Nasuha Blog

It's been really long since I made some Indian sweet. With the festive season coming close, it's the right time to indulge in some sugary treats and so I bring you this easy to make yet very delicious Nariyal Ki Barfi. Nariyal ki barfi or coconut fudge is a must make sweet for the weddings in Mathur community and is called Pili barfi for it's yellow color. The sweet which is decked with silver foil, saffron strands and dry fruit slivers is arranged on a big thaal or plate and is send to the grooms family along with the other goodies as a token to mark the beginning of the celebration. The soft, melt in your texture of this sweet is loved by all in my family and it is so easy to make that I end up making a batch of this goodness for all the festivals. Keep the consistency of sugar syrup in check and you will nail this recipe. Here is how to make this simple yet very delicious Nariyal Ki barfi.


All you need is

Grated fresh coconut - 3 cups
Ghee - 3 tbsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Water - 3\4 cup
Yellow food color - 1\4 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Khoya - 200 g
Dry fruits slivers, silver foil and saffron strands for garnishing



Method of preparation

Grease a 9 inch pan with ghee.
Keep aside.
Heat khoya in a pan.
Fry till pinkish in color.
Keep aside.
Heat sugar and water in a pan.
Cook till the sugar dissolves and the syrup reaches a 2 string consistency.
Do not swirl while the sugar syrup is cooking.
Add yellow food color and cardamom powder.
Mix.
Meanwhile, add ghee in a pan.
Add grated coconut and fry on medium heat for 5-6 minutes.
Add khoya and sugar syrup and mix well.
Pour the mixture in the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Let the barfi set for 3-4 hours.
Cut into small pieces.
Garnish with dry fruits slivers, silver foil and saffron strand.

Note - If your Barfi is not setting and is too soft, just microwave the mixture for 3-4 minutes and set again.
You can skip using food color and can make a white color barfi.
The consistency of sugar syrup is important for the barfi to set nicely.

Methi Thepla is a very popular Gujarati dish made with whole wheat flour, chickpea flour, spices and fresh fenugreek leaves. A dough is made and it is then rolled into small flat breads which are cooked using little oil on a griddle. These Thepla's keep good for a couple of days and are a perfect choice to take along while travelling. These are also a great lunch Box option as your kid can just roll and eat it without much hassle. Methi Thepla's can be eaten as such or can be paired with pickle and yogurt. Here is the easy recipe to make Gujarati Methi Thepla.


All you need is

Whole wheat flour \ Gehun ka atta - 2 cups
Chickpea flour  \ Besan - 1\2 cup
Fresh fenugreek \ Methi leaves - 1 cup ( chopped )
Curd - 1\2 cup
Ginger paste - 1\2 tsp
Chili paste - 1\2 tsp
Asafoetida \ Heeng - a pinch
Cumin seeds \ zeera - 1\2 tsp
Carom seeds \ Ajwain - 1\2 tsp
Turmeric \ Haldi powder - 1\2 tsp
Red chili powder  - 1\2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Warm water to knead the dough
Oil for frying



Method of preparation

Mix all the ingredients except warm water and oil in a bowl.
Mix nicely with your finger tips.
Add very little water and knead to make a soft dough.
Keep in mind the fenugreek leaves will leave water, so add very little water while kneading.
Cover and keep the dough for 15-20 minutes.
Add a tbsp of oil in the bowl and knead the dough again for a minute.
Divide the dough into 10 equal balls.
Dust and roll the balls to a 6-7 inch circle.
Heat a griddle.
Keep the thepla on the hot griddle and cook from both the sides till brown spots appear.
Apply 1 tsp oil on both the sides and cook till spots darken and the thepla is cooked.
Keep pressing the thepla with a flat spoon while it is cooking.
Serve hot with pickle and curd.

Note - If you are making the Theplas to store and eat later, do not add besan to the dough. It will keep your Thepla's soft for a longer time. But if planning to eat hot Thepla's, besan will add a nice crunch.

Naan... I love this bread with any kind of Indian curries. It is usually my bread of choice when visiting an Indian restaurant. It was one of the first things that I learned to cook in my kitchen and with time and making it again and again, I have finally got a fool recipe that works for me every single time. I made naan in an electric oven, I made it in a pressure cooker too. But after making it on a griddle which is turned upside down, no other method charms me anymore. I have found my trick. My naan now comes out wonderfully soft and chewy with the most perfect brown spots on the surface. I have already shared the recipe and trick to make plain naan sometime back, but this time I made butter and garlic naan and thought to share it as well. Here it is.


All you need is

Maida \ All purpose flour - 4 cups
Baking soda - 1\2 tsp
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1\2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Yogurt - 1\4 cup
Milk to knead the dough
Oil - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 3 tbsp ( finely chopped )
Butter  - 2 tbsp ( melted )


Method of preparation

Mix maida, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar and yogurt in a bowl.
Add milk and knead a soft dough.
Oil a bowl and transfer the dough in the oiled bowl.
Cover the bowl and keep in a warm place for 1 hour.
Heat a griddle ( tava ).
Make small balls of the dough.
Sprinkle a tsp of chopped garlic on the platform.
Dust and roll the dough ball over the garlic to make thin naan.
Apply water on the top surface of the naan.
Keep the naan on the griddle with garlic side up.
The naan will stick to the griddle because of water applied.
Now turn the griddle upside down over the high flame.
Cook till brown spots appear on the naan.
Turn the griddle and cook the naan for 20-30 seconds.
Remove using a tong.
Apply butter generously on the Naan.
Serve hot.
You can make these naans and store in a hot box a few hours prior to eating.