Pune's very own creation, "Mastani".
Basically Mastani is a thick milk shake with vanilla ice cream or mango ice cream. This delicious famous ice cream has been named after a second wife of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao.
There are many varieties of Mastani like chocolate, dry fruit, pineapple, vanilla etc.
Here is the recipe of my favorite Mastani, "Mango Mastani".

Ingredients:
3 - 4 ripe Mango/ or Mango pulp
2 - 3 tablespoon Sugar
1  1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons sliced almond & pistachio
Tutti Frutti
Sliced mango cubes for garnish

Method:
Slice dry fruits keep them aside. Peel the mangoes, chop and add into a blender. Keep few cubes of chopped mangoes for topping. Add sugar and milk into the blender. Blend into the thick puree.
Now pour it in a glass. Leave some space on the top. Add two scoops of vanilla ice cream on the top. Now garnish with mango cubes, dry fruits and Tutti Fruitti.

Mango Mastani is ready.

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Masala Dudh is delicious, sweet milk enriched with nuts, Saffron and a touch of nutmeg. It's specially served on the full moon night in the Ashwin month (Hindu Calendar) called Kojagiri Pornima or Sharad pornima.
Masala Dudh is a main attraction of Kojagiri Pornima for kids :)



Ingredients:
2/3 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Cardamom powder
Pinch of nutmeg powder (optional)
Few Saffron

For Masala:
10 - 15 Almonds, unsalted
10 - 15 Pistachio, unsalted
8 - 10  Cashew nuts, unsalted

Method:
First grind all dry fruits and make powder.
Heat milk in a sauce pan. Add Sugar. let it boil.
Now turn heat on slow. Add Masala in it. Stir it well. Add Cardamom and nutmeg powder. crush the saffron and add in to the milk. let it boil agin.
Serve hot or cold.

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Basundi is a Maharashtrian dessert which is made from milk. It's sweet thickened milk, flavored with cardamom, saffron, and dry fruits. This is usually made in festival days.
Basundi is quite similar to Rabdi.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 liter whole milk
1/3 Cup Sugar
1 tablespoon Cardamom powder
Saffron, few strands
1/4 Cup chopped Almonds and Pistachios

Method:
Take a heavy bottom pan. Add milk. Let it boil. Once milk started boiling, reduce the heat. Simmer until the milk reduces to half and thickens. Just make sure to Stir often.
Once milk, reduced to half, add Sugar, Cardamom powder and mix well. Now add chopped dry fruits, mix it and let it cook for another 6 to 8 minutes.
Basundi is ready.

Serving Suggestion:
Before serving keep the Basundi in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.

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Summer is here!!!!!
So here is one perfect refreshing summer drink recipe for you :)
In Maharashtra we prepare a cool drink called "Kairiche Panhe" or "Kairi Panha".  It's made of Kairi (Raw Mango) and it has sweet tangy flavor.  It is believed that drinking of raw Mango juice reduces your body heat and helps keeping you away from the summer heat.
Raw Mangoes are usually available in March and April. You can easily store thick Raw Mango pulp in the fridge for a month.  So you can use anytime to make "Kairiche Panhe"


Ingredients:

2 Raw Mangoes
Sugar/ Jaggery
1/2 tablespoon Cardamom powder
Pinch of Saffron
Salt as per your taste
Few Mint leaves for Garnish
Chat Masala to taste (Optional)


Method:

Wash the Mangoes. Peel off the skin and boil the mangoes till they turn soft.
It will take 10 to 15 min to cook properly.  Once Mangoes cooked, turn off the heat and let the mangoes cool completely.

Remove the Mango seed and separate the pulp.  Take the twice amount of Sugar/Jaggery of Mango pulp.  Blend the pulp well with Sugar/ Jaggery till it becomes a smooth thick paste.
Transfer the paste in a bowl.  Add Cardamom Powder, Saffron and stir it well.
For final serving take a glass, add 2 or 3 tablespoon thick Mango pulp.

Add Cold water with some ice cubes. Add pinch of salt. You can add Chat masala if you want.  Stir well and serve chilled. Garnish with some Mint leaves.

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