Wow, this is really embarrassing. We are entering the last ten days of Ramadan and I'm only on my 8th recipe. Anyway, Eid day is coming up and a lot of us Desi's have this tradition of having this amazing high caloric dessert for the morning of the auspicious day. Everyone and their mamas wake up early in the morning with pure excitement to create this yummy dish to have. My mom made it when i was young, then i made it when i got married and had kids, then i moved here closer to my moms and decided ill just let her be the person who creates the great memories for my kids only because i become unbelievably lazy around my mom. Have you heard of the phrase "my mom makes it better or my aunt used to make it the best" Seriously, I have heard it my entire life and i cook pretty darn good or so i thought. I mean think about it, you make this amazing dish for a party, followed the recipe exactly; tasted and tested and its more perfect than you can ever imagine and you are unbelievably excited to serve it to your guests. Everyone praises it to all extent you are floating with happiness and that ONE person stands out and says "this was good but my aunt who lives in India makes it different, hers was out of this world, and she used to add these things and we were like 5 years old it was delicious and blah blah blah...." Or your husband or your best friends tries it and says my mom makes it better. Seriously, do they really? because the last time i tried it, it was not good at all. Why is it so important for so many of us to crush peoples dreams, i have to admit i have done it a few times regarding Tea and cakes. I also admit i am a total tea, coffee and cake snob. Snobs that is what they are ! or are they? From my experience, 90% of the time i have tried peoples moms/aunts foods that were described to be the most amazing thing in the world turned out to be a total fail; in my palate at least (wanted to express my views but i just decided to spare them the rejected feeling i felt when a harsh comment was thrown at me). The dedicated followers of that dish enjoyed the cuisine of their childhood with so much passion i wanted to barf. Believe it or not we are a sentimental peoples. Food is something that requires all of our senses, our hearts and our brains. The great pleasure we have when we eat is pretty apparent. Just like certain perfumes or smells remind us of certain people or places. Food reminds us of the great moments we had. Memories (good memories) That's why certain traditional foods carry on for so long, no matter how bland or dry it maybe (ie. TuRKEY) we love the moments with it, the sauces and gravies, salads and all the other extra stuff we have to enhance the flavor of that occasion. Buts its the moment we associate with that bland bird. Food and memories go hand in hand. Every occasion every milestone is associated with food. Food is not just sustenance that keeps us healthy and alive but it also keeps us together, forms bonds and friendship , its gives us happiness and great wonderful memories. Food makes tradition.
Today's traditional recipe that i will be giving out is called Sheer Korma. Very highly anticipated dish of The Blessed Day of Eid for most desis. The major factors in this dish is Butter/ghee lots of sugar and lots of nuts. If you are planning on making this dish low fat, DON'T. The whole point of this dish is to be sweet, delicious, high caloric goodness. By the way this particular dish really is made best by my mom (thats right i said it, but its the honest truth! )
1 package Ahmed brand vermicelli
1 gallon fresh whole milk (you can minus out 2 cups of milk and add in 2 cups of heavy whipping cream)IF YOU DARE
1 cup sugar or more
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 cup slivered almond
1/4 cup coarsely ground pistachios (optional)
1/2 teaspoon saffron strand
3 tablespoons chironji nuts: Chironji are tiny almond-flavoured dried seeds (you can find it at the Indian store)
dates
3 tablespoon butter (unsalted) or ghee
In a large pot (8 quart) First break the vermicelli into small pieces. (we usually crush the bag so the vermicelli breaks). Fry the vermicelli in two tablespoon butter or ghee until it browns (do not buy the already roasted vermicelli its not the same),you can add more butter/if needed. Remove the vermicelli and set aside. Pour in the milk with sugar, saffron, cardamon, 1/2 of the almonds and pistachios into the milk and boil. Boil the milk until it has evaporated and is halved in volume. Add in the vermicelli and cook until it is soft. In another small pot use the other tablespoon of butter or ghee and on medium heat brown the rest of the almonds pistachios and chironji) don't walk away, don't look away just don't blink because of the high fat content they will burn. As soon as they become light brown quickly pour it into the boiling milk. Simmer for a few minutes until the vermicelli is at the desired consistency and turn off the stove and serve hot with dates sliced in half ( you can also throw into the hot butter with the nuts after they have been browned just to make to take the edge of them being so darn healthy) because it will make it sweeter and that's the way it has to be had. The thickness of this dish is of a cream based soup. You cannot make this dish ahead of time because the vermicelli will absorb the liquid and it will turn into a mush soup. some people prefer it that way, but i like it soupy. However it does keep in the fridge for a week. The portions are always modest and highly potent.
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Here is a bonus for you:
how to make non traditional ghee (butter ghee) pretty easy
1 pound of butter
1 pot
tea sieve/cheese cloth
Drop in the butter into a small sauce pan and melt the butter on medium heat, keep a close eye on it as it will start boiling, every time it begins to boil over just turn down the stove. Cook the butter on medium for several minutes maybe 10 minutes until the there is a brown foam starts to settle on top and all the salt has settled at the bottom. Cool the butter to room temperature. Than pour through a very thin sieve or cheese cloth. The sieve will catch all the salts and the liquid will be clear.
You can store the ghee in the pantry or cabinet you do not have to refrigerate it.