My Favourite Sweet Toasted Vermicelli For Ramadan Recipes

Steps:

• Place oil in a medium sauce pan, break the vermicelli into inch-long pieces (I find it easy to lay on a chopping board & slice with a large chefs knife) and add to the pan.
• Cook the vermicelli over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the vermicelli has browned to a walnut colour - about 5 minutes, add the milk and almonds.
• Gently bash the cardamom pods with a rolling pin or bottom of a heavy pan to release the seeds. Add the seeds to the cooking pan & add the sugar.
• Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes over medium heat. The vermicelli will begin to soak up the milk. Check every 5 minutes to see how much milk has been absorbed & be careful to stir occasionally.
• When the milk is almost completely absorbed, turn the heat as low as will go & cook with the lid off for around 10 minutes or until the noodles are separated.
• Serve warm in small bowls topped with the pistachios. To make this a creamy dessert, you can also spoon over a little single cream or evaporated milk!
• (If using the mixed fruit & nut add half of it at the time when the almonds are added & the remainder to decorate like the pistachios).

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium-sized, preferably non-stick saucepan with a lid, over a medium heat. Add the onions and cook for around 8 mins, until softened, then add the vermicelli and turn to coat in the oil. Tip in the butter and stir until melted. At this point you want the butter to help toast the vermicelli to a lovely even brown colour without burning the butter or the vermicelli.
• Once the vermicelli is browned (not just golden) add the rice, some salt and pepper, and mix well together until evenly combined. Pour over 800ml cold water, cover with a lid and cook on a medium heat (low if using gas) and cook for 30 mins, until the rice on top is cooked. Fluff up with a fork and serve. It's desirable to have 'tahdig', which is Persian for a crunchy rice crust that you can serve in pieces atop the rice.

Steps:

• The day before making the sheer korma, put the dried dates in a saucepan with 1 cup (240 ml) of the milk, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 20 minutes. Leave to cool, then chill.
• If you haven't got roasted seviyan you will need to dry roast the vermicelli over low heat until it starts to darken.
• Cut the almonds (and pistachios, if using whole ones) into slivers. If including coconut, chop the flesh into ½-in (1.5 cm) cubes. Break the vermicelli into small pieces.
• Put the remaining milk in a pan, add the soaked dates and their milk, and bring to a boil.
• ​​Meanwhile, heat half the ghee or butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat and flash-fry the vermicelli with the cloves and cardamoms, then add to the boiling milk. Add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat and discard the cloves and cardamoms.
• In a separate frying pan, heat the remaining ghee and quickly fry the almonds, pistachios, coconut, cashews, and raisins until the nuts darken-you do not want to burn them.
• Add the mixture to the vermicelli, reserving a little to sprinkle on top if you like. Serve the milky vermicelli warm or chilled in individual glass dishes.

Steps:

• Crush cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle or the side of a chef's knife and remove seeds (discard husks).
• Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove 1 tablespoon of boiling water and use it to steep the saffron. Keep remaining water hot.
• Heat the ghee in a wok or large skillet over medium-high. Add chopped pistachios and cardamom seeds and stir-fry until the cardamom is fragrant and the pistachios begin to lightly brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add vermicelli. Cook, stirring constantly, until vermicelli is browned and toasted, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium low and add boiling water and steeped saffron. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vermicelli is tender and all the water is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
• Stir in sugar until dissolved and cook 2 minutes more. Serve warm topped with the coconut, raisins, almonds, whole pistachios and khoya.

Steps:

• Break the vermicelli in half. Place the ghee, rose water, sugar, cardamom & saffron in a large pan. Heat through gently then add the vermicelli.
• Mix very well to coat thoroughly & to break up a little. Cook on as low heat as possible for approx 25-30 minutes or until the vermicelli is glossy & has absorbed everything.
• At this point, stir in the mixed fruit & nuts. Serve.