Mom's Recipies

Modak is a very popular offering / neivedyam recipe for lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi. There are different way one can make a modak. Today i have used dry fruits and dates to make the modak.  Its a very quick and healthy recipe, which can be made in 15 minutes .
These dry fruits modak make a great treat during festive season.

There is no cooking required. Only the ingredients and grinder or mixer  and modak mold is required.

There is no added sugar in the modak. The sweetness comes from the dates. These Delicious Dry Fruits Modak are Ganesha's favorite treat which are  healthy,  guilt-free, sugar-free indulgence for this festive season !!!

You can check the entire collection of Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes here.


Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Serves:  15-18



More Modak Recipes

Ukadiche Modak With Coconut Jaggery Filling
 Ukadiche Modak with Seasame Seed Jaggery /Til gur Stuffing
Fried Modak
Til Modak / Sesame Seeds Modak 
Mawa Modak /Peda Modak

Ingredients

    Almonds- ¼ cup
   Walnuts- ¼ cup
   Cashewnuts - ¼ cup
   Soft dates- about 15 ( add more if you like it more sweeter) (seeds removed)
   Raisins -  ¼ cup
   Ghee - 1 tsp (optional)
   Green Cardamom- 2 pods ( finely crushed)
   
Method:-

  1)  First chop and then dry roast the nuts until slightly golden on a low medium heat for 5 minutes.


  2)  Remove and let cool.
  3)  Finely chop dates and Raisins.
  4)  Mean while crush the cardamom and keep aside.
  5)  Add the toasted nuts in a mixer and grind it to a coarse mixture.



  6)  Now add the dates , Raisins / kismiss  and cardamom and grind till smooth.It will come together like a dough.


  7) If it is not coming together than you can add  1 tsp of ghee and pulse again.
  8)  Remove the mixture into the plate.Mix well.
  9)  you can use a modak mould or you can mould it by hand.
  10)  To shape them by hand, make a lime-sized ball first and then, holding the ball in the palm of one hand, use the fingers of your other hand to pull up the top of the ball, thus forming a fig shape. OR
  11)  Grease the modak molds with ghee.


 12) Take a some mixture, place it in modak mould and press the  mixture with your fingers for a few seconds so that it gets the shape of mould.


 13) Gently unmould and remove the excess modak mixture from the edges of the modak.
 14) Place the modaks over a greased plate/ thali.
 15) Repeat the same with the rest of mixture.



                                                       Serve as neivedaym to Lord Ganesha.

16) Store the modaks in a air-tight container.
17) These should last at room temperature for about 4-5 days.

Dry Fruits Modak Recipe is a festive sweet recipe and also can be served for an after school snack for kids.

Tips:-

1) You can use any nuts and dry fruits of your choice.
2) You can use only dates if you have no dry fruits at all.
2) Modak moulds are easily available in steel utensils shops or online in amazon also.

Hope you all have a glorious festive season ahead and may Ganesha, the destroyer of obstacles grace you with Peace and Love !!!

 If you're bored of the regular breakfast dishes, try this new healthy recipe made using jowar.
Jowar is a nutritious cereal with plenty of protein, iron and fiber.
                    Jowar Dosa is a Instant quick dosa . Add cucumber, onions, curds and green chilies to  jowar flour to create tasty dosas.. As this is a instant recipe working moms can easily make this in the morning for breakfast or even make it for their kids lunchbox or eat as snack or dinner.
Pair them with fresh green chutney or coconut chutney for a great healthy and tasty breakfast!!!

Ingredients:-

1 cup jowar (white millet) flour
4 tsps Semolina / Sooji  (optional)
1/2 cup grated cucumber
2 tbsp finely chopped onions
1 tsp finely chopped green chillies or green chillies paste
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (Jeera)
salt to taste
water as required
a pinch of turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)
oil for greasing and cooking

Method

1)  First wash ,peel and grate the cucumber.



2) In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients jowar flour , semolina /sooji ,grated cucumber, jeera,salt, turmeric powder, chilli paste, chopped onion ,chopped coriander .


2) Add  approximately 2 1/2 cups of water and mix well to make a batter of pouring consistency like regular dosa batter. Batter should not be very thick or thin.

3)Heat a non stick tawa or pan . Smear the tawa with little bit of oil.


4) Pour a ladle full of dosa batter and spread into a thin circle.

5) Drizzle oil along the edges of dosa and let it cook on medium flame for 1-2 mins until dosa is golden brown


6)  Flip the dosa to the other side and roast for 30 secs.

7) Remove the dosa from the pan or tawa and repeat with the remaining batter.



8) Serve with Coconut chutney  or Sambar or Green chutney or tomato mint chutney  or chutney of your choice.

Notes:-

1) You can add any other veggies too to this dosas  like grated carrots or finely chopped capsicum or finely chopped tomatoes etc.
2) If using iron tawa , pour the dough when it is very hot .
3) If using non stick tawa, pour when medium hot . And for both cook in medium low flame . That way dosas will become crisp.
4) Rubbing onion to the hot tawa imparts nice flavor to the dosa as well prevents dosa from sticking to the tawa. This tip is good while making any type of dosas.
5) You can use store brought Jowar Flour also.

 
Everybody loves Paneer Makhani  very much but here is a healthy alternative  with Tofu which tastes  delicious .Even the non-tofu-lovers will also start loving it.
      Tofu, made from soybean curds, is naturally gluten-free and low calorie, contains no cholesterol and is an excellent source of protein, iron, and calcium. It is an important source of protein especially for vegans and vegetarians. Since it is Low in calorie so it is Diabetic Friendly Recipe.

Ingredients :-

    For the marinated tofu:
   
2 cups extra-firm tofu
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2  tsp Jeera/Cumin Powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/8 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp oil
Salt to taste


    For the Makhani Gravy:

    1 medium onion, (paste)
    2 large tomatoes, (paste)
    1 tsp red chilli powder (adjust according to taste)
    2 Green chillies (paste)
    2 green cardamom pods
    3 cloves
    8 peppercorns
    1-inch piece of cinnamon
    1 tsp cumin seeds
    1 tbsp coriander powder
    1 tsp Ginger -Garlic Paste
    1/4 tsp turmeric powder
    2  tsps kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves crushed between palms)
    2 cups vegetable stock, or  (use water if you don't have this)
    2tsps oil
    10 cashew nuts powder
    1/4 tsp Sugar  or sugar substitute
    Fresh coriander  leaves for garnish

Method :-

    To prepare the Marinated tofu:




1) Pat the tofu dry with few paper towels. Cut to cube size pieces .
2)  Mix all the ingredients  coriander powder,cumin powder,turmeric powder ,red chilli powder, salt,oil,lemon juice.



3) Now  in this marinade mix the tofu pieces  and set aside for about half an hour.


4)  Heat a non stick pan or griddle  and smear the oil evenly on it. Place the  tofu cubes on the pan and fry until golden-brown on each side,
5) Remove to a plate and set aside.

    To make the Makhani gravy


1)  Heat the oil in a non stick pan. Add the cumin seeds, and when they splutter add  cloves,cardamom, peppercorns and cinnamon. Saute for a minute over medium heat.
2)  Add the onions  paste and a little salt and saute till transulent.


3) Add  the tomato paste ,chilli paste,ginger and garlic paste, and saute for another minute.
4) Then add coriander powder, turmeric powder ,chilli powder ,sugar and kasuri methi  . Mix it well and cook on medium flame for about four minutes stirring in between until the gravy starts leaving the oil.
5) Add some water or vegetable stock and continue cooking.


6) Now add the tofu cubes to the gravy and stir them in. Add salt to taste. Add cashewnut powder and mix well. Cover the pan and cook for about 10 minutes on low flame.
7) Adjust the gravy to your liking if needed add little more water, and cook. Turn off the heat.
8) Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.



9) Serve hot with  naan,chapati, roti, phulka, flavored rice ,or plain rice

Enjoy !!!

Ingredients:-
For spinach puree:

   Spinach / palak (chopped) - 3 cups
  Green chillies (chopped) -3
   Ginger (chopped) - ½ inch
    Garlic ( chopped ) - 5 cloves

Other ingredients:
    White button mushrooms - 200 gms
    Tomato (Medium sized )  - 2 (pureed)
    Onion (Medium sized ) - 1 paste
    Cinnamon - 1 inch
    Green cardamom - 2
    Cloves -2
    Bay leaf - 1
    Oil  -  2 tbsp
    Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
    Red chili powder -½ tsp
    Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
    Coriander  powder - 1/2 tsp
    Water - 2 cups
    Wheat flour(Atta) or  chickpea flour (besan)- ½ tbsp

Palak Mushroom Curry

1) Clean and wash the spinach.

Mushrooms are ideal food for persons following a weight management program or diabetics. They have no fats, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrates,very little sodium and fat, full of proteins, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, anti biotic ,anti oxidants,a lot of water and  and 8 to 10 percent of the dry weight is fiber. Moreover, they contain natural insulin and enzymes which help breaking down of sugar or starch of the food. Again, they are known to contain certain compounds which help proper functioning of liver, pancreas and the other endocrinal glands, thereby promoting formation of insulin and its proper flow.
                       This curry is best relished with steaming hot phulkas and Chapatis. Making zero oil curry /subzi is not as difficult as it may sound.It tastes as yummy as subzi with oil.

Cooking Time: 30 Minutes
Makes 3 Serving


Ingredients:-

To be ground into a paste:-

2 tbsp Chopped Almonds (Badam),soaked in little water
2 tbsp poppy seeds (Khus Khus), soaked in 2 tablespoons of water
4 green chillies, roughly chopped
2 cloves
2 cloves garlic
2 cardamoms
1 tsp chopped ginger

Other ingredients:-

1/2 cup chopped onions paste
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (khumbh)
1 cup fresh peas/mutter/Frozen peas (I used frozen peas)
1/4 cup low fat milk / Non Fat milk
salt to taste
2 tbsp chopped coriander for garnishing
1/4 tsp Orange food color(Optional)

Method:-

Make a paste of the chopped onions.
Heat a non-stick pan on a medium flame and when hot,add onion paste and saute the onion mixture until they turn mild golden color heat.Stir continuously so it doesn't burn.
Then Add the grounded paste and cook stirring continuously for 4 mins till it is golden in colour. .Add ½ cup of water to it and mix well .Add the peas,salt and simmer till the peas get cooked.
Add the mushrooms,milk and Food colour.Simmer covered for about 10 more minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Delicious Mushroom and Green peas curry is now ready to serve.
Serve hot with phulkas,chapatis,rotis, naans.
Enjoy the Guilt Free Subzi:)
.