GUR JI CHURI / CHURMO / WHOLE WHEAT CRUMBLE WITH JAGGERY

Gur ji churi or churmo is a crumble made with whole wheat flour. Flour dumplings are deep fried to a crispy texture and crumbled in a pestle and mortar or ground in a chopper. Sugar or jaggery is added along with hot ghee and mixed together. This is made as a prashad on Shivratri day.
Since I am using organic jaggery powder in this recipe I have added and mixed it. If you are using the usual jaggery it needs to be melted with water to remove the impurities. Then we have to thicken the syrup until it starts bubbling and then mixed it to the crumble along with hot ghee.

Ingredients:
Wheat flour .... 2 cups
Organic jaggery .. 3/4 cup to 1 cup (to your liking)
Ghee ...........  4-5  tbsps
Oil ........... for frying the dumplings.
Cardamom powder ... 1/4 tsp (optional)

Method:

Take the flour in a plate or bowl. Make a well in the middle and add 2 tbsps of ghee.

Mix it well and check the moin. If the flour forms a lump then it is perfect.

Add water little by little and make a stiff dough.

Divide the dough into 7-8 small dumplings.

Heat oil and drop the dumplings.

Turn them to fry evenly to a golden brown colour.

Remove them on a paper tissue.

Grind them coarsely in a chopper or pound in a pestle and mortar to make the crumble.

 Add the jaggery powder and cardamom powder.

Heat the remaining ghee and pour it over the mixture.

Mix it well.

LAHORI GAJRUN JO SEERO / SHAKARKANDI HALWA / SWEET POTATO SHEERA

Sweet potato sheera is a quick sweet packed with the goodness of sweet potato, desi ghee and organic jaggery and flavoured with cardamoms. This is usually made on fasting days. You can use sugar instead and add dry fruits of your choice. If you like a softer consistency you can add some milk while cooking.

Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes ... 1 large or 2 small
Organic jaggery .. 3 tbsps
Desi ghee ........... 2 tbsps
Cardamoms ...... 3-4
Pistachios and almonds ... 1 tbsp. for garnishing.

Method:

Boil the sweet potato.

Peel and mash it.

Heat ghee in a pan. Add lightly crushed cardamoms.

When they give out a nice aroma add the mashed sweet potato and saute.

After about a minute of sauteeing add the organic jaggery powder.

Stir well until the jaggery is incorporated into the sweet potato.
Garnish with sliced pistachios and almonds.

NANKATAI / NANKHATAI / CARDAMOM FLAVOURED COOKIES

Nankhatais are basically shortbread biscuits flavoured with cardamom originating from the Indian subcontinent and very popular in India and Pakistan.
Nankhatais are very popular in Sindhi homes too. We usually make them during Sataen / Satam festival in the month of Shravan along with many other goodies.

Ingredients:
Maida ............. 1 cup
Icing sugar ..... 1/2 cup (if you like it too sweet add 1 tbsp more)
Desi ghee ....... 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder ... 1/4 tsp
Baking soda ...... 1 pinch
Salt .............. 1 pinch (optional - it actually balances the taste of all the sweet dishes)
Pistachios ..... 1 tbsp (sliced)

Method:

Collect all the ingredients and bring to room temperature.

In a bowl mix together Desi ghee and icing sugar.

Keep whisking until they are well blended.

Now tip in the cardamom powder, salt and baking soda.

Spoon in the maida little by little and keep whisking until all the maida is used up.

Knead the mixture lightly with your hands.

Take a small portion and make a round ball. Flatten it. Put the sliced pistachios on it and press lightly. Make all the nankhatais and place them on a greased baking tray.

Bake them in a pre-heated oven at 200 C for 18 to 20 minutes.

Remove the tray from the oven and allow the nankhatais to cool well. Store them in an air tight container.

KARELE JO SEERO / BITTER GOURD HALWA

Karela has various therapeutic properties and it is one of the healthiest vegetables. My mom-in-law used to make a variety dishes with bitter gourd during my pregnancy and post delivery. This halwa is one of them. She added extra ghee and dry fruits but here I have reduced the quantity.

Ingredients:
Karelas / bitter gourds .... 3
Desi ghee / clarified butter .. 3 tbsps
Sugar ........................ 6 tbsps
Cardamom powder ..... 1/2 tsp
Poppy seeds .............. 2 tbsps (dry roasted)
Khoya ........................ 3 tbsps
Milk ......................... 1/4 cup
Almonds .................. 1 tbsp (sliced)
Pistachios ................ 1 tbsp (sliced)

Method:

1. Wash the karelas, peel them and discard the seeds.

2. Cut them into small pieces.

3. Grind them in a mixie without adding any water.

4. In a pan heat the ghee and add the ground karela paste.

5. Stir fry for about 5 minutes until the water is evaporated.

6. Now add the milk and allow it to simmer for few minutes until the karela mixture gets cooked.

7. Tip in the khoya and mix well.

8. Add the sugar and stir it until it melts.

9. Now add the poppy seeds.

10. Keep stirring until the mixture leaves the sides.

 11. Add a portion of dry fruits to the halwa and save some for garnishing.

NUKHTI / MITHI BOONDI / SWEET BOONDI

Sweet boondi is also known as "Nukhti" in Sindhi. We usually make this as prashad during festive days and sometimes the fine variety of namkeen sev is mixed together with the boondi to balance the taste. The preparation is not very difficult if you get the consistency of the boondi batter right.

Ingredients:
Gram flour ..... 5 tbsps
Water ........... 3/4 cup or as needed (to make the batter)
Baking soda ... 1 pinch
Salt ................ 2 pinches
Sugar ............ 3/4 cup
Water ........... 1 cup (for the syrup)
Cardamoms .... 3-4 (lightly crushed)
Saffron ............ few strands
Muskmelon seeds .. 1/2 tbsp (optional)
Unsalted pistachios ... few (sliced)
Siver varq ........... for garnishing (optional)
Dried rose petals .... for garnishing
Oil ........... to fry the boondi

Method:

Mix the gram flour, salt, baking soda and water to make a smooth batter of dropping consistency.

Heat oil in a pan and take few spoons of batter on a flat ladle with small holes.Tap it to drop the boondi into the oil.

Reduce the heat and fry the boondi until it is done.

Repeat the same until all the batter is used up. Drain it on a kitchen tissue.

Now take sugar in a pan. Add water, cardamoms, saffron and bring to a boil.

Keep stirring with a spatula until it is thick and one string consistency. Tip in the muskmelon seeds and stir.

 When the sugar syrup is almost to the point where it starts crystallizing, add the fried boondi and stir stir quickly until the boondi is well coated.

Leave it uncovered for a while and the boondi will soak up the syrup and each grain is separated. Stir it carefully to separate the grains..Add the pistachios.

Allow it to cool and put it in a serving bowl. Garnish with dried rose petals and silver varq if you like.