Easy Ras Malai (using Ricotta cheese)

Ras Malai is a popular dessert in India. Ras malai consists of sugary, cream to yellow-colored balls (or flattened balls) of paneer soaked in malai (thick milk) flavored with cardamom. It was only after coming to US, I learnt to make this easy Ras Malai using ricotta cheese (as substitute for paneer) and that makes the recipe simpler. I am not sure if this is the authentic taste but I am sure it is close to the original. This is a very easy dessert to make, even though the steps may seem complicated. But if you try it once, you…

Multi Purpose Spice Powder/ Masala Powder/ Curry Powder

There are many variations of this spice powder/curry powder and not to mention different names Khara Pudi, Palya Pudi or even chutney Pudi that it can get confusing. So to avoid any confusion I am referring to this as multi purpose Spice Powder. At home our pantry is usually stocked with different powders, but they are either store brought or the ones that we got from India courtesy of our parents.  So it is rare that we make powders from scratch at home. But this one is an exception and the credit goes to DH for making this. As the…

Split Moong Daal Sambhar

We usually do our Indian grocery shopping once a fortnight and time permitting, we go to different groceries each time. During one such trip, I found these husked split moong daal in the lentil aisle.  Since I had not used them before, I was skeptical but knowing their nutritional value I decided to buy them anyway.  I was not able to find recipes over the internet using this, so I decided to stick to the known and unfaltering and made Sambhar. We could not make out any difference in taste and this tasted like our regular old Toor Daal Sambhar.…