Tetor Dal (Bitter Gourd cooked with Moong Dal)

Tetor Dal or Bitter gourd cooked with moong dal is a light lentil stew and it is a quintessential Bengali dish. Very popular during summer seasons. Bitter gourd is known to cleanse your palate and this stew is super ideal to detox your tummy. A very light lentil stew to enjoy your summer meals.

Ingredients:

1. Moong Dal (yellow lentil) - half cup
2. Bitter gourds - 1 big size or 2 medium 
3. Green chillies - 2 or as per taste
4. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp 
5. Salt as per taste
6. Dry red chillies - 2
7. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
8. Nigella seeds (kalonji) - 1/2 tsp
9. Ginger paste or grated - 1/2 tsp
10. Coriander leaves 
11. Mustard oil

Process:

1. Wash and cut the bitter gourds into thin circles. Sprinkle with salt and turmeric powder, mix well and keep aside for 10-15 minutes. It will help to soften the bitter gourd.

2. Wash dal few a times and cook with salt. 

3. In a heavy bottom pan add mustard oil and heat enough until you see smoke coming out. Add the bitter gourds, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes and remove them. Now in the same pan, add little more oil, dry red chillies, cumin seeds and nigella seeds and give a stir as it will start to sizzle soon. 

4. Add the boiled dal and turmeric powder. Adjust salt and water as per consistency. Add  green chillies, grated ginger and stir it around. Simmer for 5 minutes, add half tsp of ghee (optional) and chopped coriander leaves to garnish with. Serve hot with steamed rice.

P.S. The recipe video is there on my Instagram and Youtube pages. Do check it out @romisrecipe

Falooda Popsicles

What is your pick?

Falooda or Falooda popsicles!! 

In the summertime, who doesn't want a glass of refreshing falooda? Or you want Falooda popsicles! Here is both - Two-in-One recipe. 

Ingredients

1. Milk 1ltr
2. Readymade Falooda mix 
3. Ice cream
4. Fresh fruit (any fruit of your choice, I have used mangoes)
5. Strawberry syrup

Process

1. Heat one liter milk, once it comes to boil add the readymade falooda mix and cook the mixture for 10-15 minutes. Once it thickens, remove from heat and let it cool down completely. 

2. In a serving glass, pour the falooda and add fresh mangoes and ice cream. Top up with some strawberry syrup. Enjoy

3. Pour the rest of the falooda mix in the popsicle moulds and refrigerate for 3-4 house and Enjoy.

P.S. The recipe reel is up on my Instagram page. Check it out @romisrecipe

Fresh Raw Dates Juice

Raw dates are rich in antioxidants which help the body to fight the ageing process and the growth of free radicals. Date juice concentrate contains helpful minerals that nourish the skin and promote healthy hair growth. Luckily this year I got some red raw dates and made this juice without any hassle. Just a handful of ingredients and your juice is ready in no time.   

BENEFITS OF DATES:

1. Very nutritious
2. High in fiber. Getting enough fiber is important for your overall health.
3. High in disease-fighting antioxidants.
4. May promote natural labor
5. Excellent natural sweetener

Ingredients

Raw dates - 3-4

Sugar - 1 tea spoon (because these are row, little bit of bitterness is there)

Ice cubes

Process: 

1. Cut the dates and remove the seeds. In a mixer jar add the date pieces and grind for two minutes. Now add water and sugar and grind for 2-3 minutes. Sieve the juice in container.

2. In a glass add few ice cubes and pour fresh raw date juice in it and serve chilled. 

Perfect in this Monsoon season.  

CHERRY LEMONADE

When life gives you cherries and lemons, make cherry lemonade and just chill.

Ingredients

1. Cherries - half cup
2. Lemon slices
3. Mint - few
4. Sugar syrup / sugar - as per taste
5. Black salt - as per taste
6. Ice cubes

Process

1. Muddle some cherries, lemon slices and mint together.

2. In a jar add this mixture with some sugar and black salt. Add ice cubes and mix well.

3. Serve it with some fresh mint.

JAMUN JUICE / KALA KHATTA SARBAT

JAMUN or Java plum is extremely beneficial for heart, it is loaded with potassium. This fruit is beneficial in keeping diseases like high blood pressure, heart diseases and stroke at bay. It also keeps your arteries healthy and prevents its hardening. You can also let the seeds dry and make a powder that can be consumed regularly before meals to fight diabetes very effectively. Jamun is also good for skin as high quantity of Iron is found in Jamun which purifies your blood, thereby keeping your skin clean and beautiful. It also helps to prevent ache, blemishes, wrinkles and pimples.

Ingredients

1. Jamun - half cup
2. Lemon juice - 2 tsp
3. Mint - few
4. Sugar (optional)
5. Black salt - as per taste
6. Ice cubes

Process

1. In a blender jar add the jamun pieces (after removing the seeds), lemon juice, fresh mint leaves, little bit of sugar (optional) and black salt. Add ice cubes and mix well.

2. Put ice cubes in a serving glass, drop mint springs and pour this Jamun juice / sarbat on top and serve.

CHERRY MILKSHAKE

This super creamy and healthy Cherry Milkshake calls for just a few ingredients. Its super yummy, delicious, thick and creamy. And moreover very quick and easy to make a glassful of this healthy drink. 

Ingredients 

1. Forzen cherries (pitted / without stems) - 1/2 cup
2. Full cream milk - 1 glass
3. Honey - as per taste

Process

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Serve immediately with fresh cherries.

CUCUMBER RAITA

Most of us love raita during the summer. And we Indians always like to do experiments in the kitchen. Cucumber raita is one very favourite raita here in my house. I keep on making this, but never updated the recipe on my blog. I love it as a salad on hot summer days. It is made with chilled curd, cucumbers and some seasoning. 

The tadka on the top depends on your choice. You can skip the tadka step and keep it a simple raita. But tadka changes the taste of this raita, hence highly recommended. It is a gluten free recipe and vegan adaptable. The juicy sweetness of beetroots coupled with chilled curd and tadka, I bet you will eat this straight out of the bowl. I have skipped the tadka step here. Do try this out and share your views.

Ingredients

1. Cucumber - 1 (grated)
2. Curd - 2 cup
3. Dry roasted cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
5. Salt as per taste
6. Black pepper - as per taste
7. Curry leaves - 3-4
8. Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp (for tadka)
9. Green chilli (chopped) -1 
10. Oil / Ghee - 1 tsp
11. Roasted peanuts or pomegranate (optional) for garnishing
12. Fresh coriander leaves - for garnishing

Process

1. Peel the cucumber and grate it. Keep aside.

2. In a medium size mixing bowl whisk curd until smooth. Add 2-3 tsp water at a time to adjust the consistency. Add grated cucumber, roasted cumin powder, salt and black pepper and give a good stir. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Garnish with roasted peanuts or pomegranate and finely chopped fresh coriander leaves. Serve chilled.

The tadka step:

3. In a small saucepan, heat up the ghee. Once warm, add a pinch of hing, cumin and mustard seeds. When it starts to splutter add curry leaves, peanuts. Immediately followed by a tablespoon of water. Now add the tadka to the raita and cover it with a lid immediately. 

4. You can also add fresh herbs or boiled green peas (optional)

5. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving, raita is best served chilled. Stir well before serving. 

Khatta & Meetha Mango Drink

During summer, our taste buds longs for cool drinks. Cold drinks or summer coolers which are made out of fresh natural fruits are good for health than the commercial ones. 

Here is one yummy recipe of Mango Sarbat using both raw and ripe mangoes. Recipe inspired by Master Chef Kunal Kapoor. 

Ingredients

1. Raw mango (chopped) - 1 cup
2. Ripe mango (chopped) - 1 cup
3. Water - 2 glass
4. Sugar 2-3 tsp (as per taste)
5. Ice cubes - 5-6
6. Mint leaves - few for garnishing (optional)

Process

1. Mix altogether ripe and raw mangoes with sugar and water. Cook in low flame till mango is tender.

2. Remove and puree it. Let it cool down. 

3. Pour this mixture in a serving jar and add some ice cubes and fresh mint leaves.

4. While serving, pour in glasses and top with nuts or mint.

Mint Orange Basil Lemonade

This is a simple beverage recipe that takes only minutes to prepare and includes key ingredients for natural detoxification including lemon juice, orange juice, mint and black pepper with a spoonful of basil seeds. Its refreshing and energizing. So give it a try for the little boost we all need from time to time. This cooler can also be served as a welcome drink to guests and in this pandemic when we need to consume a lot of water, you can surely add this to your diet chat on regular basis.

Ingredients

1. Lemon juice - 1/2 cup (from fresh lime)
2. Orange juice - 1/2 cup (from freshly squeezed oranges) 
3. Mint leaves - 3-4
4. Honey - 2 tsp (for 2 glasses)
5. Black pepper - 1/2 tsp
6. Basil seeds - 1 tsp (soaked)
7. Pink Salt - 1 tsp
8. Finely chopped oranges & lemons for garnishing

Process

1. In a blender jar add all the ingredients and blend it till everything is incorporated.

2. Add soaked basil seeds in this juice and mix well.

3. Pour in serving glass and garnish with sliced orange and lemon and mint leaves.

MANGO SHAKE WITH BASIL SEEDS

Super yummy and kids favourite summer special drink is Mango shake, isn't it? What if we add some more healthy stuffs in this drink? 

So, here I have added Basil / Sabja seeds. The health benefits of basil seeds include the ability to improve digestive health, aid in weight loss, regulating blood sugar, cooling the body, relieving stress, reducing inflammation and preventing certain infections. They are particularly used as an addition to beverages and desserts. The simplest thing you can do is soak two teaspoons of Sabja seeds in water and drink it every day. They can also be added to sherbets, falooda, smoothies or shakes for added benefits.

Ingredients

1. Mango - 2 (of sweet taste)
2. Basil / Sabja seeds - 2 tsp
3. Milk - 1/2 cup
4. Sugar - if required (depends on the taste of the mango)
5. Ice cube - 4-5

Process

1. In a bowl add water and soak Sabja seeds for one hour.

2. In a blender, add chilled milk, mango pieces, ice cubes and sugar. Blend it to desired consistency. 

3. Add the soaked Sabja seeds and mix well. 

4. Pour this mango shake in serving glasses till you have enough space at the top for some more Sabja seeds and mango pieces. I have used few mint leaves for garnishing. Serve the chilled Mango shake immediately. 

Note - Chia seeds and Sabja seeds are not same. 

STUFFED MANGO KULFI

Summers are incomplete without Mangoes. This summer try out this yummilicious Stuffed Mango Kulfi, I saw this recipe video of Master Chef Kunal Kapoor years back and since then wanted to have this and finally here it is. Its quite tricky to make but my first attempt seems to be a successful one. 

Ingredients

1. Milk - 1/2 litre (for 2 Mangoes)
2. Mango - 2
3. Sugar - half cup (depends on the sweetness of your mango)
4. Condensed milk - 1/2 cup
5. Pista / almond or any dry fruits - handful 

Process

1. Cut the top of mangoes and do not throw the top as we have to use it later.

2. Make incisions around the kernels. Hold the kernel, twist it and remove it. You can also use fork or spoon for doing this. Keep the mangoes aside.

3. Heat milk in a pan, let it reduce to half. Add sugar and condensed milk. Add some chopped dry fruits also (optional). Once the kulfi mixture is ready, let it cool completely.

4. Add the kulfi mixture in the hollow mango shells and put the mango cap back. Keep it in the freezer for 7-8 hours or overnight until kulfi sets.

5. Once frozen, remove and peel the mango and then slice. Garnish with pista, almond or any dry fruits of your choice and serve it frozen. 

NOTE  : You can check out the recipe reel on my Instagram page @romisrecipe

MUSKMELON MILK SHAKE

Muskmelon or kharbuja is a tropical, juice, sweet and succulent fruit whish is loaded with nutrients and has many health benefits. It aids in weight loss, good for eyesight, treats kidney stones, boosts immunity. Muskmelon milkshake makes one of the best summer drinks for the kids. Personally I do not like this fruit very much, so I keep trying and making some healthy drinks or milkshakes so that we all can get the health benefits of this summer fruits. 

Ingredients

1. Muskmelon - 1
2. Milk - 1 cup
3. Sugar or honey (if required only)
4. Ice cubes - 2-3
5. Ice cream (optional) for garnishing
6. Dry fruits - chopped - for topping

Process

1. Wash the muskmelon and peel properly. Cut into cubes. (In the picture you can see, I have not peeled the muskmelon, rather used the sell as the serving glass)

2. In a blender, add all the muskmelon pieces, then add milk (chilled). Add sugar or honey if required. Also add the ice cubes and blend them all together.

3. Pour in serving glasses, top with ice-creams (optional) and garnish with chopped dry fruits. 

MANGO CHIA POPSICLES

A perfect summer treat to the family. These Mango Chia Popsicles are such a delight to my family. They are healthy, vegan, naturally sweetened and perfect for kids and everyone. And really effortless, all you need to do is have patience. 

Ingredients

1. Chia seeds - 2 tsp cup
2. Mango - 1 (puree)
3. Almond milk - 1 cup
4. Maple syrup of honey - 1 tsp
5. Almonds or nuts of your choice - for garnishing

Process

1. In a bowl add milk and honey or maple syrup whichever you are using, Mix well with a spoon. Now add chia seeds to this mixture and mix till everything is well combined. Keep this mixture in the refrigerator overnight or minimum 5-6 hours. The simple way how you make your chia seed pudding.

2. When the chia pudding is ready, in the popsicle mould, pour mango puree first and then pour this chia pudding mixture and put it in the fridge again at least for 5-6 hours.

3. Before serving, sprinkle chopped nuts / almond over the popsicles and serve chilled.