চিনির নারকেল নাড়ু/Sweetened Coconut Confection

  

বাঙালীর নারকেল নাড়ু

Bengalis biggest festival  "Durgapuja" is tomorrow and sweetened coconut confection is one of the traditional offerings to Maa Durga. There are two ways to make this sweet as per preference. Some make with jaggery and some with sugar and milk. This confection is a staple to any Bengali house during Dugrapuja and Laksmipuja.

Usually it is made with freshly grated coconut. Due to our back and forth moving I had to give away my manual coconut grater. Since then I have been using frozen or dry coconut. It is much easier than traditional version!

All you need is~
1 16 oz package frozen grated coconut
1 cup bone char free sugar
1/8 cup coconut milk or coconut cream(in case naru gets too dry)
2-3 freshly ground cardamon pods
1 bay leaf
1 microwave safe glass bowl

Method~
First, thaw the coconut in the microwave or keep it in the refrigerator for couple of hours. Blend it to a smooth texture for 2-3 minutes. Transfer it to a microwavable bowl. Add in sugar and bay leaf. Mix it well. Microwave the coconut mixture for about 25 minutes on full power stirring every 5 minutes. It will be very watery in the beginning. After 25 minutes mixture will be very thick. It needs 15 or more minutes to make the mixture dry enough to form firm balls. So stir well every 2 minutes from now on. Make sure it doesn't burn. Don't make it too dry. Otherwise you can't make smooth balls out of it. In case it becomes dry add little coconut cream or coconut milk. Try to make a smooth round ball to check if it is done. Add ground cardamon at last. Mixture will be very hot. Let stand for 2 minutes to handle. Start making balls by rolling between your palms while still warm. They become crumbly and dry very quick so add some coconut milk. Store in the refrigerator for its freshness up to one week.

Happy Cooking!

Strawberry Smoothie

This Vegan smoothie is easy,delicious and a great way to start my day! Combining strawberry,banana and agave nectar for sweetness(even if it is optional) which is sweeter than refined sugar makes this smoothie very satisfying yet filling and nutritious.It will take just few minutes to prepare.

Quinoa pilaf with pumpkin,peanuts and whole bengal gram

  

Quinoa(keen-wah) pilaf with sweet pumpkin,whole bengal gram,toasted peanuts and sweet flavor of coconut makes this grain like seeds hearty-healthy yet delicious. 

Quinoa(keen-wah) is high in fiber,has good amount of protein,vitamins and minerals.I love quinoa since the day one which is a great alternative to rice.

Plum Chutney

                               Plums from our back yard     

                        Sweet and tangy plums

Light Catfish curry with potato,cauliflower and dry white lentil dumplings

Bengali poeple can't live without macerjhol bhat (rice n light fish curry). While growing up macerjhol bhat was staple before and after school.Ma would finish cooking by 8:00 o'clock in the morning because papa used to catch train at 9:00 for office. We always had good hot lunch before going to school. Those were good old days!

চিতল মাছের পেটির কালিয়া (Chitol fish kalia)

                                                

                                                          For the first time I have ever cooked     

This recipe is one of the master pieces from Bengali cuisine.Few years back, I saw this fish in a Vietnamese market in So Cal, but wasn't sure if it was really Chitol fish.Yesterday, I went to oriental supermarket for vegetables and stopped by in the seafood department as usual. That store carries varieties of Bengali type fish. Chitol fish is called Featherback there.I never knew how this gorgeous fish looked like. Couple of years ago I asked my Ma how to recognize this fish.She explained at her best about its look. Keeping that in mind, I had stepped forward to buy this silvery white Chitol fish without any hesitation.

Indian Cumin Lemonade/ জলজিরা

                                                               

My very first post, Indian Cumin Lemonade or Jaljeera is a popular Indian cooling beverage to quench the thirst during hot summer days. "Jal" means water and "jeera" means  cumin. It is made with freshly roasted cumin seeds powder mixed with mint,cilantro,lemon juice,mango powder, black salt,sugar etc. then poured over crushed ice.