Raksha Bandhan Special – Sweet & Sour Recipes for Your Sibling!

Brother/Sister relationship is where you fight and quarrel throughout the day but end up eating dinner together in the evening. As much as you are used to getting into a fight with your sibling, any slight mistreatment towards them by others can anger you. You often feel the urge to protect them when they get into a fight with others. Relatable much?

You can never truly despise your sibling, no matter how prickly they are. You would always want them to be a part of your crazy, colourful life. This Raksha Bandhan express your feelings with these sweet & sour recipes that are symbolic of your sibling relationship.

1. Pineapple Sheera

Ingredients: ½ cup finely chopped pineapple, ½ cup rava, 1 cup water, ¼ cup water for pineapple, 1 cup sugar, 1 pinch salt to taste, 1 teaspoon powdered cardamom, 1 pinch yellow food color, 3 tablespoon ghee, and 1 tablespoon cooking oil.

Method:

1. Heat some oil and ghee in a pan and roast the rava on a medium flame for 5 minutes.
2. In a separate pan, heat ¼ cup water and add the chopped pineapple along with some sugar. Cook the pineapple until most of the water is absorbed. Now pour in the remaining water (1 cup) and the food colouring.
3. Add the roasted rava and cook over low flame till all the water is absorbed. Mix well with some sugar and cardamom powder while continuously stirring to avoid lumps.
4. Continue to cook till the sugar syrup is absorbed. Garnish with some raisins and serve it warm.

2. Lemon Tart

Ingredients: 3 whole eggs, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, ½ cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, ½ cup unsalted butter, and 1 tart shell.

Method:

1. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream in a heatproof bowl.
2. Place the bowl over a pot of heating water. Let the mixture cook on medium heat while consistently whisking it. The mixture will start to thicken. Set it aside.
3. Once cooled, pass the mixture through a sieve. Add small cubes of butter at a time and whisk. Continue to whisk till it has an airy, light texture.
4. Add the lemon curd to a tart shell, then refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours before serving.

3. Red Velvet Cake

Cake Ingredients: 3 cups cake flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, 4 large eggs (separated), 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, red food color, and 1 cup buttermilk.

Frosting Ingredients: 450g full-fat cream cheese, ¾ cup unsalted butter, 5½ cups confectioners’ sugar, 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.

 Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two 9-inch greased cake pans with parchment paper & then grease the parchment paper.

Cake:

2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt.
3. Beat the butter and sugar in a mixer (handheld or a stand mixer). Slowly add the oil, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Now add the dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk. Pour the desired amount of food colouring until combined thoroughly.
4. Whisk the egg whites separately until fluffy. Now gently fold the egg white into the cake batter.
5. Divide the batter into the cake pans and bake for ~30 minutes. Let the cake cool down before frosting.

Frosting:

6. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together. Add sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue to beat the mixture until completely combined and creamy.

Assemble:

7. Evenly apply a layer of frosting on each of the cake layers. Place one cake on top of the other. Apply the frosting on the sides as well. Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before slicing.

We hope you celebrate Raksha Bandhan by preparing these simple yet tasty sweets for your siblings. Let us know your heart-winning dish in the comment section below.