MALAI PEDHA - (Sweet made from Paneer, Mawa and Sugar)

Mode - Microwave

Time - preparation -10 minutes, microwave -5 minutes

Utensils - (1) microwave safe glass bowl

Ingredients -
(1) 1 cup Paneer (cottage cheese), 1/2 cup Khava (mava), 1/2 cup powdered sugar
(2) Saffron strands, shredded Badam (almonds)-Pista (pistachios), Charoli, Milk powder

Procedure -
(1) Mix paneer, mawa and sugar and make a smooth paste in mixer. Microwave it in a glass bowl on high power for 2 -3 minutes.
(2) Stir in between after each minute. As the mixture starts becoming dry and bubbles appear on surface of the mixture, stop microwave.
(3) Add saffron to the mixture. Keep stirring.
(4) When the mixture becomes sufficiently dry and smooth, kneed well to make a smooth dough. Add milk powder if necessary.
(5) Make small round PEDHAS. Press gently a pinch of Badam-Pista shreds and Charoli on each Pedha.

Aai's Special tips -
(1) Make Paneer of cow milk at home. Cow milk paneer is smooth and soft, which makes Pedha smooth and soft.
(2) If mawa is not available, use full cream milk powder instead.

* This is a special Marathi sweet for Marathi and Hindu New Year. So give this to everybody and celebrate HAPPY GUDHI PADWA.

PURAN-POLI (HOLI POURNIMA Special)

PURAN-POLI - (A holy sweet- Naivedya- made with Gram Dal and Sugar)

Mode - Microwave

Time - preparation -25 minutes, microwave -5 minutes

Utensils - (1) microwave safe flat glass bowl
(2) flat round rolling board tied (tight) with malmal cloth, rolling pin

Ingredients -
A - For Puran
1 cup gram dal, 1 cup gud or sugar, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1 tsp nutmeg powder

B - For dough
1 cup wheat flour + 1 tbsp gram flour + 1/4 tsp salt + 1/4 cup oil

Procedure -
A - For making puran
(1) Soak gram dal in 2 cups of water in a glass bowl for 1 to 2 hours. Cover bowl with cling film tightly, make two small slits on cling film (to release the excess steam).
(2) Microwave first on high power for 5 minutes and then on medium power for 10 to 12 minutes. Stand for 5 minutes and then remove from oven. Cool.
(3) Add gud or sugar and make fine paste in mixer. Take the paste in the same bowl.
(4) Microwave on high power for 4 minutes, stir and again microwave on high power for 2 to 3 minutes. As the mixture starts becoming dry and bubbles appear on surface of the mixture, stop microwave.
(5) Cool the mixture. Add cardamum and nutmeg powders and keep covered.
B - For making dough
(1) Add water to flour mixture and make a smooth and slightly loose dough. Keep covered for 30 minutes.
(2) Add salt and oil and kneed it well.
C - Making Puranpoli
(1) Make 5 or 6 equal portions of puran and dough each. Take one portion of dough and make it flat on the palm, stuff one portion of puran in it and cover with dough from all sides.
(2) Make poli with gentle and light rolling. Roast poli on gas stove on hot griddle. Use medium heat and roast on both sides on light golden colour. Serve hot with Saajuk tup (Asli Ghee).

Aai's Special tips -
(1) For a large quantity, it is convenient to cook dal in pressure cooker on gas stove and after making paste with gud/sugar, cook in microwave.
(2) Making puranpoli is a very delicate task. Be very patient and gentle while making it.