Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai, a delicious and easy to make kozhukattai with sweet coconut filling. If you're pressed for time and don't have time to make elaborate poornam(filling) for your mothagam/kozhukattai, then this kozhukattai would be your saviour.

If you haven't tried this kozhukattai before, do give it a try on upcoming vinayagar chaturthi and i'm sure that you would be amazed by its taste and flavor.

It's one of the kozhukattais that i grew up eating a lot. Back in the days, Amma never used jaggery as sweetener for Thengai Kozhukttai. Always she used a couple of tbsp of sugar and generous amount of crushed cardamom. Grated coconut along with sugar and cardamom itself is simply amazing and i remember that i would have finished half of the filling before making the kozhukattai :-)

Also whenever Amma makes idiyappam for breakfast, she would have made a few of these kozhukattais or Thengai pidi kozhukattai as a last batch for our mid-morning snacks.  

Coconut

For this recipe, i would highly recommend to use the freshly grated coconut/frozen grated coconut. Desiccated coconut won't work for this recipe.

Sugar

Here i have used simple white sugar because that's what i grew up eating and making it the same way brings so many good memories :-) But you can use raw sugar or any kind that you like.

Once the kozhukattais are cooked, the sugar melts completely, creating a homogeneous coconut stuffing so you won't taste any raw sugar at all.

Cardamom

Coconut and cardamom are the match made in heaven. So for any coconut based sweet, i like to add cardamom and for this recipe a generous amount of cardamom would elevate the taste and flavor so much.

Ok, now let's check out how to make this delicious Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai 

Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai | Coconut Kozhukattai

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 10 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Curry | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai,Coconut Kozhukattai Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai, a delicious and easy to make kozhukattai with sweet coconut filling.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

For Outer Layer

Rice flour - 1/2 cup
Sesame oil - 1/2 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Boiling water - a little less of 1/2 cup

For Stuffing

Grated coconut - 3/4 cup

Sugar - 1/3 to 1/2 cup

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

Procedure

First let's make the dough, take the flour in a bowl, add sesame oil and salt. Give a good mix. 

Pour the hot water into the flour and make a soft dough. Keep it aside for 5 mins.

Next for the stuffing, add all the ingredients listed under "For Stuffing" in a bowl and mix it all together. That's it, Coconut stuffing is ready.

Now let's shape the kozhukattai. Take a small portion of dough and make a smooth ball. Flatten the dough into a small disc on a greased banana leaf/ parchment paper. 

Add a spoonful of coconut stuffing on one side of the dough and then fold the parchment paper and press the edges of the kozhuttai gently so that it sticks together. Then remove the kozhukattai from the parchment paper and place it on the greased steamer basket. 

Steam the kozhukattais for 5-7 mins in a medium flame.

Delicious Coconut Kozhukattai is ready.

Related : How to make Peanut Kozhukattai

Notes:

• Sesame oil gives great taste to the kozhukattais, so i highly recommend to use the sesame oil.
• Don't overcook the kozhukattai otherwise, the cracks would appear on top of the kozhukattai.

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Coconut Almond Burfi | Coconut Burfi

Coconut Almond Burfi , an easy to make delicious sweet with just a handful of ingredients. It was one of my recent experiments at my kitchen and it turned out way more delicious than i had expected. 

In the past, i used to make coconut burfi with only freshly grated coconut. But here in Ottawa, i can source desiccated coconut more easily than the good-quality fresh coconut. So i have been experimenting with desiccated coconut  in place of fresh coconut in my cooking. Some dishes have turned out well, while others have been big flops.

This Coconut Burfi is one of the huge hits and it tastes as good as the burfi made with fresh coconut. So if you're looking for some easy to make sweet with desiccated coconut, do give this a try and I'm sure that you would be impressed by the taste and the texture of these burfis.

Desiccated Coconut

Here in this recipe, i have used the un-sweetened and fine desiccated coconut. You can also use the coconut flakes that are available in the market. But make sure that you pulse that coconut flakes once before using it in this recipe. Fine coconut makes it easier to cut the burfis into desired shapes.

Also, if you're using the sweetened desiccated coconut, make sure to reduce the sugar a little bit otherwise it would be too sweet. 

Almond Flour

Adding almond flour in this burfi makes it so rich and improves the taste and texture of the burfi overall. I have a recent obsession of using almond flour in my cooking so i tried to incorporate it in many of my sweets. If you have been following me for a while, you might already know this :-)

  

Flavouring Agent

Cardamom goes really well with any coconut sweets so i have used the cardamom powder. In addition to that i have used a few strands of saffron for that exotic flavor. You can use both of them like me or any one of those too. 

Additionally, if you like vanilla flavor with coconut, you can also use the vanilla essence. 

Ok, now let's check out how to make this delicious coconut almond burfi.

Coconut Almond Burfi

Preparation Time : 2 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 24-28 pieces  
Recipe Category: Sweet | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Coconut Burfi, Coconut Almond Burfi, Thengai Burfi description.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Desiccated Coconut - 1 & 1/2 cups

Almond Flour - 1/2 cup

Sugar - 1 cup

Water - 1/4 cup

Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp(crushed)

Ghee - 1 tsp

Saffron - a few strands(optional)

Procedure

Heat a thick bottomed pan, add the sugar and water, let the sugar melt and come to boil.

Let the sugar syrup boil until it reaches the one string consistency. Then add the desiccated coconut and almond flour.

Mix it all well together. Within a few minutes it all comes together and then adds the ghee.

Next add the cardamom powder(here i was using some crushed cardamom seeds) and saffron(if you're using) . Mix it all well and then transfer the mixture into a ghee creased pan/plate.

Smoothen the top with the back of  the spoon. Rest it for 5 mins and then cut into desired shape.

Delicious Coconut Burfi is ready. Cool it completely and then store it in airtight container.

Related: How to make Khoya Burfi

Yummy it is !!

Notes:

• Cut into desired when the burfi is warm itself and then let it cool down completely 
• It stays well for up to 15 days at room temperature.

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Chocolate Popsicles Recipe | Summer Recipes

Chocolate Popsicle, a delicious and creamy popsicle made with a couple of pantry staples. If you're a chocolate lover, you must try this chocolate popsicle for this summer. It's such a simple recipe to make but the taste and the texture are simply amazing.

Even since the summer break has started, i have been making at least one popsicle variety for every single week. Mango Kulfi, Strawberry popsicle and this chocolate popsicle are on repeat mode. 

Chocolate Chips

For this recipe, i have used some dark chocolate coins that i bought from BulkBarn. But you can use the regular chocolate chips. 

Also depends on the chocolate variety, you may need more or less sugar. If you're using milk chocolate chips or semi sweet chocolate chips, then you may start with 2 tbsp of sugar, give a taste test and then add more if needed.

Make sure that the chocolate liquid is really really sweet because when it freezes the sweetness seems a bit reduced. 

Now let's check out how to make these delicious and creamy chocolate popsicles.

Chocolate Popsicles

Preparation Time : 6 hrs | Cooking Time : 15 mins | Serves : 6 
Recipe Category: Curry | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Chocolate Popsicle, Summer Recipe Chocolate Popsicle, a delicious and creamy popsicle made with a couple of pantry staples.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Milk - 1 cup

Cocoa Powder - 1 tbsp

Sugar - 3 tbsp

All purpose flour - 1 tbsp

Dark Chocolate Chips - 3 tbsp or as needed.

Vanilla essence -1/4 tsp

Procedure

First in a sauce pan, add almost all the milk(reserve about 2 tbsp) and turn on the heat. Next add the cocoa powder and the sugar. 

Give a quick whisk and let it comes to boil. In the mean time, add the flour in a small bowl and mix it with the reserved milk and make a thin slurry. 

Once the milk mixture comes to boil, add the slurry and mix it continuously. Once the mixture starts to bubble up, add the chocolate chunks/chips and switch off the flame.

Finally add the vanilla essence and mix it well until all the chocolates are melted. Then strain the mixture once to remove any lumps. 

Pour it on the popsicle mould, cover it with lid and freeze it for 6-8 hrs or overnight.

Delicious Chocolate Popsicles are ready. You can dip it in the melted chocolate once it's out of the popsicle mould for more richness.

Related: How to make Mango Kulfi

Notes:

• You can replace half the amount of milk with heavy cream for more richness.
• I have used unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe.

 

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Strawberry Salsa, a refreshing salsa that tastes great with any chips/crackers. If you like salsa and chips combo, then you have to try this salsa when the strawberries are in season. It's so light, delicious  and a perfect salsa to make on the hot summer days.

Last week, we went to our annual strawberry picking and had a lot of fresh strawberries which were so delicious so I asked my IG followers what would make with it. Got a lot of interesting suggestions and this salsa recipe was mentioned by a couple of followers so thought of giving it a try immediately and it was an instant hit at our home.  Thanks to my IG followers. 

Today is the third time i've made this salsa in the last 4 days. It was so good and even my toddler liked it very much and asked me to make it again.

To be honest, this recipe doesn't need any precise quantity. You can add more or less of all the ingredients listed in the "Ingredients" list as per your liking. Also, if you want some spiciness, add some jalapeno too. 

Now let's check out how to make this delicious Strawberry Salsa

Strawberry Salsa | Summer Salsa Recipe

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 0 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Salsa | Recipe Cuisine: Fusion
Salsa, Summer Salsa, Strawberry Salsa Strawberry Salsa, a refreshing salsa that tastes great with any chips/crackers.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Strawberry - 20 

Onion(chopped) - 1/3 cup

Coriander leaves - a few 

Honey - 1tbsp

Lemon juice - 1 tbsp

Salt - as needed

Procedure

First wash and pat dry the strawberries and then cut the strawberries into small pieces. In a bowl, add the chopped strawberries, onions and coriander leaves.

Next add the honey, lemon juice and salt. Tossed it all well together. 

Delicious Strawberry Salsa is ready. Serve it with chips or crackers as per your like.

Related: Mexican Salsa/ Pica De Gallo

Notes:

• Keep all the ingredients and mix it all together when it's ready to serve.
• Depending on the sourness of the strawberries, you may need less or more of the lemon juice.
• Instead of honey, maple syrup/ agave syrup can also be used.

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Egg Vegetable Waffles, a delicious and healthy waffles made from the eggs, vegetables, cheese and spices. It's one of the dishes that you can make it in a jiffy for your morning breakfast.

I have been making this waffles for almost a year now and it became a staple in our house as breakfast. You can serve this waffles as a breakfast or as a snacks too. 

When i make omelette for breakfast, i always add some veggies like mushroom, broccoli, onions, tomatoes and  so on. It's so delicious and fulfilling. The same ideas goes into this waffles making. Instead of making it as omelette, we're making it as waffles.

Today, i used onions, broccoli and cheese only for this waffles. But you can add thinly sliced carrot, mushroom, bell pepper too. I had tried all these vegetables with this waffles and they all taste amazing. So pick whatever the veggies you want and make it as per your preference. 

Now, let check out how to make this delicious egg vegetable waffles.

Egg Waffles | Egg Vegetable Waffles

Preparation Time : 2 mins | Cooking Time : 5 mins | Serves : 1 
Recipe Category: Waffles | Recipe Cuisine: American
Egg Waffles, Egg Vegetable Waffles, Breakfast Waffles Egg Vegetable Waffles, a delicious and healthy waffles made from the eggs, vegetables, cheese and spices.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Egg - 2

Broccoli - a handful

Onion - 1 tbsp(chopped)

Mozzarella Cheese - 2 tbsp

Butter - 1 tsp

Salt and Pepper - to taste

Procedure

First crack open an egg in a bowl, then add the broccoli, onion , cheese , salt and pepper.

Give it all a good mix. Heat a waffle maker , butter the waffle iron and pour the egg mixture.

Cook the waffle as per your waffle maker instructions. 

Tada, Tasty and Healthy Egg Waffles are ready !  Serve it with some toasted bread and cream cheese, it would be awesome ! Here i serve it with my homemade wheat bread. Perfect for this mini waffles.

Related: How to make mini whole wheat loaf

Notes:

• As cheese already has salt in it, keep that in mind when you add the salt.
• Always fill the waffle iron half way because the egg puffs up when it's cooked. 

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Yogurt Mango Popsicles, a delicious and creamy popsicle made from yogurt. It's one of the easiest popsicles that you can make  in minutes and tastes absolutely delicious. 

If you're looking for some homemade popsicles to enjoy this summer, then definitely give this popsicle a try!  

Though the temperature is still below 10 for most of the days here in May this year, i'm done with winter cooking and  move on to making popsicles. 

Every day after back from the school, the little one asks what popsicle did you make today? He's  enjoying these homemade popsicles a lot, that's the main reason for making a lot more popsicles this year than ever. 

Yogurt Layer

In today's recipe, i have used home made curd / yogurt. But any plain store bought yogurt too works fine for this recipe.  Make sure that the yogurt is fresh and doesn't have too much of a sour taste. For creamy popsicles, i highly recommend to use the full fat yogurt more than the low fat versions. 

I have made these yogurt popsicles in two layers such as yogurt and mango layers. But these popsicles can be made with only yogurt layers too. Also, instead of mango, you can use other fruit puree also for layers like strawberry, peach and so on.  As we're all big mango lovers, i'm apt for mango layer. 

Sweetener 

I have used maple syrup for this popsicle as a sweetener. Honey and sugar can also be used. If you're using sugar, make sure that the sugar is completely melted in the yogurt before pouring it in the popsicle moulds.

Now let's check out how to make these delicious popsicles.

Yogurt Popsicles | Yogurt Mango Popsicles

Preparation Time : 6 hrs | Cooking Time : 0 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Popsicles | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Yogurt Popsicles, Yogurt Mango Popsicles, Summer Treats Yogurt Mango Popsicles, a delicious and creamy popsicle made from yogurt.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Plain Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Maple Syrup - 2 tbsp

Vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp

For Mango Layer

Mango -1 

Maple syrup - 2 tbsp

Procedure

In a bowl, add the yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla essence and mix it all well together.

Next for the mango layer, peel a mango, peel, cut into small chunks and put it in a blender jar along with maple syrup. Grind the mango into smooth puree.

In a popsicle mold, add the yogurt mixture till it reaches half way through the popsicle mold then add the mango puree till it reaches the top. Cover it with foil paper and insert the popsicle stick at the center of each popsicle(or else you can use the popsicle stick that comes from the mould too).

Freeze it for a minimum of 6 hrs or overnight. Just before serving, take the popsicle out and dip the popsicle mould in warm water and take the popsicle out(it comes out easily).

Delicious Yogurt Mango Popsicles are ready!

Related: Rosemilk Popsicles

Notes:

• For yogurt layer, vanilla essence is purely optional.
• Adjust the sweetness of the popsicles as per your peference.

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