Pomegranate - Pineapple Salad

Today is the 10th of February and yes time for our MFB Challenge.Actually my last post was also for this Challenge,then I had gone to India and was back only 3 weeks back,and the hangover has not yet left but I didn't want to miss this easy Challenge.This time it was to prepare something with Rumaan yes Pomegranate,which is a fruit mentioned in the Quran.Other than the peeling part,which now a days has many easy steps,this fruit is a jewel with its lovely bright colour and it's health benefits. Not going into so much of chat now straight to the recipe which is so easy to put in together with an easy dressing and just serve.

Pineapple Pachadi(Sweet)

One whole month of Ramadan is followed by the six days of Shawwal fasting and whoever completes those six days included is rewarded as if he has fasted  for the whole year.I have already posted on the six days fasting earlier that is about a saheeh hadeeth from the prophet (pbuh) saying “Whoever fasts Ramadaan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim)

Pineapple Juice

Today's post is a simple fresh juice.Pineapple is one of our favorite fruit.Apart from its peeling part...Wow what a nice fruit..hehe :)...Fruit juice is a must on our Iftar table.Each day a different fruit is juiced sometimes its a shake or smoothie. 

Ingredients
Pineapple(peeled and chopped)       2 cups
Cold water                                       1 cup
Ice cubes                                         a few 
Sugar                                             2-3 spoonful (according to taste)  

 Method
-Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend well.
-Strain and serve. 

Pineapple Rice

Ingredients
Pineapple chunks (canned)    1 cup(syrup strained)
Basmati rice (Cooked)        2 cups
Pineapple juice            1/4 cup
Ginger                 11/2 tsp(finely chopped)
Garlic                   11/2 tsp( ''         ''     )
Green chilly          2 (slit lengthwise)
Spring onion (white part)     31/2 tbsp(finely chopped)
(green part)             1/2 cup(finely chopped)
Tomato ketchup     2 tbsp
Chilly sauce            1 tsp
Salt                   to taste
Oil                       2 tbsp

To prepare Croutons
Bread                     2 slices
Butter                     2 tbsp(as needed)
Method
First to make the croutons.. 
-Remove the crust part of the bread slices and cut the slices into small cubes. Heat a non stick frying pan on medium heat and melt the butter.Now add the bread pieces so that the pieces get coated with butter,do not stir until they turn golden brown on the bottom side, once it turns brown turn the pieces on all sides using a spoon so that all the sides turn brown and crisp(crunchy).Transfer these pieces onto a plate  and keep aside.

Further preparation  
-Heat a non stick wok on medium-high flame and add oil.
-Add the chopped ginger and garlic.When it turns a little brown giving out a nice smell add the spring onion(white part) and the green chillies.Saute for a minute.
-Now add tomato ketchup and the chilly sauce.Mix well and add the pineapple juice and salt.
-When the juice starts boiling add the spring onion (green) and the pineapple chunks.Mix well and add the cooked rice and saute till everything gets mixed well(don't keep for a long time).
-Add the croutons,mix and serve.

*Serve this rice with anything fried or Chilly Chicken.

Pineapple Squares

Ingredients
For the dough
1.APF/Maida         4 cups
2.Butter(unsalted,cold)    250 g
3.Yogurt (thick)            1/2 cup +1 or 2 tbsp
4.Salt                           1/4 tsp
5.Pineapple essence      1/4tsp
For the filling
6.Pineapple(peeled,cored & chopped)      11/2 cup
7.Sugar                            4 tbsp
8.Water                            2 tbsp

 Method

 For the filling(spread)

-In a non stick pan add the pineapple pieces,sugar and water.Cook till the water reduces and the sugar dissolves completely.Keep this aside.

Dough making
-Cut the butter into small pieces.
-In a bowl add the flour and salt.Mix well.
-Now add the butter pieces and using your fingers combine the flour and butter(do it in a gentle way)forming into crumbs(see image below)
-Now add the yogurt little by little along with the essence and knead the flour.
-Divide the dough into two equal parts.

Further process & Baking 
-Grease a rectangular or a square baking tray with butter.
-Take one part of the dough,roll it into the size of the tray and place it on the greased tray(level it properly).
-Prick it here and there using a fork.
-Now spread the pineapple filling over and level it.
-Roll the other part(just like the first one) and place it over the filling.Prick the top part (as done for the previous one). 
-Preheat the oven at 300ºF and bake* for 1/2 an hour(adjust according to your oven settings)
-Cut into square shapes and serve.

*While baking when you feel the bottom part is baked completely and crunchy but the top part is not yet baked properly then turn your oven's settings mode to only 'top part baking' and bake for 7 to 10 minutes or till done.
*For the filling part you can use Pineapple jam instead of cooking Pineapple with sugar etc...
*Use yogurt little by little while kneading,sometimes you won't be needing the extra 1 or 2 tbsp as mentioned in the ingredients.
*If using salted butter,then avoid using salt from the ingredients.