Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Kheer r Kochuri/Bengali Mawa Kachori - West Bengal Special

Today finally we did, its our last post for a month of non stop blogging marathon, after going through 29states am taking you all to West Bengal. West Bengal is in the Eastern region of India and its the four most populous state.The roots of Bengali cuisine can be traced back to its origination in ancient Bengal, which comprised of the present day Indian states of Tripura, the Barak Valley of Assam and West Bengal and the independent country of Bangladesh.Fish and lentils served with rice find prominence as the staple food of the Bengalis. A typical Bengali fare follows a certain sequence of food which starts with a dish of bitter taste and ends with a sweet delicacy. A slightly elaborate Bengali meal starts with the first course or starter made from bitter vegetables or herbs, which acts as the starting bitter course. In West Bengal, it is followed by shukto, a thick soupy mixture of vegetables including the bitter guord (korola) in a ginger-mustard sauce. This bitter dish is savored at lunch but skipped at dinner. Rice forms the main component of the meal which remains constant throughout the meal. Bhaat (Hot steamed rice) is first served with ghee, salt and green chilli and shak(leafy vegetables). Then dal (pulses) is served along with different types of bhaja (fried vegetables)or bhate (bolied vegetables). Skillfully cooked items involving multiple vegetables and spices, called dalna, ghonto, torkari, chorchori, etc. is the next item. After this course, the ambol or tauk (chutney) is served which acts as the palate cleanser. It is a tangy-sweet delicacy usually made of pineapple, mangoes, tamarind, tomatoes, papaya or a combination of dry fruits and fresh fruits. Papor(papadum), a type of thin wafer made of potatoes, shagu(sabo) or dal is served as an accompaniment to the chutney. The next corse is the dessert. Doi (yoghurt) is served in its natural flavor or as the sweetened variety, known as Misti Doi (sweet yoghurt). Misti doi is typical to the Bengali cuisine.

No Bengali meal is complete without Mishti (sweets). Sweets form an essential part of the Bengali palate. A meal is considered complete with the serving of paan (betel leaves) which act as a terminal digestive.
Illish maach or Hilsa fish is the speciality of Bengal which is a universal favorite of the Bengalis. It is steam cooked delicately with mustard paste and green chilli to preserve its flavor and tenderness.

Fish is cooked in a variety of methods. A few common methods of relishing fish include frying the fish, fish cooked with gravy, steamed fish or fish prepared in combination with curd.Mustard oil is the preferred medium used for cooking Bengali dishes. This gives a unique flavor to the dishes. Traditional spices and condiments enrich the taste of the dishes. The essence of Bengali cooking lies in maintaining a delicate balance between the main ingredients and the seasoning. Even the humble pulse attains a remarkable taste and identity because of the typical phoron or flavoring added to it. The ever popular panch phoron (blend of five spices) is a distinctive element commonly used in the preparation of the Bengali cuisine. It consists of five elements in equal parts, namely cumin seed, nigella seed, fenugreek seed,aniseed and mustard seed or radhuni (wild celery seeds). Posto (poppy seeds) is another item which is extensively used in Bengali cuisine.Since i want to finish our long marathon with a sweet note, i prepared this extremely delicious kheer r kochuri aka mawa kachori, they came out simply delicious and its seriously hard to resist to it.


Recipe Source: Mix and Stir

Crust:
1cup All purpose flour
2tbsp Ghee
1/2cup Lukewarm water

Filling:
1/2litre Whole milk
5tbsp Sugar
1tbsp Mixed nuts (chopped)

Syrup:
1cup Sugar
1/2cup Water
1/4tsp Cardamom powder
Saffron few strands

Oil for frying

Boil the milk in a heavy bottomed pan in low flame, stir it occasionally.

When its reduces to 1/4of the quantity add the sugar, stir and cook until the mixture turns thick. Add the nuts and let it cool.

Meanwhile in a bowl, take the flour, ghee and mix, add the water gradually and make a stiff and smooth dough.

Keep the dough aside,cover it with a wet cloth, let it sit for 15minutes.



Make the syrup with sugar and water, once the sugar melts add the saffron and cardamom.

When the syrup is one thread put off the stove.

Knead the dough once and divide into 10-12medium sized balls, roll each ball as small circles, drop a tablespoon of filling in the center.

Seal the edges and wrap the filling, finish each balls in the same way, keep the filled balls aside for few minutes.

Heat the oil for deep frying, keep the flame in medium flame.Gently flatten the balls with your plam.

Drop the prepared kachoris in hot, fry them in medium flame.

Fry on both sides until they turns brown.

Dip the fried kachories into the syrup for a minutes, place it on  serving place.

Drizzle the syrup, sprinkle chopped dry fruits generously.

Once its gets cooled, arrange in air tightened box and enjoy.

32 comments:

Lincyscookart said... Reply To This Comment

Like all types of Kachuris. This sweet version seems delicious. The mawa filling inside the crispy kachuris Perfect texture combo.

Priya said... Reply To This Comment

Congratulations sis on successfully finishing the journey of indian states .Each of the dishes are unique and states too .Kochuri looks very yummy

Catherine said... Reply To This Comment

Such a delightful recipe. I would love to try these flavors. Blessings, Catherine

www.mahaslovelyhome.com said... Reply To This Comment

Sweet version kachuri is really tempting n pic is mouth watering..

vaishali sabnani said... Reply To This Comment

Wow ...this is a delicious tempting kachouri..perfect way to end the marathon.

Mythreyi said... Reply To This Comment

Love the Kachori, Looks very Tempting..!


-Mythreyi
Yum! Yum! Yum! - Coffee Grinder GiveAway

Varada's Kitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Rich, crispy and golden brown, the kachoris are very appetizing. I have enjoyed reading all the dishes you presented this month.

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

Perfect tea time snack.

AparnaRajeshkumar said... Reply To This Comment

very nice recipe.. so done with all states and long blogging marathona? :D

Srivalli said... Reply To This Comment

Oh my goodness Priya..that looks so delicious!..you have got them so well done..Enjoyed all your posts and it's been great doing this marathon with you..

Hamaree Rasoi said... Reply To This Comment

Simply drooling over here Awesome looking kachoris.
Deepa

nayana said... Reply To This Comment

Delicious looking kachoris....

Oriyarasoi said... Reply To This Comment

Mmmm...the kachoris look amazing!! Simply want to bite into them...

Rafeeda AR said... Reply To This Comment

shyooo akka... morning morning my tummy is grumbling looking at those flaky kachoris... ufff....

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

when I saw the name mawa kachori, somehow my mind was expecting a crescent shaped!! this looks awesome and what a beautiful color and the filling is so heavenly!!

Tahemeem said... Reply To This Comment

Love ur pics and write-up. Kachori with mawa.. mouthwatering.

Kaveri Venkatesh said... Reply To This Comment

Looks so delicious and tempting Priya

Sundari Nathan said... Reply To This Comment

yummy kachori!! mouthwatering...

sathya said... Reply To This Comment

Kochori looks wonderful and very appetizing, great job on the marathon Priya!

Appetite Treats

Harini R said... Reply To This Comment

Great dessert to end this marathon, Priya. It was wonderful to drool over all your creations as always!

Gayathri Anand said... Reply To This Comment

Kachori looks yummy.
http://www.kaviskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/

Pavani said... Reply To This Comment

what a delicious way to end the series Priya. Loved all your posts and it was fun to run the marathon along with you :-)

Nalini's Kitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Mawa Kachori sounds so tempting and such a exotic dish to end the series..Glad to be a part of this series with you..

cookingwithsapana said... Reply To This Comment

Mawa Kachori looks mouth watering . I really enjoyed each post of yours in this marathon.

jayanthi said... Reply To This Comment

mawa kachuri looks decadent. perfect way to end the marathon

Padmajha said... Reply To This Comment

Looks so sinful Priya!Enjoyed doing this marathon with you :)

MySpicyKitchen said... Reply To This Comment

Mawa kachori sounds good. And your pictures are tempting

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

Some wat similar to rajasthani mawa kachori na .. bengali version looks very very delicious and tempting .. I just love mawa kachoris, looks fantastic !!

Archana said... Reply To This Comment

Wow this looks so awesome. A delicious way to end the marathon. I am bookmaking it with the hope that I make it sooon. I enjoyed the marathon with you thanks for being there.

Nisha said... Reply To This Comment

Such a delectable dish Priya... Lovely way to end the series....

Chef Mireille said... Reply To This Comment

what a heavenly treat - so sweet and delicious for sure

Suma Gandlur said... Reply To This Comment

These are fabulous Priya. Do you cook the stuffing until it reaches a mawa like consistency?
Loved all the dishes you posted for this marathon.:)