Annapurna: December 2018

India is a land of festivals. The amalgamation of diverse cultures and religions can be seen in the way each and every festival is celebrated here with zeal and enthusiasm. These festivals motivate people to spare some time from their busy schedules , get together with family and friends and create memories.
Christmas and New Year being just around the corner, everyone here is in a festive mood. It is a time for family vacations, parties, and social gatherings. A time to exchange gifts, share sweets and goodies, spread love and happiness with the world. Food plays an important role in any festival and Christmas is no exception to it. Here is a compilation of 101 recipes from my blog to help you plan your parties, and get you into the Christmas spirit. The collection includes 30+ Egg-less Christmas bakes, and other festive beverages, desserts, snack, and main course recipes .

Christmas Bakes: For many people, it is not Christmas without fruit cakes and cookies. Here is a compilation of 30+ egg-less bakes which includes, cake, muffin, cookie, and doughnut recipes to try out this Christmas season.

1. Christmas Fruit Cake: An egg-less, butter-less Christmas fruit cake with whole wheat flour. Alcohol-free, refined sugar-free and best part is that it does not require pre-soaking.

2. Plum Bundt Cake: Another healthy bake which is butter free, refined flour and refined sugar-free. Here the dry fruits and nuts are soaked in apple and orange juice and the caramelized jaggery imparts the cake a beautiful color. The orange and lemon zest add into the taste and aroma, making every bite of this cake a blast of flavors.

3. Egg-less Black Forest Cake: A delicious dessert with multiple layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries.

4. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: This egg-less, moist flavorful fruitcake is topped with jaggery caramel, pineapple rings, and cherries. This classic tea-time cake with a soft crumb and gorgeous golden color is delicious and has refreshing pineapple flavors in each bite.

5. Egg-less Butter-less Marble Cake: A delightful cake which has a streaked or mottled appearance (like marble), due to the light blending of light and dark batter is called a marble cake. It is basically a cake with a combination of vanilla and chocolate batter, in which the layers are swirled together just before baking to give a wonderful marble effect.

6. Suji Tutti Frutti Cake: Suji cake is a delicious and healthy Indian cake and is very easy to make at home. An eggless butterless cake, with loads of Tutti Frutti, making it all the more yummy and appealing.

7. Ragi Banana Chocolate Bundt Cake: Ragi Banana Chocolate cake is a delicious, soft and moist bundt cake made from the healthy goodness of Ragi (Finger Millet) and whole wheat flour. An egg-less, butter-less, refined sugar-free cake, and a perfect guilt-free treat to all the chocolate lovers.

8. Egg-less Beetroot Chocolate Cake: This Beetroot and Chocolate cake is a healthier variation to the regular chocolate cake as, like all my cakes, this recipe also calls for use of whole wheat flour over refined one. It is lighter on calorie count as it has No Butter. Beetroot adds sweetness to the classic chocolate cake and imparts a lovely color and moistness to the cake.

9. Christmas Plum Cake: A soft, moist, aromatic, and utterly delicious rich fruit cake with caramel.

10. Egg-less Chocolate Cake : If you are a chocolate lover you will surely like this simple yet delicious chocolate cake. This eggless cake turned out soft, moist and taste wise just perfect.

11. Chhena Poda / Baked Cottage Cheese Cake: It is a delectable and heavenly cheese dessert from the Indian state of Odisha.

12. Moist Carrot Cake: This cake is moist and delicious and serves as a healthy tea time snacks. Use of grated carrots, walnuts , oil instead of butter and whole wheat flour in place of all purpose flour (Maida) make the cake all the more healthier.

13. Healthy Gingerbread Cookies : Gingerbread cookies are spiced flavored sweet biscuits, specially made around Christmas season.These healthy gingerbread cookies are egg-less, butter-less, refined sugar and refined flour free and with the goodness of finger-millet and oatmeal.

14. Beetroot Oatmeal Cookies: These cookies have all the healthy ingredients on the earth. They have oats as a base so they are flour-less and gluten-free, they are naturally colored and flavored with Beetroot, they are butter-less and egg-less and does not use any dairy products so are vegan.

15. Egg-less Strawberry Cookies: Strawberry cookies are delicious, fruity, sweet bakes. Crispy on the edges and chewy in the center, these egg-less cookies loaded with fresh strawberries make up for a perfect tea-time snack.

16. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies: Oatmeal cranberry cookies are soft , chewy delicious treats loaded with healthy goodness of oats and cranberries. With a simple and easy to follow recipe, these oatmeal cranberry cookies are egg-less, butter-less, vegan and gluten-free and the best part is that these do not have refined sugar either!

17. Egg-less Coconut Cookies: These Coconut Cookies are egg-less and are made from whole wheat flour . I have added brown sugar as a sweetener. The recipe is simple and easy to follow and can be made with the ingredients present in our kitchen pantries.

18. Gingerbread Cookies: The recipe is egg free, butter free and without the use of molasses.

19. Egg-less Oatmeal Cookies: This crisp cookie is loaded with the wholesome goodness of Oatmeal, chopped nuts, and whole wheat flour. You can top these cookies with chopped dates, raisins or Chocolate-chips. An amazingly simple Egg-less recipe to enjoy the cookies guilt free.

20: Thekua / Traditional Indian Cookie: Thekua is a crunchy and mildly sweet cookie made using wheat flour, sugar, and ghee.

21. Chocolate Nankhatai: Chocolate nankhatai is a fusion twist to the traditional nankhatai. It is crumbly, delicious, mildly sweet and they just melt in your mouth.

22. Egg-less Whole Wheat Baked Doughnut: you these mini doughnuts are egg-less, are baked to cut down the calories and are made using whole wheat flour and the recipe does not call for use of yeast either. Have used yogurt, baking soda and baking powder in this recipe.

23. Vegan Walnut Banana Muffins: These cute little sweet treats are delicious, soft and moist with a nice crust at the top. Every bite of these muffins gives you a yummy banana taste and the Cinnamon powder compliments it very well.

24. Red Lentil Oats Muffins: Red Lentil Oats Muffins are scrumptious sweet treats that are rich in protein and fiber. They are easy to make and are loaded with healthy goodness of lentils and oats. These beauties are egg-less , butter-less and refined sugar-free. Jaggery powder acts as a sweetener.

25. Egg-less Butter-less Pineapple Muffins: These Muffins are Egg-less and Butter-less and are made from whole Wheat flour. The Cupcakes turned out very moist and soft.

26. Carrot Muffins: These Carrot muffins are eggless, butterless and to make it a healthier affair, I have replaced the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and added chopped almonds to them.

27. Orange Muffins: Made from whole wheat flour these orange muffins are egg and butter free and have bold flavors of orange due to use of orange juice (rather i would say orange pulp) and orange zest. I have used powdered jaggery as a sweetener in these muffins. The orange muffins turned out to be moist, soft and deliciously sweet with bold citrus flavors in it.

28. Egg-less Butter-less Choco Muffins: These Choco Muffins are Egg-less and dairy free. The recipe is very easy to follow and all the ingredients are easily available in our kitchen pantry. The use of whole wheat flour instead of maida and oil instead of butter makes it all the more healthier.

29. Strawberry Muffins: Strawberry Muffins are deliciously sweet, moist and fruity delights. Loaded with fresh Strawberry flavors, they can make up for a refreshing on-the-go morning breakfast or an after school snacks for kids or light dessert to end a meal. One can have them just to satisfy some sweet cravings.

30. Dates and Walnut Muffins: Dates and walnut muffins are healthy sweet treats that you can serve your family without any guilt. These delicious and moist dates muffins studded with walnuts are egg-less, butter-less, are made from whole wheat flour and are naturally sweetened with dates, hence refined sugar-free as well.

31. Egg-less Whole Wheat Banana Bread: A perfect tea time snacks with goodness of Banana and Walnut. Have added tutti frutti to make it more appealing to the kids. Use of whole wheat flour makes it all the more healthier :)

32. Pineapple Jam Tarts: These Pineapple Jam tarts are considered a "festive Cookie" and usually consumed during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali periods in Singapore and Malaysia as Pineapples are considered as a sign of prosperity.

33. Strawberry Banana Oats Bars: Ripe banana and oats flavored with cinnamon form the base of the bars over which a sweet filling of strawberry chia spread is added. The top crust is made using oats and dry dates and then the bars are baked until crust turns golden brown. These Strawberry banana oat bars are soft, chewy and flavorful. The best part is that they are vegan and gluten-free.

Beverages For Christmas Party:

34. Pomegranate Mojito Mocktail: Pomegranate Mojito Mocktail is a refreshing non-alcoholic fruity drink. This no-cook recipe is quick and easy and replaces refined sugar with honey.

35. Strawberry Falooda: Strawberry falooda is a refreshing summer dessert and a visual treat too. This pudding-like dessert is beautifully layered in tall glasses with a strawberry crush or rose syrup, gulkand flavored milk, fresh strawberry chunks, vanilla ice cream, and pistachios.

36. Eggless Strawberry Mousse: This is an egg-less, no-cook dessert which is made using just 3 ingredients and can be made ahead of time.

37. Roselle Drink: Roselle drink is very healthy, can be had as a Hibiscus tea when taken hot and is a perfect thirst quencher drink when taken chilled.

38. Date Almond Walnut Milkshake: A war, filling, healthy drink that can be served at breakfast.

39. Ragi Chocolate Milkshake: Ragi Chocolate Milkshake is one of the best ways to add this nutritious cereal to our diet.

40. Mango Falooda: Mango Falooda is a North Indian rich pudding-like dessert , which is layered beautifully with mango puree, mango custard, chopped mango chunks and mango ice cream.

Desserts For Christmas Party

41. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait: A delightful dessert in which tall glasses are beautifully layered with flavored yogurt, seasonal fruits and muesli.

42.Kalakand - Indian Milkcake: Kalakand is a popular Indian sweet made out of solidified sweetened milk and cottage Cheese.

43.Badam Katli / Almond Fudge: It is basically a rich almond fudge which can be easily made at home with just 5 ingredients.

44. Dried Fig Dates and Nuts Roll: This dried figs dates and nuts roll serve as delectable and nutritious snacks.

45. Protein Chikki: This protein Chikki is a healthy and delicious snack with a quick and easy to follow recipe. High in protein and rich in anti oxidants , this protein chikki can be had as a mid day snack or an ideal on-the-go breakfast or simply to satisfy some sweet cravings .

46. No Bake Chocolate Swiss Roll: The recipe calls for use of any tea biscuits as a base , chocolate syrup and desiccated coconut as main ingredients.

47. Rose Pudding: A delicious and fragrant dessert with dominating flavors of rose.

48. Peach Phirni: Peach phirni is a delectable rice pudding in which fresh peach puree is added to flavor the dessert.

49. Shahi Tukda / Indian Bread Pudding : Shahi Tukda is a royal dessert from the Mughlai cuisine. It is deliciously sweet, aromatic , flavorful dish and rich in calories.

50. Almond and Chocolate Truffle: A 2 ingredient delicious and healthy chocolate treat which is simply irresisitible.

51. Chocolate Pudding Cups: A creamy rich chocolate flavored pudding which can be made ahead of time and that is sure to make everyone craving for more.

52. Dragon Fruit Jelly with Agar Agar: Jelly made from fresh red Dragon fruit is not only light and refreshing but also is very appealing. These vibrant Dragon fruit jellies are gelatin free and vegan as I have used Agar Agar to make the jelly.

53. Homemade Chocolate Syrup: Home made chocolate syrup is a sweet chocolate flavored condiment which can be used as a topping over puddings and ice cream or blended with milk to make chocolate milk shake. It also serves as a handy dessert sauce to drizzle over cakes ,pastries and doughnuts. Making a chocolate syrup at home is very easy and requires just 4 ingredients which are usually present in our kitchen pantries also it gives us the satisfaction of not using a ready made product full of preservatives and chemicals.

54. Poached Pears: Poached pears is a wonderful dessert from the French cuisine. With a quick and easy to follow recipe, pears poached in spiced citrus juices make a perfect light and fruity dessert

Starters and Appetizers For Christmas Party

55. Stuffed Bell Peppers :Stuffed Bell Peppers are a colorful and healthy meal .They can either be served as a starter or as a side dish with chapati and steamed rice.

56. Cheesy Vegetable Disc: These are delicious baked bread appetizers. These cute looking discs are loaded with healthy goodness of whole vegetables , cheese and paneer (cottage cheese) .They are easy to make and serve as perfect starters for parties and kids gatherings.

57. Broccoli Cutlets: A very healthy and delicious starter made with boiled potatoes and broccoli.

58. Paneer Lollipop: Paneer Lollipop is a delicious starter dish loved by one and all. This is one of the famous Indo Chinese Recipes, and can be easily made at home. Paneer Lollipop is basically spicy Paneer (Cottage Cheese) mixture topped on Baby corn and deep fried.

59. Mushroom Tikka / Grilled Mushroom Appetizer: This protein rich appetizer is made by marinating mushrooms and assorted vegetables in aromatic spices and yogurt and then grilled or baked until golden brown. The recipe is very simple and easy to follow and uses just 1 tablespoon oil.

60. Hara Bhara Paneer Tikka: Paneer tikka is a popular Indian starter dish in which the cottage cheese chunks and veggies marinated in yogurt and spices are grilled. It is a delicious and healthy vegetarian alternative to Chicken tikka and other meat dishes.

61. Sweet Potato Bruschetta: Sweet Potato Bruschetta is a healthy and delicious starter dish which uses sweet potato toasts as a base and juicy, refreshing sweet corn-onion-tomato salsa as the topping for the bruschetta. This gluten-free, vegan appetizer is flavorful, super addictive, and breeze to make.

62. Cucumber and Cheese Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes: These bite size refreshing appetizers are made by stuffing fresh cherry tomatoes with savory filling made from Cucumber, Coriander and Cheese , seasoned with pepper and salt !

63. Soya Vegetable Tikka: A delicious and healthy preparation in which protein rich Soy meat chunks and mineral and vitamin rich vegetables are marinated in lip smacking marinade and then beautifully thread alternately onto skewers before being grilled.

64. Vegetable Bread Pizza: Vegetable Bread Pizza is a delicious snacks made with toasted bread slices topped with a layer of tomato sauce and desired veggies. It is a quick and easy alternative for regular Pizza.

65. Vegetarian Shammi Kebab: Vegetarian Shammi Kebab is a popular awadhi dish made from coarsely grounded lentils and spices. The kebabs can be made using kale chane (black chickpea) or kabuli chana (yellow chickpea).

66. Vegetable Spring Roll: Vegetable spring rolls are one of the delicious vegetarian Indo- Chinese appetizers.I have made them from scratch with wrappers made from suji/ semolina.

67. Dry Chili Chicken: This can be served as a starter, appetizer or a side dish along with noodles or fried rice.Here the boneless Chicken pieces are marinated in soy sauce, black pepper powder and ginger garlic paste and then deep or shallow fried and cooked with some veggies , pepper and again seasoned with sauces.

68. Soya Chunk / Meal Maker Manchurian: The Soya Chunks Manchurian is an excellent starter dish and a nice variation to the regular vegetable or Chicken Manchurian.

69. Sweet Corn and Tomato Bruschetta: Sweet Corn and Tomato Bruschetta is a simple and flavorful Italian appetizer. This delicious side dish is easy and quick to make , is refreshing and can be enjoyed any time of the year.

70. Baked Beetroot Cutlets: A delicious oil free recipe with healthy goodness of beetroot, that cane be served as starter or use them as patties for burgers.

71. Baby Corn Pepper Fry: Baby corn pepper fry is a popular Indo-Chinese style appetizer. As the name suggest the dish is a stir fry made with bell peppers and baby corn.

72. Cashew Nut Stuffed Paneer Balls: Cashew nut stuffed paneer balls are tasty treats that serve as a perfect starter for any party. These deep fried paneer balls are crunchy on the outside and soft from within. The roasted cashew stuffing gives a nice nutty flavor and bite to the otherwise soft paneer balls.

73. Vegetable Chop - Bengal Style: Vegetable chop is an onion garlic free, deep fried crisp snack made with the fresh winter vegetables like beetroot , carrots and potatoes.

74. Vegetable Momos: These are steamed dumplings with vegetable filling wrapped in a dough and served with spicy dipping sauce.

75. Mixed Vegetable Cutlet: These vegetable cutlets serve as a fuss free , healthy and filling snacks .They can be baked or can be roasted on skillet with very less or no oil , thus making them all the more healthier.

Soup and Salad Recipes For Christmas Party

76. Mushroom Soup With Garlic Bread: This wholesome and tasty soup recipe is made from cream of Mushroom and broth of other vegetables.The addition of herbs enhances the deep and earthy flavours of Button Mushrooms .

77. Moorish Crunch Salad: Moorish Crunch Salad is one such refreshing and flavorful salad to treat ones taste buds. Made using a handful of simple and easily available ingredients from your kitchen pantry, this salad is oil free and can be pulled together within 10- 15 minutes. Moorish crunch salad makes up for a nice side salad or can be served with barbecue.

78. Sweet Corn Salad: In this simple salad recipe the boiled Sweet corn kernels are mixed with fresh tomatoes and cucumber and tossed with lime juice , salt and pepper powder.

79. Quinoa Salad: Quinoa salad is a colorful , light and refreshing salad . A simple yet flavorful preparation in which cooked quinoa is tossed with red onions, colored bell peppers , and veggies like cucumber and tomatoes.

80. Tomato Beetroot Soup: This soup is surely a treat to your taste buds as it has the tangy taste from Tomatoes, is slightly sweet due to use of Beetroot, is mildly hot due to the Onions , Ginger and Pepper powder.

81. Watermelon Pizza: A delicious refreshing fruit pizza that can serve as salad or dessert.

82. Sweet corn Vegetable Soup: This simple yet flavorful soup is packed with healthy goodness of vegetables. There are many ways of making this soup, either clear or creamier.

83. Purple Cabbage Quinoa Salad: Purple cabbage quinoa salad is a protein rich , quick and easy, vegetarian dish . This salad with all the healthy goodness of quinoa, carrots, purple cabbage , green onions is vegan , vibrantly colored, crunchy and can be put together under 30 minutes.

84. Spicy Potato Salad: Allo ko Achar or Spicy Potato Salad is a popular Nepali side dish and serves as an appetizer. It has a nutty flavor due to addition of roasted Sesame seed powder and is tangy as it is marinated in lemon juice.

Christmas Dinner Party Recipes

85. Pineapple Fried Rice: The Pineapple Fried Rice is the signature dish of the Thai Cuisine. Here I am sharing the vegetarian version of the classic Thai dish . This sweet and spicy fried rice has fresh pineapple pieces and the addition of cashews and raisins impart it a rich texture making it apt for festive occasions and dinner parties.

86. Peruvian Green Rice: A one pot flavorful pilaf with stir fried mushrooms.

87. Schezwan Fried Rice: Schezwan fried rice is a hot and flavorful vegetarian rice recipe from Indo-Chinese Cuisine.

88. Mushroom Pulao: Mushroom Pulao is a flavorful , mildly spiced vegetarian rice dish. A one-pot delicious and healthy meal which can be easily prepared either in a pressure cooker or pan.

89. Kashmiri Pulao: A rich and flavorful, mildly sweet, one pot rice dish

90. Elbow Macaroni with Garlic Crumbs: A hot and spicy vegetarian pasta dish.

91. Penne Pasta in Creamy White Sauce: Pasta in a white sauce is creamy , delicious and has healthy goodness of vegetables. Flavored with mixed dried Italian herbs, black pepper and chilly flakes , this pasta dish is a treat to the taste buds and is ready within 30 minutes.

92. Malai Kofta: This is a creamy rich gravy with deep fried cottage cheese balls.

93. Mushroom Xacuti: Mushroom Xacuti is a classic Goan dish in which mushrooms are cooked in a gravy made by using coconut and spicy xacuti masala. This dish is a great vegetarian alternative to the popular chicken xacuti.

94. Dum Aloo: It is a mouth watering baby potato curry cooked with yogurt, ginger powder, fennel and other hot spices to give it a unique flavour and aroma.

95. Paneer Makhanwala: In this cottage cheese pieces are cooked in a rich and creamy gravy made with cashew nuts, butter and cream.

96. Baby Corn Masala: Baby corn masala is a delicious restaurant style curry dish which goes very well with chapati , naan or paratha. The curry is mildly spicy , tangy , creamy rich gravy.

97. Colored Bell Pepper Stir Fry : A quick recipe in which colored bell peppers are roughly chopped and tossed with caramelized onion and a freshly ground spice mix.

98. Mushroom Masala: a mildly spiced button mushroom curry which is an onion tomato based gravy with a very simple and easy to follow recipe .

99. Kadai Paneer: This is a hot and spicy stir fried Panner (Cottage Cheese) which is one of the quickest cooking Paneer dishes.

100. Matar Paneer: Cottage Cheese ( Paneer) and green Peas are cooked in spicy onion tomato based gravy.

101. Khoya Matar Makhana:

A rich main course gravy dish made using Makhana ( puffed lotus seeds / Fox nuts ) green Peas and Khoya (evaporated milk) . In this the ghee roasted Makhana are cooked in a onion tomato based gravy with crumbled khoya .

If you ever try any of these recipes, do share your feedback with us in the comment section bellow.

Sending this compilation to the #175th #FoodieMondayBlogHop with #ChristmasSpecial as the theme for the week.

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year in Advance !!

Annapurna

Pages

Monday, 24 December 2018

Gulkand Paneer Kheer / Rose Petal Jam Flavored Cottage Cheese Pudding

Monday, 17 December 2018

101 Christmas Special Recipes

A rich main course gravy dish made using Makhana ( puffed lotus seeds / Fox nuts ) green Peas and Khoya (evaporated milk) . In this the ghee roasted Makhana are cooked in a onion tomato based gravy with crumbled khoya .

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