Lassi originates from Punjab in India.
There are varieties of Lassi and variations in preparing it.
In case you were drinking lassi in a restaurant in Europe, it would be different from the way it tastes in a restaurant in USA or a restaurant in India.
In most of the restaurants in Europe what they do is blend the milk with flavour and sugar for mango lassi.
But I like it this way and here goes the recipe for the varieties of Lassi that can be made.
Salt Lassi:
Ingredients:
Thick yogurt 1 cup
salt 1 tea spoon
few ice cubes
Procedure:
Blend the yogurt with salt and ice cubes in a blender and serve it.
Sweet Lassi:
The procedure is exactly the same as salt lassi except that you would use 2 spoons of sugar in place of 1tsp salt.
Jeera (Cumin) Lassi
Ingredients:
Thick yogurt 1 cup
salt 1 tea spoon
few ice cubes
2 tea spoons of cumin
First grind the cumin into fine powder. Then blend with rest of the ingredients.
Mango Lassi
Ingredients:
Thick yogurt 1 cup
sugar 2 spoons
few ice cubes
1 spoon of mango flavour (depends on how strong flavour you need)
Procedure:
First grind the sugar into fine powder. Then blend with rest of the ingredients.
Rose Lassi
The procedure is same as mango lassi except that you would use rose flavour instead of mango flavour.
Thursday 30 July, 2009
Sunday 26 July, 2009
Rava Laddu - ರವೆ ಉಂಡೆ
This is called as rave unde (ರವೆ ಉಂಡೆ) in my mother tongue (Kannada).
Me and my husband(Needless to say that he is very foodie) are always fond of trying something that we have not ventured doing it ourselves. His adventures are mostly in international or north indian food items and mine are mostly on the traditional South Indian food items. Rather I must say traditional food which my mom makes. My dream is to excel her.
In this regard, I have tried besan laddu (besan laadu - ಬೇಸನ್ ಲಾಡು), rave unde, kobbari mitai and hoping to try many more. Hope to post the recipes for the rest also asap.
Please thank my mom in case you try this recipe and find it really useful ;-)
Ingredients:
Local Rava (usually not too big or not too small - medium rava) 1 cup
Sugar 1 cup (this is normal sweet level for me and a little too much for my husband as he is used to diabetic sweet recipes at my in-laws' home :) )
finely grated dry coconut - 1/4 cup
cashew nuts, dry grapes about 30-50gm each or handful each
ghee - 2 spoons
Milk about 1/2 cup
Procedure:
First powder the crystal sugar and keep it aside.
Dry fry Local rava in kadai/container on low flame. Keep sauting it so that not even one rava is light brown. The colour turns a bit yellowish and you can smell the actual fried fragrance. This is when you need to stop frying it.
Let it cool for about two minutes. It is optional to even powder this local rava.
Now in a separate kadai or container, put ghee and fry cashew nuts on medium flame. As the cashew nuts start changing colour, add dry grapes and fry. Switch off the stove as the grapes get swollen.
Then mix everything and add milk little by little and mix well. The mixture should just be wet. It should not be too watery. Milk actually makes the sugar dissolve and adds to the taste. Leave the mixture aside for 30minutes. You will notice that it has hardened.
Now wet your hand with water and start making laddus of desired size.
Do not serve it immediately after making the laddus. Keep it aside for about 1-2 hours and serve it later.
Me and my husband(Needless to say that he is very foodie) are always fond of trying something that we have not ventured doing it ourselves. His adventures are mostly in international or north indian food items and mine are mostly on the traditional South Indian food items. Rather I must say traditional food which my mom makes. My dream is to excel her.
In this regard, I have tried besan laddu (besan laadu - ಬೇಸನ್ ಲಾಡು), rave unde, kobbari mitai and hoping to try many more. Hope to post the recipes for the rest also asap.
Please thank my mom in case you try this recipe and find it really useful ;-)
Ingredients:Local Rava (usually not too big or not too small - medium rava) 1 cup
Sugar 1 cup (this is normal sweet level for me and a little too much for my husband as he is used to diabetic sweet recipes at my in-laws' home :) )
finely grated dry coconut - 1/4 cup
cashew nuts, dry grapes about 30-50gm each or handful each
ghee - 2 spoons
Milk about 1/2 cup
Procedure:
First powder the crystal sugar and keep it aside.
Dry fry Local rava in kadai/container on low flame. Keep sauting it so that not even one rava is light brown. The colour turns a bit yellowish and you can smell the actual fried fragrance. This is when you need to stop frying it.
Let it cool for about two minutes. It is optional to even powder this local rava.
Now in a separate kadai or container, put ghee and fry cashew nuts on medium flame. As the cashew nuts start changing colour, add dry grapes and fry. Switch off the stove as the grapes get swollen.
Then mix everything and add milk little by little and mix well. The mixture should just be wet. It should not be too watery. Milk actually makes the sugar dissolve and adds to the taste. Leave the mixture aside for 30minutes. You will notice that it has hardened.
Now wet your hand with water and start making laddus of desired size.
Do not serve it immediately after making the laddus. Keep it aside for about 1-2 hours and serve it later.
Some Common Questions - Answers
* How much cash should I one carry for taking care of initial expenses?
For one month food expense could be upto 200euros per person. This is exaggerated cost considering you buy all costly items in the shops nearby instead of going to shops where u get for low cost and cook at home most of the times. Travel in and around Leuven should not be more than 27-30euros per month as you can get a monthly or three month or yearly pass in the bus De Lijn. If you forsee any other costs, let me know so that I can tell you an approximate expense that you may incur.
* Is currency card from banks like HDFC, Axis, Citibank, etc a better option than carrying cash?
Such Currency cards are not accepted at all shops or ATMs. You can withdraw cash from some ATMs. Better is to open a student account (no or least maintenance charges) and add money to this account and use Belgian account debit card in shops. If no bank offers you free account, then Keytrade Bank is one such Bank. You choose if its safer by having cash in Currency Card as u can withdraw or by hard cash. Later on after you have the account and debit card, you can start using that. Be aware that Belgian Debit cards cannot be used for online transactions.
* What documents should I carry while travelling and will be required at point of entry?
- Apart from passport you will not need anything. Just as add on you can carry copy of your medical certificate. If you want to work here while you pursue yr higher education, then needless to say that all yr educational certificates in original and copies are required. I hope u r nt travelling with yr family.
* What type of plug converters should I get for laptop adapters, mobile phone chargers and other electronic stuffs? You will not need any converter if its 2 pin plug. If 3 pin then you will need a converter. you can buy them in Brussels. Costs abt 2euros.
* Should I buy an international calling card to call back home for initial few days? If yes, which one shoud I go for? If you have access to internet then no calling card is required. Calls on freecall.com will cost you 2 euro cents a min if calls are made to Indian mobile num or less if calls are made to Indian landline num. I would suggest you to finish your calls when you have access to internet.
* Later, what will be the best option to call to India? Answered above
* How easily can one get a mobile connection in Leuven and in your opinion, which one would be a good deal? Lycamobile is cheapest in case you are working. But otherwise it seems there are a lot of options for students under student plans. I have no clue. Please check with students ;)
* What would be weather like in first week of Sept?
I am planning to get few woollen stuffs from India and buy rest of them there? Could be raining or just moderate temp in September. Until October end, it would not be cold. It will in fact start then. Sweater and a rain jacket (optional thermal wear) shd be enuf from India. You can buy warm wear here. Thats better as you could guage yrself abt how warm you need to be.
* What are the options for vegetarian food in Leuven? Is it possible to manage without cooking myself :-) ?
Sandwich, Pizza and falafel are the only options apart from Indian food in Indian hotels for vegetarian. A veggie falafel would cost abt 3.5 euros.If you calculate the cost yrself, you would start cooking as the basic ingredients are far cheaper if you start cooking at home.Sandwich could cost anywhere between 2-6euros. Same is the cost of pizza. Cola is cheaper only in the supermarkets.
* Is the size of bed and pillow similar there and in India? Should I get single or double bedsheets?
single bed size could vary from 70 cm x200 cm to 80cm x90cm double bed size varies from 140x200 to 180x200 cm. Pillow size and shape can be anything.
* I read that one can wash clothes in public washing machines. Is there any other option? What are the options for ironing?
U can try washing at home by soaking clothes in soap water. And washing in the bath tub itself. Drying would be a problem due to weather conditions. In case there is a balcony, u can dry it there. Still it will not be possible to dry clothes in winter without dryer. Ironing: Pressing clothes at home with electric iron box which can be bought from India or bought here locally costs abt 9eur.
* Should I get toiletries, cosmetics, etc in stock or is it fine to buy them there itself?
Not sure if the ones u get here suits ur skin. Atleast for the first one month its better to get from there. Cold cream for skin is a must. You wud nt get soaps like Savlon, Dettol in the local shops. In Pakistani or Indian shops that might cost abt 1-2 eur. You get another one in Delhaize. It does nt have any fragrance. It costs abt 70cents for 3 soaps. Except for Fragrance, we felt it was good. This is subjective to one person. To wash clothes, you may need Ariel or any other soap powder or soap. The soap powder cost is abt 3-6euros a kilo.
* In one of your posts, you wrote that Reebok shoes would be available in 20Eur. That's cheaper then in India. Is it same for other brands too like Nike, Adidas, etc?
Havent found any other till now. Just Reebok when there is sale.. and price cud be 15-20eur. Its upto yr discretion on what all u will buy here and what you will get it from there.
* I have bought an electic rice cooker. Will that be fine? Do I need to get a plug converter for it too? Or I can buy converters at reasonable prices there itself? Answered earlier
* How much should quilts and blankets cost there?
You cannot probably carry thick bedsheet or quilt from India. It costs abt 20-30euros and thats the cheapest price.
Added in the interest of other people who are in search of answers for similar questions..
Looking forward for more queries :-)
For one month food expense could be upto 200euros per person. This is exaggerated cost considering you buy all costly items in the shops nearby instead of going to shops where u get for low cost and cook at home most of the times. Travel in and around Leuven should not be more than 27-30euros per month as you can get a monthly or three month or yearly pass in the bus De Lijn. If you forsee any other costs, let me know so that I can tell you an approximate expense that you may incur.
* Is currency card from banks like HDFC, Axis, Citibank, etc a better option than carrying cash?
Such Currency cards are not accepted at all shops or ATMs. You can withdraw cash from some ATMs. Better is to open a student account (no or least maintenance charges) and add money to this account and use Belgian account debit card in shops. If no bank offers you free account, then Keytrade Bank is one such Bank. You choose if its safer by having cash in Currency Card as u can withdraw or by hard cash. Later on after you have the account and debit card, you can start using that. Be aware that Belgian Debit cards cannot be used for online transactions.
* What documents should I carry while travelling and will be required at point of entry?
- Apart from passport you will not need anything. Just as add on you can carry copy of your medical certificate. If you want to work here while you pursue yr higher education, then needless to say that all yr educational certificates in original and copies are required. I hope u r nt travelling with yr family.
* What type of plug converters should I get for laptop adapters, mobile phone chargers and other electronic stuffs? You will not need any converter if its 2 pin plug. If 3 pin then you will need a converter. you can buy them in Brussels. Costs abt 2euros.
* Should I buy an international calling card to call back home for initial few days? If yes, which one shoud I go for? If you have access to internet then no calling card is required. Calls on freecall.com will cost you 2 euro cents a min if calls are made to Indian mobile num or less if calls are made to Indian landline num. I would suggest you to finish your calls when you have access to internet.
* Later, what will be the best option to call to India? Answered above
* How easily can one get a mobile connection in Leuven and in your opinion, which one would be a good deal? Lycamobile is cheapest in case you are working. But otherwise it seems there are a lot of options for students under student plans. I have no clue. Please check with students ;)
* What would be weather like in first week of Sept?
I am planning to get few woollen stuffs from India and buy rest of them there? Could be raining or just moderate temp in September. Until October end, it would not be cold. It will in fact start then. Sweater and a rain jacket (optional thermal wear) shd be enuf from India. You can buy warm wear here. Thats better as you could guage yrself abt how warm you need to be.
* What are the options for vegetarian food in Leuven? Is it possible to manage without cooking myself :-) ?
Sandwich, Pizza and falafel are the only options apart from Indian food in Indian hotels for vegetarian. A veggie falafel would cost abt 3.5 euros.If you calculate the cost yrself, you would start cooking as the basic ingredients are far cheaper if you start cooking at home.Sandwich could cost anywhere between 2-6euros. Same is the cost of pizza. Cola is cheaper only in the supermarkets.
* Is the size of bed and pillow similar there and in India? Should I get single or double bedsheets?
single bed size could vary from 70 cm x200 cm to 80cm x90cm double bed size varies from 140x200 to 180x200 cm. Pillow size and shape can be anything.
* I read that one can wash clothes in public washing machines. Is there any other option? What are the options for ironing?
U can try washing at home by soaking clothes in soap water. And washing in the bath tub itself. Drying would be a problem due to weather conditions. In case there is a balcony, u can dry it there. Still it will not be possible to dry clothes in winter without dryer. Ironing: Pressing clothes at home with electric iron box which can be bought from India or bought here locally costs abt 9eur.
* Should I get toiletries, cosmetics, etc in stock or is it fine to buy them there itself?
Not sure if the ones u get here suits ur skin. Atleast for the first one month its better to get from there. Cold cream for skin is a must. You wud nt get soaps like Savlon, Dettol in the local shops. In Pakistani or Indian shops that might cost abt 1-2 eur. You get another one in Delhaize. It does nt have any fragrance. It costs abt 70cents for 3 soaps. Except for Fragrance, we felt it was good. This is subjective to one person. To wash clothes, you may need Ariel or any other soap powder or soap. The soap powder cost is abt 3-6euros a kilo.
* In one of your posts, you wrote that Reebok shoes would be available in 20Eur. That's cheaper then in India. Is it same for other brands too like Nike, Adidas, etc?
Havent found any other till now. Just Reebok when there is sale.. and price cud be 15-20eur. Its upto yr discretion on what all u will buy here and what you will get it from there.
* I have bought an electic rice cooker. Will that be fine? Do I need to get a plug converter for it too? Or I can buy converters at reasonable prices there itself? Answered earlier
* How much should quilts and blankets cost there?
You cannot probably carry thick bedsheet or quilt from India. It costs abt 20-30euros and thats the cheapest price.
Added in the interest of other people who are in search of answers for similar questions..
Looking forward for more queries :-)
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