Easy Coconut Ladoo Recipe Without Condensed Milk | Thengai Laddu

Coconut ladoo,called as Nariyal Ka ladoo in Hindi and Thengai Ladoo in Tamil.I have made this coconut laddu without condensed milk. When it comes to easy festival sweets recipes, my priority goes to ladoo recipes. This coconut laddu was in my try list for years I should say. I thought of trying this for last Diwali but I couldn’t. As Holi festival is nearing, I took this as a chance to try this easy sweet recipe. I know most of you make it in less than 5 minutes using condensed milk. As I din’t have milkmaid/condensed milk in hand, I used milk and it came out perfect! U don’t need any expertise to try this recipe.Even beginners can attempt this. It won’t disappoint you for sure. Do try this simple and easy laddu recipe for this Holi/Diwali and get appreciations from your family members .

Coconut ladoo recipe

Coconut ladoo recipe - Easy holi/Diwali recipes

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Sweet

Serves: 10nos

Prep time: 2 Minutes

Cook time: 10 Minutes

Total time: 12 Minutes

Ingredients

Desiccated coconut or freshly scrapped coconut- 1 cup Boiled milk - 3/4 cup (at room temp) Sugar - 1/3 cup Cardamom seeds - 2 nos(powdered) Ghee – 2 tsp Desiccated coconut – 1/4 cup (to coat the balls) OR Desiccated coconut - 1 cup Condensed milk - 1 cup

How To Make Coconut Ladoo Without Condensed Milk

Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a kadai.Add the dessicated coconut and roast for 2-3 minutes in low flame till u get a nice aroma. Now add milk and stir well till all the milk is absorbed by coconut. After the mixture thickens,add sugar and mix well.Sugar melts and the mixture becomes a semi solid paste. Keep mixing in medium flame till all the sugar is well combined with coconut and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.Take a small piece and try to roll a ball.If u are able to do it,the mixture is ready.Add cardamom powder,mix it and switch off the flame. When the mixture becomes warm,grease ur hands with a drop of ghee and make balls. Immediately roll in the desiccated coconut.Else it wont stick.Arrange the ladoos in a plate.Stays good for 2-3 days when refrigerated.

Note If u want to make a quicker version,use condensed milk in place of milk and sugar.The ratio of dessicated coconut and condensed milk should be 1:1. Its better to use mature ones if u want to use fresh coconuts.scrape the white part & use it instead of desiccated coconut.In that case,fry coconut for more time till all the moisture completely goes off ! Do not keep the mixture for long time in flame as it changes the color of balls. Also stay nearby and complete this sweet.U can finish it within 10 minutes. Initially the balls will be yellow in color.After u coat them in coconut,its color changes to half white.

Yummy,quick coconut ladoo after a bite by my daughter Raksha

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Sambar Powder - Homemade Sambar Powder Recipe / Tamil nadu Style Sambar Podi ( 2 versions)

Tamil nadu style sambar powder recipe (sambar podi) in 2 versions with bulk and small quantity. In this post, I have discussed “How to prepare Sambar powder at home”. Every South Indian family has their own version of  homemade sambar powder. It stays fresh and flavourful equal to store bought ones. Here, I have shared two versions of Tamilnadu style Kuzhambu milagai thool recipe. 

One from my MIL and one from my Mom(Tirunelveli style). My MIL's Sambar masala powder is an all rounder podi for me. I add in Poriyal, Kootu, Sambar , Vathakuzhambu and even paruppu rasam. I don’t need red chilli powder (Milagai thool) at all when I have my MIL's sambar podi in hand. At the same time, my mom’s Nellai sambar powder can be freshly prepared in small quantity and use whenever we need. I use the same for idli sambar too. So both the versions has its own taste and flavour.

 I have given the sambar powder ingredients in bulk as well as smaller quantity. Bulk quantity comes for 3 months and small quantity is for 2 to 3 days. If you like its taste, you can grind in more quantity and store it for a week.  I hope small quantity would help you all to grind in mixie, if  you don’t have mill option near your house. Ok, Lets see how to make sambar powder at home in 2 versions.

Homemade Sambar powder (MIL's Version)

My MIL's Tamilnadu style homemade sambar powder recipe - Multipurpose powder recipe to use in sambar, vathakuzhambu, kootu, poriyal and even rasam.

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Homemades

Serves: 2 cups

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml

For bulk quantity ( for 3 months use) Dhania / Coriander seeds – 1/4 kg ( 250gms/1.25cups ) Red chillies – 1/4 kg ( 250gms) Methi seeds - 50 gms(1/4 cup) Toor dal – 50 gms(1/4 cup) Chana dal – 50 gms(1/4 cup) Turmeric powder – 50 gms (1/4 cup) Pepper corns – 50 gms (1/4 cup) Cumin seeds / jeera – 2 tbsp For small quantity(for 3-4 days) Red chillies - 12 nos Dhania - 2 tbsp Methi seeds - 1 tsp Toor dal - 1 tsp Chana dal - 1 tsp Pepper corns - 1 tsp Jeera - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder - 2 tsp

METHOD

For bulk quantity Sun dry all the ingredients for 4-5 hours till it becomes crispy. Grind in a mill. Spread in a news paper,cool down completely, mix turmeric powder and store in a box. Use a clean plastic spoon every time.Stays good for 6 months.( If you want this powder to be more flavourful, dry roast methi seeds alone for 2-3 minutes and grind with other sundried ingredients. Do not dry roast for long time till it turns brown. It may lend a burnt taste.) For small quantity Heat a kadai in high flame for few minutes. Switch off the flame and add the pinched red chillies. Roast for a minute and immediately add all the other ingredients, stir them for few minutes till it gets heated. Leave in the kadai for sometime. All the ingredients will be cooled &crispy. Now grind them in mixie, sieve and store.

 

HOMEMADE SAMBAR POWDER ( My mom’s version)

Homemade Sambar Powder Recipe (mom's version)

Homemade sambar powder -Mom's Tirunelveli style recipe

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Homemades

Serves: 3 cups

Prep time: 30 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 50 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml

For bulk quantity Dhania - 1/2 kg Red chillies - 1/2 kg Chana dal/kadalai paruppu - 1/4 kg Methi seeds - 100 gms For small quantity ( for 2 days use) Oil – 2 drops Dry coriander seeds – 1.5 tsp Chana dal – 2 tsp Fenugreek seeds/Methi seeds – 1/2 tsp Red chilli – 4-6 nos

METHOD

For bulk quantity Sun dry or dry roast all the ingredients one by one in a hot kadai, cool and grind in a mill. Actually roasting the ingredients is optional. We sun dry them if the ingredients are moist. Spread in a news paper till it cools down and store in a box. Use a clean spoon every time. Keep this sambar powder in freezer in an air tight box.Take small quantity and store in another box for daily use. For small quantity Roast all the ingredients in 2 drops of oil, cool and grind to a powder. U can use for making sambar twice or thrice. U can  also use this powder for making idli sambar ! Check out my mom's Tirunelveli style sambar for rice.

Store in an air tight bottle and use a clean spoon always !

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SUKHDI RECIPE (GUR PAPDI) | EASY GUJARATI SWEETS RECIPES

In my Gujarati thali post, you would have seen this sweet recipe showcased in the middle of the plate. It is nothing but Sukhdi/Gur papdi. Gur/Gud means jaggery. It is one of the traditional Gujarati sweets recipes. This is the easiest sweet I have ever tried so far. U can try this in microwave too.

As Holi is nearing, you can include this easy sweet in your holi recipes menu. With just 3 ingredients, it tastes awesome! It can be done under 15 minutes. U can try this for your surprise guests too. They will be amazed by its taste. I followed Ezcookbook Ishita’s recipe.

I was totally satisfied with the outcome. I got it perfect in my first attempt. The ratio of wheat flour & ghee is 2:1, which is very important for this sweet. So do not reduce its quantity. How come a sweet with so much of ghee  go wrong?. So anyone can make this sweet easily.  Do try this for your family, they will love it for sure !

This recipe has been featured on Twinkl, as part of their Easy Diwali Sweets recipe blog. Thank you Twinkl !

Sukhdi/Gur Papdi Recipe

Sukhdi/Gur papdi -Traditional, easiest Gujarati sweet recipe.

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Dessert

Serves: 7

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Cook time: 10 Minutes

Total time: 15 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 200ml or 250ml Wheat Flour - 1/2 cup Melted ghee - 1/4 cup Grated jaggery - 1/2 cup

METHOD

Grate jaggery or powder it very finely. *There should not be any single pieces in it.* It is the most important point here. Grease a  plate with ghee and set aside. In a kadai, heat ghee and roast the wheat flour in medium flame till you get nice aroma. The color of wheat flour will be changed to golden brown. Keep stirring to avoid getting burnt. Keep the flame low and add grated jaggery to this and mix well. After all the jaggery is combined well with the flour, switch off the flame immediately. It takes a minute only. (Please be careful on keeping the heat in entire process else jaggery will get cooked more and Sukhdi will become chewy & hard.) After u switch off the flame, stir the mixture for a second till jaggery is melted completely. Put this mixture into the ghee greased plate and level it with the back of spatula or use a polythene sheet. Do it quickly. Else you can’t level it. After 2-3 minutes, mark the shapes using a knife. Leave it aside for 10 minutes. Now you can easily remove the sweet from the plate. It tastes good after it is cooled down completely. U can sprinkle some poppy seeds for decoration ! Store in a box and enjoy. U can keep it for a week.

Note

The color of papdi depends on the color of jaggery. Mine came out light yellow in color. Make sure you roast the wheat flour till you get a nice aroma. Jaggery should be fine without lumps or pieces. It should be melted in the heat of wheat flour. No need to use cardamom. U can use cashew nuts pieces at the end before spreading in the plate to get a crunchy taste while eating.

Melts in mouth. U can’t stop with one !

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NO BAKE CHOCOLATE PINWHEELS RECIPE

I wanted to try a no bake dessert recipe for long time. I tried this recipe on Valentine’s day from Late Mrs.Jayasree’s blog. But I couldn’t post here.Actually I followed two different recipes. One using dessicated coconut & condensed milk and the other one is this simple recipe using milk and butter. I loved both but Sendhil & Raksha din’t like the dessicated coconut flavor. So I am sharing the recipe using butter and milk which was a hit at home. Please see “Notes” for variations.

I cut in small size to make mini pinwheels. Now I wish to try no bake pinwheel cookies too.

No bake chocolate pinwheels recipe

Easy, no bake chocolate pinwheels recipe - yummy dessert recipe forValentine's day !

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Dessert

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

For chocolate layer Marie biscuit - 10 nos Cocoa powder – 1.5 - 2 tbsp Sugar - 2 tbsp Milk - as needed For white layer Dessicated coconut - 1/4 cup (optional) Butter - 2 tbsp Sugar - 3 tbsp

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PINWHEELS RECIPE - METHOD

In a mixie jar,take the biscuits. Grind it to a nice powder. Now add cocoa powder,sugar and run till smooth. Make sure there are no pieces. Sieve and set aside. Take the ground powder in a bowl and add the required milk to make a smooth, firm dough. I used 2.5 tbsp of milk. Adjust as per your dough. Roll this ball in a polythene sheet using a rolling pin like a thick roti. Chocolate layer is ready. In mixer, beat the sugar and butter to make a creamy paste .Remove and add the dessicated coconut if using. Apply this paste over the rolled chocolate layer . Leave some space in the corners and roll it tightly. Wrap the cylinder in  an aluminium foil or a polythene sheet. Freeze it for 1 hour. After it is set, remove and cut into pieces. It should not stick to the knife. If it is sticky, freeze for more time. Serve chilled ! Note Adding dessicated coconut is purely optional.U can add condensed milk instead of milk to make the dough. Do not add sugar if u use condensed milk. If using condensed milk , you may need 1/2 cup. Make sure to make the chocolate layer little thicker than the white layer.

Always Serve chilled ! Here is a cute mini pinwheel for u !

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BANANA SMOOTHIE RECIPE–SUMMMER RECIPES

Its almost summer in Bangalore. We feel like having some juices/ drinks in the afternoons. So to start with Summer drinks recipes, I thought of making this easy & simple banana smoothie recipe with milk. I really din’t know the difference between a milkshake and smoothie until I tried this. After googling, I found smoothie is just a blend of fruits, honey and Milk whereas Milkshake is made by pulsing milk, sugar and ice cream with an essence or fruit. Ice cream is very important for Milk shakes.

As I din’t have ice cream in my hand, I tried smoothie.The consistency of smoothie should be thicker than milkshake. So I followed my Sharjah shake recipe to make it thick. It was very tasty and filling. We just loved it. With the smell of bananas and flavour of cinnamon, it was awesome. Do try this simple, easy to make, healthy banana smoothie. U’ll love it !

Banana Smoothie Recipe

Easy,healthy summer drink with the flavour of cinnamon

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Summer Drinks

Serves:3

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Cook time: 5 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Banana -2 nos (long) Milk – 2 cups (frozen) Honey or sugar –2-3 tbsp Cinnamon powder - 2 pinches Vanilla essence - few drops

HOW TO MAKE BANANA SMOOTHIE - METHOD

Peel the banana and cut into thin slices. Spread in a plate and freeze it for two-three hours. Freeze the milk along with banana. I used unboiled milk. U can use boiled milk too. Now in a mixie jar, take the frozen banana slices. Crush the frozen milk and add to the jar. Add honey and essence as per ur taste. Blend it well without adding water. It will become a thick paste. Add little water if necessary to loosen it. Pour in a glass and serve chilled. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder , mix well and drink.

Note

For variations,use sugar instead of honey. U can also use a tbsp of drinking chocolate powder to get chocolate flavour. If you don’t want to use frozen milk, use ice cubes along with milk while blending. It will be too cold when u drink immediately. So you can make it 30 minutes in advance & keep it too. Chillness would be just right when you drink. Adding cinnamon powder gives a nice flavour to smoothie.so please add.

Enjoy this smoothie along with breakfast. Its very healthy, filling too !

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KUMBAKONAM KADAPPA RECIPE/கும்பகோணம் கடப்பா-SIDE DISH FOR IDLI DOSA

Kumbakonam Kadappa as the title says, it is a very famous side dish recipe for idli, dosa in Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur & Thanjavur district, Tamil nadu. It tastes more like kurma but its consistency is between sambar and kurma. I have tasted this once in Sendhil’s uncle’s house in Kumbakonam.

Long back I tried two versions & posted here too. But this recipe is the authentic, restaurant style one from Chef, Master Ravi of  the famous “Vaasan cafe”, Thiruvarur, Kumbakonam. I took this recipe from Aval vikatan Magazine. Last month I prepared this when my in-laws were here. We all loved it & relished with idli. I have tried this many times after that.

The color of kadappa is usually white. In some hotels/restaurants, they make with or without tomato, carrot. Even the recipe given the book had carrot and tomato. So I tried two versions. Hope U can find the difference in color in pictures. Do try any based on your liking. I am sure you’ll love this mildly spiced, kurma like gravy for idli, dosa. Procedure seems a bit lengthy. But its worthy to try. Lets see how to make restaurant style kumbakonam kadappa recipe with step by step pictures.

Kadappa with tomato & carrot

Kumbakonam/Thanjavur kadappa recipe

Kumbakonam/Thanjavur kadappa recipe - Authentic recipe from a chef. A tasty side dish for idli,dosa!

Cuisine: Indian

Category: Side dish

Serves: Serves 4

Prep time: 20 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 40 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 240ml

To pressure cook Yellow moong dal - 1/4 cup Potato - 1 no Water - as needed Oil - a drop To powder Cinnamon - 1 inch piece Fennel - 1/2 tsp Garlic cloves - 5 nos To saute Oil - 1 tsp Green chilli – 4- 5  Fried gram dal /Pottukadalai – 2 tsp To grind with above Grated coconut - 1/4 cup Khus-Khus/Poppy seeds - 1 tsp Soambu/Fennel seeds - 1 tsp Garlic cloves - 5 nos Ginger - 1 inch piece To temper & saute Oil - 2 tbsp Cloves - 2 nos Biryani leaf / bay leaf - 1 no Star anise - 1 no Small onion - 10 nos OR Big onion - 1  Garlic cloves - 10 nos Tomato – 1 no (optional) Curry leaves - few Carrot - 1 no (small,optional) Mint, coriander leaves - 2 tbsp Lemon juice - few drops

HOW TO MAKE KADAPPA - METHOD

Pressure cook moong dal adding required water & a drop of oil. Keep a whole potato inside it. Cook them for one whistle in low flame. Remove, peel the potato skin & cut into cubes. Mash the dal & set aside. In a kadai, heat a tsp of oil & saute the green chillies & fried gram dal. Take this in a mixie jar & add grated coconut, ginger, garlic cloves, poppy seeds & fennel seeds. Grind everything to a smooth paste adding required water. Set aside. Crush the cinnamon, fennel & garlic cloves & set aside. In the same kadai, heat 2 tbsp of oil. Saute cloves,star anise,cardamom and biryani leaf. Now add the crushed cinnamon powder. Then add onions, garlic cloves & saute till transparent. Now add tomatoes & saute for a minute. No need to become mushy. Adding tomato & carrot is optional. Add sliced carrots, saute well. Add water to cook the carrots and cover cook for few minutes. After the carrots are cooked well, add the ground coconut paste and cooked moong dal. Boil for sometime. Check for salt. Add the potato cubes, allow the gravy to boil till thickens slightly.  Before removing, add the chopped coriander and mint leaves. Give one boil and switch off the flame. Add lemon juice and Serve with hot idlies !

I served it with Oats Barely idli !

Note

This gravy would thicken after it cools down.So make it slightly watery. Adding tomato & carrots are optional. I have not seen them in the kadappa I tasted in kumbakonam restaurants. But I added as it was mentioned in the recipe. To make it white, omit tomato & carrots. Add more green chillies if you want it more spicy.

Enjoy this Kumbakonam kadappa for idli,dosa with  Kumbakonam degree coffee !

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HOMEMADE GARAM MASALA POWDER RECIPE-PODI RECIPES

Nowadays Garam masala powder has become an important ingredient in cooking like salt & chilli powder. So I buy it every month along with other groceries without fail. But once I wanted to prepare at home and see the output. I have never thought, homemade Garam Masala Powder tastes and smells sooo good equivalent to store bought ones. Its so easy and comes out with superb flavour.

As you all know, there are many varieties of Garam masala powder. People in Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Gujarat have their own style of making. Soon I’ll share those recipes from my friends. This is just a general version of making garam masala powder at home for beginners. I have given only limited quantity of ingredients. 

If you like this recipe, you can make in bulk and store it in an air tight box. Just a tsp of it would be enough to make a flavourful gravy. I tried this recipe after referring some store bought masala packets and my cookbook. I used red chillies in this recipe. So it tastes mildly spicy too. It smells & stays good for months when handled with care. U can also refrigerate but it may not be necessary.

Here is a picture of ingredients I have used in this recipe. Hope you’ll try and like this recipe.

Homemade Garam Masala Powder Recipe

How to make Garam masala powder at home - Cooking essentials

Cuisine: Indian

Category: How to's

Serves: 1/3 cup

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Cook time: 5 Minutes

Total time: 10 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

Dhania - 2 tbsp Cumin - 1 tbsp Pepper - 1 tbsp Cardamom - 6 nos Cinnamon - 2 long sticks (finger size) Cloves – 8 nos Fennel or aniseed – 1.5 tbsp Bay leaves - 1 no Star anise - 1 no Nutmeg - 1/2 no (Break into small pieces before roasting) Red chillies - 6 nos (adjust) Dry ginger powder - 1/4 tsp Kasuri methi - 1 tsp Caraway seeds ( black jeera) - 1/4 tsp (optional) Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Hing – 1/4 tsp Salt – as needed

HOW TO MAKE GARAM MASALA POWDER - METHOD

Break the nutmeg into small pieces. Pinch the red chillies. Dry roast all the ingredients given above in medium flame till you get a nice aroma without changing the color. Take care you don’t burn them. U can also roast them individually. Grind everything to a fine powder adding salt after it cools down. No need to sieve. Store in an air tight box after it cools down completely. Use a clean spoon every time and close the box tightly after use to retain its smell.

Note

U can use a small piece of dry ginger if you don’t have its powder in hand. In that case, break the ginger into very small pieces before roasting. Grind only after all the ingredients cools down completely else small lumps may form. For variations,u can omit red chillies. U can also try adding few black stone flowers/Kalpasi and one Marati moggu for more flavor.

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