Kurbani ka Meeta

This is a Hyderabadi dish which is made useing dried apricots.Its mainly served with fresh cream,vanilla ice-cream or custard.It reminds me of all my cousins weddings that i attended as a child in hyderabad...where this dish was a staple...

Kubani in urdu means apricots in english,n hence the name Kurbani ka Meeta...meaning sweet made out of apricots.

This sweet is very easy to make and a hit at most of my partys...As u can prepare the syrup the day before the party and store it in a air tight container in the fridge...On the day of the party just serve with any store bought vanilla ice cream.

I have learnt this dish from my uncle(dad's brother),he is a good cook and like's to experiment with different cuisines....I was his help whenever he is used to cook something new...that's how i learnt this dish.



Ingredients:

1 small packet of Dried apricots(for those of u who dont know what they look like here's a pic )



1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water

Method:

Soak the dried apricots overnight in bowl full of water.

The next day u will notice that they swelled up n became smooth.Then take each of these apricots open it with ur fingers and remove the seed from it.

Take the seeds n break them open u will see a small almond type nut in it,remove it and keep aside.

Take the deseeded apricots and mash them coarsely with ur hand or in a blender.

Put this into a pot add the suagr and water and on medium-low heat let it come to a boil.

Cover and Cook it for 20 mins stirring in between.Check for sugar adjust it according to ur sweet level.

Remove the lid n let it cook for 5mins or more or until the mixture tunrs into a thick brown sauce.

Remove n let it cool for some time at room temperature.Once cool remove into a air tight container and store it in the fridge.

U can use it as a topping on Vanilla ice cream,custard or fresh cream.Its a very cool n refreshing deseart after a heavy biryani meal.

Basundhi

Whenever i try something different outside i either get the recipe from the person who made it or search for the recipe in various blogs.This is one such recipe that i got from my friends mother but with a few variations here n there,but the outcome was similar to hers.



Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk
1 tin evaporated milk
1 tin condensed milk
1/2 tsp elaichi pwd
10 almonds
few strands of safforn or yellow color.

Method:

Soak the almonds in warm water n remove the skin and grind them to a coarse powder.

In a wide deep bottom pan add the whole milk on keep on low heat(atleast 3 or 4).

Keep mixing it so that it doesnt stick to the pan,now for once increase the heat to medium but still keep mixing it.

When it comes to a boil add the evaporated milk n condensed milk n again reduce the heat and keep mixing.do this for 15 mins.

Next add the almond powder and elaichi powder n few saffron strands or yellow color n mix.

Keep stirring for 10 mins,u will notice the mixture becoming thick.

Switch off the stove n remove to a bowl n let it cool.

When it comes to room temperature garnish it with few saffron strands,slivered almonds or pistachios n refrigerate it for 4 hrs or more

Serve chilled

Note:U should be patient with the whole procedure though it takes some time around 30-45 mins.Usualy it takes more time but since we are also useing already evaporated milk we reduce the time to half.

U can aslo use heavy whipping cream instead of the evaporated milk.