This Diwali, curb your sugar cravings with the help of sweets made with natural ingredients like fruits, herbs, and other healthy alternatives that will be beneficial for your body.
Dry fruits like raisins, dates, figs, and apricots can be used to make barfis and laddus. All you need to do is, crush one or all of the dry fruits with mixed seeds. The natural sweetness of the fruits will eliminate the need to add jaggery or honey.
Chikkis can be made out of rajgira (Amaranth) and khus-khus (poppy seeds). Roast the rajgira and poppy seeds separately, and add honey as required after it cools down roll them over and bind them. The texture will be soft and flavorful in taste.
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Sheeng-dana (peanut) and roasted chana (sattu) can be ground together with jaggery and desi ghee to make ladoos.
Take fully ripe bananas, cut them into slices and fry them in ghee. Once they cool down, add coconut cream and water chestnuts with fresh desiccated coconuts dipped in jaggery and elaichi to make a healthy snack.
You can also make makhana and dates kheer with kesar, elaichi, nutmeg, almonds, cashews, milk, and ghee. Roast the makhanas and grind it. Boil milk by adding kesar and elaichi. Once the milk cools down, add the powdered makhana, and a pinch of nutmeg and sprinkle the dry fruits as a topping.
Some recipes here....
Oats and Nuts Laddoo
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
- 1/2 cup jaggery powder
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Method:
- Dry roast the oats in a pan until they turn golden brown. Cool it and grind into a coarse powder.
- Dry roast the mixed nuts and roughly chop them.
- In a pan, heat the ghee and add the jaggery powder.
- When it melts and becomes like a syrup, add the oats, nuts, and cardamom powder. Stir well.
- Let the mixture cool down and shape into small balls.
Baked Whole Wheat Gujiya
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1/4 cup jaggery
- 1/4 cup grated coconut
- 1/4 cup mixed nuts (chopped)
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Milk (for brushing)
Method:
- Mix the whole wheat flour with ghee and enough water to form a soft dough. Let it rest for a few minutes.
- Melt jaggery and add the grated coconut, chopped nuts, and cardamom powder. Let it all combine.
- Roll out the dough and cut it into small circles.
- Place a spoonful of the filling in the centre of each circle and fold to seal the edges.
- Brush the gujiyas with milk and bake them at 180°C for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- You can also use an air fryer to make them.
Chia Seed Kheer with Almond Milk
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Method:
- Soak the chia seeds in almond milk for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Once the chia seeds have absorbed the milk and formed a pudding-like consistency, stir in the honey and cardamom powder.
- See, it is literally just 2 steps, and this refreshing and unique Diwali sweet is ready!
Coconut and Dates Barfi
Ingredients:
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 cup deseeded dates
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- A pinch of cardamom powder
Method:
- Blend the dates in a food processor to form a sticky paste.
- Heat the ghee in a pan and add the blended dates. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the desiccated coconut and cardamom powder. Mix well until everything comes together.
- Spread the mixture onto a greased plate and flatten it out.
- Allow it to cool and then cut into squares.
Ragi Halwa
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ragi flour
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1/2 cup jaggery
- 1 cup milk (or almond milk for a vegan option)
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Chopped nuts for garnish
Method:
- Heat the ghee in a pan and roast the ragi flour until it releases a nutty aroma.
- Add the milk and continue to stir until the mixture thickens.
- Add the jaggery and cardamom powder. Stir until the jaggery dissolves and the halwa reaches a smooth consistency.
- Garnish with chopped nuts and serve warm.
(All Photos courtesy: pexels.com)
