Mango tart with Cardamom flavour : Vegan option

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When you are done making Aam panna, Aam ras, Aam Chutney, Aam Shondesh, ( mango drink, puree, chutney, fudge) or even popping the king of fruit in your mouth and wondering what else can be done? Enter Mango tart.

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Fusion recipe? You bet! I have retained some Indian flavours by using cardamom and Parle G base. For the unfamiliars, Parle G is a very popular cookie back home that we all grew up with. You can’t have the morning cup of tea without a couple of these ‘Biscuits’ as we referred them in India. I have been told that this cookie company is closing doors after 100 years. Now that makes it even more special, wouldn’t you agree?

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If you want to show off a bit, this is for you. Very little effort and jaw dropping looks. Feel free to decorate your way. These are the fruits I had at hand, and made use of them.

Recipe;

Cashew butter can replace the unsalted butter, biscuit can be substituted with nut powder to make it vegan friendly.

Ingredients;

Base:

Parle G biscuits                                            3 Packets

Mejdool dates, pitted                                      5

Unsalted butter                                              1/3 cup

Salt ( skip if using salted butter )                       a pinch

Filling

Mango pieces                                                2 cups

Cashew                                                          2 cups

Cardamom powder                                         1/8 tsp

Maple syrup                                                  2 tbsp ( or to taste )

Corn Starch                                                  1 Tbsp

Raspberries, Cape gooseberries,  pomegranate, nuts to garnish

Method;

Soak the cashews the night before, rinse them and grind them to powder. Collect the powder in a bowl.

Preheat the oven to 330 degrees F.

In a food processor put in the cookies and grind them to a powder. Add the dates, salt, butter and blend again until a sticky dough forms. Press this mixture firmly into a greased  7 inch ( I measured mine )  tart pan with removable bottom. Poke some holes with a fork into the crust, bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.

Blend the mangoes into a puree.

Blend the cashews into a paste.

In a bowl mix the mango puree, cashew paste and all other ingredients listed under filling. Transfer this mixture over the tart  base. Tape to eliminate any air bubbles.

Throw this inside the freezer overnight.

Remove the tart from the freezer about half hour before serving, decorate with whatever fresh fruits you have in hand.

Serve and enjoy.

 

 

 

Sabudana kheer: Tapioca pearls and coconut milk pudding with Raspberry syrup. DF

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By  Ratna

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untitled-6We  had  snow  twice  already.  It  didn’t  stay  though.  The  garden  is  now  full  of  yellow  leaves  some  naked  branches,  an  errant  flower  in  a  corner  in  between  a  bunch  of  dead  stems.  The  raspberry  patch  is  a  different  story  altogether.  These  autumn  raspberries  are  flourishing  everyday  like  rebels. The  fruit  heavy  branches  bowed  downwards,   swaying  sideways  with  gentle  wind…

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Navaratri  or  nine  nights  is  celebrating  the  feminine  form  of  the  divine.  Devotees  partake  food  with  no  grains  for  each  of  these  nine  days.  Sabudana  which  is  granules  made  from  Tapioca  root  is  an  acceptable  form  of  nutrition.

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I  was  looking  for  ways  to  use  up  my  raspberries.  I  made  a  syrup  from  them  and  layered  this  with  the  Sabudana  pudding.  A  nice  garnish  on  top,  and  voilla,  we  had  fusion  dessert  here.

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Recipe:  

Serves  6.

Ingredients:

Sabudana ( Tapioca  pearls ),  washed  with  water                                    1/3 cup

Coconut  milk  ( Can  from  Aroy  D  )                                                           2  cups

Cardamom  powder                                                                                    1/2  tsp

Raspberries  washed                                                                                   2 1/4  cups

Sugar                                                                                                          1/3  &  2/3  cup

Cornstarch                                                                                                  2  Tbsps

Water                                                                                                          1/2  cup

Coconut  slivers                                                                                           few  to  garnish

Method;

Mix  the  cornstarch  and  water  into  a  lump  free  slurry.  Put  the  raspberries  in  a  blender  and  make  a  puree.  Take  this  puree,  cornstarch  mixture  and  1/3  rd  cup  sugar  in  a  pan  over  medium  heat.  Make  it  into  a  thick  sauce,  about  5  minutes.  Put  the  gas  off.

Boil  the  Sabudana  with  half  cup  water  on  a  medium  flame  till  soft,  about  7  minutes.  Add  the  coconut  milk,  Cardamom  powder  and  2/3  cup  sugar.  Simmer  on  low  medium  flame  for  about  20  minutes,  stirring  sometimes.  The  Sabudana  will  turn  translucent,  some  will  blend  in  the  milk,  thickening  it.  Turn  the  gas  off.

You  can  serve  it  hot.  I  assembled  it  in  layers.  Garnish  with  a  few  whole  Raspberries  and  Coconut  slivers.

Inside  Scoop;

Sabudana  can  be  purchased  from  Indian  grocery  store.

The  botanical  name  for  Tapioca  is  Manihot  Esculenta  Crantz  syn.  Utilissima.