01/6Easy-to-make sugar-free Diwali recipes
Day by day, the festival of Diwali is inching closer to us. The festive mood has sunk in and we are ready to celebrate the festival with family, friends, and loved ones. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the deteriorating air quality around us, it is time for some merriment and joy—keeping all the precautions and protections in mind. One inseparable part of Diwali or any kind of celebration in India is the sweets or mithai, as they are widely known as. No party, occasion or event is complete without a plethora of sweet and succulent mithais. Be it kids, adults or the oldies—all look for an excuse to grab a bite of their favourite sweet.
Even though all of us like sweets, we are also aware that they are brimming with calories and fat. For those of us who are health-conscious, it becomes very difficult to choose between taste and fitness, especially on occasions like Diwali. To avoid such a dilemma, here are some sugar-free recipes for Diwali. (Image: Pixabay)
02/6Kaju Katli
1. Place 2 cups of broken cashews on a tray and roast in an oven at 180C for 5-6 minutes.
2. Let the cashews cool for a few minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, add them to the food processor along with 1 tbsp. ghee. Let it run till you get a pasty butter stage.
3. Add 2 tbsp. of raw honey to the cashew butter and let the food processor run till it comes together like a ball.
4. Add the ball to a buttered plate and flatten the dough out into a square. Flatten until you reach the desired thickness.
5. Cut into square-shaped barfis.
03/6Anjeer Barfi
1. Chop 3/4 cup nuts, 3/4 cup figs, and 3/4 cup dates.
2. In a pan, dry roast the nuts till crunchy and set aside.
3Add chopped figs in the same pan and sprinkle 3 tbsp. Cook till they turn soft.
4. Add dates, 2 tbsp. raisins, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon powder and 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder. Mix and cook till the mixture become sticky and thick.
5. Add some ghee if the mixture is sticking to the pan.
6. Add nuts and stir well. Cook till the mixture looks firm.
7. Add it to a greased plate and roll with a rolling pin.
8. Cool it and cut into squares.
04/6Dates Laddoo
1. Wash and chop 1 cup dates roughly. Grind to a coarse paste. Set aside.
2. Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in a pan and roast 1/2 cup nuts.
3. Once golden, add 1 tbsp. poppy seeds and 1 tbsp. desiccated coconut.
4. Roast for a minute and add the dates paste.
5. Mix well till it becomes a whole mass. Remove and cool down.
6. Grease hands with ghee and make balls.
05/6Chana Dal Barfi
1. In a pan, combine 1 cup soaked, drained chana dal with 2 cups of almond milk and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pan and cook until the lentils are tender. Turn off the heat, let the mixture cool a little, and then blend into a coarse paste.
2. Heat 1/4 cup ghee in a pan. Add the blended chana dal paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste is quite dry.
3. Add 1/4 cup grated coconut, 1 cup of almond milk, 1/2 cashew cream (cashews soaked in water and blended into a smooth cream), 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, and 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until the mixture is again dry and starts to turn slightly opaque. Add 3/4 cup honey, mix well and turn off the heat.
4. Grease a dish and pour the mixture in it. Using a spatula, spread the mixture into an even, smooth layer.
5. Let it cool thoroughly and cut it into even squares.
06/6Ragi Laddoo
1. In a heavy bottom pan add 2 tbsp. ghee. Add 3/4 cup ragi flour and dry roast for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool completely.
2. In a food processor, add 3/4 cup almonds. Process it finely.
3. Add in 3/4 cup dates, 1 cup dried figs and dried apricots. Process it until it forms a crumbly texture.
4. Now add the ragi flour, 1 tbsp. ghee and combine everything.
5. Grease your palms and form laddoos.
