Mangoes Figs n' Walnut Muffins

I have been missing from here since a while now. Just having been having some issues with time management. Have been having people over at home n that has kept me off the Internet n' in the kitchen or out shopping with them. :)....I wonder how many awesome recipe updates I must have missed out on of my blogger friends out here. Well, I hope to catch up on that in couple of days...:) After my big proclamation about learning to bake in my kitchen itself. I have been kinda doing well in the baking department. I'm guessing it has something to do with the great recipes I have found. I'm gonna do 2 small posts today.









I'm baking something again today n' I'm looking forward to it already. The first post are these muffins. The Blueberry Banana Muffins I had done had come out so well I wanted to try some more. Just to make sure it wasn't fluke n' that I did have a great recipe n' some amount of skill to get it right. Why this combinations? I'm not too sure, I just went with things I like n' I had with me in the kitchen. With this second batch also coming out really well, I'm comfortable with my muffin recipe n' would substitute the fruits with anything in season n' know that they will turn out well. I have used the exact recipe from the Blueberry Muffins recipe here. The only change is I have used fresh ripe mangoes, along with some chopped figs n' crushed walnuts for sprinkling on top instead of Blueberry n' Banana. With this I salute my Muffin Recipe. I made 15 muffins using this recipe.

Ingredients:

1. All Purpose Flour (Maida): 3 cups minus 2tbsp
2. Baking soda: 1tsp
3. Baking powder:2 tsps
4. Heavy pinch of salt
5. Caster sugar: 1 cup
6. Vegetable oil: 1/2 cup (or half a cup of melted butter) *
7. Egg: 1no
8. Yogurt (plain n unflavored) : 1 generous cup (throw in extra if you want)
9. Mangoes(ripe n fresh):1 and a half cup
10. Figs (chopped): 1/2 cup
10. Vanilla Extract/Essence : 1tbsp
11. Softened Butter, for muffin tins (I used the cupcake liners so didn't need this)
12. Caster sugar (optional): for sprinkling on top.
13. Walnuts (crushed): to sprinkle on top

(* to my horror I saw that I didn't have enough Vegetable Oil with me. So I used melted butter instead. They say that while mixing the wet ingredients as mentioned in Step 3 below, one should take care while adding the hot butter to eggs. What I did was I added butter n' then added yogurt before adding the eggs n' I was safe.) This is what I had done for the blueberry recipe n' I did the same this time around too.

Method:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 180° C.

Step 2: In a large bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3: In another large bowl whisk together sugar, oil, vanilla essence, egg, and yogurt.

Step 4: Add the dry ingredients (I sifted it in little by little) and stirring to a count of 10.

Step 5:Add the mangoes and the chopped figs, to mixture and stir 3 times. (At this point I got a little worried, coz the batter looked really different from anything I have ever baked. But I decided to proceed as instructed.)

Step 6: Add mixture to well-buttered muffin pans or like I mentioned the Cupcake liners. Sprinkle some walnuts on top and press down lightly. Sprinkle a little sugar over top. (Brown sugar can be used instead.)

Step 7: Bake 20 to 25 minutes and allow to cool completely.

Kerala Mango Pickle or Curry/ Kadumanga Achar

This is my third post on Mangoes this month, I had gotten distracted with my baking mission n' couldn't complete the hattrick as planned. :) This pickle, even though it comes under the category of a pickle is often mistaken n' eaten as a Mango Curry. Kanji, the most popular comfort food of a Malayali, is most often accompanied by this pickle. I love it so much, this is one of the first things I wanted to make the moment I got a kitchen to myself. The only thing is, I love eating it even without anything with it. I can just eat this in a bowl n' be happy about it. I have consciously stopped doing this, but the inane desire is to do just that, the moment I see this pickle is still there.

I can eat pickle with anything n' everything, that's how much I love it. But other than this, I don't make any other pickle at home. The white lime pickle, the no oil red lime pickle, the black gooseberry pickle, the mango with mustard seeds pickle etc that we keep a stock of at home are all supplied by my mom. This pickle has less shelf life than the other pickles. The recipe? Here you go. :)





Ingredients:

1. Raw Mango: 2nos medium (chopped or rather cubed into really small pieces)
2. Chilly powder : 2 tbsp (or as per taste)
3. Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
4. Salt : As reqd
5. Gingelly oil : 5tbsp (best for pickles)
6. Fenugreek(Uluva) powder : 1 tsp
7. Asafoetida(Kaayam) powder : 1/2 tsp
8. Vinegar : 3tbsp ( or more depending on the taste)
9. Curry leaves : 1 bunch
10. Mustard seeds : 1 tsp
11. Dry Red Chili: 1-2nos

Method:

Step 1: Add salt to the mango piece n' keep it aside for atleast an hour or 2.

Step 2: In a kadai/wok, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dry red chilies n' curry leave. Allow it to splutter.

Step 3: Remove the kadai from the stove and add the red chili powder, turmeric powder n' asafoetida powder. (You are doing it off the stove cause we need to take care not to burn the powders used.)

Step 4: Mix in the mangoes into the above mixture. Allow it to coat well. Add vinegar. Check the salt n' add more if required. Keep it aside overnight or at least for 4-5hrs to allow it to absorb the spices.

If you ask me, its best served with everything. ;) But traditionally, its served with Kanji or Rice n' Curry. Happy Cooking!!! :)

Pickled Mango Chutney/ Uppumanga Chammanthi

I have socially busy day ahead of me and decided to do this post bright n' early! Ever since last Friday, I have been having busy days like these n' I love it. :)....To continue with my Mango Posts, I give you a chutney. I mean, I have had this so many times at home in Kerala with Kanji or just rice and a curry. You know how fashion gurus will tell you, a gorgeous scarf or chic handbag you are holding will make a simple outfit turn into a fashion statement! Well this chutney does that to my food. ;) (lol...yeah even I can see the funny side to that statement.) But really, I do mean it! This does turn a simple meal to a drool worthy finger n' plate licking experience. ;)






My mom tells me, I started making coconut chutneys on the regular arakallu when I was 6yrs old. (I'm sure she used to help ;) I used to put a stool next to the arakkalu n' gladly make the chutney. The only problem used to be that I would finish half of it as soon as I made it. ;) So then amma started giving me extra coconut for the "just for me" portions of the chutney. You know how small girls in kerala would play "Kanjiyum Curryum" during the holidays with friends n' cousins? In my case, we had a big parambu (backyard) and we would actually make the kanji on a small coal and stone stove and pair it with a chutney n eat it hot. Just the thought is mouthwatering for me. I bought a new pestle and mortar recently and decided to make this. Need I say, I loved the experience? So here is my version of the simple food fashion statement....;)

Ingredients:

1. Pickled Mango (Uppu Manga)- 1 or 2 (cut into small pieces)
2. Small Onions: 6-8nos
3. Green Chili (or pickled chili)- 3-4nos *

* (depending on how spicy you want it to be add more or less. But it tastes best when you make this chutney really spicy. I'm not adding any coconut to this chutney! )

Method

Just grind all the ingredients above into the chutney consistency that you want. I liked biting into these pieces, but some people like to have it in the form of nice paste. So I leave that up to you. You can also use this in the form of a dip for which you obviously need to grind this into a paste. :) Happy Cooking!!!

Mango Fool

A try at 'Mango Fool'...that didn't fool me at all. ;)...I had to start with that sad joke. But really, the name Mango Fool has fascinated me since a while. Rj n me...we are both huge fans of Mangoes. Ok, he is a huge fan of ripe mangoes n' I on the other hand, love mangoes in any form. I look forward to summers in India, just for the abundant supply of Mangoes everywhere(i ain't exaggerating!).






I have 3 mango posts with me n' I told myself, for the love of Mangoes, I better stop being lazy and do the Mango blog posts soon. So here you go, Mango Fool is my first post.





Ingredients:

1. Mango puree (Fresh n Raw) : 1cup *
2. Yogurt - 2 cups (preferably thick or thickened)
3. Sugar : 3-4tbsp
4. Mint leaves - few
5. Lemon juice: 1tbsp
6. Salt: to taste

* I used some mangoes which were between the stages of raw n' ripe. I used really sour mangoes, so had to adjust the ingredients a little in the end. So please taste as you go n' make adjustments while making the drink depending on the mangoes you use.

Method:

Step 1: For the Mango Puree. Peel and slice the Mangoes. Boil them in a little warm water till soft. Pass through a sieve and allow it to cool. (while slicing the flesh off the stone, don’t go too close to the stone, as this part is very fibrous and won't be nice in this drink.)

Step 2: Beat the yogurt till smooth. Add sugar and salt to this. Crush some mint leaves n' add it to the yogurt.

Step 3: Add the lemon juice to the Mango puree and mix well.

Step 4: Mix the mango puree and yogurt to get a thick mixture. Chill it before serving. Garnish it with a few mint leaves and its ready.

Reduce the amount of sugar and add more salt, if you love sourness in drinks as much as I do. This is perfect for a hot day. :)

Mango Ice Lollies- Summer Delight on a Stick

I got the moulds for ice sticks recently thinking I will make something for my nieces when they come for a visit next month....I washed the mould n' left it to dry n' RJ walks in at the end of the day sees them in the kitchen n' he is immediately like..."oh wow, you are gonna make me some ice sticks?"...honestly I just loved the idea...I mean I used to eat them by the dozens when we were kids....I can remember the days when I would stick out my tongue to check the color after having grapes, orange, mango ice sticks (we used to call them ice lollies). I have already done couple of batches so far n' we love them. They are just perfect for the hot summer n' so easy...:)


Ingredients:
Makes about 4 ice lollies

1. Ripe Mangoes: 3nos (Medium Sized)
2. Sugar: as per taste (check to see if needed)

Method:
1. Peel and de-stone the mango.
2. Chop them into small pieces.
3. Blend the mangoes and sugar together.
4. Fill the ice lolly moulds with the puree and freeze. (add a little water only if the puree is too thick)

Kids would just love this homemade treat....why kids? like us, you might enjoy them too...:)


I'm sending this post to 'Healing Food- Mango' event hosted by Reva of Kaarasaaram this month, also linking Siri of Cooking with Siri .



Also, sending this post to the event 'Kids Delight' hosted this month by Mina of Authentic Vegetarian Recipes, this event was initiated by Srivalli of Spice your Life.

Salsa de Mango with Spicy Shrimps

Well i was hoping my next post would be about our favourite hangouts in Bahrain, after all we lived like tourists in Bahrain the last week we were there (except the last day that is...which was insanely busy n' tiring). But that is taking more time n' me getting back into the kitchen today kinda made me want to do this post right away. After hours of travelling, a tiring day we reached home n' it just feels so right!! It has started raining in Kerala already, not pouring but enough to keep the heat at bay.

There is an insane supply of fresh mangoes at home n' i have been freaking out on them, which has already resulted in a pimple on my face, a clear indication that i shouldn't overdo it...but what the hell...i just can't resist plucking one n' eating it...

Amma was making Shrimps today and i have been dying to try this Mango Salsa recipe that i had come across sometime back. I fell in love with the colors the first time i saw it n' the taste didn't disappoint me. Amma's Spicy Shrimps recipe was very similar to the Prawns Chili Fry recipe i had put up earlier n so i'm not putting it up here again. The Mango Salsa was a perfect accompaniment to the spicy shrimps, so here you go...

Ingredients:

1.Mango: 1cup (cut into small cubes)
2.Tomatoes: 1/2 cup (seeded n' cut into small pieces)
3.Cilantro/ Coriander Leaves: 1tbsp (chopped)
4.Red onion:2 tsp(finely chopped)
5.Salt: 1/4 tsp(or as required)
6.Lime Juice: 1/2 tsp (or as required)
7.Black Pepper: a pinch (optional)
8.Green Chili: 3/4tsp ( seeded and veins removed, finely chopped)

Method:

Step 1: Combine all ingredients. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Toss before serving.

Best served with some hot spicy seafood or grilled chicken or serve it with tortilla chips and give it a Mexican angle. ;)

Coconut Pudding with Mangoes and Lychees

I made this pudding a while back, one of the main reasons for even searching for something like this was i had some ripe mangoes and fresh lychees with me. I also realised that i have some coconut milk left over from the chicken stew i made recently..and knowing Robin doesn't like coconut flavour so much i still had to try this one...;)

Ingredients

Coconut Milk: 400ml

Milk: 410ml

Caster Sugar: 5 tbsp

Hot Water: 2 tbsp

Gelatine: 3 tsp

Lime: 1 no.

Orange: 1 no.

Ripe Mangoes: 2 nos

Lychees: 10 nos

Apricots: 5-6 nos- sliced (optional)

Caster Sugar: 2 tsp

Method

Step 1: Heat Coconut Milk , Milk and Sugar (5 tbsp) in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occassionaly for 5mins, until the sugar dissolves.

Step 2: Add the hot water to the Gelatine, stirring continuously until it dissolves.

Step 3: Add the above to a Coconut Milk mixture and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into a container. Cover and place it in the fridge for 6hrs to set.

Step 4: You need to do the following steps roughly 10-15mins before serving. Use a zester to remove the rind from the lime (thin strips). Juice the Lime and Orange into a medium bowl.

Step 5: Add sliced mangoes, apricots, lychees, lime rind and sugar (2 tsp) to the citrus juice and combine. Set it aside for 5mins for the flavours to develop.

Step 6: Scoop the coconut pudding into bowls and serve immediately with the fruits.