Bhai Dooj 2019: 4 lip smacking sweets that you can make for this festival

Diwali, the festival of lights is upon us and Indians across the world are celebrating the same with great pomp and fervour. The five-day festival started yesterday with Dhanteras and today Hindus are celebrating Narak Chaturdashi aka Choti Diwali. Tomorrow is the Diwali followed by New Year and Bhai Doof festival. Speaking of festival of Bhau beej, it is similar to Raksha Bandhan and it celebrates the bond that is shared by siblings. 

The same falls on the fifth day of Diwali which the second lunar day of the Shukla Paksha of the Kartika month of Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar. As the festival falls on the second day after the new moon day it is known as ‘dooj’. On this day, sisters greet their brothers, apply tilak on their forehead and perform aarti and reward each other with gifts and blessings. The day is known in several ways- Bhau Beej, Bhai Teeka and Bhai Phota.  

If you are looking for yummy sweetmeats to prepare on this pious day then look no further as today we have compiled 4 recipes that you can make this Bhai dooj.

1. 5-Ingredient Sweet 

This an interesting sweet that I stumbled upon on YouTube as it looks rich and tasty but you hardly needs a long list of food items. This particular recipe hardly requires any fancy food items moreover, it just requires easily available 5 ingredients. Yes, you read it right! You just need peanuts, nuts, watermelon seeds, sugar and silver vark, that's it. Check out the recipe video right below.

2. Carrot halwa cake with cream cheese frosting

Why have regular carrot halwa when you can give a more yummy twist and that to that of cream cheese. Check out the ingredient list and method below.

Ingredients:
For the Cake
White Sugar 100 gms
Brown Sugar 100 gms
Vegetable Oil 200 gms
Eggs 4 nos.
Nutmeg ½ tsp
Baking powder 2 tsp
Baking Soda 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Flour 250 gms
Carrot Halva 200 gms
(with Nuts, Raisins & dry fruits)

For the Frosting
Cream Cheese (softened) 220 gms
White Butter (softened) 50 gms
Vanilla Extract 1 tsp
Powdered Sugar 350 gms
Cardamom (elaichi) 5 to 6 cloves (roasted &Powdered)

Method

Cake
Preheat the oven to 180 Degrees C.In a large Bowl, Mix the Sugars & Oil. Combine well. Add the eggs
(beaten) and combine them again. Add the Nutmeg, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt & flour into this mix and whisk gently. Fold in the Gajar Halva. Pour the mixture into a greased cake tin and bake the cake in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes (until the toothpick comes out clean).Remove from the oven and the tin on a wire rack to cool before frosting the cake.

Frosting
Beat the Cream Cheese with the electric hand whisk over medium speed until smooth.Add the butter and continue to beat until blended. Add the Vanilla, Powdered sugar & 90% of the Cardamom Powder (preserve the 10% for garnish)
Frost the Cake as per your preference. Cut wedges or Slices of the cake. Sprinkle the elaichi powder as a garnish while serving.

Recipe by Chef Mitesh Rangras, Consultant Chef, Derby 

3. Atta Gulab Jamun

Have you heard about Gulab Jamun made out of wheat flour? No, right! For this recipe, you need just wheat flour, sugar, cardamom, ghee, milk powder, baking soda, milk and oil. Check out the video to know the recipe tutorial right below.

4. Kaju Ki Kulfi with Anjeer and Falooda

Kaju ki Kulif with a healthy twist of Anjeer will just make the Kulfi yummier. Check out the ingredient list and method right below.

Ingredients for Kaju Kulfi
1. Whole Milk(full cream milk) 1.5 ltr
2. Sugar 50gm
3. Cashew nuts 100 gm

Method:

1. Boil and reduce milk till half the quantity
2. Add sugar and cook until sugar dissolves
3. Cool it down to room temperature.
4. In a food processor chop the cashew on the pulse.
5. Add cashew in milk mixture.
6. Now with the help of a hand beater incorporate air in mixture to make smooth and lighter.
7. Keep the mixture in the freezer for 2 hours.
8. Repeat steps 7 and 8 three times.
9. Fill the molds and freeze for at least 10 hrs. before serving.

Special Note:

1. Remember to keep stirring the milk on low heat to avoid the bottom part getting burned.
2. Sugar to be added towards the end of the reducing process of the milk and cook on very slow
heat, till the grains have melted into the milk.
3. Make sure to incorporate air in the kulfi mixture to make smooth and soft kulfi.

Ingredients for Anjeer compote

1. Dried Fig 10 pcs
2. Sugar 50 gm
3. Water 250 ml
4. Lemon juice ½ lemon

Method

1. In a heavy bottom, pan caramelizes the sugar.
2. Add chopped fig in it and cook for 1 min.
3. Add water and continue cooking till it reaches a thick consistency
4. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.
5. Cool it and keep it at room temperature.
Assembly

Take out the kulfi from the mold and place on top the falooda noodles.
Top it with Anjeer compote and Sabja (Basil seeds)
Garnish with fresh rose petal and enjoy.

Recipe by Chef Milan Gupta of Taftoon Bar & Kitchen