Ragi Laddu

This is another instant sweet for surprise guests particularly if they are health freaks. Even for a diabetes patient, this can be prepared with sugar-free substitutes. We at home are used to eating more ragi dishes as our grand-dad had diabetes; so, I generally like the color and flavor of ragi if not for health reasons also.

Ingredients:

1. Ragi powder or finger millet flour - 2 cups
2. Ghee - 3/4 cup
3. Powdered sugar - 1 cup
4. Cashew nuts - 2 tbsp
5. Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp


Method:

Step 1: Heat a spoon of ghee and roast broken cashew nuts in it.
Step 2: Drain the cashews out and in same pan melt the rest of the ghee and fry the ragi flour till brown and aroma fill the room.
Step 3: Sprinkle the cardamom powder, mix well and remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
Step 4: When the heat of the flour lowers a bit add the powdered sugar, roasted cashew nuts and mix well.
Step 5: Roll into laddu of required size and store in an airtight container.

Ragi Halwa

Suddenly from somewhere I got this ragi-o-mania, I started trialling with ragi flour. Once I had tried this gooey halwa which tasted very good. With generous ghee this slid into the throat like wheat halwa, even with less ghee it should’ve tasted equally good but little sticky.

Ingredients:

1. Ragi Flour - 1 cup
2. Sugar - 1 cup
3. Crushed Cardamom - 2
4. Ghee - 1/2 cup
5. Fried cashew nuts - 2 tbsp

Method:

Step 1: First mix the ragi flour with 2 cups of water in a pan and keep aside for 10 mins.
Step 2: Heat the pan, add sugar,stir it well continuously. Add ghee and stir until it thicken as halwa.
Step 3: After it get thicken add cardamom,fried cashews and mix it well.

Okra Fry

Okra fry is a classic combination with sambar or rasam or curd rice and it is equally good with phulkas. This is an easy to cook and tasty to eat side-dish that I opt usually for week-end lunches. As my husband is quite fond of okra, I make this frequently.

Serves: 3

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1.      Lady's finger (Okra) – 250 grams

2.    Onion – 1

3.    Lemon – 1/2

4.    Chili powder – 1 tsp

5.     Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

6.    Sugar – 1/2 tsp

7.     Oil – 2 tbsp

8.    Salt to taste

9.    Roasted and coarsely ground groundnuts - 3 tbsp

10.                        Mustard seeds – ½ tsp

11.  Urad dal – 1 tbsp

12.Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Method: 

Step 1: Wash and cut Okra into 1/2 inch thick pieces.

Step 2: Chop onion and curry leaves finely.

Step 3: Heat a pan, prepare the seasoning by spluttering mustard seeds, roasting urad dal and  add chopped curry leaves, onion, fry till it becomes translucent.

Step 4: Add all dry ingredients except sugar, salt and mix well.

Step 5: Put in the okra, fry for a couple of minutes; cover and keep for 3 minutes in low flame.

Step 6: Check whether Okras are cooked and if required fry for few more minutes by mixing well.

Step 7: Add sugar, lemon juice and mix well; cook for a minute more to let the tastes sweet, sour, salt, spices blend well; this will enhance the taste.

Step 8: Add groundnut powder for lifting the taste and flavour.

Step 9: Serve hot with rice or phulkas.

 TIPS:

* Cook Okra in low flame and use non-stick fry pan to consume less oil.