A Slice of Royal Feast :Sheermal and Badam Kheer


The city of Lucknow is the melting pot of cultures,once ruled by lavish Nawabs who left behind there legacy in the fine lucknawi(Awadhi) cuisine.The city is also home to some of most famous poets ,remember Muzzafar Ali's Umrao Jaan?.Though I'm a mediocre when it comes to understanding the classic urdu shayari(peotry),but do enjoy the rhyme and sounds depicting the beauty of the language with Persian roots.
The Royal cuisine of Lucknow,true to its name,with frequent use of one of the costliest spices "Safforn"(Zafraan)[thankfully a pinch goes a long way with this spice] in many of its authentic dishes,from spicy kababs to an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian "Dum"(slow cooked) biryanis and curries.The cuisine is also enriched with variety of flat breads and desserts like shahi tukdre ,reminiscent of hyderabadi double ka meetha.The Sheermal is a rich saffron milk bread usually relished with meat stew or shorba.I was in mood for something lightly sweet so I paired it with a rich Badam(Almond) kheer ,for an affordable Lazeez treat. For more delectable food from lucknawi cuisine join in RCI :Lucknow,hosted by Lavi.The RCI food event was started by Lakshmi.

Recipe :Sheermal

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat flour
1 cup of all purpose flour
2 tablespoon butter at room temperature
1/4ounce(7g) 1 Pack active dry yeast
1 1/4 cup of reduced fat Organic Milk
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 pinch saffron
handful of dried cherries or raisins,coarsely chopped
1 Organic Egg glaze(optional)

Method
Prepare the Dough
Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of milk and sprinkle the yeast and allow rise until it gets frothy, about 10 minutes.Warm rest of the milk in a saucepan,add butter,sugar, and saffron ,turn off the heat when butter is all melted and sugar is completely dissolved;about a minute.
In a large bowl combine the flour with the yeast mixture and saffron milk.Apply some oil on the sides of the bowl cover and allow to the dough to rise until double it size about an hour.
Bake
Preheat oven to 350F.
Sprinkle some all purpose flour on the work surface and knead the dough for a minute until smooth ,then divide in 4 equal portions.Take one portion at a time,roll out using rolling pin to a square or circle shape.Score using a knife,use back of a wooden spoon carve 4 holes in to each rolled potion.Also using a fork prick all over the dough and place on a greased baking sheet .Whisk the egg and brush on the bread.sprinkle the dried fruit.Place in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes.Serve warm with soup or stews.


Recipe Badam Kheer

Ingredients
1 cup Raw Almonds\Badam
2 cups reduced fat Organic Milk
1/4 cup white or light brown sugar
2 green Cardamom
Pinch of Saffron

Method
Soak almonds overnight.Drain all water.Bring 2 cups of water to a boil,add the soaked almonds and allow to boil for 15 minutes.Drain and peel the skin.Grind the almonds to a smooth paste in a blender or wet grinder or food processor,add 1/4 cup of water while blending it.
In a thick bottom vessel,bring milk to a slow boil along with the cardamom and saffron.Add sugar and the almond paste,stir occasionally ,allow to cook for another 10 minutes until smooth and thickened a little.Fish out the cardamoms.Serve warm with bread or simply slurp it.

Comments

Indhu said…
awesome recipe... the sheermal expecially looks mouth watering delicious :)
Sanghi said…
Lovely one yasmeen..!
suvi said…
i could kiss your fingers for this!!
Anonymous said…
Verry nice cookies and interesting ingredients!
Regards, Nina
Gita Jaishankar said…
Both look so yummy Yasmeen, Sheermal is new to me, looks delicious though :) Love the color of the almond milk!
Cham said…
The sheermal, never tasted one :) Wonderful feast !
Sara said…
This bread looks so delicious, your pictures are great!
Dibs said…
Great Stuff! Reminds me so much of Karims of Delhi!!
Uma said…
both the dishes look mouth-watering Yasmeen! Never heard of Sheermal. Looks yum!
Lavanya said…
mouthwatering yasmeen..awesome recipes!
Ammu said…
Mouthwatering receipes.
lubnakarim06 said…
Wow charming and luscious combo.....
Priya Suresh said…
Never tasted sheermal, thats looks gorgeous..tempting badam kheer Yasmeen..both looks amazing:)
Sharmila said…
Wow Yasmeen! Looks so royal! :-)
EC said…
Badam kheer is so inviting...yumm
FH said…
What a great combo. I had plans to make Sheermal too, looks like a yummy bread. With Kheer, it is Shahi!!:)
AnuSriram said…
Wow.. that looks inviting! Lovely recipes...
Vikis Kitchen said…
Sheermal and Badam kheer truely look like the ones served in royal palaces. Yummy.
Anonymous said…
They are extremely royal...I loved both..and makes me hungry dear.
Lavanya Raj said…
Yasmeen, Sheermal Looks absolutely Delicious!! Thanks for the Lovely Entrie's!
Ooooooh! this is the first time I'm hearing of sheermal. Recipe looks similar to naan. Looks delicious though.They resemble cookies:)
The Kheer......sounds great too. I love the fact that you ground the almonds into it. So, it will be a very smooth kheer.Nothing to chew on like rice kheer. I absolutely love this idea and will let you know when i give it a try.
Malar Gandhi said…
Heard lot about Lucknow food, but never got a chance to taste it. Thanks for sharing with wonderful recipe. Truly is a royal one...saffron and nuts. Love it.
Archy said…
Sheermal looks so gud.. never tasted it shall i taste one :)!!

Love badam kheer, nice tempting pic !!
Lovely mouthwatering Kheer and a nice delicious looking Sheermal...
Rich n royal indeed... right now want to have the both at a time all at a time... send me quick.
Varsha Vipins said…
Sheermal is simply awesome !!!..I would love to have it with some spicy Mutton curry n that kheer as dessert..;)..great one Yasmeen..:)
mona said…
Sheermal and Kheer looks so good Yasmeen, mouth watering!
Keep them coming !!
bee said…
i would love to try this kheer. and the sheermal. but that i'll finish in one sitting. :) i'm addicted to bread and trying to stay away from it.
sheermal is very new to me...neither heard nor tasted it...looks great..
Dhanya Ganesh said…
badam Kheer looks yummy. First time here,you have a lovely blog.
Purva Desai said…
Sheermal is new for me looks royal and badam kheer is yummilicious
Subhie Arun said…
woww..superb yasmeen ...looks mouthwatering....and u have great site with great health recipes..thx for sharing
Maria Verivaki said…
the history sounds just as good as the sheermal - i like flatbreads of all kinds
Chef Jeena said…
Sounds lovely Yasmeen, I like the breads I have a thing for sweet breads and I am so hooked if almonds are involved. :-)
Noor said…
gift at my blog.. :)
Muneeba said…
ohhhhhhh, who doesn't LOVE sheermal?! Was just abt to go buy the frozen ones for hubbs today. I'd make them using your recipe, but the boy is too impatient!!
ARUNA said…
looks so lovely Yasmeen!!!! Nice work....gorgeous clicks!

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