Minapa Sunnundalu ~ Urad dal Laddoo

Minapa Sunundalu is a very famous classic traditional sweet of Andhra.This is an quick and simple sweet item prepared and can also be offered as a "Naivedyam/Prasadam" to the God.

Hope all the Ladies from Andhra may compulsory be known it as this sweet item plays an important role at the time of "BabyShower "(Seemantham) Function.It is prepared for the Pregnant Ladies by their Mother ,Mother-In-Laws or elders as it has a lot of health benefits and  "It is good for backbone" during pregnancy .This sweet preparation is very easy with three ingredients i.e;Urad dal,ghee & Sugar.The ingredients shows the health benefits in this way as the Urad dal gives protein,Ghee has the fat content is good for the growth of the fetus and the growing kids.By knowing these health benifits automatically a pregnant lady shows interest towards this recipe.Not only for the Pregnant Women ,often giving to kids is also good and healthy.

This is one of my favourite sweet from my childhood which is often prepared by my mom & Grandmother.They both prepares this sweet very well.

My mom made this delicacy for me on  my   Baby Shower . My Mom made a habbit  to eat daily one or two regularly for my whole pregnancy .As I like this sweet item very much and knowing the health benefits ,used to enjoy it.

In the U.S,I tried many times eating at Indian Sweet shops but I was not satisfied with the taste.Today I tempted to eat this sweet again soon collected the way of preparation from my Mom and tried it.It came superb and felt happy for the good taste.So friends,here goes the recipe.

Try it and offer this sweet to your friends those who are pregnant really they feel very happy by seeing and finishes soon.

Ingredients:

• Minapappu/Urad dal/Black gram-2cups (without husk)
• Sugar Powder-1 1/4 cup
• Ghee-3/4th cup
• Raw rice-2tbsp (optional)

Method:

• In a heavy bottomed pan roast the Urad dal on medium low heat stirring it continuously.
• The dal will slowly turn in to red color and releases nice aroma.
• Remove from the flame and transfer this dal in to a bowl and let it cool.
• Now add the raw rice and roast it;let it cool.
• Take a mixy jar,add these roasted dal & rice .
• Grind it to form a fine powder.
• The powder texture should be like sand.
• Melt the Ghee.
• Take a bowl,add the grinded powder,sugar and mix well.
• Now add the ghee slowly to the powder and make a fine balls from these mixture.
• Transfer the prepared Laddoos in to a container and store it.
• Serve it and enjoy !!!

Note:

• You can store the Powdered mixture of rice & dal in an air-tight container for 1to 2 months.Mix ghee and make balls whenever required.
• A combination of Jaggery and Sugar or only with the Jaggery also be made.
• Seive the Powder after grinding to avoid the garnules.
• Adding of raw rice do not stick while eating.

Sweet Butter Balls(Venna Vundalu)

            Happy  "Sri Krishna Janmastami" Wishes Lord Krishna.

Hi Friends,Today is the Birthday of Lord Krishna..Especillay many dishes are made with Butter for the Lord Krishna.So I made the "Venna Vundalu" and Offered it as the Naivedyam for today's Festival;and my  kid Neelesh (Naughty''Krishna") enjoyed the Tasty balls.This "Venna Vundalu" is a traditional sweet item for this auspicious day.

Ingredients:

• Maida/All purpose flour-1cup
• Riceflour-1/4 cup
• Cooking Soda- a pinch.
• Sugar-1 cup
• Butter-2tsp
• Milk-1/2 cup or Warm water to make a dough
• Oil for deep frying
• Water -Very little Just to soak sugar
• Elachi powder-1 tsp

Method:

• Take a bowl or Large vessel and mix Maida with Rice flour ,Butter and cooking soda .
• Add Warm water or Milk and make a  soft dough.
• Cover the dough with a wet cloth and keep it aside for 1hour.
• After 1 hour remove the cloth and make small balls out of this dough and leave them in a.plate.
• Again cover these balls with wet cloth  and keep it aside for 5minutes or for sometime.
• Now heat oil in a deep frying pan and drop the balls in to the oil and fry in a low flame till they turn in to nice  light brown in color.
• Remove the fried balls and let it cool completely.
• Now in a heavy botom pan ,take sugar and water.
• Take water enough amount just enough to soak the sugar.
• Let it boil till sugar dissolves into water.
• Make a thick sugar syrup of 3 thread consistency .So to test the sugar syrup ,place a drop on the plate .The drop should be as it is i.e.; It should not spread.
• When Syrup reaches this stage add all the fried balls and Cardamon powder and stir it continuously with a Spatula.
• Mix well to coat the sugar syrup to all the fried balls.
• Turn off the flame.
• Remove the balls and spread them on a plate (Otherwise the balls will stick together).
• Let the Butter Balls Cool.
• Offer them to Lord Krishna and then serve it.

Notes:

• You can use Jaggery syrup to coat the balls for Kids.

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Dahi Vada

Coconut Balls

Curd Rice/Daddojanam

The months of December and January(mid dec to mid jan actually) are of utmost importance to people who perform the "Dhanurmasam Vratam".

                                             

                             This is one of the most popular "Naivedyam" offer to the Lord during this month .One of which is made of curd,rice and spices-Daddyojanam/Daddojanam/Curd rice.

          

Ingredients:

• Home made Yogurt/Curd-2cups
• Pepper (whole)-1tsp
• Mustard seeds-1tsp
• Cooked rice-1cup(NOT BASMATI RICE)(PREFER SONA MASOORI)
• Dry ginger powdered-1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste
•  Oil-1/2 tbsp
• Curry leaves-6
• Red chillies-2
• Asafoetida Powder-a pinch
• Channa dal/Bengal gram-1/2 tsp (Optional)
• Split Urad dal/Black gram-1/2 tsp(Optional)
• Turmeric-a pinch
• Cilantro leaves-a few handful  to garnish

Preparation:

• Mix the curd and rice with some salt according to the taste in a big bowl or vessel and keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a hard bottomed vessel.
• Add Mustard seeds and pepper.
• Once the mustard splutter,add the dry ginger powder(sonti),red chillies,urad and chana dal.
• Then add the curry leaves,asafoetida powder and turmeric.    
• Mix the above tempering with curd rice that was kept aside .
• Garnish with Cilantro leaves and serve it.     

Tip:

• Add grated carrot also for garnish and to taste better.