6 Yummy and Healthy Diwali Recipes for a Guilt-Free Diwali

6 Yummy and Healthy Diwali Recipes for a Guilt-Free Diwali

 

One of the best things about celebrating Diwali is the sweets! It has been the Indian tradition to celebrate Diwali by sharing all sorts of sweets, be it store bought or homemade. It is important that we find ways to enjoy Diwali sweets that are healthy and pose no risk. The only way that can be achieved is through homemade sweets. Here are 6 yummy and healthy Diwali recipes for a guilt-free Diwali.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Almond Halwa

No festival is ever complete without some hot and delicious halwa. Here are the ingredients and recipe to make delicious Almond Halwa:

Ingredients:

• Quarter cup of Almonds
• 2 teaspoons of Sugar
• A pinch of Saffron
• Quarter teaspoon of Cardamom powder
• 1 cup of Milk
• 1 teaspoon of ghee

Recipe:

• Soak the almonds in water
• Blend the soaked almonds with sugar, cardamoms, saffron and milk until a fine paste is obtained
• Heat a pan and add ghee to the pan
• Add the blended almond paste onto the pan and cook the mixture till it thickens.
• Once the desired consistency has been attained, turn the heat off.
• Garnish with nuts

1. Baked Chakli

While not exactly a sweet, the Chakli or Murukku is a dish prepared during Diwali in Gujarat and South India. Here are the ingredients and recipe for the Baked Chakli:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rice flour
• Half cup of low-fat curd
• 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon of chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon of oil
• A pinch of asafoetida
• Salt to taste

Recipe:

• Take a large bowl and mix all the ingredients in the bowl to make a semi-soft dough.
• Line a baking tray with baking paper and slightly grease the baking paper with a teaspoon of oil.
• Add the dough to a chakli press and press out chaklis on the greased baking paper.
• Next, bake the chaklis in a preheated oven at 180°c for about 25 minutes or till it becomes golden brown.
• Finally let the chaklis cool and munch on with a cup of tea.

 

 

 

1. Gluten-free halwa

Another healthy Diwali-special halwa is the gluten-free halwa. Here are the ingredients and recipe to make gluten-free halwa:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of gluten-free atta
• 1 teaspoon of ghee
• 1 mashed banana
• Quarter cup of mixed dry fruits and nuts
• 1 cup of milk

Recipe:

• Heat the tawa, add ghee and roast the gluten-free atta on a low flame
• In another pan put 1 small cup of water and mashed banana, then stir until you get a good consistency
• After the atta is well roasted, add the banana-water mixture and stir well
• Add milk and stir again until the desired consistency is obtained
• Then finally add the mixed dry fruits and nuts and stir again.

1. Kaju Katli

A healthy version of Kaju Katli is made using honey rather than sugar; honey being a natural sweetener. Here are the ingredients and recipe for making healthy Kaju Katli:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cashew nuts
• 1 cup of honey
• water

Recipe:

• First dry roast the cashew nuts in a frying pan for 5 minutes while stirring continuously to stop it from burning.
• Next, once you can see a slight change in the colour of cashew nuts, turn off the heat and transfer the roasted cashews to a plate.
• Allow the roasted cashews to cool at room temperature.
• Next, grind the cooled cashew nuts to get a coarse powder.
• Heat a non-stick pan, add some water and then some honey to it.
• Heat the concoction till you see bubbles.
• Then add the roasted cashew powder to the concoction and stir continuously until a thick mixture is obtained.
• Next, place parchment paper in a large tray and dump the entire cashew mixture on it.
• Flatten the cashew mixture with a rolling pin.
• Place the mixture in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Once the flattened mixture becomes firm, place silver foil on it.
• Finally cut it in diamond shapes and your healthy kaju katlis are ready!

1. Poha Chivda

Another all time favourite Diwali snack is the Poha Chivda or Pori Mixture. It is relatively easy to prepare this snack. Here are the ingredients and recipe for Poha Chivda:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of thin poha
• 1 teaspoon of oil
• Half teaspoon of mustard seeds
• Finely chop one green chilli
• Curry leaves
• 2 teaspoons of chana dal
• 2 teaspoons of peanuts
• 1 teaspoon of dried coconut slices
• Half teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• A pinch of lemon juice
• Salt to taste

Recipe:

• Heat a pan on medium flame and roast the thin poha for 5 minutes while stirring continuously to prevent it from burning.
• Once the poha turns crispy, turn off the flame and transfer it onto a large plate.
• Heat some oil in the pan on medium flame and add the mustard seeds
• Next, add in the chopped green chillies and curry leaves, and sauté.
• Next add the dried coconut slices, chana dal, and peanuts, and mix the concoction well.
• Once the mixture turns crispy and light brown, add in the turmeric powder, sugar, salt, and lemon juice.
• Finally add the roasted poha, mix all the ingredients and let it cool.

1. Dry Fruit Ladoos

Are you looking for a really nutritious and easy to prepare snack that you can munch on Diwali? Then you seriously need to try the dry fruit ladoo. Here are the ingredients and recipe to make dry fruit ladoos:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of chopped dates
• A quarter cup of crushed almonds
• A quarter cup of crushed cashews
• A quarter cup of crushed pistachios
• A quarter cup of chopped figs
• A quarter cup of raisins
• Desiccated coconut
• Half teaspoon of cardamom powder
• 1 teaspoon of ghee

Recipe:

• Grind the dates in a blender and keep aside.
• Now mix the cashew nuts, almonds, figs, pistachios, and raisins.
• Heat ghee in a wok pan on low flame and add in the mixture of dry fruits and sauté the mixture in the ghee.
• Add the blended dates to the above mix and stir well.
• Add in the cardamom powder and continue to mix the concoction.
• Next, turn off the flame and let the mixture cool for 2 minutes.
• Finally roll them into ladoos.