Instant Pot Malai Modak: Indian Festival Food

How to Make Malai Modak / Milk-Mawa Modak / Instant Pot Cottage Cheese Modaks

Hello Foodies,

      Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner and to celebrate this Ganpati Festival, make these toothsome sweet delights; Malai Modaks and add some soul to the coming festival. These melt in the mouth, famous Indian delicacy made using three main ingredients and in 20 minutes. 

These are made from,  homemade khoya, paneer, and condensed milk and which then flavored with cardamom and saffron. Malai Modak has an intense flavor and the amazing texture that makes it a popular dessert. If you are planning to cook a feast for Lord Ganesha, then go for these easy to make and Lord Ganesha's favorite Modaks. They will be ready in 20 minutes.

YouTube Video:

 Malai modak is an exotic taste of India that tempts you to gulp it once you taste it. The impressive dessert is eye-pleasing with its white color.

You can also try other sweet delicacies this festival season:

• Panchamrit/Panchamrut
• Instant Pot Rava-Mawa Ladoo
• Rava-Rose Ladoo without Sugar Syrup
• Ukadiche Modak/Steamed Sweet Dumplings
• Air Fryer Mawa Karanji/Mawa Gujiya
• Kalakand
• Instant Pot Pineapple Halwa

The texture of the Malai Modaks:

• The Malai Modaks are soft, sweet, and has a grainy and melt in the mouth texture.

Tips to Make Malai Modak:

• Use whole milk, to make the paneer. No low-fat, 2% or skim milk here.
• Let evaporate all the water from the paneer and then add other ingredients.

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes; Cooking Time: 15 Minutes.

Ingredients:

• Paneer(Cottage Cheese) grated, 1 Cup
• Khoya ½ Cup
• Condensed milk ½ Cup
• Cardamom Powder ½ Tsp(optional)
• Saffron Strands for garnishing(optional)

Instructions:

To Prepare Khoya in Instant Pot:

• In a bowl add milk cream ½ Cup and milk powder 1 ½ Cups and knead to make a dough.
• Transfer dough over cotton cloth/muslin cloth and wrap well.
• Turn on instant pot and add 1 cup of water and place a pan
• Close the lid and steam it for 10 minutes.
• Turn off the instant pot and open the lid and take out the pan.
• Let it cool completely, and khoya is ready to use.

To Prepare Malai Modak:

• In a pan, add crumbled paneer, and stir on medium to low flame until all the water from the paneer gets evaporated.
• Now add the grated mawa/khoya and mix and mash until the mixture turns smooth.
• Add condensed milk and continue stirring until mixture thickens and the mixture starts to separate pan and hold shape.
• Add cardamom powder and mix well.
• Turn off the flame and rest the cooked mixture for 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes start to prepare Modak, grease the modak mold with the ghee.
• Fill the Modak mold with the prepared mawa-malai mixture and press the mixture, scrape extra mixture and open the mold gently.
• Place them on to the plate and garnish with saffron strands.
• Voila, melt in mouth Malai Modaks are ready to serve. Enjoy!!!

My Take:

• You can add condensed milk more or less, as per your taste.
• You can add saffron strands or food color to make it colorful.

The shelf life of Malai Modak:

• Malai Modaks stays good for 8-9 days when refrigerated in an airtight container.
• If kept outside, it will stay good for 3-4 days.

Dietary Comment:

• The calorie count is based on a 2000 calorie diet.
• It makes 12 servings.
• Per serving contains 84 calories, along with 7.76 g carbohydrates, 4.1 g fats, and 5 g protein.
• Portion size can always be increased or decreased depending on your health goals and activity level.

Good Time To Eat:

            It is good to eat Malai Modaks as a dessert or evening snacks.

• If you make this recipe, share your food picture with hashtag #aaichisavali on Instagram and Facebook so that everyone can enjoy it too!
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel for Healthy, Tasty, Instant Pot, and Air fryer recipes.

Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!!!

Homemade Butter in 5 Minutes Using KitchenAid Stand Mixer

How to Make Butter at Home: Instant Homemade Butter / Makhan / लोणी in KitchenAid Stand Mixer (5 Minutes Homemade Butter)

Hello Foodies,

        My grandma used traditional wooden butter churner(Ravi in Marathi) to make butter, and I used to help her to churn. My Aai(mom) use the food processor to churn the curd or cream. And sometimes she uses mixer grinder too. I saw both the ways(my grandma and mom's ways) work well all the time, and butter (Loni/Makhan) comes out super delicious. And now, I learned another method, or we can say modernized time-saving way to make butter from scratch. That is using heavy whipping cream(no need to collect milk cream or no need to prepare curd) and KitchenAid stand mixer to make butter. 

Thankfully, it didn't take more than 5 minutes to churn and separate butter and whey. And, when I first made, I was pleasantly surprised by the results turned out the same as my grandma's and mom's way. 

I also use my KitchenAid Stand Mixer to prepare Chapati/Roti dough and it takes 5 minutes from start to end.

YouTube Video:

            To make this homemade butter in KitchenAid stand mixer, I have used heavy whipping cream from Costco. From this one can(1 Qt)of Heavy whipping cream, I got approx 2 1/2 cups of buttermilk/whey, 13-14 Oz butter. And I have used butter to make ghee(as we(my husband and me) are a huge ghee fan) and got approx 13 Oz ghee. Used whey to knead the dough and some of it to drink after Milk(as it is good for digestion). It took me 5 minutes to churning the cream in my KitchenAid stand mixer. 

             Once butter is ready, ghee can be prepared in no less than 10 minutes. Using one Ingredient that is heavy whipping cream, you will get five products - 

Butter 

Ghee(here is the recipe)

Buttermilk

Cottage Cheese/Paneer

Berry(Ghee solids)

Indian Traditional Method to Prepare Butter:

The wooden butter churner is stirred vigorously in both directions with the palms of our hands, which will help in separating the butter from the curd or cream. Soon the butter gets separated from the cream to the side of the vessel. Scoop out the separated butter and store it in a separate bowl. Leftover whey can be consumed as a sweetened or salty drink and can be used in many dishes. This whey we call it as Tak or buttermilk. Butter adds a lovely flavor to the sauteing vegetables, meat and tastes delicious, especially when combined with garlic. 

Here is a step by step instructions on how to make butter at home easily.

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes.

Ingredients:

• Heavy Whipping Cream 1 Qt / Heavy Cream 1 Qt
• Ice Cold Water 8-10 Cups

Instructions:

• Pour heavy whipping cream into a KitchenAid Stand Mixer's mixing bowl.
• Using the Wire Whisk/Whip attachment, start mixing the cream.  
• Start on speed 1 and slowly increase speed up to 8 or 10(You may need to hold a kitchen towel over the openings to prevent excess splashing).
• In approximately 4-5 minutes, you will notice the butterfat separating from the buttermilk.  
• Once the butterfat thickens and sticks to the whisk, drain off the buttermilk into a mason jar for later use.
• Pour 2 cups of ice-cold water into the mixer, and rinse the remaining buttermilk out of the butter by running mixer on medium speed(Be sure to use your kitchen towel to cover up any open areas to avoid splashing).
• Repeat the cold water rinse (3-4 times), until water is clear after mixing and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to drain all the excess water from the butter
• Or using spatula press butter onto the side of the mixing bowl(drain any remaining water into the sink).

How to Store Butter?

           Wrap prepared butter in butter paper and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 weeks.

To Make Flavored Butter:

• If you want to add flavoring(salt, herbs) to the butter, add it after you have made the butter and pressed all of the water out and then mix your favorite flavor. 
• Because if you add the flavoring before, the cream may not separate properly and much of your flavor would be washed away during the rinses.

What do I do with the buttermilk that is drained off?

• The buttermilk work excellent in preparing chapati dough, in making rava omelet batter, using it you can make masala chaas, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, or any other recipe that calls for it. 

My Take:

• To speed up the butter-making process: Remove Heavy Whipping Cream/whipping cream from the fridge 10-15 minutes before beginning and let sit on the kitchen countertop.
• This recipe makes approximately 14 ounces of butter and about 2 ½ cups of buttermilk.

Dietary Comment :

• The calorie count is based on a 2000 calorie diet.
• Per serving contains 106 calories, along with  11 g fats.
• Portion size can always be increased or decreased depending on your health goals and activity level. 

• If you make this recipe, share your food picture with hashtag #aaichisavali on Instagram and Facebook so that everyone can enjoy it too! 
• Subscribe to my YouTube channel for Healthy, Tasty, Instant Pot, and Air fryer recipes.

Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!!!

Baby Shower Cake for Boy: DIY Baby Shower Cake Toppers

How to Decorate Baby Shower Cake for Boy: DIY Baby Shower Cake Toppers

Hello Friends,

          This baby shower cake is eggless vanilla cake and frosted with vanilla buttercream frosting as well as some gorgeously crafted fondant topper and baby clothesline. Cakes are the centerpiece at parties for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or weddings.

 At a baby shower party, the cake should reflect the parents’ style, the colors in the other decorations, the gender of the baby if known, or the date of the baby’s birth. The “pink for girls” and “blue for boys” is traditional.

 A mom, or guest of honor, expects a cake that’s personalized according to what she likes and anything known about the baby. So to satisfy her, I made the coolest baby shower cake that will inspire you.

Art-Themed Birthday Party Cupcakes

How to decorate Art-Themed Birthday Party Cupcakes

Hello Friends,

          These art-themed cupcakes made for an Art-themed Birthday party for a friend's daughter's birthday. A fun surprise awaits inside of this adorable Art Party cupcakes that feature crayons, pencil, paintbrushes, (as a color used m and n) and color palette! 

Want a fun and colorful idea for your kids birthday? Your kids will love these cupcakes, these are chocolate cupcakes and frosted with vanilla buttercream frosting!

How to use Cookie Alphabet, Letter and Number Stamps: Food Safe Stamps

How to use Cookie Alphabet, Letter and Number Stamps: Food Safe Stamps

YouTube Video:

Instant Pot Vangi Bhath/Eggplant Pulao: Easy Healthy Eggplant Recipes

Hello Foodies,

Vangi Masala Bhath/Eggplant Pulao is a lingering dish that incorporates most of the trademark flavors of Indian cuisine. Every Pulao dish I have prepared in the Instant Pot was excellent, the pulao is full of aromas, and boasting balanced flavors. This Vangi Bhath is a top-ranked menu item for many functions and weddings in Maharashtra. This Vangi Bhath is our favorite meal. I make it often, and it comes out delicious every time.

Playing with greens and pairing them with a variety of spices or masalas is the key to creating diverse taste and flavors. Recently McDreamy and I was craving for aromatic Shadi Wala vangi bath and so to satiate our longings I have prepared this vangi masala bath or eggplant pulao in instant pot. In Marathi weddings or any Marathi functions, vangi holds the top spot among all the vegetables.

YouTube Video:

     Eggplant Pulao or vangi bath is a straightforward recipe and gets ready in under 15 minutes. You can serve it with plain yogurt, or with koshimbir or eat as it is. I have used my Homemade Vangi Bhath Masala Powder to make this recipe. I like the combination of spices and of all the ingredients that go into this dish as it really makes the humble eggplant pulao very tasty! If you don't like eggplant, I am sure this eggplant pulao will make you an eggplant fan club. So guys give this dish a try.

Preparation Time:5 Minutes; Cooking Time:10 Minutes.
Each serving of Vangi Bhath/ Eggplant Pulao Contains 239 cal.

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice 1 ½ Cups (Soaked in water for 15 Minutes)
• Vangi(Eggplant/Brinjal) 3-4, washed and cubed
• Green peas 1/4 Cup
• Vangi Bhath Masala Powder 2 Tbsp
• Green chilies 3 strips, slit
• Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp
• Coriander Leaves ¼ Cup
• Bay leaf 1
• Cardamom 3 pods
• Water 3 ½ cups
• Salt 1 Tsp
• Veg.oil 3 Tsp

Instructions:

• Turn on sauté mode of the instant pot and heat oil.
• Add bay leaf, cardamom pods, and green chilies and stir well.
• Now, add peanuts and roast for a minute.
• Add cubed eggplant/Brinjal/vangi, and sauté and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Add green peas, vangi bath masala powder, salt, lemon juice, and mix well.
• Lastly, add rice, and water 3 ½ cups and mix all well.
• Close the lid and place the vent on a sealing position. Cook on manual mode(Hi) for 6 minutes. 
• NPR for 5 minutes and then release the remaining pressure manually.
• Open the lid and add chopped coriander leaves and give it a quick stir.
• Here, Healthy and flavorsome Vangi Masala Bhath is ready to serve. Enjoy!!!

My Take:

• If you like, you can add ginger garlic and onions too.
• You can add other veggies to make it more delicious and nutritious.
• You can add ghee instead of oil.
• Soak rice in water for at least 10-15minutes.

Dietary Comment :

• The calorie count is based on a 2000 calorie diet.
• Per serving contains 239 calories, along with 40 g carbohydrates, 7.1 dietary fiber, 7.6 g fats, and 7.43 g protein.
• Portion size can always be increased or decreased depending on your health goals and activity level. 

Health Benefits of Vangi Bhath/Eggplant Pulao:

• Rich in fiber.
• Eggplants support heart health.
• Eggplant has antimicrobial, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties.
• Eggplants are low in calories.
• Can help build strong bones.

It's also good for weight loss management, improving cardiovascular health.

Good Time To Eat:

It is good to eat vangi bhath/eggplant pulao for lunch, brunch, or dinner.

If you make this recipe, share your food picture with hashtag #aaichisavali on Instagram and Facebook so that everyone can enjoy it too! 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for Healthy, Tasty, Instant Pot, and Air fryer recipes.

Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!!!