Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Aval Kesari in microwave



As far as I can remember, my parents have never failed to celebrate our birthdays. Having an oil bath, wearing a new dress and visiting the temple was the routine. Celebrations were most certainly in line with the Hindu calender, the day during the month of your birth conjuncts with the star that you were born in. We had the English calender birthdays celebrated too.

On the star birthday, there would be extras on the menu like a payasam or some sweet. When we were young, we did not care to think that our parents might have birthdays too. As we grew up we made an effort to remember to wish them, though we do not celebrate in a big way.

Today happens to be my mother's star birthday. I just felt that I shall post a very simple, quick and easy sweet and dedicate the same to her.
This, I made, last Friday for the Aadi velli (Friday of the Tamil month of Aadi) as neivedhyam alongwith urad dhal vadais for reading of the Lalitha sahasranama stotram.


I have made use of thick aval/beaten rice which will give a nice texture to the dish. I have not tried with the thinner variety yet. But if someone decides that might work, I would love to know.

Earlier, I tried the same with red poha and sugar alternative, but on stove top, hoping that would be a low calorie variation. That turned out perfect too. I shall post that soon. For today, I give this recipe in dedication to my mother and would love to send it to Srivalli, celebrating the third anniversary of the MEC Event with a Potluck Party.

1 & 1/3 cups thick variety aval/ poha/ beaten rice
1& 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water for soaking the aval
1/3 cup of water for the sugar to make syrup
4 teaspoons ghee
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
4 cashews broked in bits
few strands of saffron or a pinch of food colour




Pulse the aval in a coffee grinder to semolina consisitency.
In a microwave safe cup heat 1/2 cup of water on 100% power for 1 minute. Insert a wooden spoon in the cup. This helps to prevent water from super heating and the hazards that ensue.
Put the aval in a microwave proof/ safe bowl. Add this water and stir to mix evenly. Leave aside for about 5 minutes for the aval to absorb the water.
In another microwave proof bowl, add sugar to 1/3 cup of water. Set the microwave on 100% power for 2 minutes initially. The sugar will dissolve and will start to boil. Open and mix once.
Restart the microwave to the highest power and allow the sugar syrup to boil down to a one string consisitency. This may take a further 2 minutes. Open and check the syrup consistency.
It is alright even if a thread cannot form, but the sugar should have boiled down to a sticking consistency. The process is done without any lid on.
Add the aval, cardamom powder and saffron to this along with 2 teaspoons ghee. Cook this mix on 80% power without lid on for 4 minutes.
Allow a standing time of 1 minute. Take out and mix the rest of the ghee, reserving a few drops to roll the cashews in.
Use a flat microwave proof dish to roast cashews that have been mixed with a very small quantity of ghee. Roast this on 100% power for nearly 3 minutes or a bit further until the cashews are done.
Garnish the kesari with these roasted cashews and serve.





18 comments:

  1. Looks delicious ...this is so new for me ...will try this out ..thanks for sharing :)

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  2. Kesari with aval?!!! New to me and luv the MV version

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  3. wonderul kesari..mom used to do this... delicious ...

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  4. My MIL makes this,but still I havenot tried till n ow,very easy to get cooked too,Its looking very tempting... :)

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  5. Birthday wishes to your amma. Agree that while we were kids, never thought abt our parents' birthdays.

    Kesari has come out well in MW. Thanks for the tip of adding a wooden spoon while heating water.

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  6. Thanks for the recipe lata, I have never tried MW, I have decided to try my luck with it!, so I have planned to visit all the blogger especially Valli's as she is so crazy about MW and has posted lot of recipes, I have seen some in your blog too!, I will give this a try, lovely click and thanks for all the tips too..

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  7. Never tried MW cooking...
    thanks for sharing Aval Kesari... I m only familiar with rava kesari.. sply when its orange in color.

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  8. Lovely recipe. Like the Aval in making Kesari.

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  9. Lovely recipe.. looks perfect and tempting.. thanks for the recipe :)

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  10. lovely dessert ...very new to me ...looks really inviting

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  11. I sometimes make vella aval but this aval kesari seems lovely and inviting and worth trying soon.

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  12. nice recipe..looking yumm..and love that urali in which you have kept the vadais..

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  13. //as neivedhyam alongwith urad dhal vadais for reading of the Lalitha sahasranama stotram// nice to hear about my aaradhana devathai's name and lalitha sahasranamam....:)

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  14. I can almost smell the aroma of ur kesari..yumm

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  15. Yummy Kesari lataji, Belated Bday Wishes to your Amma!!!

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Hello,
Welcome and thank you for taking time to drop by.
I appreciate your valuable comments and tips.
I sincerely hope to improve with them.
Hope we shall interact often.
Thanks once again,
Lata Raja.