Cheeseboard With Indian Flavors
Indian Cheeseboard – Diwali Cheeseboard
I love cheese so when I saw a board with pretty gold edging I immediately thought of a board fit for Diwali! Perfect for last-minute entertaining and much can be store-bought or easily made at home.
What’s on the board?:
- Fruit: Chikoo (sapota) and pomegranate
- Nuts: Sugar and Chai Spice Cashews and Spicy Masala Almonds
- Dips: Pear chutney and honey chaat masala
- Sweets: Chocolates inspired by mithai and Coconut date/nut rolls
- Crackers: Late July crackers and Chile and cilantro bakhri (store-bought)
The honey chaat masala recipe is: per 3 tablespoons of honey I added 1/2 tsp chaat masala. It is s nice blend of spicy and sweet.
The bakhri are like savory crackers but a little thicker. They can be found at any Indian grocery store.
The chocolates are found here.
Date and nut rolls can be store-bought at an Indian sweet shop or I have added my recipe below.
Recipes for the nut mixes and pear chutney are also below. If you need a chai masala recipe for the sweet and chai spice cashews it can be found here
Indian Cheeseboard
Ingredients
- 2 Pears
- 3 tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Dhana- Jeera powder
- 1/4 tsp Red Chili Powder (lal mirch)
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon Powder
- 1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 cup Water
Instructions
Step 1
- Peel and cut pears
Step 2
- In a pot put cut pears, salt, cinnamon powder and water
Step 3
- Bring to boil and cook for 3 minutes uncovered
Step 4
- When it cools down put pear mixture in a blender, add remaining ingredients and blend
Step 5
- Chutney is ready
Coconut Date and Nut Roll
Ingredients
- 2 cups Organic pitted dates
- 1 cup
Mix of chopped nuts – almonds, pista, cashues
- 1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder (optional)
- 1/8 tsp Ghee
- 3 tbsp Coconut powder
Instructions
Step 1
- Chop and blend dates to make paste-like
Step 2
- Heat up a nonstick pan on medium
Step 3
- Add dates and cook on low heat stirring constantly until dates become mushy Turn off the gas
Step 4
- Add chopped nuts and cardamom powder and mix well.
Step 5
- Let it cool
Step 6
- When cooled, apply ghee on your palms and make a roll-out of date-nut mixture
Step 7
- Spread coconut in a plate and roll the data nut roll on it
Step 8
- Make desired size pieces from the roll and serve
Sweet Chai Spice Flavored Nuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Nut of choice (I used cashews)
- 3/4 tsp Sugar
- 1/2 tsp
Chai masala
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
Step 1
- Heat oil on low-medium in a pan
Step 2
- Add nuts to oil and stir constantly for 2-3 until nuts brown and begin to split
Step 3
- Take off heat
Step 4
- Add in chai masala and sugar and mix
Indian Masala Nuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Nut of choice (I used almonds)
- 1/2 tsp
Salt
- 3/4 tsp Dhana jeeru powder (cumin coriander powder)
- 1/4 tsp Lal mirch powder (red chili powder)
- 1/4 tsp Sugar
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
Step 1
- Heat oil on a pan on low-medium
Step 2
- Add nuts to pan and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until nuts are browned and begin to split
Step 3
- Take nuts off heat
Step 4
- Add in spices and mix
