It is the most colourful time of the year yet again. Holi, the “Celebration of Love,” the “Festival of Colors,” and the “Festival of Spring,” is a renowned ancient Hindu festival.
It is indeed a new beginning for many of us as we gradually move towards our normal lives. To make the most of the celebration this year, families can gather together to prepare some festive and colourful meals that will help to uplift the Holi spirit.
With the vigour of celebration, we don’t have to necessarily compromise on the health quotient by consuming large portions of sweetmeats and deserts. Let’s make things easy by saying goodbye to the elaborate cooking this Holi and instead use our microwave and refrigerator to make a feast. Here are a few dishes that you may make at home with your family or your loved ones.
Recipe #1: Fridge full of Thandai
Beverage: Thandai
Duration: 1 hour
Serves: 8 to 9 glasses
Steps:
In a bowl, pour 1 cup of warm water and add 3 tablespoons almonds, preferably rinsed
Further add 2 heaped tablespoons pistachios (unsalted), preferably rinsed. Instead of pistachios, you can also use cashews
Add 14 cup melon seeds (magaz or kharbuja beej) or peeled pumpkin seeds (unsalted)
Add 2 tablespoons dried rose petals.
Optional – If you do not have dried rose petals, then add 2 tablespoons rose water or 2 tablespoons gulkand. If you plan to add gulkand, reduce the sugar to ⅓ cup in the recipe.
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds and ½ teaspoon of whole black pepper
Pour the entire mixture and the soaking water in a mixer and add ½ cup of sugar along with 3 to 4 green cardamoms seeds.
Grind the mixture to a very smooth and fine paste. Remove in a bowl and keep aside in the Voltas Beko refrigerator with StoreFresh™ technology. Make it a day prior and it will still be fresh for everyone to consumer the next day!
Now add 4 tablespoons of the thandai paste in a glass (More or less, depending on your taste)
Add 1 cup of cold or chilled milk. You can also use half-half combination of milk and water
Recipe #2: Perfect finger food to go with your Thandai
Dish: Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Duration: 30 mins
Serves: 2 people
Steps:
Preheat the Voltas Beko microwave oven to 180o C
Grind the Cauliflower food processor and place it in a large bowl afterwards
Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and microwave it for 1 minute until it is steamed.
Cool and pour Cauliflower on a clean cloth and squeeze the liquid out of the Cauliflower until you are left with a dry ball of Cauliflower
In a large bowl, combine the Cauliflower, eggs, cheeses and seasoning with a spoon until fully combined
Pour the mixture in a pre-lined baking sheet and shape it into a pizza crust ½ inch thick
Bake for 10-12minutes
Add the pizza sauce and cheese and bake for another 10-12 minutes
Cool for 5 minutes before cutting
Recipe #3: For the big hunger post celebration
Dish: Black Bean Burger
Duration: 1 hour
Serves: 4-6 people
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 180o C
Pre- line the oven tray add chopped onion, garlic and pepper on the tray
Add seasoning as per taste and drizzle olive oil on the vegetables
Roast the vegetables for about 10-15 minutes in the oven
Once done, transfer the vegetables in a processor along with 100g roasted cashews and add boiled beans.
Pulse until beans roughly chopped
Transfer the mixture in a bowl
Add thick yogurt and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper and stir gently
Form patties from the mixture
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non-stick pan. Cook and flip until well browned
Lastly, add desired topping, cheese and top/bottom buns. Close the burger serve, immediately!
This article was shared with Prittle Prattle News as a Press Release.
