rice its just heaven on your plate but its also a scrumptious compo with hard crust bread or chapati . The most commonly used fish in Ambot tik is shark fish , Mackerels (Bangde in konkani),Sardines(Talle called in Konkani)Sole fish(lepo in Konkani) cat fish and other fishes too.But the above fish Ambot tik is hit in the list.

 Unlike other Goan Curries Ambot tik gravy is prepared without coconut and the main ingredients for gravy we get from onions ,tomatoes and the red chili paste along with other spices.The chilies gives the Hot /Tik taste whereas for tangy taste i have used kokum and vinegar. 

Other Recipes you check on my Blog are below

Goan Tisreo/Clams curry with drumsticks

How to prepare Goan Velli curry|Anchovy fish curry|Goan Vellyache Kodi

Goan Mackerel Curry

Crabs Caldine /Crab curry in coconut milk

Bangdyachi Udid meethi

Goan Fish Caldine Recipe

Bangdyanche Hooman/Mackerel Hooman

Servings 4-5

Total Preparation Time 30 min

Cooking Time : 15-20 min

Ingredients required to prepare Goan Sardine Ambot tik

500 Grams Sardines (approx 20 fresh sardines)

10 Dry chilies

1 Tsp Cumin seeds

1 Tsp Turmeric powder

20-25 pepper corns

5-6 Garlic Flakes

1 Inch Ginger

2 Large Onion finely chopped

3 Large Tomato finely chopped

5-6 Kokum Solam(can use Tamarind while grinding)

2 Table spoon of Vinegar

Salt

Water as required

How to prepare Goan Sardine Ambot Tik-Step wise pictures and video below.

1.Take cleaned and washed Sardines/Talle. Apply salt and turmeric powder and allow it to marinate.

                                        

2. Finely chop Two onions and 3 Tomatoes and keep it aside.

                                       

3.For red paste you required below ingredients mentioned.

                                       

4.Grind all the spices and other ingredients to fine smooth paste.

                           

5.You will get beautiful red masala paste as shown below.

                            

  6.Now In a pan add oil and allow it to heat.

                            

  7.Once the oil is hot add the chopped onions and tomatoes.You can make a paste too.

                              

8. Saute the for 2 min and you will the onions and tomato leaving water.

                              

9.Cover and cook for 2 min so onions & Tomatoes cook faster.

                              

10.Time to add the ground red paste .

                              

11. Stir the red masala paste well for about 1-2 min.

                              

12.Cover and cook the masala for 2-3 min .

                            

13.Once you see the oil layer over the masala that means its cooked well.

                              

14.Add the extra water which you get after washing the mixer jar.

                            

15. After adding water allow the gravy to boil.

                              

16. in the boiling curry add the marinated sardines.

                              

 17. Now gently move the sardines in the curry.

                              

18. Cover and cook the sardines for 5 min.

                            

19. After 5 min open the lid and add the kokum to the curry. Kokum is to get the tangy flavour to the Curry

20.Cover and cook for last 5 min and the scrumptious Ambot tik  curry is ready.

                            

21.The Yummy hot and tangy Goan Sardine Ambot tik is ready .Best to be served with steamed rice , Chapati,goan bread.

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