Wood Apple Juice (Bel panna in bengali)

Bel is also known as Wood apple.  What is bel? Wikipedia

This is a picture of my wood apple tree growing in my garden and the wood-apple fruit .

The leaves of this tree are used for religious ceremonies (for Worshipping Lord Shiva).

Rather it can be said that the entire tree is useful and is considered sacred. Even the branches are dried and used only for Havana (holy borne fires) 

 

Wood Apple tree

 

This fruit has various beneficial values . It is good for digestion, improves liver condition and it's regular intake really helps constipation patients.

Procedure:

• First break the fruit into half and extract the pulp.

• If there are seeds please be sure to remove all the seeds before putting the extract into juicer.
• Before putting the pulp into juicer add some freshly picked basil and mint leaves into it.

(or)

• If you do not have a juicer,  you can mix the fruit extract with 1 cup of water and strain it  properly through a strainer or use a thin muslin cloth (malmal) to strain the wood apple extract.
• The ratio of the pulp and water per glass should be 60 : 40
• Add in 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt per glass
• Mix it thoroughly and add 1/2 tsp of lemon juice & serve chilled with ice cubes.

~Enjoy~ Summer with Bel juice !!

Shahi paneer

Shahi Paneer

Shahi paneer is hot favorite amongst vegetarians. Whenever we dine out we prefer ordering this with tandoori roti. But during this pandemic time we should avoid eating outside and prepare at home'.If you follow this easy recipe   you will not feel the need to go to a restaurant. so lets start

INGREDIENTS:

200grams paneer (cottage cheese)

2 medium sized onion

2 tomatoes

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp Kashmiri mirchi powder

1 tsp  gingergarlic and chilly paste

1 Tbsp  homemade garam masala powder( cardamom. cinnamon. clove)

10 pieces cashew

15 Raisins

1/2 Tea cup Amul cream

1 tps Kasuri methi

PROCEDURE

1. fry the paneer piecs in butter or ghee and keep it aside

2. fry the onions till golden brown then add the ginger garlic paste and the tomato to it. Fry for another 5 min. and keep it aside to cool.

3. After cooling grind the fried ginger garlic, onion & tomato into a smooth paste along with 5 cashews and 5 raisins

4. I n a non stick pan Heat 2 Tbsp of Ghee and add tsp of cumin seeds. Once it starts to splutter add the grinded mixture along with Turmeric and chilly powder also add salt to taste. Cook till the oil leaves the pan and comes on the top. Now add a cup of hot steaming water & 1 tps of sugar stir well. wen it starts boiling add 1 tps of powder garam masala 

6. After the gravy thickens add the fried paneer, raisins, cashews and stir well and switch off the flame.

7. Now add the cream and the remaining cashew and raisins and mix well .

8. While serving garnish with little thick cream and crushed kasuri methi.
Enjoy with roti or paratha 

Video Recipe Link:

Vegetable Biryani made in Rice cooker

It's the month of Ramadan! What comes to mind is Haleem, Biryani and more meat. (full of calories, But they need it, after a full day of fasting!)

My dish is for vegetarians and for those who are on a diet, Here is my Recipe of "Vegetable Biryani".

It's easy to make and very healthy too! (very less calories)

Ingredients:

• Basmati rice: 2 cups
• Water: 4 cups
• Assortment of chopped vegetables (carrots, beans, potato, peas):500 grams

          

• Onions: 3 (sliced) 

 

• Bay leaves: 2
• Shajeera: 1/2 tsp (caraway seeds)
• Ghee: 5 tbsp
• Mint and coriander leaves chopped.  3 tbsp each

• Salt according to your taste

~Spices which need to be ground to paste:

• Ginger: 3 cms
• Garlic: 8-12
• Green chillies: 3
• Poppy seeds: 2 tsp
• Fennel: 2 tsp
• Coriander powder: 2 tsp
• Chilly powder: 1/2 tsp
• Cloves: 5
• Cardamom : 5
• Cinnamon : 5 cms 

After Grinding the spices it will look like this.

Method:

• Soak the rice for 15 mins.
• Heat ghee in a kadai (wok). Add shah jeera and bay leaves.
• Then add sliced onions and fry till brown.
• At this point add the ground masala and fry for 2-3 mins.
• Switch off the gas burner and add the chopped mint and coriander leaves. Mix it properly.

• First add the soaked rice and water along with diced vegetables in the rice cooker.
• Then add the whole content of the kadai which you have just prepared ,and mix properly.
• Now put the lid and turn on the cooker (Switch to Cooking mode).
• Stirring half way gently would help in distributing the flavours in the biryani uniformly.
• When the biryani is cooked the cooker switch will automatically move to " Keep Warm " position.
• Let the biryani steam for 15- 20 mins before you turn off the cooker. 
• Serve with fried dry fruits of your choice as a garnish.

    Enjoy veg biryani with raita and salad :)

                 

Serving suggestion:

Stir gently otherwise the long grain rices will break and the beauty of the biryani will get spoiled .