December 31, 2007

MANGO KHEER AND MW MOONG DAL-PUMPKIN GRAVY

This is my last post in 2007 at Aroma!! YAY!! Happy new year to all of you. See you in 2008!:)

Latha N of "The YUM blog" is hosting this month's "A Fruit A Month" with a theme of cooking with "Dry fruits". AFAM is started by Maheswari of "Beyond the usual" blog and Mango-Coconut Kheer is my entry for this event.. Thanks for hosting Latha!:))

Dried Mango slices from Philippines:
Mangoes retain a special significance in the culture of South Asia where they have been cultivated for many centuries. It has been the national fruit of India, Bangladesh and Philippines. Reference to mangoes as the "food of the gods" can be found in the Hindu Vedas and the leaves are ritually used for floral decorations at Hindu weddings and religious ceremonies.

The name 'mango' is from the Malayalam word manga, which was introduced in Europe by the Portuguese from Calicut (Malabar Coast) in the late fifteenth century and called "Aam" in Hindi.
The mango is an excellent nutritional source, containing many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as enzymes such as magneferin and lactase. In the Philippines, unripe mango is eaten with bagoong. Dried strips of sweet, ripe mangoes have also gained popularity both inside and outside the country, with those produced in Cebu making it to export markets around the world. Dried unripe mango used as a spice and is known as amchur or amchoor in India and ambi in Urdu. All these info. is from WIKIPEDIA.

Mango-Coconut Kheer:
Kheer is an Indian word for pudding, which is easy and quick to make and tastes delicious flavored with Mango bits and coconut. Hope you try!

You need: 1 cup chopped dry Mango slices(soak these in hot water for 1/2 an hour until soft, drain), 2 tbsp very fine grained Semolina(cream of wheat), 2 tbsp grated fresh or Sweetened Coconut, 1/4 cup or more Sugar, 3 cups 2% milk, 1/2 tbsp butter, pinch of salt.

To make it:
1. Heat butter in a pan, add semolina, stir for a minute.Add milk, bring it to boil, turn down the heat.
2. Add the soft Mango slices, coconut, sugar, salt and simmer for 1omins. Take off the heat. It gets thicker as it cools.
3. Serve warm or chilled, tastes great. I added very little sugar and skipped Cardamom pd since Mangoes have their own sweetness and beautiful aroma. Enjoy!

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Moong dal and white Pumpkin(Ash gourd) gravy cooked in the Microwave is my entry to "Easy cooking with Microwave" which is hosted by Srivalli of "Cooking 4 all seasons" with a theme of "Gravies" this month. Thanks for hosting Srivalli!:))



Microwaved Moong-Pumpkin dal:
Here is a tasty gravy you can make in the microwave. Moong dal or yellow split lentils is the easiest dal to cook in the microwave since it cooks very easily unlike other dals. You can use Masoor dal (red lentils) too. Adding Ash gourd pieces gives the gravy texture and makes it tastes delicious.

You need: 1 Cup Moong dal, washed,soaked in 3 cups of hot water for 1/2 an hour, 1 cup Ash Gourd or Bottle gourd chopped into cubes, 1/8 tsp Turmeric, 2 green chillies chopped or 1/4 tsp chilli pd or any curry pd you have, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 tbsp Coriander seeds powder,salt, few cherry tomatoes (Optional).
For seasoning: 1/2 Tbsp Butter + 1/2 tbsp oil,1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 garlic chopped, 3 tbsp onion minced.

Garnish with cilantro and squeeze of lemon juice.

To make it:
1. Add the soaked dal with water to a microwave proof deep dish along with gourd pieces and cook for 5 mins on high. Stir and cook for 5 more mins.Repeat this way until dal is cooked and gourd is soft. Add salt, turmeric, green chillies or chilli pd and ginger.
2. Cook again for 3 mins. Add coriander pd, pierced cherry tomatoes,cook for 2 more mins, mix well until you get a thickish gravy.Take it out of the MW and garnish.
3. For seasoning, you can either do it on the stove top for convenience or heat a glass bowl with butter and oil for 1 min on high, add all the seasoning ingredients, cover with paper towel and heat until it splutters. Add minced onion and garlic and cook again until golden on the edges.Add to dal and mix.

Enjoy!:)

46 comments:

Lata said...

Wow, both of them look great and easy to make. I never heard of Mango with Cocounut before, I should give it a try.

Happy New Year

FH said...

Hi Lata, Kheer is specially good. Try it. I was in a real hurry posting this today, glad I could make it before the deadline for both.
Happy New year, enjoy. See you later!:))

Sig said...

Wow, for the first time, I am not horribly late... , in fact I am the second to comment :D

Wish you a joyous 2008 Asha... Enjoy the new year's eve!

FH said...

Thank you Sig.
Later is always better than never darling girl, it's quite okay to be late, take your time!:))
Phew! At last 2008 is here and the holiday season is almost over.
Here is my toast to you and Siv;
have a wonderful, happy, healthy and fun beginning.
I will be back blogging from tomorrow. Enjoy, hugs to you!:))

Mansi said...

wow Asha! I've never been so early in your list of commentators:) the kheer looks very tempting!

Wish you and your family a great and joyous 2008!!

FH said...

Hi Mansi, I was just thinking of you!!:D
Early or late, love to see you as always. Have a great 2008, hugs to you!:))

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

Ashakka,
New Year wishes to you and yours. Love the Mango payasa. Looks delicious!!

TBC said...

Dear Asha,
Loads of love and best wishes to you and your family. Hope you have a joyous and fun-filled 2008.:-)
I like the sound of mango kheer. I hate all milky payasams/kheers but this sounds like something I would eat/drink:-)

Srivalli said...

Asha, both look so lovely. Thanks for the entry...I am so glad you could manage, even if it had been late, no probs...could've always included in the post!

Wish you a very happy new year!

Linda said...

Ash gourd and moong dal!? Yum! I will def. be trying this one soon... now that holidays and vacation are over, it's time to get back to basics and I am missing my dal! Mango kheer looks pretty *and* tasty, too. Happy New Year, dear Asha, and wishing you and your lovely family all the best in 2008. Hugs to you my friend! :)

Sagari said...

hi asha ji both recipes are very new to me PUMPKIN DHAL look so good have to try it

Anonymous said...

2 great recipes for New Year. They both look wonderful. Keer is great.

Richa said...

dear Asha, Best Wishes for 2008!
the dal looks so good :)

bha said...

The kheer looks nice...but i hate yellow ripe mangoes...cant help it...

Happy New year...:)

sunita said...

Sorry...I'm late. ..But the dal is what I've got my eyes on...happy new year to you and your family.

Seena said...

Happy New year, Dear Asha..!
Had mailed my wishes, hope u got it..:)
Our philippino friend have brought this dried mangos for us.Good you tried it in kheer!
Love the curry too..

amna said...

lovely recipes to round up the year. Have a wonderful new year!

Raks said...

Nice entries for the events Asha! Happy new year to you!

FH said...

Thanks Ramaya. Happy new year. I am back today!:))

tbc, add fat free milk and little bit of Rava makes it nice and thick. Happy new year!:))

krystyna said...

First time I met with mango in USA and I didn't like it. Now I like mango but must to be fully-riped.

Thanks for your hard, great job this year!!!
I wish you A Happy, Healthy, Lovely and Successful 2008!!!

FH said...

Sri, thanks for accepting. I tried my best to get in on time. I was so busy cooking for all these holiday stuff! Enjoy!:)

Hi Linda, I am back today. I was planning post at FH but forgot that Arvind has a day off! Plans changed but will blog from today.
A very happy new year to you and family too. Hugs!:)

FH said...

Thanks Sagari, happy new year sweetie!:)

Thanks Vege yum, hope you try. Something sweet to begin the new year indeed!:))
Have a good one, I will see you later.

FH said...

Thank you Richa, I will see you today!:))

Bha, you can use Mango pulp too. Dry Mango is just for this event, I use pulp too. Happy new year!:)

FH said...

Sunita, don't say sorry girl, it's a busy time for all of us. Take your time and I will see you from today!:)
Happy new year!

Happy new year Seena. I haven't checked the mail yet but thank you. I have been swamped with so much work, you can't believe it!:)
Enjoy the Kheer, see you later.

FH said...

Happy new year Nags. Enjoy, will see you later!:))

HI Raks, I am back today girl. 80+ posts are waiting for me!! AH!!!:D
Happy new year, enjoy!:)

FH said...

Hi Krystyna, I don't like the US Mangoes either. They come from Latin America and very stringy and sour to eat.
You get canned Mango pulp from India in Indian stores which is sweet and delicious.You can use that too. These dry Mango is also great when you cook them. Try it.
Happy new year!:))

Pravs said...

Happy new year, Asha ! Wishing you and your family the best for the new year. Like the combination of mango + coconut kheer..very new for me.

Seema said...

Love the kheer.. like the ingredients Mango & Coconut!! Its must be amazing!! Will try it out. Masoor & Pumkin dal.. nice one.. very different. You come out with such unique dishes asha!

Hope u had a great holiday season!Welcome back & Happy 2008.

FH said...

Thanks Pravs. Kheer was delicious, hope you try. You can add any fruit pulp you like too. Happy new year to you too, enjoy!:)

Hi Seema, thanks girl. Any dal will do for this but Masoor and Moong dal are the quickest to cook in the Microwave or on the stove top. Try the Kheer. Happy new year!:)

Mona said...

Hi Asha! I came to wish you and your family a Happy and a Prosperous New Year!

I have taken a break from blogging since I will be traveling for sometime!

Mange Kheer! Now that is a good idea!

FH said...

Hi Mona, thank you and same to you and your family too. We had a good time since Arvind was home.
Have a great trip and enjoy. I will see you when you come back.I was on break too for 3 weeks, just came back yesterday!:))

AnuSriram said...

Hi Asha, Wish u a happy and prosperous New year 2008!
Mango kheer Looks so tempting... its a must try for me...

FH said...

Hi Anu, I just came back from your blog!:)
Thanks, try the Kheer, really tasty. You can use Mango pulp instead of dries fruit too. Enjoy the new year, God bless!:)

Finla said...

Happy Newyear to you and family.
I have never cooked with dry mangoes.
Love both the dishes.
I will be back on next week

FH said...

Hi F, good to see you. Take your time and enjoy the family. Kheer is great with dried fruit or pulp, try it!:))

Deepak Gopi said...

Looks really delicious.Yet to eat that stuff.
good day 2 u and family

FH said...

Hi Deepak, good Monday to you. Kheer is easy and very tasty. Try it!:)

Laavanya said...

Am sorry I missed this post of yours. That's a beautiful mango kheer and great idea to use the dried slices since we rarely find good ripe mangoes here. The palya looks beautiful. I always have the wrong pumpkin on hand. When i saw kribha's pumpkin halwa, I had yellow pumpkin and now i see your gravy and i have white pumpkin at home! :)

FH said...

Haha!! Laavanya, I guess you can make this stir fry with white pumpkin too but it won't be as sweet as Butternut squash!
Don't apologize, take your time and say hi anytime you have time. Hugs!:)

Daily Meals said...

Hi Asha! Both of the dishes look yummy.

FH said...

Thank you Vijaya, hope you try!:))

Purnima said...

I made this daal yesterday, not in mw though! Never-the-same, the daal was tasty! Tks for sharing! This is going to be a keeper!

FH said...

Moong dal tastes best in dal recipes, glad you liked it!:)

Purnima said...

Asha,just a query..why hv you named it masoor-pumpkin daal? gud that u did, next i shall use mw n substitute wt masoor daal, shd that b fine?

FH said...

OOPS!!! :D
NOBODY told me that until now Purnima, that is a mistake, I will correct it.Thanks sweetie.
Yes, you can use Masoor too, any dal can be used in the MW excpt Tuar which is hard to cook. Enjoy!:)

PaakaPriya said...

Tried it today on stove-top. Absolutely lip-smacking! This one's a keeper