Garam Masala Recipe with Braun MultiQuick 3 Vario Hand Blender MQ 3126 WH Spice Review

Learn how to make Garam Masala ~ Mildly spiced aromatic Indian spice blend for curries and soups

Every cuisine of the world hasn’t gone untouched by a sprinkle of spices, but none of them embrace spice as close to its bosom as Indian cuisine which unashamedly uses them to the brim! Everything from curries to chai, our food and drink overflows with spices. Throughout the past, there have been great wars fought for these spices; some won and some lost leaving a path on the map marked with riches and sacrifices. The spice routes were formed, lands were plundered and looted in a quest for Indian spices which as the history says was so valuable that it was worth more than gold in weight! Such was the lure of spices which makes them not just mere ingredients in Indian cuisine, but a way of life!

Braun MultiQuick 3 Vario Hand Blender MQ 3126 WH Spice

Whole spices used in making Garam Masala

In Indian kitchens, the spices and herbs are used to enhance the natural flavour of food, and not to disguise or obscure it and this takes years of experience gained only by practice and patience. There is no general rule for the correct amount of spices and herbs to use as the pungency of each spice and herb differs and its effect on different foods varies.

Quick and Easy Diwali Sweet Recipes | Deepavali Sweet Recipes

15 minutes Doodh Peda/Milk Peda

There is always something warm and bright about this time of the year, when everything has a special glow! There is always something special about this time of the year when all our hearts are full of cheer!

Yes, the festival of lights is here… Diwali or Deepavali is the occasion which brings lots of love and laughter to fill our days with cheer and hope for something best to come! 

The Monsoon Spice household is gearing up for this special occasion. The house is dusted, the vessels are scrubbed, the Diyas are glowing, and the kitchen is a hub of activities! We are hosting a Diwali party for our close friends and that can only mean one thing; fun, laughter and good food!

For the next couple of weeks, I will be posting the recipes of the delicious and exquisite food I am cooking for our friends. But for now here are some of the sweet/desserts that you can cook for your loved ones!  While you are at it, don't forget to check the list of Simple and Easy Snack Recipes for Diwali to delight your taste buds!

 

Wishing you all a very Happy and Sparkling Deepavali!

Warm Regards

Sia

Belgaum Kunda	Besan Laddu
Mysore Pak	Semiya/Vermicelli Kheer
Carrot Kheer	Pineapple Kesari Bhaat
Saffron Nankhatai	Kesari Bhaat
Vegan Avalakki Payasa	15 mins Microwave Doodh/Milk Peda
Sago/Sabudana Kheer	Peanut Chikki
Mango Panna Cotta	Rava Laddu
Easy Gulab Jamun (with milk powder)	Ela Ada

Payasa/Kheer (Indian Pudding)

• Banana Rasayana -Vegan pudding of bananas in jaggary sweetened coconut milk
• Carrot Kheer/Payasam - Thick and creamy Indian pudding of carrots cooked in milk, flavoured with cardamoms and topped with crunchy cashew nuts
• Dates Payasa -Vegen pudding of dates in coconut milk flavoured with cardamoms
• Sabudana(Sagoo) Kheer/Payasa -Creamy pudding of sagu pearls in cardamom flavoured milk topped with cashews roasted in Desi ghee
• Semige Payasa/Semiya Kheer - Quick and easy vermicelli pudding flavoured with cardamom
• Vegan Avalakki (Flat Rice) Payasa -Vegan pudding of creamy flat/beaten rice in coconut milk flavoured with jaggary and cardamoms

Quick and Easy Diwali Snack Recipes | Simple and Easy to Make Snack Recipes for Deepavali

Chattambade (Spicy Chana Dal Vada)

It is almost that time of the year in India when winter begins. It is almost that time of the year when the dawn is lightly caressed by the frost. It is almost that time of the year when the golden rays of morning sun passes through the dew drops on the grass making them look like a precious diamonds sewn on the lush green carpets. It is almost that time of the year when the trees sway to the gentle morning breeze in the cool mist. It is almost that time of the year when the soft sun light appears from the distant hills and the birds tweet as they flutter through the dew laden sky! It is almost that time of the year when the summer’s blistering heat and the monsoon’s thundering rains give way to a season of crisp winter months. It is the golden season of Kartik, a season of cool air, chirping birds, dew drops laden fresh grass, the blossoming trees and the time when the entire Indian subcontinent adorns itself in the silky golden hued sunlight to greet the heavenly bodies into welcoming arms!

When the paths are dotted with the carpet of heavenly perfumed dainty paarijata flowers and the air is heavy with the aroma of sugary treats, it is that time of the year... It is the time of Deepavali or Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights!

With the festival of lights just a week away, our house gets busy with preparing for the Diwali. It’s that time of the year when clattering of pots and pans are heard for most part of the day and the evenings as we plan the menu for the festive food. So while planning for the Diwali party menu, I thought it may be useful for my dear blog readers to have a compilation of some simple, quick and easy snacks recipes for Deepavali. I hope you will find this post useful in deciding what to cook for your friends and family and make this Diwali a special one for your loved ones.While you are at it, don't forget to check the list of Simple and Easy Sweet Recipes for Diwali to sweeten your taste buds!

May the festival of lights be the harbinger of joy and prosperity. As the holy occasion of Diwali is here and the atmosphere is filled with the spirit of mirth and love, here's hoping this festival of beauty brings your way, bright sparkles of contentment, that stay with you through the days ahead. Wishing all my dear readers and friends, a very happy and prosperous Deepavali!

Warm Regards
Sia
http://monsoonspice.com

Paneer Stuffed Mirchi Bajji	Khara Kaddi (Spicy Sev)
Chattambade (Spicy Dal Fritter)	Kodubale
Gujje Podi (Tender Jackfruit Fritter)	Spicy Beetroot Cutlet
Stuffed Bread Pakoda	Aloo-Kala Chana Chaat
Mangalore Buns	Stuffed Capsicum/Pepper Pakoda
Ragda Patties	Microwave Roasted Masala Peanuts
Aloo Bonda	Restaurant Style Gobi 65
Methi Nu Muthia	Khara Buns (Spicy Stuffed Buns)

From Home (Udupi-Mangalorean)

• Aloo/Batate Bonda - Deep fried spicy mashed potato and mixed veg fritters coated with spicy gram flour batter 
• Chattambade or Masala Dal Vada - Spicy split chickpeas/Bengal gram or chana dal fritters
• Goli Baje (Mangalorean Speciality) - Deep fried fritters made using plain flour and buttermilk
• Jeegujje Podi/Pakoda - Deep fried spicy fritter made using thinly sliced breadfruit
• Khara Avalakki - Spicy flat/beaten rice
• Khara Kaddi (Spicy Sev) - Deep fried spicy chickpea or gram flour sticks flavoured with cumin, carom seeds and asafoetida
• Kodubale -  Deep fried rice and roasted gram savoury rings from Karnataka
• Mangalore Aloo Bonda - Fritters made using spicy mashed potato and coated with spicy gram flour batter and then deep fried
• Mangalore Buns - Sweet deep fried banana and whole wheat puffed bread/poori from Udupi-Mangalore
• Microwave Masala Kadle/Peanuts - Simple and quick recipe for crunchy and spicy gram flour coated roasted peanuts cooked in a microwave in less than 15 minutes
• Moong Dal Vada - Spicy fritters made using spicy green gram mixture
• Tukkudi - Deep fried savoury plain flour diamonds