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13 recipes

Best Indian Foods for February

Most fruits and veggies are available throughout the year these days, but it takes our palate just a second to spot which ones are in season, and which ones not! The season’s best, the fruits and veggies that Mother Nature offers us in that period of time are bursting with flavour, juicy to the core and absolutely irresistible! They look so bright and attractive that you cannot cross them in the market without buying some – and they are easy on the pocket too when the season peaks. In fact, when something is in season, you would have noticed that it tastes great even when had raw, or just boiled and seasoned elegantly.

We strolled down the marketplace to figure out what’s in season in February, and we found a bounty of tasty veggies and fruits.

16 Indian Foods that are in season in February

16 Indian Foods that are in season in February
1. Green grapes
2. Black grapes
3. Pomegranate
4. Dragon fruit
5. Raspberry
6. Blueberry
7. Blackberry
8. Strawberries
9. Oranges
10. Carrots
11. Broccoli
12. Green peas
13. Surti papdi
14. Sweet potato
15. Fenugreek leaves
16. Spinach

Whoa, what a bounty! You can see that this is a rather vast spread with which you can make delicious Indian recipes, ranging from sorbets and raitas to subzis and parathas too. The mellow sweetness of sweet potatoes, the succulence of spinach, the pleasant bitterness of fenugreek leaves, the tangy juiciness of berries and oranges, not to forget the versatility of carrots and green peas – in their own way, each of these fruits and veggies is very tasty and useful to make a wide spread of dishes!

Once you pick these up from the market, we highly recommend trying out the following recipes. You can also find many more such recipes using these ingredients on our website.

Since time immemorial, the Indian physicians have always recommended eating local and seasonal produce. This is one of our time-tested methods of staying hale and healthy. Although this common wisdom has been forgotten in these times when most veggies and fruits are available throughout the year, it does help to seek out the local, fresh, seasonal produce and consume that more than others. So, next time you visit the market, be conscious about what’s in season and plan your purchases accordingly! It’s now time to enjoy February’s bounty!



gajar ka halwa with khoya | carrot halwa | authentic gajar ka halwa | with 14 amazing images. Our gajar ka halwa with khoya is a Punjabi carrot halwa recipe. Many a shortcut there might be, but sometimes the traditional method of making a mithai yields the richest taste! This authentic recipe of authentic gajar ka halwa proves that! gajar ka halwa with khoya is made with grated carrots, khoya, milk, dry fruits and ghee, this halwa has a divine taste and aroma that take you to another world. Tips for gajar ka halwa with khoya. 1. Make use of tender, juicy, firm red carrots to get that naturally sweet gajar ka halwa. 2. You can add more or less sugar as per the sweetness you prefer. 3. Add the mava. It adds a rich, creamy texture to carrot halwa. 4. Garnish gajar halwa with almond slivers. Other dried fruits like raisins, cashew nuts, pistachios can also be added. This famous Punjabi carrot halwa is prepared in households all over India for offering to God on puja days as well as to celebrate festivals and weddings. gajar ka halwa with khoya on it's own, but to make it more exciting have it with Rabri or Vanilla Ice-cream. Learn to make gajar ka halwa with khoya | carrot halwa | authentic gajar ka halwa | with step by step photos below.

ghughra recipe | Jamnagari ghughra | vatana na ghughra | green peas ghughra | matar gujiya / karanji | ghughra recipe is a variation to the sweet coconut stuffing in which green peas have been used. Learn how to make vatana na ghughra. Flaky, yet soft coating with a perfectly balanced green peas stuffing, rolled, shaped and fried till crisp is what describes matar gujiya / karanji. This is a common snack made during the festival of Diwali. Try it out and you would make over and over again without a festival or an occasion coming up too! To make ghughra, first make a soft dough by combining maida, melted ghee and salt using enough water. Knead again using the oil till smooth. Keep aside under a wet muslin cloth. Then for the stuffing, heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan and add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. When the seeds crackle, add the green peas and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds. Sprinkle 1 tbsp water, mix well and cover and cook on a slow flame for 7 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the sugar, green chilli paste, ginger paste, coriander, coconut, sesame seeds, lemon juice and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute. Cool slightly and divide the stuffing into 20 equal portions. Keep aside. Then make the karanji. Divide into 20 portions and roll one portion into a 4” circle, place little stuffing and fold to make a semi-circle. Pinch the edges of the ghughra. Roll and shape all ghughras and deep-fry in hot oil till golden brown. Serve immediately with green chutney. While the vatana na ghughra are typically half-moon shaped, you can also make them in other shapes too, if you wish to! Pinching the gughras is an art which you can master over time. They look pretty if uniformly pinched. However, you can keep them plain edged too if you cannot get a uniform pinched edge at the circumference. These Jamnagari ghughra make tea-time significantly more interesting! Fry the ghughras just before serving as they tend to get cold and soggy after a while. Serve them with green chutney at snack time. You can also serve these green peas ghughra as farsan in a Gujarati thali set menu likePanchkutiyu Shaak, Rasawala Chana, Rotlis, Raiwala Marcha, cutney and Shrikhand. Tips for ghughra. 1. Ensure that the green peas are not boiled and coarsely crushed. You just need to blend them in a mixer for 5 seconds and they will be coarsely crushed. This texture is needed for a good mouthfeel. 2. Cool the mixture before shaping ghughras, else the dough might have cracks due to the steam generated. 3. Deep fry the ghughras on a slow flame so they cook uniformly. Enjoy ghughra recipe | Jamnagari ghughra | vatana na ghughra | green peas ghughra | matar gujiya / karanji.

lehsuni palak paneer recipe | lasooni palak paneer sabzi | dhaba style lasuni palak paneer | with 37 amazing images. lasooni palak paneer is a delicious dish, making it true delight for garlic fans. Learn how to make lehsuni palak paneer recipe | lasooni palak paneer sabzi | dhaba style lasuni palak paneer | palak paneer sabzi is a popular Indian dish made with spinach and cottage cheese. Here in this recipe we have made it more flavorful by adding lots of garlic in the sabzi and in the tempering. It acquires a completely new flavour and aroma, which you will find truly irresistible. A generous amount of ghee and cream is used in the lehsuni palak paneer recipe, not just to bring about a rich and luscious texture but also to balance the flavour of garlic with the rest of the ingredients. Pro tips to make lehsuni palak paneer: 1. Immersing shallow fried paneer in warm water keeps the paneer soft. 2. You can little lemon juice in the spinach puree to maintain its fresh green colour. 3. Instead of chili paste you can add finely chopped green chillies as per your preference. Enjoy lehsuni palak paneer recipe | lasooni palak paneer sabzi | dhaba style lasuni palak paneer | with detailed step by step photos.

undhiyu recipe | Surti undhiyu | Oondhiya | authentic Gujarati undhiyu | with 60 amazing images. Oondhiya is a classic Gujarati vegetable from the city of Surat and hence also called Surti undhiyu. Oondhiya is a preparation of vegetables and fenugreek muthias cooked in an aromatic blend of spices. A traditional undhiyu recipe requires hours on end to make. Here, we have presented a faster version using a pressure cooker that also uses less oil. Undhiyu is a one pot vegetable dish that is the hallmark of Gujarati vegetarian cuisine. Generally preparing undhiyu takes a lot of time and needs patience. Traditionally the veggies are cooked or fried in batches. There are usually three versions of Undhiyu, matla undhiyu, Kathiyawadi undhiyu and the version we have made which is surti undhiyu. As this undhiyu is cooked in pressure cooker, this recipe doesn’t take much time. The name “Undhiyu” is derived from the Gujarati word “undhu” which means upside down. Tradionally undhiyu is cooked in an earthen pot called matti nu matlu in gujju. The pots are sealed and placed upside down in a fire pit dug in the ground. the slow cooking in the earthen pot gives the dish a rustic flavor and taste. This method of making undhiyu is still used in my village, the flavor and aroma is distinctive. Undhiyu is specially made in winter as some veggies used for making are only available in winter. My mother would make undhiyu for special occasions and also family get-togethers along with poori’s and aamras. Being a Gujarati I grew up with Undhiyu as special dish for which we has to wait all year long until the winters started and we would still just get to enjoy this vegetable for 2-3 months, but now-a-days everything is easily available. Every Gujarati household makes Undhiyu for Sunday lunch or festival like Uttarayan when the vegetables are in season. The dish is a seasonal one, comprising the vegetables that are available during the winter, including green beans or new peas, small eggplants, muthia (dumplings/fritters made with fenugreek leaves, potatoes, and purple yam, yam. You can also add green peas if you wish to. Ingredients of undhiyu are now available all year but are very expensive in the off season and the quality of the vegetables are not very good. To save on time further, you can buy readymade dry muthias. However, ensure you add them along with the vegetables so that they turn soft on cooking. Ummmmm… I am reminded of Jalabi, Puri and oondhiya… trust me, that is the perfect combination to win a Gujarati's heart! Enjoy undhiyu recipe | Surti undhiyu | Oondhiya | authentic Gujarati undhiyu | with detailed step by step recipe photos below.

Refresh your senses with this tangy Orange Ice-Cream, which is also unbelievably easy to make. Leaving aside the setting time, this recipe takes just about nine minutes to make. The balance of milky and tangy flavours is ideal, which makes this ice-cream very appealing to the palate. Try it once and it will become one of your no-fuss favourites, with its luscious texture and absolutely heavenly flavour. Orange and chocolate flavours complement each other, so when the Orange Ice Cream is served topped with some Chocolate Sauce and crunchy chopped walnuts the treat is just divine.

methi mutter malai | punjabi methi matar malai | methi matar malai | with 35 amazing images. To make methi mutter malai we add salt to fenugreek and keep it aside for 15 minutes. We squeeze out and discard the water. Then we cook the fenugreek leaves in oil and keep aside. After that we cook onions and add a prepared paste of garlic, cashew nuts, ginger and khus khus. Add tomato pulp, dry masala powder, green peas and sautéed fenugreek. Add milk, sugar and cream and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes. Your methi matar malai is ready. Methi and mutter are a super-hit combination as their flavours complement each other well. Add to this a fragrant masala paste, an even more zestful freshly-ground dry masala, tangy tomato pulp and all, and you have an irresistible methi mutter malai on the table. I would like to share some important tips to make the perfect punjabi methi matar malai. 1. The quantity of cream can be adjusted to taste and preference. 2. Consistency of the methi mutter malai gravy should be medium thick so adjust it by adding more or less water at this stage. 3. Sprinkle salt on fenugreek leaves and keep aside for 15 minutes. Squeeze out the water and discard it. This is the trick to get rid of the bitterness of methi leaves. punjabi methi matar malai is best accompained with Chapati, Masalawali Toovar Dal and Cooked Rice, it gives you the satisfaction of having had a wholesome and tasty meal. Enjoy methi mutter malai | punjabi methi matar malai | methi matar malai | with detailed step by step photos and video below.

sweet potato tikki recipe | shakarkandi tikki | Indian sweet potato cutlet | shakarkand tikki party snack | with 13 amazing images. sweet potato tikki recipe | shakarkandi tikki | Indian sweet potato cutlet | shakarkand tikki party snack is a truly appetizing treat, ideal to serve as a starter. Learn how to make shakarkandi tikki. To make sweet potato tikki, combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl and mix very well with your hands. Divide the mixture into 15 equal portions and shape each portion into a round 50 mm. (2”) diameter flat tikki. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, and deep-fry a few tikkis at a time, on a medium flame till they turn golden brown in colour from all the sides. Drain on an absorbent paper. Sprinkle the chaat masala evenly over the tikkis. Serve immediately with green chutney and tomato ketchup. The sweet succulence of sweet potatoes combined with the tongue-tickling excitement of chaat masala, lemon juice and other ingredients gives this shakarkandi tikki a very different flavour, compared to other tikkis you have tasted before. Sweet potato, with its fibrous yet soft texture, also gives the tikki a unique mouth-feel. Deep-fried, with a crisp yet soft texture, the Indian sweet potato cutlet is a wonderful tea-time accompaniment that will become a favourite with everybody. Serve this dainty shakarkand tikki party snack with tomato ketchup or green chutney. Do not forget to sprinkle chaat masala on top. It is a real flavour booster. Also try other tikkis too like Lehsuni Matki Palak Tikki or Stuffed Aloo Tikki Chaat. Tips for sweet potato tikki. 1. After combining all the ingredients, the mixture should be like a dough. 2. Always try deep-frying 1 tikki. If you think it disintegrates in oil while frying, then add 1 tbsp of rice flour. 3. Do not deep fry more than 4 to 5 tikkis at a time. Also keep a close watch while frying, as they tend to burn quickly. Enjoy sweet potato tikki recipe | shakarkandi tikki | Indian sweet potato cutlet | shakarkand tikki party snack | with step by step photos.

strawberry and black grape raita | healthy strawberry black grape raita | quick black grape and strawberry raita | with amazing 8 images. strawberry and black grape raita is a healthy strawberry black grape raita made from strawberries, black grapes, low fat curds, cumin seed powder and black salt. There is zero sugar used in strawberry and black grape raita and it's quick to make. This unusual combination of fruits transforms into a truly irresistible strawberry black grape raita mainly due to the addition of cumin seeds powder and black salt, which help to enhance the unique flavours of the fruits while also balancing the taste at the same time. This strawberry and black grape raita is super quick and easy to make and it is made with minimum of ingredients. All you need to is mix all the ingredients together and it will be ready in a blink of eye. See why this is a healthy strawberry black grape raita? Strawberries are chock-full of a phytonutrients, which are good antioxidants and reduce body inflammation. This pink-red coloured fruit abounds in Vitamin C. The flavonoid quercitin found in grapes helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases and prevents the onset of stroke. Curd is one of the richest source of protein, calcium and minerals. Learn to make strawberry and black grape raita | healthy strawberry black grape raita | quick black grape and strawberry raita | with detailed step by step recipe photos and video below.

rasam recipe | South Indian rasam | restaurant style rasam | how to make rasam with rasam powder | | with 32 amazing images. South Indian rasam is the basic recipe cooked in every household of the South virtually everyday! Learn how to make rasam with rasam powder. There is no place like home, and nothing as soothing as homemade food! In short, a South Indian would say, “Ah, Rasam!” The homeliest of South Indian recipes, rasam with rasam powder is a thin lentil soup perked up with tamarind pulp and chopped tomatoes, a traditional rasam powder, and a simple seasoning of mustard seeds and curry leaves. To make rasam, in a pressure cook toovar dal with enough water and blend it with a hand blender. Add the prepared rasam powder into it, mix well and keep aside.Combine the tomatoes, tamarind pulp, turmeric powder, asafoetida, salt and 3 cups of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the prepared dal-rasam powder mixture, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Keep aside. Make a tempering of hot oil and mustard seeds and curry leaves and add it to the rasam and cook for 1 minute. Add coriander and mix well and serve. The aroma of fresh roasted spices that surges out the pot as soon as the seasoning is added, is enough to draw everybody to the table. The touch of tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves in ghee towards the end of cooking is the final flavourful touch to this sumptuous fare. Enjoy restaurant style rasam like a soup or have it with Medu Vada, Idli or Rice. So brilliant is its tangy-spicy flavour, strong enough to shake out a bad cold, yet soothing enough to warm your heart, that rasam has become famous in Indian restaurants across the world as a soup! Tips for rasam. 1. We recommend you use measuring spoons for each ingredient of rasam powder and master making this famous South Indian spice blend. 2. To make tamarind pulp at home, soak the tamarind pods in just enough warm water for about 15-20 minutes or till they turn soft. Mash using your hands and roughly strain the pulp (you can do it with your hands itself) and discard the hard black coloured seeds as well as the fibrous parts. The soft pulp you have strained out is tamarind pulp. Enjoy rasam recipe | South Indian rasam | restaurant style rasam | how to make rasam with rasam powder | with recipe below.

strawberry cream recipe | strawberry with whipped cream | Indian style strawberry cream | homemade strawberry cream dessert | Mahabaleshwar style strawberry cream is an elegant dessert that has withstood the test of time, and proved itself a winner with many generations of people across the world! Learn how to make Indian style strawberry cream. To make strawberry cream, combine the beaten whipped cream and icing sugar in a deep bowl and mix well. Put the cream-sugar mixture into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Take a glass, put ¼ cup of strawberries evenly over it, pipe out a little whipped cream-sugar mixture evenly over it. Place again ¼ cup of strawberries over it and finally pipe out more whipped cream-sugar mixture over it. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to make 1 more glass. Serve chilled garnished with a strawberry in each glass. When strawberries are in season, there is no better way to enjoy them than with mildly-sweetened strawberry with whipped cream. The fruit and the cream are layered in a very attractive way, which makes this dessert a visual treat too. Indian style strawberry cream is a famous dessert in Mahabaleshwar – a hill station in Maharashtra. The food stalls at the lake and in the Mahabaleshwar market are flooded selling this dessert. You must have also visited the strawberry farms at this famous weekend destination. Now you can enjoy it any time at home too! The secret of this recipe is making the perfect beaten whipped cream. Learn how to get the beaten whipped cream in 10 minutes. Strawberry being a favourite with kids and adults alike, this dessert too will be loved by all. Tips for strawberry cream. 1. Slice the strawberry not very thick nor very thin. 2. Layer the dessert in serving glasses only. 3. Enjoy the homemade strawberry cream dessert chilled, but remember it is not to be frozen. You can make the dainty glasses ready and refrigerate them till serving. Enjoy strawberry cream recipe | strawberry with whipped cream | Indian style strawberry cream | homemade strawberry cream dessert | with step by step photos below.

Sometimes, the easiest of dishes also turn out to be really tasty and sure-shot hits with your kids. Such recipes come to your rescue on hurried mornings, when you are in a dilemma what to pack for the school breaks. This tongue-tickling Chatpata Pomegranate is one such delightful dish that just involves mixing the fruit with jazzy spice powders. The outcome is so exciting that kids will love to gobble it up! A superb option for short break or even as an accompaniment to lunch, as it stays fresh for at least 4 hours. Also pack some Quick Carrot Dhokla ( Tiffin Treats) in another tiffin for a perfect short break combo.

broccoli soup recipe | Indian broccoli soup without cream | healthy broccoli soup | with 19 amazing images. broccoli soup recipe | Indian broccoli soup without cream | healthy broccoli soup is a perfect recipe if you are looking for something to relish as a light meal with a bowl of salad. Learn how to make Indian broccoli soup without cream. To make broccoli soup, heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the onion and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes or till the onions turn translucent. Add the broccoli and 1½ cups of water and mix well. Cover with a lid and cook on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Keep aside to cool slightly. Blend the mixture in a mixer to a smooth purée. Transfer the purée back into the same deep non-stick pan, add the milk, salt and pepper, mix well and bring to boil. Serve immediately. The Indian broccoli soup without cream is a really quick soup to make, and one which does not require you to hunt for umpteen ingredients. Despite the minimal amount of ingredients, it has a fantastic flavour mainly due to the teamwork of broccoli with onions, and a soothing texture due to the addition of milk. Broccoli is one of the best sources of antioxidants like vitamin A and folic acid, which makes it a wonder food during pregnancy. You will need plenty of folic acid not only during your first trimester, but also before you conceive, so you can recommend this broccoli soup to your friends who are planning for a child. Thanks to the addition of milk, this recipe is also rich in calcium and protein. Weight-watchers, heart patients and diabetics too can add this healthy broccoli soup to their list of nourishing foods. With not too many carbs to offer, it can help manage blood sugar levels. The antioxidants from broccoli is also a way to boost antioxidant intake which helps to strengthen heart. Tips to make broccoli soup. 1. While selecting broccoli, ensure it is bright green in colour. 2. You can also add finely chopped garlic along with the onions. Enjoy broccoli soup recipe | Indian broccoli soup without cream | healthy broccoli soup | with step by step photos.

Sorbets are healthy and low in calories as are made with fresh fruit juices, However they are made low in calories by using sugar substitute in place of sugar. Ginger juice adds an extra zing to this sorbet.

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