Mango Lassi | Easy Mango Recipes

The first thing I did this summer was to list down the mango recipes to try as I missed it last year and seeing so many recipes in the blogsphere made me to regret later. So this time I was well planned and now contented to clear off most of the items in my to try list except for mango tarts and mango icecream :) So most probably this will be my last mango recipe for this summer.For more mango recipes that I experimented this summer check here

Mango Lassi Recipe

Makes 2 cups



Ingredients:

• Mangoes chopped - 1 cup
• Thick Curd(Yogurt) - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Water - 1/4 cup
• Icecubes - 2 to 3 cubes crushed (I didnt add as my mangoes were already chilled)
• Chopped nuts - for garnish (optional)

Method:

1. Add mango pieces, yogurt, sugar, water, icecubes in a mixer/blender. If using a mixer then use the whip option to and whip it until smooth.
2. Adjust water accordingly to the thickenss of the lassi. Check for sweetness and add more if you want.
3. Serve chilled and garnish with nuts.

My Notes :

• If your mangoes are of juicy variety the lassi would be thicker. If you prefer a thinner consistency of mango lassi
• Adjust water and icecubes accordingly.
• Adding honey will also give a good taste to the lassi

Have I told you before I love clicking drinks/beverages....I feel totally comfortable clicking drinks and beverages than the rotis, rice and parathas. And I was very much tempted while clicking this yummy mango lassi that soon after clicking I finished off 1 cup of lassi in no time :)

I used Banganapalli variety, you can use any variety neelam will be apt for this lassi. You can garnish with either chopped nuts or fresh mint leaves. In my case, Mint leaves were already over so had to go with nuts. Anything with mangoes can it go wrong?! No way enjoy this yummy drink!

Orange Mocktail

I usually browse for new beverages/juices and this one caught my eye one fine day. The tangy taste of orange combined with lime with a hint of soda...hmm it was so refreshing!! When I googled to find more about mocktail I found it easy to understand mocktail as non-alcoholic cocktail :)

Ingredients:

Makes 1 cup

• Orange Juice - 1 Cup
• Lemon Juice - 1/4 Cup
• Sugar - 2 tbsp (or adjust according to your taste)
• Water - 1/4 Cup
• Soda - 1/4 cup(optional)

Method:

1. Filter the juice alone from oranges.
2. Combine all the ingredients and stir well.

My Notes:

• If you want add crushed ice before serving
• Also garnish with freshly cut oranges
• I used demerera sugar for coating the rim of the glass, you can use normal white sugar also

For coating the serving glass with sugar :

• For presenting the serving glass coated with sugar.
• Take a small plate, spread athin layer of sugar over it.
• Dip the rim of the glass with orange juice, or any citrus juice then turn over the glass and rotate it in the sugar evenly.

Chikku Milkshake (Sapota Milkshake)

Milkshakes are always my favorite either fruit or flavoured ones and this chikku milkshake is my recent favorite since the day I tried it.

Chikku Milkshake Ingredients:

Makes 2 cups

• Cold milk - 2 cups
• Ripe chikko (skin peeled, deseeded and chopped finely) - 1 cup
• Honey - 2 tsp (asdjust as per taste)

Method:

1. Blend the chikko with 1/2 cup milk in amixer for 30seconds till the chikko becomes pastey .
2. Add the remaining milk, honey and blend for 10 more seconds.
3. Garnish with honey if preferred and server chilled

My Notes :

• Adding sugar or honey is purely your choice but I like the honey flavour in this.
• You can also add a small scoop of vanilla icecream and blend it along with the milkshake for a richer taste.
• Choose ripe sapotas for milkshake

This is sure a healthy and tasty alternative to the store bought tinned drinks. Its not only tasty but sure a healthy drink too.

Even during the days when I was not fond of most of the fruits, this sapota was one among my favorites. But I'm trying the milkshake idea only for the first time now and sure to make it often hereafter :)

Bread Cup Pizza and Bread Channa Cups | Bread Cups

I have seen and tasted cup pizza at Nilgiris and I badly wanted to try it with the normal pizza dough recipe. Fortunately when I saw the bread cup channa chat recipe at Nithis space, I took the idea of bread cups from there and took the short route of making the bread cup pizza :) I also tried the channa in bread cups as in the orginal recipe and I luved both of them. As the cup pizza ingredients are instant and readily available in most of our kitchens, I almost make these cup pizzas everytime I buy bread.

As I have mentioned in this space so many times, I luv bread in any form so this adds another feather to the cap :)

Bread Cup Pizza Ingredients:

• Bread(white or wheat) - 3 slices
• Butter - 1 tsp
• Capsicum - a handful finely chopped
• Onion - a handful finely chopped
• Pizza sauce - 2 tbsp
• Tomato Ketchup - 1 tbsp
• Cheese - 2 tbsp ( as required to cover the topping)

Method:

1. First cut the edges of the bread. Now cut circles using a round cookie cutter or a container lid. Flatten the bread circles using a chappathi roller. Dont try to stretch too much, just flatten a bit.
2. Apply butter slightly on both sides of the circles. Now spread the pizza sauce in the 3 slices and then gently fit in the muffin pan. I didnt grease the muffin pan.
3. As shown in the below pic I left three bread cups empty to bake and then after baking filled it up with channa masala.
4. For the remaining 3 breadcups for making bread cup pizza, add capsicum, onion on top of the pizza sauce. Grate the cheese over it then finally add tomato sauce in each of the cups.
5. Preheat the oven to 190 deg C and bake it for 10-12mins until the bread turns slightly golden brown at the corners.My bread cups were done exactly in 12mins. They were firm and cripsy to hold the filling.

Bread Channa Cups Ingredients:

• Bread(milk or wheat) - 3 slices
• Butter - 1 tsp
• Onion - 1/2 finely chopped
• Chat Chutneys - 1 tbsp in each (optional) - I had no stock so didnt add :)
• Channa Masala - 3 tbsp
• Coriander leaves - 3 tsp

For assembling the Channa Cups:

1. Once the bread cups are done, add channa masala with less gravy as it will make the bread cups soggy.
2. Then add the onions, drizzle the dates and green chutney if you are adding and garnish with coriander leaves.
3. Your bread channa cup chat is ready :)

My Notes:

• The filling is endless you can even add paneer, babycorn , tomato etc as we do for normal pizzas
• If you are using wheat bread, check carefully after 10mins as the browning doesnt show up clearly as in white bread
• If you use milk bread variety then flattening it will crumble the bread so flatten it slightly or even fit it in the muffin pan without flattening it
• It is easy to hold and eat and truely fancy to attract the kids
• You can also use the bread as such with the edges, no need to trim it. It tastes good even with the bread edges, I have tried that way too.

Mango and Vanilla Custard Verrines | Mango Custard Desserts

I am always bowled out by the idea of layered desserts so when I saw this in Vegbowl I know I'm surely going to try. Verrines are layered desserts in a small glass - the variation of layering is endless either sweet or savoury. I felt I didnt get the layers evenly but I say this is truely luxury in a shot glass :)

Mango & Vanilla Custard Verrines Recipe

Recipe Reference : Veg Bowl

Ingredients:

• Milk - 1 cup
• Custard powder - 1 tbsp (or substitute with 1 tbsp corflour and 1 tsp vanilla essence)
• Sugar - 3 tsp (Adjust sweetness according to your taste)
• Thick undiluted mango pulp - 1/2 cup
• Cherries - 1 tbsp chopped just for garnishing (optional)

Method:

1. Mix custard powder in 1/4 cup milk, mix well and keep aside. Heat the remaining milk with sugar, bring it to a boil and then add the custard powder milk mixture to it.
2. Stir continuosly so that no lumps are formed. This will thicken up soon so keep stirring.
3. When the mixture starts bubbling and looks thickened(if you pour, it should not be runny) switch off. Allow it to cool down completely.
4. Now to assemble the verrines add a tbsp of prepared vanilla custard alternating it with a tbsp of mango pulp till it reaches the brim of the glasses. Add the chopped cherries in top.
5. Refrigerate the verrines atleast for an hr and serve chilled.

My Notes:

• The custard seems to thicken very faster, so keep an eye and stir continuosly to avoid lumps.
• The topping is of your choice, you can also add in nuts of your choice.
• You can use 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream but I used milk as it was readily available in my kitchen as yes I was calorie conscious and also had the extra serving in mind when milk was used :)
• Adjust sugar according to the sweetness of the mangoes and to ur taste.
• The alternating flavours in every spoon was very yummy.

Layered desserts are my fav both preparing and eating :) I usually make my desserts in a small glass as desserts are mostly had after our heavy lunch on sundays. Vanilla and mango flavours are always a winning combination and this one is no exception to it.

I always look forward for new interesting dessert ideas while hosting a dinner or lunch. And my choice is always a low fat one to help another serving.

Other Verrines Ideas:

• Strawberry yogurt verrines
• Coffee and vanilla
• Chocolate and vanilla

You can use the same base of vanilla flavoured custard powder and add coco powder or any other flavour accordingly.

Mango Milkshake

I have been waiting for the mango season....No no not that I am crazy after mangoes but I wanted to fill in Sharmis Passions with mango recipes :) I do like mangoes but I m very choosy as I like only banganapalli variety and have restrictions like the mango shouldnt very ripe and the color should be lemon yellow only.... yeah yeah too much right?! thats what my mother says too :)

As I have said earlier, if I am not comfortable with any fruit then I have it in the form of shakes, juices or smoothies. Mango milkshakes are always my favourite so wanted to give a try at home. My mother loves mangoes be it any variety she can have it night and day even skipping lunch and dinner :) So this is for 'amma', the word has added more meaning after me becoming a mother :) Happy Mothers day!!

Ingredients:

• Mango - 1 cup
• Milk - 2 cups
• Sugar - 3 tsp
• Elachi powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
• Ice crushed - 2 small cubes

Method:

1. Peel of the skin of mangoes and chop the mangoes roughly.
2. Add 1/2 cup milk with mango cubes, sugar and crushed ice and blend it in a mixer until smooth for 10 seconds then add remaining milk and blend again until smooth.
3. Add elachi powder, mix well. Your mango milkshake is ready in minutes.

My Notes:

• I like my milkshake to be thick, if you want it to be little runny then add 1/2 cup of milk more.
• Adding elachi powder gives a good flavour , but its purely optional.
• Adjust sugar according to the sweetness of the mango variety.

Aval Payasam - Tamizh Puthandu Vazhthukal!

Wishing all my readers a very happy tamil new year!!

The best part of tamil new year is the custom of arranging jewels, fruits, money in front of a mirror overnight and early morning the first thing we see is all the arranged things through the mirror. And thats how we start the tamil new year day followed by a hearty meal with sambar, kootu,poriyal, vadai and payasam. :)

Aval Paysam Recipe:

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• Aval - 1 cup (thick/thin variety) - I used thick here
• Milk - 2.5 cups
• Powdered Jaggery - 1/4 cup
• Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp grated (optional)
• Elachi powder - 1/2 tsp
• Cashews broken - 1/2 tbsp
• Ghee - 1 tsp

Method:

1. Heat ghee and fry the cashews till golden brown and keep aside.In the remaining ghee roast coconut until slightly browned and keep aside.
2. Soak aval in water for 5-7mins or until the aval becomes soft. Drain water and keep aside.
3. Heat milk in a non stick/heavy bottomed pan and simmer for 5 mins. By now the milk would have become slightly thick.
4. Now add powdered jaggery, elachi powder and mix until jaggery is well combined.Now add coconut , mix well.
5. Then add aval and simmer for another 5mins. Garnish with cashews and switch off. Serve hot or cold.

My Notes:

• I used thick aval so soaking for 5-7 mins was required. If you use thin variety then soak only for 3-5 mins else it will become mushy.
• This payasam becomes thick after sometime so take it off in a running consistency. Add milk at the time of serving if required.
• You can add 1 tbsp of condensed milk to make this payasam even more rich and creamy.

This payasam is quite easy especially during the festival times when we have loads of work in the kitchen. It comes handy when we have the craving for payasam during regular days.

Wishing you all, the best in this tamil varudapirappu and always. See you all soon on Monday with another recipe from my kitchen :)

Green Tea | How to make Green Tea

Green tea was first introduced to me by my project manager in the company I worked previously. She insisted to have it atleast twice a day and she did it too. The first look of it didnt impress me but later once when I was browsing and knowing the health benefits of it, I wanted to give a try and got Tetley brand from Nilgiris and now started making it regular.

It is slightly bitter but if bitterness is healthy and it can do good to our heart, can we not make a practise of taking green tea atleast twice a week..?! I do, atleast try to....! :)

Ingredients:

• Green tea powder -1.5 tsp
• Water - 1 cup
• Honey/Sugar - 1 tsp
• Elachi powder - a pinch [optional] - I add it occasionally

Method:

1. Boil water in a tea pot or pan. Once it starts boiling switch off and add the green tea powder.
2. Allow it to get soaked for 3-4 mins. By now the color would be brown.
3. Now strain the tea powder and add sugar/honey . Add a pinch of cardomom powder and enjoy your cup of green tea.

The tea powder is not as fine as normal ones, the green tea powder shown below looks like dried tea leaves :

I can never forget the incident when I first tried green tea. I was over excited after reading all the benefits from google, that I went straight to the kitchen and prepared green tea with milk not knowing that it should be prepared with water ;) Then googled how to make green tea reducing the bitterness and now everytime it comes out good.

Green Tea Benefits & Goodness:

• Green tea has also been effective in lowering cholesterol levels
• New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters.
• With green tea, you get two in one. Its fat burning property helps you to burn fat and also to exercise longer - at the same time.
• Green tea anti-cancer prowess extends beyond its antioxidant activities.
• Green tea is anti-diabetic. Green tea helps to fight against heart diseases and is good for heat too.

My Notes:

• If you put the tea powder in boiling water as we do for normal tea, then it would become bitter. So add the tea powder once the water boils and switch off.
• There are many flavours available in super markets, so choose ur pick and enjoy.
• But believe me when made in the right way, bitterness can be avoided.

Oats, Dates and Almonds Milkshake

I am very much impressed with saffola oats advertisement and the additional attraction was the recipe book. Yes the main reason for me to get saffola oats is this free recipe book. The book has some basic recipes and few interesting recipes as well. This is one such quick filling and tasty drink I tried from that book.

Oats, Dates and Almonds Milkshake Recipe

Recipe Source : Saffola Oats Recipe Book

Makes 4 small glasses



Ingredients:

• Oats - 4 tbsp
• Dates - 10
• Almonds - 6
• Milk - 3 cups

Method:

1. Dry roast oats till a nice nutty aroma comes. Chop almonds and dates roughly.



2. Grind oats, almonds, dates with milk until a creamy consistency is reached,Refrigerate for 30mins and Serve chilled. Sugar is not needed as the sweetness of dates is just enough.



3. Garnish with dates and almonds and serve chilled.

This cannot be called for a recipe but just wanted to share about the combination that can be added with oats to get a tasty breakfast drink.

I searched for a specific brown color chart since the day I started blogging and finally found it in odyssey last month. I was waiting for a chance to use this chart and this was another reason for me to choose this drink for trying :)

This drink is very creamy and thick, when serve chilled its very tasty. You can have this drink after a mild breakfast. The pictures in the book are super tempting so more recipes will be coming up soon.

Oats being regular in our breakfast menu atleast twice to thrice a week in the form of kanji/porridge I always look for alternatives to the usual oats porridge and this one is apt when there is less time.

Apart from the health benefits I am used and prefer to have such porridge for breakfast than idlis and dosas. I tell you dates oats combination is always a hit either in cakes, cookies or milkshakes and the addition of almonds makes it all the more creamier and tastier.

Attimes when the lunch menu is not my favourite , I sometimes have this drink after lunch to fill my tummy :)

Variations:

• You can add any fruit of your choice and blend it with oats.
• Add sugar only if needed as the fruit pulp is also sweet.

Black Forest Trifle for a celebration

Yayyy!! Another year and Sharmis Passions turns 2!!

Sharmis Passions is celebrating its 2nd birthday and I thank all my readers and blogger friends for such an enormous support, encouragement and wishes in the form of mails and comments and making this happen.

Sharmis Passions is more than just a cooking site to me these days.It has been a solace, a shoulder to lean on at times of grief, my companion when I am elated and what not?! Sometimes when I feel dull all that I want to do is log into blogger, edit and publish a post from my drafts which instantly cheers me up. Truely this has happened many a times, it has lifted my spirits high.The first thing in the morning(even before brushing;)) I check my dashboard , and each comment I moderate brings a level of warm comfort to me.

So here is a virtual treat of Black Forest Trifle to you all for my bloggie babies birthday. And a slightly new look for the site as I intend to stick to the same template after almost trying out 6-7 templates..yes sometimes I'm unable to accept change though I try to :)

I wanted to try this black forest trifle when I saw in Pavis space, I did and was really happy with the results. Once I served it for my guests too, and was really happy to receive their appreciations.

Black Forest Trifle - It has all the ingredients a black forest cake has...so should I mention about the taste?! A bite of layered chocolaty cake along with a layer of fluffy fresh cream, then chocolate sauce and choco chips and cherries!!! Truely a treat to all chocolate lovers I will say!

Ingredients

Serves 2 small sized glasses (smaller one than in the pic)

• Chocolate cake - 1 big piece [I used homemade moist chocolate cake]
• Cherries - 4 chopped finely and 2 for garnishing
• Cream - 2.5 tbsp
• Milk - 1.5 tbsp
• Choco chips - 1tbsp
• Chocolate sauce/Chocolate melted - 1 tbsp
• Hide and seek biscuits - 2

Method:

1. Crumble the cake, powder the biscuits coarsely and keep aside.



2. First take a glass and layer the crumbled cake at the bottom. Next spoon fresh cream and add it, add a little milk on top of it.



3. Next spoon out cherries and spread out the cherries as the next layer.Spread out a thin layer of powdered biscuits, then add choco chips and chocolate sauce.



4. Repeat this process till the top of the glass is reached, then top with a cherry and sprinkle powdered biscuits.



5. Refrigerate it for an hr or 2 to impress your guests with this simple, rich and delicious dessert. :) Serve chilled!

My Notes:

• There is no certain restriction on arranging the layers, so do it as per your liking.



• While serving I made layers in 2 small glasses. When you are serving it after dinner then shorter glass would do as this may be heavy if served in a big glass after dinner or lunch. If at all you are planning it as a after snack dessert then plan a taller glass as in the below pic.



• Be creative and use variations of layering as per your liking and enjoy it.