Ghavan Recipe | Ayetey Recipe | Rice Flour Crepes Recipe

Rice flour crepes are a unique Kokni staple food

Photo Courtesy: Asma Dhanshe

In kokani local language these crepes are called ‘Ayta/Aytey’. It is a unique Kokni staple food made from rice flour, egg, salt and water this is a very thin crispy pan cake that goes just fine with anything savory or sweet.

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1 egg

A pinch of salt

2 cups water

Oil for greasing the griddle

Method:

1. Take rice flour in a large bowl.

2. Break the egg in small bowl and beat well then add to the flour.

3. Add water little by little with continuous stirring to avoid formation of lumps. When the mixture becomes thin runny consistency, add the salt and stir well.

4. Now, heat the non stick griddle and grease it with oil with the help of pastry brush. Pour the aytey mixture on hot griddle with a ladle and spread it in circular form by moving the griddle. It must be very thin. Let it cook till upper surface become dry and it gets slightly golden beneath. Then firsthe fold it to make half moon shape again fold that to make the triangle. Flip the triangle carefully and transfer to a plate.

5. Repeat with the remaining mixture till all done.

Serving suggestions:

1. Aytey can be eaten instead of roti with any spicy curry.

2. You can also serve them as a brunch with garlic and red chili chutney.

3. And the yummiest way to serve the aytey is, spread grated jaggery on aytey then pour in a dollop of melted desi ghee mix well and enjoy!

4. They are also served with coconut milk from a freshly broken coconut. Mix either jaggery or sugar with coconut milk add to the aytey mix well and serve.

Rote Recipe

Rote is a teacake made from semolina and eggs. It is a common jar snack in most of the kokni households. You can also make eggless or vegetarian version of this recipe by replacing eggs with butter milk.

How to make Rote:

Ingredients:

500 gms fine semolina
3 large eggs (or 1 cup buttermilk)
100 gms butter (at room temperature)
6 tbsp sugar (or as per taste)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp saffron strands
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
A pinch of salt
Slivered almonds for garnishing

Directions:

1. Break eggs one by one in the bowl of electric mixer then add but and sugar and mix well till the sugar is almost melted.

2. Now add semolina little by little and keep folding in gently with the help of spatula. Add baking powder and salt and mix well at low speed for 2-3 minutes.

3. Finally add cardamom powder and saffron and mix everything well.

4. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.

5. Meanwhile grease a baking tray and pour the mixture in it. It shouldn't be very thick layer as Rote rise while baking. Decorate with slivered almonds and raisins if you want.

6. Place the tray in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or till it turns slightly golden on the top.

7. Remove from oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes then cut into squares. Store in a airtight jar or container.

Date Cookies Recipe | Khajoor Ke Biscuits | How to Make Khajoor Biscuits

All my siblings and cousins love these delicious Khajoor Ke Biscuits. We used to demand dates Biscuits every second week when we were kids and I think it was one of the first dishes I learned to cook. The most difficult step in this recipes was to roll the hot mixture immediately so that it can form a firm texture and then it becomes easy to cut cookies later when is cold. Rest everything is so easy you just need to gather the ingredients and go ahead with the directions. The trick is to used black, soft and delicious dates to get that rich flavour. Here is what all you need to make Khajoor Ke Biscuits

Sugar is an optional ingredient and adding sugar makes cookies quite crunchy and extra sweet so can add sugar if you're making these cookies for some party or gifting. Some people do add a beaten egg but I avoid both the ingredients. And there is no need to add any flavours but still some people add a little cardamom powder or a few strands of saffron. You can use edible silver foil to decorate these biscuits while rolling the mixture. So here goes

Khajoor Ke Biscuit Recipe | Dates Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

500 gms Dates

25 Marie Biscuits

2 Tbsp Butter

1/4th cup Sugar (optional)

Butter paper for making rolls

Method:

1. Wash, deseed and chopped dates finely.

2. Break the Marie Biscuits in small pieces.

3. Heat a non stick pan and add butter then immediately add chopped dates (you can add sugar along with dates, if using) and sauté till it becomes somewhat more sticky now add Marie Biscuits and mix well.

4. Let mixture come together then remove on butter paper on a plane surface and make large rolls. Apply silver foil if you want to decorate your biscuits. Let these roll rest at room temperature for 4-5 hours then cut the discs using a sharp knife. Voila! Your biscuits are ready.

Photo Courtesy: Asma Dhanshe

Fenugreek Laddoo Recipe (How to make Methi Ke Laddoo)

One of the most popular Kokni sweets that's actually a health food. I remember that when I was young I didn't dare to eat these delicious treats fearing the bitter taste of fenugreek. But foolish I was! Because when I first tasted these heavenly bites I couldn't stop having just one. They taste just so good that I bet you will just fall in love with these laddoos. And to top it all they're actually good for your health! Methi (fenugreek) has amazing healing properties. It strengthens your joints and highly recommended for those having backbone issues. Fenugreek also helps in losing weight and purifies the blood. Anyway there is not just fenugreek in this recipe we have fresh coconut, nuts and edible gum (dink) and a little homemade pure ghee which makes it a perfect and complete food. Methi laddoo are best eaten during winters as the have warming effect in body but just like all other sweets you can also enjoy this one round the year.

So here is the Recipe of Methi Ke Laddoo:

Ingredients:
2 cups freshly grated Coconut
1 cup Jaggery
100 grams Edible Gum
3 Tbsp Fenugreek Powder
2 Tbsp Semolina
3 Tbsp Pure Ghee
2 Tbsp slivered Almonds
2 Tbsp slivered Pistachios
1 Tbsp Raisins
1 Tbsp chopped Cashew Nuts
1/2 Tsp Saffron
2x1" Cinnamon Sticks
1/2 Tsp Ginger Powder (optional)

Directions:
1. Dry roast the semolina in a small pan for 5-6 minutes on medium to low heat and keep aside.
2. Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed pot and fry the gum till it puffs up completely. And then remove in a plate.
3. Now roast the nuts in the same ghee till just fragrant. Remove in the same plate as gum.
4. Now add the coconut in the same ghee and cook with stirring. Add cinnamon stick and saffron and ginger powder if at all using (I don't like it much though).
5. After some time (2-3 minutes) add chopped jaggery and keep stirring till melts completely. If required add teaspoon of pure ghee. When mixture is almost dry then add roasted semolina, fried nuts, raisins and gum and mix well and turn off the burner.
6. Let it cool for some time then make laddoos. You can store them upto 3 weeks in  a airtight container.

Introduction

Hello everyone! 😊

Well, why I have created this blog? What's so special about kokni cuisine? Or do I really love cooking? Mmmm.. the answers are I just want the world to know about my homelands.. Kokan! I have one more blog about Kokan tourism and culture and here it's another one presenting Kokni Food.

So,

I am here with an aim to introduce authentic Kokni/Kokani food to the world, in sha Allah!

Our cuisine is one of the best and of the healthiest cuisines in the word but sadly we are not showing much interest in cooking traditional foods and instead prefer fast foods and Chinese dishes just to save some time (well, that’s taking a toll on our health though! But who cares).

Alhamdulillah I’m being raised well and being taught Islamic and traditional values along with what’s needed to move in this modern world. I am blessed with a talent of cooking and baking alhamdulillah and so is I can cook many Kokni traditional dishes and I actually love cooking and eating Kokni food. Our recipes are such that you can enjoy even sweets while you’re on a diet as many of the kokni sweets are made sugarfree and you will surely feel guilt free if you are eating in moderation. (I’m sure you’re now excited to know the secrets of Kokni cuisine).

Our soups and curries are healthy and best for digestive system. Even pickles and chutneys are made keeping heart health in mind. Some Kokni beverages have amazing cooling effect on your body and help remove toxins from your gut. Traditional way of making rotis and other regular dishes is such that it gives and amazing stretch to your muscles (and that’s the reason why our grammas never needed to take a gym membership). The use of fresh coconut, balanced use of herbs and spices helps improve your hair and skin texture. (Food choices may be one of the reasons why Kokni people are well built and have fair skin tone, as they say. Check Wikipedia!)

In short, Kokni Cuisine is one of the best yet under rated cuisines in the world. It hurts when I see so much unhealthy food around and people are not aware of many other healthier options that can go much easier on their pockets as well.

So, I’m here to represent my Kokan through our traditional Kokni Cuisine. I hope I will come up with most authentic scrumptious kokni recipes, the ones passed over by grandmas for generations. In sha Allah! Please wish me all the best.