Coconut Cookies

When I was making these coconut cookies, I was just putting up every ingredients as per my instinct. I had about 250 Gms of freshly grated coconut which I wanted to utilize. These cookies turned out nice and brown, after I took them out from oven. These turned little soft after they have cooled,leaving a nice coco nutty flavour and that it almost reminded me of ‘Thekua’ minus the crunchiness of the Thekua.
If I would have deep fried these cookies , I am sure they would have turned out exactly like Thekua.

Anyways since this is a baked version and also I happened to add eggs, I really can’t call it Thekua.
Thekua as you must be knowing is made during ‘Chat’ Puja in Bihar and in Puja ceremonies, all preparations are preferably vegetarian.
This recipe minus eggs and baking agents can still be made into Thekua.

These coconut cookies were more flavourful the next day.I also added bit of pineapple pieces not required though if you want to skip, can do so. If kept outside these remain fresh for 3-4 days, after that the flavour starts to deteriorate, as we have used freshly grated coconut.
If you wish, you can freeze or refrigerate them and use desiccated coconut in place of fresh coconut. This way the shell life may increase. I will suggest try consuming within 2-3 days.

Now to the recipe for these delicious coconut cookies

Coconut Cookies

Recipe requirements

• 1 and half cup of whole meal flour/Atta flour
• 250-300 Gms of fresh grated coconut
• 1 cup of sugar
• ½ cup of oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 and ½ tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• ½ tsp of salt

Method

• Whisk in eggs in a bowl well.
• Take all the dry ingredients in a big mixing bowl. Whole meal flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda and mix well.
•  In a separate bowl mix in oil and sugar well. Add in freshly grated coconut.
• Now add egg mixture slowly into the flour bowl and mix. Add in oil, sugar and grated coconut mixture in batches and keep mixing till you use up whole of the content.
• The dough will be collecting well, but still will be semi-soft. Keep this dough in fridge for about 3-4 hrs.
• Take out and divide the dough into 4 portions. Roll each portions to long cylindrical shape and then cut in about a gap of 1 inch.
• Prepare oven. Preheat it at 160 deg C.
• Line a baking paper or foil over baking tray.
• Place the portions at equal distance and gently press them with a fork.
• Bake for about 20-25 mints or till they turn out nice and brown.
• Take out and cool. Enjoy these delicious coconut cookies.

   

As we are approaching Eid soon, shopping malls are all decked up with lovely Eid decorations.

Grocer stores and super-markets are filled with gift hampers as well. Eid is a major festival and is joyfully celebrated in Malaysia.

Wish you all, who celebrate Eid, a very happy and joyous Eid.Enjoy and celebrate with good food

Eid Mubarak!

Kumro Pata Chorchori- Pumpkin leaves and vegetables stir/fry

I was delighted to spot tender pumpkin leaves or Kumro Pata in our local vegetable market recently. I brought back a bunch of leaves and made this pata chorchori.The recipe, well, nothing different than a usual chorchori recipe. I happened to have brinjal, potato, pumpkin, radish and carrot which added a lovely taste and texture to the chorchori.We had with warm cooked rice.

Here to the recipe

Kumro Pata Chorchori- Pumpkin leaves and vegetables stir/fry

Recipe requirements

•  1 whole bunch of tender pumpkin leaves approx. 400 Gms
• 1 medium size potato
• 1 medium size round brinjal
• 1 medium sized radish chopped into cubed
• About a cup of pumpkin pieces  
•  ¼ inch ginger root

For tempering and seasonings

• 1 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1 and ½ tsp of red pepper powder
•  2 tsp of coriander powder
• 1 tsp of salt or as per taste
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 3-4 dry red chillies
• 1 tsp of panch phoron
• 5-6 tbs of mustard oil
• 1 tsp of ghee
• 1/2 tsp of garam mosla 

Method

• Clean tender pumpkin leaves and stems properly in water. Sometimes when tender leaves are not available, you can use the fully grown leaves as well. But chop them roughly.
• Heat up a fry pan, add mustard oil, and add in panch phoron and dry red chillies. Let them splutter.
• Now add in finely chopped ginger.
• Add in potato, pumpkin, radish, carrot and brinjal pieces.
• Keep on stir/fry for about 8-10 mints at medium high flame.
• Now add in turmeric powder, red pepper powder, coriander powder and salt. Add sugar as well. Sprinkle little bit of water and keep on stir/fry.
• Add in pumpkin leaves as well. Coat well with spices. Let it cook, covered for about 10-12 mints.
• Add in ghee or butter and garam masala at the end. Gently mix in with spatula.
• Take out and serve. Enjoy with rice.

I am leaving this post with a beautiful sunrise pic.

Wish you all a very happy and healthy holy Ramadan month. Ramadan Mubarak.