[Aroy]

Originally Posted by DCEite

I was surprised when I read the labels on commercial Hing poweders in market. All of them contain "Wheat flour/Refined wheat flour" as an ingredient. I am not sure why it is used, but perhaps its a binding agent.

The best Hing you could get would be the pure Hing granules. Seach for "Hathras Hing" and you will get some information on this. This is pure hing without any adultration, but it will not be in powdered form, but in form of small hard granules. Ofcourse before cooking they will need to be crushed using a pestle and mortar.

Even Hing Granules are a mixture of Hing and Maida. Pure (100%) hing is difficult to source as most of it is bought by manufacturers.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by DCEite

I was surprised when I read the labels on commercial Hing poweders in market. All of them contain "Wheat flour/Refined wheat flour" as an ingredient. I am not sure why it is used, but perhaps its a binding agent.

The common powdered Hing packages sold now are typically labeled as "Compounded Asafoetida" -- with the percentage of flour indicated. My current package has 30% flour. More commonly it is 50% or even higher.

Recently I dug up an old package (branded S.S.P., manufactured in Oct-2005) lost in some old boxes from my Bangalore days! It also says "Compounded", but gives no percentages of the ingredients! The package was almost unused, and remains perfectly usable to this day, with a strong scent, -- almost 19 years later! No wonder, -- the 10g pack cost Rs. 39/- back in 2005. My current packs typically cost Rs. 70/- to 100/- for 50g in 2024.

When I was a kid, Hing used to be sold by the "Kabuliwalas". Back then it used to come in brown resin form, and needed to be ground for use. Don't know how pure it was, but was definitely far more potent than the current "compounded" forms.

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

The one from Everest brand is what I use and found it good enough for my requirements, should be found online.

The Everest brand Hing comes in various strengths, priced accordingly. I have no comments regarding its quality. But they are atrociously packaged in non-airtight plastic jars (the caps are just not made to be screwed back on tightly). So in humid weather the powder just absorbs moisture and forms a solid mass that needs to be powdered back to be used! In contrast, the 19-year-old S.S.P. Hing mentioned above remains in perfectly dry powdered form!

--- So I don't purchase Everest Hing anymore, and the brand itself has been blacklisted in my household as a consequence!
.

[Ms. Tesla]

Hi everyone!
I know this thread is mainly for experienced chefs, or delicious meals and ideas, but I wanted to add a little mix.
So why not add Healthy Deserts?

My mother and I Love to bake and cook, So every second day, I pop in the kitchen, half an hour later, we have some new kinds of healthy cakes/cookies/brookies/brownies, etc. freshly made from the oven. My Mom is on "Finding the Right Healthy Recipe" Duty, and my Didi and I are on " Bake using the Recipe" Duty.

So here are a few of the "Best" Healthy Recipes, for both Parents and Children!


First up is:

Air Fryer Cherry Muffins
(You can even use blueberries)

Oats flour:1 Cup
Chopped Cherries:1 Cup
Boiled Milk:1 cup
Medium-sized banana:2 pieces
Vanilla essence:1 tbsp
Baking powder:1 teaspoon
Baking soda:1 teaspoon
Ghee:1 Tbsp

Method:

Banana Milk mixture:
Add bananas and milk into a mixing jar and grind it into a smooth paste.

Now combine all the ingredients mentioned above in a mixing bowl and mix properly, fill up the moulds with the batter and air fry your muffins at 160° for 12 minutes, Or you could use The oven(160)

- Bhavika Himalay Manek(Instagram)




Delish Healthy Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients
1 apple
1 cup almonds
1 cup dark chocolate ( I used sugar-free dark chocolate)
1/3 cup hot water

Instructions:

• Grind This Mixture until you get a smooth paste.
• Put it into the desired container.
• Cover with tin foil.
• Freeze for 2hrs

- Nidhi Khosla(Instagram)


Guilt free Baked oats
(It's Best when you make it with double Ingredients)

Ingredients:
60 grams Oats
1 tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 banana
1 cup Milk

Instructions:

• Grind The Ingredients together
• Add some honey (optional)
• Add some choco chips
• Mix and Transfer to an oven/air fryer-safe container
• Garnish with even more choco chips.
• Bake at 185c for around 30 minutes.

- Priyanka Meena(Instagram)



Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

INGREDIENTS:⁣
▪️1 cup of oats ⁣
▪️1 tbsp chia seeds⁣
▪️1/2 tsp cinnamon ⁣
▪️1/2 cup of carrot grated (about 1 small carrot grated)⁣
▪️1 cup of milk⁣
▪️2 tbsp yoghurt ⁣
▪️1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)⁣
▪️Handful of nuts (optional) ⁣
⁣
Topping:⁣
2 tbsp yogurt mixed with a pinch of cinnamon ⁣
⁣
METHOD ⁣
▪️In a container, add all the ingredients, and mix well⁣
▪️Top with the yogurt mixture ⁣
▪️Refrigerate for at least 2 hours

- Divya Sharma(Instagram)


Yummy Ragi Bread

Ingredients:
1+1/2 cup Ragi
4 tbsp Olive oil
1 Tsp Sesame seeds(optional)
3 Eggs (1 tbsp of flaxseed and 3 tbsp water= 1 egg)
2 bananas
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Rock salt

Instructions:

• Mix the Ingredients using a spoon
• Transfer to a baking Tray
• Preheat it to 180c
• Put the Tray in for about 30 minutes

- Zareen Siddique(Instagram)



Hope you enjoy This healthy Recipies!
Also, A Fact for Vegetarians:
1 tbsp of flaxseed and 3 tbsp water = 1 egg

[Mr.Ogre]

Wow..I never knew we had a thread for members who love to cook. I love to cook and eat. However, my food at best is average as I follow recipes and I am not very sure about why or how we use certain ingredients. Because of this it is a hit or miss whenever I follow a recipe.

For example: I love biryanis, and this recipe is something that I love. However, I sometimes mess up around the time when we add curd. The recipe does not mention how you prevent curd from splitting.

It would be great if BHPians can point me to a cooking class online/offline where I can learn the basics of cooking. Like a guru. Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmY...=CookwithLubna

[Rocky_Balboa]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ogre

For example: I love biryanis, and this recipe is something that I love. However, I sometimes mess up around the time when we add curd. The recipe does not mention how you prevent curd from splitting.

Mix the thick curd with some hot water or corn starch or even the gravy from the pot; before adding into the pot. And keep stirring until it mixes with the ingredients.

[wheelspinner]

Which brand Wok and Tawa do you guys use?

I season them frequently, and keep covered with oil. But, they are still rusting. The cooking is also uneven.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ogre

...........................

For example: I love biryanis, and this recipe is something that I love. However, I sometimes mess up around the time when we add curd. The recipe does not mention how you prevent curd from splitting.

I have been cooking Mutton Biryani for ages. Mostly it is Kacchi Gosht ki Biryani - Hyderabad Biryani. As I make it for parties at home the quantity is quite a lot - 2kg to 4kg mutton. But you can adjust the quantities linearly.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0509244&type=3

This the link to my Facebook album (the recipe is in PPT), I can send you the PPT if you want it.

If you follow the recipe (and quantities) to a T, then the Biryani will always come out perfectly. Do let me know the results if you make it.

[Mr.Ogre]

Originally Posted by Aroy

I have been cooking Mutton Biryani for ages. Mostly it is Kacchi Gosht ki Biryani - Hyderabad Biryani. As I make it for parties at home the quantity is quite a lot - 2kg to 4kg mutton. But you can adjust the quantities linearly.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0509244&type=3

This the link to my Facebook album (the recipe is in PPT), I can send you the PPT if you want it.

If you follow the recipe (and quantities) to a T, then the Biryani will always come out perfectly. Do let me know the results if you make it.

Thank you so much Sir. I am not on facebook or any social media. Please reply back to my DM with your ppt. Do let me know if any changes need to be made if it is chicken.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ogre

Thank you so much Sir. I am not on facebook or any social media. Please reply back to my DM with your ppt. Do let me know if any changes need to be made if it is chicken.

Yes Biryani can be made with Chicken. I have made it at least 5 times. Just the timing changes as chicken cooks faster. The rest of the ingredients remain same.

Please send me a message with e-mail and I will send the file to you.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by Aroy

I

This the link to my Facebook album (the recipe is in PPT), I can send you the PPT if you want it.

I think this is the most precise and methodical recipe I have seen for Biryani.

Love love love it.

So beautifully explained.
Thank you so much.

[Pferdestarke]

Originally Posted by Aroy

This the link to my Facebook album (the recipe is in PPT), I can send you the PPT if you want it.

Sir, I request you to share the PPT here so that many of us can learn.

[rohan_iitr]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Any suggestion on good Asafoetida? Something which can be purchased off Amazon / Flipkart? Or any other link / website?

We use Patanjali brand Hing and find it much better than Everest.

It is available on Amazon Fresh.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

We use Patanjali brand Hing and find it much better than Everest.
It is available on Amazon Fresh.

Not very good at all.

For compounded hing, try Tata Sampann. https://www.amazon.in/Tata-Sampann-R...dp/B0BBGB4RMH/

If you have the patience to dissolve hing for a few minutes in hot water (or for the crystals, break them apart to fry them), try the small crystal or soft paste form.

https://www.amazon.in/Ssp-Crystal-As...dp/B00VWZ5M6E/
https://www.amazon.in/SSP-Hotel-Spec...dp/B091TQS4PB/

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

We use Patanjali brand Hing and find it much better than Everest. slight

It is available on Amazon Fresh.

After buying a lot of brands, I discovered that the Hing sold normally at around Rs.100-Rs.200 is "compounded Hing". That is pure Hing mixed with flour.

I searched for 100% pure hing on Amazon. The results are revealing. 100% pure Hing sells for between Rs.3,000/ and Rs. 9,000/ per kilo. So you can calculate the percentage of Hing in a bottle of 50g for Rs.150/.

The problem with 100% Hing is that it is so concentrated that a slight difference will make a lot of difference, so either use compounded (25%) Hing or measure Hing carefully.

https://tassyam.com/collections/compounded-hing-1

This gives some insight to compounded hing.

[meerkat]

Originally Posted by hserus

If you have the patience to dissolve hing for a few minutes in hot water (or for the crystals, break them apart to fry them), try the small crystal or soft paste form.

https://www.amazon.in/Ssp-Crystal-As...dp/B00VWZ5M6E/
https://www.amazon.in/SSP-Hotel-Spec...dp/B091TQS4PB/

The SSP brand hing I'll also recommend strongly. It's also available in powdered form. Here is a quote from one of my earlier posts on the subject:

Originally Posted by meerkat

....
Recently I dug up an old package (branded S.S.P., manufactured in Oct-2005) lost in some old boxes from my Bangalore days! It also says "Compounded", but gives no percentages of the ingredients! The package was almost unused, and remains perfectly usable to this day, with a strong scent, -- almost 19 years later!
.

The Everest brand Hing comes in various strengths, priced accordingly. ... they are atrociously packaged in non-airtight plastic jars (the caps are just not made to be screwed back on tightly). So in humid weather the powder just absorbs moisture and forms a solid mass that needs to be powdered back to be used! In contrast, the 19-year-old S.S.P. Hing mentioned above remains in perfectly dry powdered form!

The SSP powdered Hing (10g pack) cost Rs. 39/- back in 2005. Now it costs ~284/- at Amazon. I was unaware I could source it now from Amazon (it costs ~284/10g now)! It didn't even show up in search back in April 2024.

So I purchased the L.G. brand hing from Flipkart based on good reviews and the fact that it claimed to have only 30% flour (compared with ~50% in others). It turned out to be a disaster, -- the strengh was apparently ~1/1000 th of the 19-year-old SSP Hing!

My next brand will again be SSP.
.