INDIAN SWEETS

Zarda – Pakistani style Sweet Rice

March 4, 2023 By Asha Shivakumar

Zarda or Sweet Rice is a favorite dessert that’s simple to make and addictive. It is sweetened rice with sugar, toasted nuts. Colorful, flavorful with spices and perfect for parties or festivals.

I grew up with parents who had friends from different cultural backgrounds. It wasn’t intentional, it just happened. Having friends who are culturally different from you allows you to develop an insight into their lives. It shows you how their practices or beliefs are different from yours, and yet, how it leads to their growth. It teaches one to accept differences and to build an understanding that no religion or culture is better than the other but that each has its unique features. One has to learn from them and inculcate the good in them, if possible. Multiculturalism becomes an important concept to inculcate in today’s world of globalization where more than ever, the chances of people living and interacting with racially and culturally different people than their own are heightened. The main advantage of having friends from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures is that it promotes multiculturalism within individuals,andfood. …

Figs and Nuts Gujjia/Sweet Samosa – Sugar free

October 16, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Gujjia, aka sweet samosa is such a delicious treat that’s crispy on the outside stuffed with sweet yummy filling. This is a sugar free fig and nuts gujia that is so addictive.

Sweet Samosa is what we call this at home. For as long as I was India, the only version I knew had dried coconut, sooji and nuts. The other with khoya dipped in sugar syrup. Once I ventured into a whole new world, learnt new recipes, I realized there’s so many more delicious fillings that work great for Gujia. Gujjia is a must make dish for Diwali at home. Mom made hundreds a week before Diwali and stored in large steel containers. They were addictive and you could never be satisfied with one.

Although I love the traditional kind my mom makes, I enjoy making a lighter version. There’s nothing healthy or light about deep fried crispy goodness, but hey, If you prefer, air fry it. I’ve done that and it works great too.

Today I share one of my new favorite ways to make gujiya. Filled with cashews and sugar free figs, I think you will love this fig gujiya. The stuffing is made out of cashews and almonds, ground together with figs. It makes for a delicious stuffing that is healthy and no sugar added since the figs add the texture and sweetness….

Dumroot/Ash Gourd Halwa/lWinter Melon Halwa

October 15, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Dumroot or Dumroot Halwa is a classic, rich, delicious halwa which is unique to the state of Karnataka, particularly Udupi cuisine.

Summer comes, mom and I enter the days of chats, chaat and Bhagatram sweets. Particularly gulab jamun and dumroot, a recipe that’s a pride and joy of Karnataka, Udupi cuisine. Walking down Commercial street decades ago was way different to what it is now. No glitz and glamor, it didn’t have parking, so it was meant only for people to stroll, shop and eat. To the left was the clothing stores that never caught our attention. We mainly came to eat a gulab jamun each and the famous Dumroot. We are a family obsessively in love with DUMROOT. My dad, cousins and now my hubby and boys….

Pori Urundai/Murmura Nuts Ladoo/Puffed Rice Nuts Ladoo

October 13, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Pori Urundai or Murmura Nuts Ladoo is an authentic South Indian snack made during festivals. I call it the energy balls of yester years that grandma made. It’s healthy-ish, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!

Diwali is around the corner. There’s a new meaning to festivals now versus festivals hundreds of years ago. Festivals in the golden days was a celebration of bringing the whole village together, a ritual of life. They pretty much partied fifteen days a year: simple events that involved simple food. Fast forward to the 2000’s and festivals mean holidays, rest days, and for lack of a better word, “an extension of a weekend”

Life can get repetitious if we don’t appreciate the joy around festivals. After all, making life thrilling is up to you. To be honest, staying away from India, it’s harder to feel festive, as festivity encompasses India as a whole….

Steamed Cashew Chicken Curry and Steamed Yogurt Pudding

June 13, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Steamed Cashew Chicken Curry and Steamed Yogurt Pudding. Tender chicken breast in a smooth cashew sauce and steamed yogurt pudding, a delicious meal in one all in the BUYDEEM steamer. Thanks to buydeem for sponsoring this post.

Of all the conventional cooking methods, steaming is one of the most natural and healthful ways to cook the food you eat; it’s a simple technique that allows you to experience the unique flavors of the food itself. Let’s explore why this timeless moist-heat cooking method is worth using in today’s modern diet.

Steaming leaves the food with bright flavors and textures of the food intact. Unlike boiling and simmering, steaming doesn’t agitate food, so it’s a perfectly gentle way to cook delicate items like meats, seafood and shellfish. And perhaps best of all, steaming keeps all those valuable nutrients inside the food, instead of in the cooking liquid….

Thandai Gulab jamun Mousse

October 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Thandai Gulab Jamun Mousse is a fusion dessert which has two delicious treats in one. Thandai a spiced drink made like a mousse stuffed with spongy soft gulab jamun.

Be the light. Find the light.

It’s that time of the year, the festival of lights, festival of together, festival of celebration of the lightness within us and around us. Diwali….

Banana Chips or Banana and Parsnip Fries

May 30, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

The best Banana Chips EVER! Make your favorite fries at home with raw banana and parsnips. These are easy to make ahead of time and store for your evening chai or coffee, have it as a side for rice or top on fish, put it on everything basically.

Summer vacations back home was simple, sweet, lots of food(home made), naps and family time. As a working mom, my mother would always take off three months when I started my summer break, until I got married. She was dedicated and never once made me feel lonely(especially since I was the only child) or bored.

While we could buy the snacks from shops, mom always made sure to make fresh murrukku, sweets and chips to snack on. I thoroughly enjoyed my summer breaks. So many good memories, thanks to MOM.

Now, I try to make summer breaks as much as fun for my boys as it was for me. I take a break from work, social media and spend as much time together as possible. One thing I do find myself doing a lot is, grilling and cooking. The boys are always hungry(more hungrier) when they have nothing much to do.

So, I try to make snacks as much as I can at home, and this is one of my favorite treats, Banana Chips, a take on tapioca chips. I make large jars of this and we basically as a family finish it in a week or so. We top it on everything. It’s spicy and crunchy, and OH SO GOOD.

Happy Summer Break, Happy Snacking!!…

Spicy Baked Dry Samosa

March 22, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Baked dry samosa is such a delicious treat with a cup of coffee. Make them like these pretty flowers or like a traditional samosa, it’s delicious every way. Happy Spring!

Happy Spring!

To me festivals are a time to step away from the mundane life, to join your loved ones to celebrate, to look at the bright side of life filled with positivity. Friends, family and Fun. And of course food.

This year like last is no different, still being careful and distancing. But, there’ll be food baskets delivered:-). It’s been an entire year since all of our lives changed forever and through these times staying positive has been something we all have struggling with. Festivals have a new outlook: to me it’s always been about the deeper meaning, now more than ever. Yes, it connects us to our roots, culture and values, but also sharing the joy with the less fortunate is important too. Enjoying, relishing in the beauty, gloriousness of the moment that we are in and being thankful….

Spicy Bhadang/Kaara Pori

November 12, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Traditional Maharashtrian spicy Bhadang or Kaara Pori is a quintessential snack with chai and for every occasion. It’s spicy, filled with goodness of peanuts, curry leaves, asafoetida and lot more. Few key steps and you get the perfect Bhadang or Kaara Pori.

It’s no secret that I love celebrations. Celebrations of all kinds.

August arrives, bringing along a long festive season for Indians. We have something every month until January. It’s DIWALI: where Goodness reins over evil.

I’ve always wondered why we celebrate festivals. Festivals are celebrated for many reasons by people. Of course, a huge reason for most is religious beliefs.

For me as an adult who’s seen life’s ups and downs on earth, Diwali means a lot more to me than food, clothes, parties and fun. It means: time to release the old and welcoming the new. Letting go of things, bad feelings, heartaches, judgemental attitude, disagreements, and welcoming peace, love and harmony. Festivals also provide a break from the routine, a festive atmosphere, camaraderie, a time when family gets together, reflections, relaxation. Sometimes, it breaks vicious cycles of negative emotions, stress, and helps bring the positive emotions back. Whatever the reason might be, how big or small the celebration might be, the fact that we take a step back from the routine to celebrate a special day is so important. It also reminds us of our heritage and culture. It’s almost like you press a reset button for whatever you want it to be. This is also the time to GIVE, give back to the society. Many are not fortunate as we are. I am an ardent believer in giving back. Let’s do our part, let’s make this world a better place to live in….

Badam Anjeer Roll/ Fig Almond Burfi/Anjeer Burji/Anjeer Barfi

November 5, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Anjeer roll has many names: fig roll, anjer barfi or badam anjeer roll, it is a treat that’s pleasing to the eyes, deliciously moist, tender and nutty with a hint of rose, cardamom. And it can be made at home easily. This stuffed fig roll is naturally sweet from the figs and is refined sugar free. Perfect for a diwali platter or sweet gift box.

Diwali is the Festival of lights, family and lots of food!

It is one of the most popular festivals in India, if not the most. There are many stories linked to the reasons behind the celebration. Growing up, Diwali for me was all about new clothes, fun with family, food and FIRE CRACKERS(it was like the July 4th in India).

Ladies would start making savory and sweets a week before the big day. Snacks would be stored in big steel boxes. Cleaning was a big part, painting the home, changing linens, it was all chaotic. Shopping for clothes was also so much fun. The stores would be so crowded that we hardly had space to turn around.

We might not be celebrating how we did back then, but I love to make sweets and savory snacks and give it to friends.

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