“Naivedyam : Makhana Vanilla- Dates Custard” … Wishing all my friends “A Blessed MahaShivratri” … addition of roasted makhana’s to milk desserts is the most sought after dish in northern parts by those who observe upawas on sacred occasions … do try this crispy air fried makhanas dunked in chilled vanilla- dates custard … tastes awesome … Stay Blessed~ Spread Happiness …
** Custard is a simple dessert that can be prepared easily as all you need is milk and any flavoured custard powder. Addition of fresh and dry fruits is a matter of choice and you may include any of your choice. I have shared many recipes with variations that include sabudana, vermicelli, dry fruits, caramel, fruits etc. and they have all turned out excellent. Addition of makhana/ fox nuts/ lotus seeds is something I have toying for quite some time, but somehow not got around to preparing the same.
** We are all aware that Makhana (fox nuts/ lotus seeds) are loaded with rich nutrients being la great source of protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. It is low in calories, fat and sodium making it fit for consumption by diabetic, heart, kidney and BP patients. It is versatile having a neutral taste and can easily be prepared as a roasted snack or added to sweet or curries dishes.
** The cultivation- harvesting of Makhana is manual which is the reason for its high and rising cost. It is become very popular these days be it for dietary purpose or as an inclusion on fasting days. During the Upwas days like Navratri, Shivratri, Ekadashi, Sankashta Chaturti it is the most sought after ingredient added to milk in preparation of payasam, harshala or custard sort of a dish, edible for consumption by observers.
** During the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, I often prepare any milk based dessert/ payasam as Naivedaym to offer to God and this time I thought of preparing this particular dessert and thankfully it turned out awesome. To cut down on the quantity of sugar I often add dates (khajoor) syrup these days to balance on taste, as they are a better option when it comes on health forefront. Well, rest is history and the picture is before you and as for the taste I can heartily say it was excellent.
** Here is my recipe for “Makhana Vanilla- Dates Custard” … my style, do try it, it’s awesome and children will love it ….
** Heat 1 liter of skimmed Cow’s milk/ Doodh/ Haalu to boiling point (you can use full fat milk if desired too). Lower the heat to minimum and add a few strands of saffron (kesar), 3-4 tblsp of sugar (shakkar/ sakkara), mix well and continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes until the sugar has melted. Be careful and keep stirring to avoid formation of any cream on top, this helps in thickening of milk too.
** Mix about 3-4 tblsp of Vanilla flavored custard powder in a bowl with one cup of room temperature water until evenly mixed and there are no lumps whatsoever. Now add this to the milk mixture on low heat and mix well. Keep stirring as the custard begins to thicken to avoid it being burnt at the bottom.
** Note : Once the custard is added it hardly takes time to thicken, however if you find that the custard is turning too thick then you can add in a cup of water and mix well and if you find that the custard is still too thin in consistency then you can mix another teaspoon or so of custard powder in normal water and then to the custard.
** When thickened to right consistency and cooked well, remove and keep it aside. Now add about ½ cup of Dates (Khajoor) Syrup, mix well and let cool down a little bit until warm. I have used readily available dates syrup in market for this recipe. You can soak dates in warm milk, grind, sieve if required and use the same too.
** Note : Keep mixing the prepared vanilla- dates custard often as it cools down to avoid it forming thick layer on the surface.
** Roast bout 50-75 gms of Makhana/ Lotus Seeds/ Fox Nut on medium heat on a thick pan/ kadai until crisp. Do not raise the heat or burn it. You can use Air Fry or Microwave method for roasting them too, I have airfried the Makhana’s. When roasted evenly and done keep it ready aside to be added to the custard.
** Add roasted Makhana and ½ tsp of cardamom (ellaichi/ yellu) powder to vanilla- dates custard and mix well. Cover and keep it aside to cool down completely. Addition of any chopped fruits/ dry fruits is a matter of choice. You can add muskmelon, apple or any other fruit of your choice if desired before serving too.
** Heat a tsp of ghee/ toop add handful of cashew nut (kajjubi/ kaju) pieces and fry until lightly browned. Add in some raisins (dry grapes) and further fry until done and add this to the Makhana Vanilla- Dates Custard. Mix well, put in an air tight container and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to be chilled before serving.
** I have garnished the Makhana Vanilla- Dates Custard with ½ cup of fresh pomegranate (dalimb) seeds just before serving as I like the crunch and juicy flavor it imparts when relishing. Addition of pomegranate seeds is optional and you may skip the same if not desired, however, just try it, tastes wonderful.
** Makhana Vanilla- Dates Custard is done and ready to be offered as Naivedyam/ Prasadam to God and thereby served among all. This dessert tastes best served chilled, so kindly spare sometime before serving it. Though summer it is the best time for healthy chilled desserts, you can safely relish custard dishes any time of the year unlike desserts with ice creams. So go ahead, do try this wonderful dessert and enjoy them with your family and friends on any given occasion, sure to be loved by all.
** I am sharing below a common link below to custard dessert recipes in my Blog, you can check out the same and try them out too ….
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Thanks.