The most exciting week of this month's Blogging marathon. One of our themes was "Ingredient through mail". Yeah, we had to swap ingredients with whomever we were paired. Since it is geographically convenient, I was paired with Sapna who resides in Europe as well."Sometimes bad things have to happen before good things can". The same, occurred. Unfortunately, Sapna's mail got lost somehwere and I didnt get it. More than the ingredients, I missed her extra goodies that she had sent along with it. Luckily, I was able to source her secret ingredient locally. Thanks to her I was able to try rare, traditional recipes from North India.
The ingredient through the mail is - Gondh | Edible Gum. This is not a common ingredient used in the Tamil cuisine. But it has such amazing medicinal benefits and it is highly beneficial for lactating mothers. It is commonly used in Gujarathi, Marathi, Rajasthani and Punjabi cuisine, especially in sweets like sheera, ladoo and Panjiri. It also provides heat to the body and hence more often had during winter times.
Today's recipe is mainly made with Wheat flour and Gond. It is a mix of various flours and lavishly added nuts and dry fruits. There are so many variations to this recipe and it can be easily altered to one's liking. I adapted my recipe from Sailus Food. I liked her ingredients combination and went ahead with it. Feel free to add or omit any of the flours other than wheat flour (since it is the base flour). Make your own combination and enjoy.
- ¾ cup Whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup Besan | Chickpea Flour
- ¼ cup Sooji | Semolina
- ¼ cup grated Kopara | dry coconut
- 2 tablespoon Gond Edible Gum
- ½ cup Sugar
- ½ cup Nuts Almonds, cashews, pistachios
- ¼ cup Ghee divided
- ½ teaspoon Fennel powder
- ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder
- A pinch Nutmeg powder
- In a Kadai | Non stick pan, add ghee. Once it is hot, add the Gond. Keep stirring until it puffs well and changes to a golden brown colour on a slow flame. Remove it and keep aside.
- In the same pan, add some more ghee and roast the wheat flour, besan, sooji and grated coconut separately. Roast them on a slow medium flame until it changes to a slight golden brown colour and releases its aroma. Keep aside.
- Then roast the nuts and raisins on the same pan.
- Take half of the nuts, dry coconut, sugar and gond, powder it nicely.
- Mix this with the rest of the flour in a wide bowl. Add the remaining nuts, raisins, fennel powder, nutmeg powder, dry ginger and cardamom powder. Mix it well.
- Check for sugar. If needed add some more.
- Combine everything well and serve as such.
- This can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 weeks.
- Add the ghee in divided quantities and as and when required.
- Feel free to add or omit any of the flours other than wheat flour (since it is the base flour). Make your own combination and enjoy.
- Cooking time may slightly vary depending on how low the flame is. Keep the flame in such a way that it does not burn the flour while roasting.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 73here
Priya Srinivasan says
Oh my, were you able to track the package?
Love your styling dear, stunning! i have used gond to make ladoos, this panjiri looks pretty easy, will try sometime!
Jayashree says
Though I have heard of gond, I've never seen or tried it. Loved the way you've styled the photos.
Chef Mireille says
so sad that mail got lost but at least you were still able to try the ingredient
Archana Potdar says
Amazing pictures Nisha. Though I am not new to eating gum I have still not tried cooking with it.
Harini-Jaya R says
OH no, the goodies went missing? that's really sad but glad you could manage to lay your hands on the secret ingredient. I remember my mom making this for me after my deliveries.
Srivalli says
This is a new dish for me Nisha..so good that you managed to make this theme..sad you lost those extra goodies..
Pavani N says
Ohh, I can imagine how disappointed you must have been when the package got lost. I would be too. Panjiri looks amazing. Lovely clicks Nisha.
Sandhiya says
Love the entire setup and the pics. It looks absolutely delicious .Glad that even the package got lost, you can still make it.
Sharmila- The Happie Friends Potpourri corner says
Totally loved the dish and the props used!! Amazing!!
Priya Suresh says
Thats so sad the mail got lost na, panjiri sounds fabulous. Well done Nisha though the ingredients didnt reached u.
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
OMG.. those clicks and your serveware... Great Nisha.
Usha says
Glad you good find the ingredients in your area and come up with this wonderful looking panjiri.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
That is so sad that the mail got lost. I am glad you were able to work around it. The panjiri looks awesome and so tempting with all the nuts 🙂
Kalyani says
Loved the styling NISHA !! Glad you cud source it altho the ingredients cudnt reach u
Gayathri Kumar says
Awesome snaps Nisha. Panjiri looks super inviting with all the nuts in it..