Eid Delights

[ghazi52]

‘Tis the season of mangoes and biryani: These delectable recipes will make your Eid extra festive!
By Nazeeha Khan

Eid is welcomed across the Muslim world all too enthusiastically, wherein food symbolises the various hues of happiness. PHOTO: NAZEEHA KHAN


Festival season marks an ebullient change in our otherwise monotonous lives. After a month of fasting, Eid is welcomed across the Muslim world all too enthusiastically, wherein food symbolises the various hues of happiness.

Families and friends gather to cherish the festivities and amid this chirpy laughter and instances of celebratory spirit, food has a vital part to play. I bring you three such delectable and sumptuous recipes that are sure to win you all praises for your Eid feast!


Chicken Handi Biryani

Biryani is not just food but it is synonymous with life in our part of the world. It is the most celebrated delicacy and is, without an iota of doubt, joy personified. However, variant the taste buds of the very many members of a family, biryani brings them all to the table to relish jovial moments together.

I experimented a bit with the traditional biryani recipe and tweaked it to fuse it with another local favourite, chicken handi, and came up with this finger-licking good and delish chicken handi biryani recipe ever. With Eid round the corner, this recipe is a must try to make unforgettably delectable memories this festive season.

Ingredients:

To marinate chicken

Whole chicken: 1 (cut in 12 pieces)

Ginger garlic paste: 2 tbsp

Green chillies: 1 tbsp (chopped)

Onions: 3 (steamed and puréed)

Onions: 5 (sliced, fried and crushed)

Turmeric powder: ½ tsp

Red chilli powder: 2 tbsp

Salt: 1 tsp or to taste

Chicken stock powder: 1 tbsp

Yogurt: 1½ cups

Tomato purée: ¾ cup (homemade)

Packaged Chicken Handi Masala: 2 tbsp

To cook

Ghee or oil: 1 cup

Packaged biryani masala: 3 tbsp

Tomatoes: 4-5 large (finely chopped)

Green chillies: 7-8 large (stalks removed)

Dried apricots (Aalo Bukhara): 7-8

Coriander: as required (finely chopped)

Mint leaves: as required (finely chopped)

Garam masala (mixed spice): 1½ tbsp (grounded)

Garam masala

Green cardamoms: 4-5

Black cardamoms: 3

Cloves: 4-5

Black pepper: 1 tsp

Cinnamon sticks: 2-3

White cumin seeds: 1 tbsp

Black cumin seeds: 1 tbsp

Fennel flower: 1

Mace and nutmeg: ¼ tsp

For rice

Long grain basmati rice: 1 kg (soaked for an hour)

Cardamoms: 3-4 small

Black cardamom: 2

Cloves: 3-4

Cinnamon Sticks: 2

Bay leaf: 1

Salt: 4 tbsp

Chicken stock powder: 2 tbsp

For assembling

Orange food colour mixed in milk or water (I prefer milk)

Fried onions

Coriander and mint leaves

Packaged biryani masala: 2 tbsp

Ghee: 4 tbsp

A clay pot

Chapati dough: 2 cups

Method:

1. Put all the ingredients for garam masala in a coffee grinder and process to a fine consistency.

2. Marinate chicken pieces with all the ingredients mentioned under marination and let it rest for two to three hours.

3. Boil soaked rice along with all the whole spices, salt and chicken powder. Once rice is three quarters cooked, drain the water and keep rice in strainer.

4. To cook chicken, heat some ghee in a clay pot and add the marinated chicken along with all the juices to it.

5. Once the chicken is half tender, add in chopped tomatoes and cook further till chicken is done.

6. Add in dried apricots, chopped coriander, mint and whole green chillies. Simmer on low flame with lid on till ghee surfaces.

7. Spread an even layer of all the par boiled rice over the cooked chicken. Drizzle food colour dissolved in milk, over rice. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves, mint leaves and fried onions on top.

8. Heat four tablespoons ghee in a frying pan and add two tablespoons of packaged biryani masala in it. Pour the hot ghee over rice.

9. Wrap the clay pot’s lid with aluminium foil. Apply chapati dough around the edges of the pot and press the lid over it, making sure there are no openings left for the steam to escape.

10. Let it simmer on the lowest heat possible for 20 minutes.

Mango Chocolate Dessert Shots

A quick yet appetisingly attractive dessert to adorn your Eid trolleys and Eid dinners. Mangobeing the star ingredient goes delectably well, the decadent combination, with chocolate.

You may assemble the dessert in a big dessert bowl, however, the dessert shots add an oomph to the dessert table.

Makes about 12-16 shot glasses

Ingredients:

Tea biscuits (I used Marie): 2 cups (broken)

Milk: 1 cup

Condensed milk: ¼ cup

Mango flavoured pudding or regular caramel pudding: 1 cup (prepared as per instructions)

Full fat cream: ½ cup

For mango puree

Mango: 3 cups (diced)

Milk: ¼ cup

Condensed milk: 3 tbsp

For milk chocolate ganache

Milk chocolate: 200 grams

Cream: 100ml

Coffee: 1 tsp

Garnishing

Cocoa powder to dust

Mango cubes

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix together milk and condensed milk.

2. In shot glasses, place some broken pieces of biscuit as the first layer and sprinkle some of the sweetened milk on them.

3. Next, prepare milk chocolate ganache. Heat cream along with a teaspoon of coffee in a saucepan and once bubbles begin to appear around edges, remove from heat. Quickly add in chopped milk chocolate and stir to form a smooth and shiny ganache.

4. Spoon the ganache into the glasses over the layer of biscuits.

5. Now prepare mango purée. Blend together mango cubes, milk and condensed milk till a thick purée is formed. Add a tablespoon of it in each glass over the chocolate layer.

6. Prepare pudding as per instructions on the pack and let it come to room temperature. Whisk in full fat cream and pour some into each glass right over the mango layer.

7. Finally, dust some cocoa powder on top and place a cube of mango to finish off.

8. Place in the fridge to chill well before serving.

Mango Butterscotch Trifle

Mangoes make the most indulgent of desserts but complimenting them with just the right flavours is divinely luxurious. This mango butterscotch trifle is an utterly ambrosial delicacy that has over time become one of the most raved about dessert amongst my friends and family.

Soft sponge slices drenched in mango milk and layered with butterscotch-flavoured custard and mango purée together translates into a devilishly comforting dessert.

Ingredients:

Cake slices: 10-15 pounds

Mango: 1 (cut into cubes)

Sugar: 3 tbsp

Milk: 1 glass

For custard

Milk: 1 ½ litre

Mango vanilla powder: 5-6 tbsp

Sugar: ½ cup

Full fat cream: ½ cup

For butterscotch sauce

Butter: 100grams

Brown sugar: ½ cup

Cream: ½ cup

Vanilla essence: few drops

Salt: a pinch

To assemble

Mango: 2 cups (cut in cubes)

Mango purée: 2 cups

Method:

1. Bring milk to a boil and whisk in vanilla custard powder that has been dissolved in some room temperature milk as instructed on the packet. As the custard thickens, stir in sugar and cream. Let cool.

2. For butterscotch sauce, cook together brown sugar, cream and butter. Once it reaches a thick consistency, add in a pinch of salt and few drops of vanilla essence. Let it cool.

3. To assemble, blend together a glass of milk with pulp of one mango and sugar. Layer pound cake slices in a trifle bowl and soak them with the prepared mango milk.

4. Next, stir three to four tablespoons of butterscotch sauce in chilled custard.

5. Spread an even layer of mango cubes over the cake slices and pour a thick layer of custard on top of it.

6. Finally, spread a layer of mango purée on top.

7. Drizzle some cream on mango purée and use a toothpick to create swirls.

Have a very happy and blessed Eid!

 

[ghazi52]

Food delights of Eid

Eid is the celebration of a month of fasting coming to an end. Filled with money and gifts, the highlight of the festival is the amazing food delicacies that will tantalise your taste buds.

By SUMAN HANIF
Food becomes super special when traditional flavours are used.

Eid is nothing without the delicious foods and family gatherings that make this day so special. An important end for Muslims who have been fasting for an entire month, Eid marks the determination and fortitude of all those who have successfully striven through an intense month and come out on the other side.

Falling on the first day of the new lunar month, Eid al-Fitr is synonymous to new beginnings and lasts up to three days. Muslims usually wait for the sighting of the new moon for Eid to be officially declared the next day.

The night before, known as Chaand Raat is a popular pre-festival for Muslims who will go out and buy new outfits after the final fast. Girls will buy bangles and get mehndi designs on their hands, while families will delight in some amazing street food treats and deserts.

On the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims dress their best and gather to perform the Congregational prayer. After the Eid prayer, Muslims normally meet and greet Eid wishes to family and friends, giving gifts and Eid money especially to children.

Then finally, it’s one of the most delightful awaited part of the day on Eid al-Fitr, relishing in the delicious Eid cuisines. Food preparation often starts before the day of Eid al-Fitr. The exciting Eid food mostly include sweet dishes, which go perfect with the festivity day.


One desert that always wins its place as a family favourite is Seviyan. A traditional desert served often as breakfast. Utterly comfortable and creamy indulgence. Seviyan can be prepared in a variety of different methods, but here is one of the mouth-watering recipe.

Seviyan

Ingredients:

• 200 g seviyan (vermicelli)
• 600 ml boiled milk
• 100 g sugar (to taste)
• 2 tbsp condensed milk (optional)
• 1/2 tps cardamom powder
• 6-7 cashew nuts (chopped)
• 1 tps raisins
• 1 tps ghee (butter)

Method:

1. In a pan heat ghee, fry the cashews and raisins until golden brown on medium flame and keep aside.
2. In a same pan, fry the seviyan until golden brown and keep aside.
3. Add boiled milk to seviyan and cook in medium flame until it starts to boil, add sugar, condensed milk and stir well to mix.
4. Cook for 3-4 mins until seviya gets soft on medium flame, add half of cashew, raisins, cardamom powder, give a gentle stir.
5. Garnish with remaining nuts on top. Serve warm or cold.

Another sensational Eid delight is Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding) often prepared the night before. A super sizzling sweet treat and mostly enjoyed as part of the family meal on Eid al-Fitr.

Gajar ka Halwa

Ingredients:

• 320 g grated organic carrots
• 320 ml almond milk or regular milk
• 8 tbsp organic unrefined cane sugar or regular sugar (add more or less as required)
• 50 g almond paste or evaporated milk/khoya (optional)
• 5-6 cardamom, powdered or crushed
• 8-10 unsalted whole or chopped cashews
• 7-8 unsalted pistachios – sliced or chopped
• 12-15 golden raisins
• a pinch of saffron (optional)
• 2 or 2/12 tbsp neutral flavoured oil (sunflower oil) or ghee

Method:

1. Wash, peel and grate the carrots.
2. Mix the almond milk and grated carrot together in a pan.
3. Keep on fire and allow the mixture to simmer.
4. Continue to simmer and cook stirring in between.
5. After 15-20 minutes of cooking add cardamom powder and stir.
6. When the mixture has started thickening, add sugar and oil/ghee.
7. Stir and continue to cook.
8. When the mixture has almost dried, add the almond paste and dry fruits.
9. Stir and cook further for 2-3 minutes.
10. Serve warm or cold.

Queen of Desi sweet divines also include Rabri kheer (which is similar to rice pudding) and is a must have as part of the Desi celebrations. This super satisfying dish can be prepared in very little time.

Rabri Kheer

Ingredients:

• 500 ml milk
• 30 g cashews, pistachio, almonds or any favourite dry fruits of your choice
• 100 g rice
• 200 g sugar
• 2 tsp rose water
• 500 ml half-n-half (thickened milk)
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1 small bottle gold flakes (available at Asian food specialty stores)
• Earthen pots for serving the kheer (optional)

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice for about 10 minutes before adding it to milk.
2. Take a pressure cooker and pour milk, add soaked rice, sugar, half-and-half and boil for about 3 whistles or for about 20 minutes, until the milk thickens.
3. Remove from the cooker, add in chopped nuts and few drops of rose water to the cooked kheer.
4. Place the kheer in the refrigerator to cool for at least 2 hours, before serving in the earthen pots.
5. Garnish with gold flakes or nuts.

The hot cuisines are just as special and exciting as the sweet dishes on Eid. Food becomes super special when traditional flavours are used. Kashmiri Biryani originated in beautiful Kashmir is a perfect teaser for guests. A supreme sensation cuisine cooked on Eid with lots of love and passion.

Kashmiri Biryani

Ingredients:

• 750 g mutton
• 1 kg chicken
• 1 kg basmati rice
• 200 ml milk
• 2 tsp curd
• 1 tsp dry ginger powder
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 150 g ghee
• 1/4 tsp kewra essence
• 2 g saffron
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 pinch asafoetida
• 1 tsp garam masala powder
• 2 tsp fennel seed powder
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Fry asafoetida and mutton pieces in ghee.
2. Add curd to the mixture and fry until pink.
3. Pour water and add salt to taste. Mix well.
4. Add chilli powder, ginger powder and bay leaf.
5. Fry for a few minutes and add 1/2 litre of water.
6. Add 1/2 tbsp garam masala and 1 tbsp fennel seeds.
7. Simmer the mixture until well cooked.
8. Remove the mutton pieces and keep them separate.
9. Boil 2 litres of water with 2 tbsp salt.
10. Tie the garam masala and remaining fennel seeds in a piece of cloth.
11. Put it in the boiling water.
12. Now add rice and cook on low flame until half done.
13. Separate the water from the rice.
14. Alternately arrange mutton and rice layers in a baking tray.
15. Add milk and ghee.
16. Cook in a preheated oven until well done.
17. Kashmiri Biryani is ready to be served!

Other hot dishes include heart-warming Koftas (meatballs), mouth-watering Kebabs and family favourite Samosas, so extend your dining table this Eid!

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated traditionally for up to three days. In Muslim countries holidays are given in advance for up to two weeks. Eid al-Fitr not only unites the Muslim community on the day, but blesses them with lots of delights and happiness.

 

[ghazi52]

Ending Ramazan in Northern Pakistan....

 

[ghazi52]

There is one just for you, try our Eid Special Sawaiyan recipes and celebrate with friends and family.

Written Recipes:

Sheer Khurma................ http://bit.ly/2l6qZuU
Nawabi Sawaiyan........... http://bit.ly/2JpL0uY
Sawaiyan Bites.............. http://bit.ly/2l9bmTz

https://www.facebook.com/

 

[ghazi52]

3 traditional Eid recipes with a fun twist

Eidul Fitr is upon us and it’s time to reward ourselves for fasting in this heat. And what better way to do that by eating away?

One of the biggest reasons to love Eid is all the delicious food that comes with it. Be it sheer korma, different kinds of biryani or some exotic dessert your mother wants to experiment with this year, Eid treats tend to be pretty amazing.


While we are all for the mouthwatering traditional recipes, why not go ahead and give them a fun twist? Here are some cool and quirky new serving ideas that you can surprise your guests with this Eid. We promise this will make your food tray look a hundred times more appealing!

1. Sheer Korma shots:

The first dish, which I’m almost certain is on everyone’s Eid menu, is sheer korma. Each household has its own take on this traditional sweet dish.

Here’s an easy recipe for a basic sheer khurma:

Fun Twist:

Instead of serving it in a huge bowl as one usually does, try single-serving it. You can use shot glasses to give the Sheer Korma a modern look. Trust me, your guests will love it!

2. Seekh Kebab Balls:

Seekh kebabs, which usually are served on a skewer, are traditionally made on an outdoor grill over coals, which helps add colour and a smokey flavour to the meat.

Here’s an easy recipe for a basic seekh kebebs:

Fun Twist:

Instead of making them the traditional way in a long kebab form, go for tiny balls and insert a toothpick on top, so it’s easy to hold.

Also, you don’t even need a whole grill for this! You can easily make this in your oven or on stove. Just make sure to charcoal smoke your kebabs to give it that authentic barbecue touch!

3. Chicken Tikka spread:

 

[Imran Khan]

eid mubarak

 

[Awan68]

eid mubarak

Sahee koi beghairat banda hai tun.

 

[Imran Khan]

Sahee koi beghairat banda hai tun.

bhai jan hum ne apko kabhi gali di ya bura bhala kaha ?

 

[Awan68]

bhai jan hum ne apko kabhi gali di ya bura bhala kaha ?

o bhai ye shokhay shoq hum ne bhi kiye hen bht jab chote the, magar itni aqal hai ke ghalat cheez pe kabhi fakhr nhn kiya aur islamiic festivals ke ais tarhan kabhi behurmati nhn ke. bary ho jao ab, zehn lagta hai abhi immature hi app ka bht.

 

[ghazi52]

Chicken Badami

Ingredients

1 chicken of 1 1/2 kg, cut in 8 pieces 1 cup yoghurt 2 medium-sized onions, sliced 1/2 cup peeled almonds 1 tablespoon pepper corns 2 tablespoons poppy seeds 1 tablespoon coconut, desiccated 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1-inch cinnamon stick 2 cardamoms Pinch of saffron 3/4 cup oil Salt to taste

Method

Dry roast and grind together almonds, peppercorns, poppy seeds and coconut. In a bowl, put yoghurt and add the roasted ingredients plus cumin powder, ginger-garlic paste, salt. Mix well and marinate the chicken in the mixture. Refrigerate for an hour.

In a pan, heat oil and brown the onions, with a cinnamon stick and cardamom. Add chicken and saffron. Cook on low heat — better still place cooking pan on a tawa. The chicken will become tender in its own juices, but if needed add half a cup of water. Remove from heat when oil separates. Serve hot with parathas or rice.

 

[ghazi52]

Eid is upon us! Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid Al-Fitr this weekend, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. Eid is a festival to express sentiments, affection and care. Filled with money and gifts, the highlight of the festival is the amazing food delicacies that tantalize your taste buds.

Falling on the first day of the new lunar month, Eid al-Fitr is synonymous to new beginnings. The night before Eid, known as Chaand Raat is a popular pre-festival for Muslims who will go out and buy new outfits after the final fast.

On the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims dress their best and gather to perform the Congregational prayer. After the Eid prayer, Muslims normally meet and greet Eid wishes to family and friends, giving gifts and Eid money especially to children.

The festival is nothing without the delicious foods and family gatherings that make this day so special. An important end for Muslims who have been fasting for an entire month, Eid marks the determination and fortitude of all those who have successfully striven through an intense month and come out on the other side.

While everyone’s preferences and definition(s) of a gift differ, here are a few options for desserts shared between families for the celebration as Eid isn’t complete without this sweet exchange.

Vermicelli (Seviyan)

One dessert that always wins its place as a family favorite is vermicelli i.e Seviyan – a traditional desert served often as breakfast. Utterly comfortable and creamy indulgence, Seviyan can be prepared in a variety of different methods.

Cake:

People love eating cake. You can express your emotions to your dear ones through a loving or special message on top of it! There are different yummy flavors of cake in the market such as butter scotch, fruit cake, chocolate, vanilla, pineapple, strawberry and mangoes.


Mithai:

Mithai is the biggest treat of them all and is a compulsory item that everyone should have for their guests. Amongst the wide variety of mithai, there are two that top the popularity charts – Gulab Jaman and Balushahi’s. Hugely popular among kids and adults alike, they leave a lasting and tasty impression on the taste buds of anyone who takes a bite.

Other hot dishes include heart-warming Koftas (meatballs), mouth-watering Kebabs and the family favorite Samosas, so extend your dining table with Eid delights.

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated traditionally for up to three days. The festival not only unites the Muslim community on the day, but blesses them with lots of delights and happiness.

Wish you all a very Happy Eid!