Agra petha - Indian Dessert / Dry Sweet Candy (Ash Gourd Candy)

Delicious Recipe for Yummy Tummy !

Recipe cuisine : Indian

Author : Hema Chandrasekaran

Recipe category : Dessert

                        It is the delicious and very popular dessert from Agra city in northern India. It is transculent looking, soft, chewy, uneven or rectangular shape and candy like, eaten dry sweet. Petha is known to be made from ash gourd vegetable, also known as winter melon or white pumpkin. With the growing demand of this Indian dessert and also now wide variety of Petha.

Ingredients:

• 1 Kg White pumpkin (Peeled and seeds removed)
• 2 tsp Limestone
• 600 gm Sugar
• 200 gm Honey
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 4 Green cardamoms (Peeled and crushed)

Preparation:

         

         Peeled the pumpkin skin, remove the seeds and the soft fibrous portion.

• Cut the fibrous portion into uneven or large thick rectangular pieces. Prick well with a fork all over pieces.
• Dissolve 2 tsp of limestone in enough water to cover the pumpkin pieces. Now marinate for 7 - 8 hours. (It helps for retaining the color)
• Drain pieces and wash thoroughly, squeezing out water and rinsing again so that no trace of lime remains.
• Take a pan, add 400 gm sugar and enough water to take in the pumpkin pieces.
• Boil the pieces into the sugar syrup absorbed by the ash gourd pieces.
• In a pan, take 1 cup of water and add 200 gm sugar, 1 tbsp Lemon juice, Cardamom. Cook till it reaches 3 string consistency.
• Lower the flame and add the cooked ash gourd pieces to it. Cook till the pieces is completely cooked in the sugar syrup which has thread like consistency.
• Take off from heat and add honey into the pieces, mix well.
• Arrange the pethas in a tray, so that they do not stick to each other. Allow it for air dry when it cool completely and absorb honey.
• Finally serve delicious and soft chewy sweet.

Note:

1. If you do not like to using honey. Add sugar (make it 800 gm) instead of honey.
2. You can use rose water instead of cardamom.

NUTRIENTS:

• White pumpkin is low calories and high in vitamins A, B6, C and E. It contains huge minerals also. Benefits for eye health, Asthma, Peptic ulcer and better immune system.
• Honey is good source of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties.
• Honey can boost healing time and reduce infection. It is an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration.

Enjoy with Food Kit 😋

Lemon mint juice / Mint lemonade

Delicious Recipe for Yummy Tummy !

Recipe cuisine : Indian                                      Preparation time : 10 min
Recipe category : Beverages                                              Serves : 4 
               Author : Hema Chandrasekaran



Lemon Mint juice recipe (Pudina juice). Delicious and refreshing mint lemon juice which taste awe for this hot summer days. The lemon and mint will make your body cool. Enjoy the energy booster drink.

Ingredients:

• Fresh Mint leaves      -      1/2 cup
• Lemon juice               -     1/4 cup
• Pepper                        -      1 tsp
• Ginger (grated)          -      2 tsp
• Salt                            -     A generous pinch
• Sugar                         -      1/4 cup
• Sabja seeds (soaked) -     2 tbsp

Preparation:

• Take fresh cleaned mint leaves, Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Ginger in a blender. Blend well.
• Pour through a metal strainer without stirring. Add and adjust cold water.
• Add lemon juice and soaked sabja seeds into the juice.
• Finally garnishing with lemon and some mint leaves. Serve cold for yummy tummy!😋  

Note:

• If you reduce lemon juice, the raw smell of mint will be dominating.
• Use ice cold water for best results.

NUTRIENTS:

              Fresh mint and lemon is a herby  and healthy drink made with fresh mint leaves, which is alkaline and helps to relieve you from the burning sensation in the throat. This is suitable for summer energy booster beverage.

• Mint leaves (pudina) being an anti-inflammatory reduces the inflammation in the stomach and shows a clearsing effect.
• Lemon is very good source of Vitamin C and thus helps in the production of white blood cells and act as antibody properties.
• Ginger is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. Also helps for digestion.
• Black pepper is the 'King of spices' and it have high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Enjoy with Food kit 😍😋