Sunday 16 July 2017

Avacado Milkshake

Avacado is also known by the name Makhanphal or Butter fruit. They are cultivated in the tropical and Mediterranean climate throughout the world. They have a green skin and fleshy body and are pear shaped or spherical or egg shaped. 

AVACADO

For those who love Avacado, this fruit can be used to prepare creamy and smooth milkshake, which can be a treat during hot summers. But as Avacado is bland in taste, adding sugar is a must while preparing this milkshake. Avacado pulp has a creamy texture and hence its milkshake does not need ice cream to bring creaminess. Use non dairy milk (like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk)  instead of regular milk to make Vegan Avacado Milkshake.



This fruit is full of nutrients. Avacado benefits include lower blood pressure, healthy heart,  better skin, protection against cancer, treats arthritis, treats constipation, guards against birth defects, improves nutrient intake and helps to reduce weight. These are some of the most important benefits that make it a good reason to eat this fruit on regular basis in some form.

Choose ripe Avacado by pressing it gently. If it is hard, it means that the Avacado is unripe. If its too soft, then it means Avacado is overripe. If its soft, yet little firm,  then it means Avacado is ready.

Lets go ahead to learn how to prepare this delicious milkshake.

INGREDIENTS :

(1) Ripe Avacado - 1
(2) Milk - Half litre
(3) 6 tablespoon of Sugar or as per sweetness required

Cuisine : World
Course : Beverages & Drinks
Preperation time: 5-10 minutes.
Serves : 2 persons

METHOD :

(1) Slice and cut open the Avacado widthwise. 

Pull apart the two pieces of Avacado in opposite directions and remove the seed inside. 

Avacado cut into two pieces and the big brown seed pulled out



With the help of a spoon, scoop out the Avacado butter in a bowl and then chop them into small pieces.

Scoop out the pulp / flesh of the fruit with the help of a spoon

Skin of the fruit remaining and the flesh scooped out

Discard this remaining skin of the fruit

Collect the flesh of Avacado in a bowl

(2) Set together all the ingredients required for the preparation of Avacado Milkshake as shown in the image.


(3) Add the chopped Avacado pieces, sugar and Milk in a blender and blend until a smooth puree is formed.

Put the Avacado fruit flesh into a blending jar

Add sugar

Add little milk

Blend the Avacado flesh, sugar and little milk for a minute

Add remaining milk. Add a total of half litre of milk and blend for another 1 minute


Creamy and smooth Avacado Milkshake is ready!!

Creamy and smooth Avacado milkshake ready 

(4) Pour in tall serving glasses and serve the milkshake immediately.



Note : Consume the milkshake immediately. As time passes it would start to become dark due to oxidation.

Monday 3 July 2017

Aloo Beans Sabji / French Beans Potatoes dry vegetable


This is a very simple dry sabji made stir frying Potatoes, French Beans and basic Indian dry spices. It tastes awesome even being so simple. Adding Potatoes to any vegetable makes it even more delicious, so I have paired beans with Potatoes. As this sabji is quick to prepare, it can be one for those who are busy moms, working women and bachelors.





INGREDIENTS :

(1) 750 gms of French beans (Washed and cut into 1 cm sized pieces)
(2) 4 tablespoon of Vegetable / Cooking oil, preferably Mustard oil
(3) Half teaspoon of Mustard seeds
(4) Half teaspoon of Cumin seeds / Jeera
(5) 1/4 teaspoon of Turmeric powder
(6) 1 teaspoon of Red Chilli powder
(7) 1 teaspoon of Coriander powder
(8) 3/4 teaspoon of Garam Masala powder
(9) Half teaspoon of Cumin powder
(10) Salt to taste
(11) Water for cooking


Cuisine : North Indian
Serves : 4 persons
Time taken : 15 mins to prepare and 15 minutes to cook = 30 minutes.

PREPARATION :
Chop three medium sized Potatoes into bite sized pieces.


Cut the ends of all the beans from both sides and cut the beans into 1 cm sized pieces.







Set all the above ingredients together.



METHOD :

(1) Heat 4 tablespoon of vegetable / cooking / Mustard oil in a kadhai / wok. 


Add half teaspoon of Mustard seeds to the warm oil and allow them to splutter. 




At the same time, add half teaspoon of Cumin seeds / Jeera and allow them to sizzle.



(2) Now, add chopped beans and potatoes and one glass of water. Mix well.






(3) Add Salt and basic Indian dry spices like Turmeric powder, Red chilli powder, Garam masala powder and Coriander / Dhania powder. You may add Cumin / Jeera powder too. As I did not have it, I did not add it. Adding whole Cumin seeds during the first step did the work for me. 



Mix well.




(4) Cover it with the lid and let it cook on a medium gas flame till they become soft and tender. Keep stirring in between so that they don’t stick to the bottom of the kadhai / wok.




(5) Open the lid and mix the sabji well and serve it in a serving bowl.









(6) Serve this French beans Aloo ki sabji as a side vegetable dish along with Chapatis / Rotis / Phulkas or as an accompaniment with Dal Rice.