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Diwali is just around the corner, and what could be a better time for homemade Indian sweets? But to enjoy the festivities, you should not end up spoiling your health. So, this Diwali, why not cook up some healthy dry fruits sweet recipes at home?
Health Shots reached out to dietitian and nutritionist Avni Kaul, to get to know about 3 healthy dry fruits sweet recipes. She vouches that these recipes are equal parts healthy and tasty!
The dry fruits barfi is a delicious sweet made of figs, dates, pistachios, almonds, cashew nuts and walnuts. The recipe is quite simple to make and packs in the multiple benefits of anjeer and other dry fruits and nuts.
Ingredients
1 cup of dates (seedless)
1 cup of dried figs
1/4th cup of pistachios
1/4th cup cashew nuts
1/4 cup Whole almonds
1/4th cup of walnuts
1 tbsp of milk
1 tbsp of ghee
Preparation
1. To start making the dry fruit barfi, you first need all your nuts and dry fruits to be finely chopped.
2. Now roast the pistachios, cashew nuts, almonds, and walnuts using ghee until turn lightly golden and release a roasted aroma. Keep aside the roasted nuts.
3. Layer a square pan using aluminum foil, and keep it aside.
4. Mix the finely chopped dates and figs with 1 tbsp of milk until smooth.
5. Now, sauté the mixed paste in a non-stick wok for about 5 minutes till it alters its colour to golden brown and is properly cooked.
6. Keep stirring every two minutes until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan.
7. Add the roasted dry fruits and mix them well into the date fig mixture.
8. Pour and then layer this dry fruit barfi mixture in the pan and smoothen it well.
9. Let it rest until the mixture is cooled fully and firmed a little.
10. Cut the dry fruit Barfi into equal shapes preferably square ones, and store using an air-tight container. Serve it during snacks or other times!
Diwali feels incomplete without Kaju Katli. They are thin and smooth, and the slices of cashew goodness just melts inside the mouth! Besides, did you know that cashews have no cholesterol, and they are instead packed with protein, healthy fats and antioxidants?
Ingredients
1 cup of cashews
Half cup jaggery powder (in place of sugar)
5 tbsp water
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp chopped rose petals
Preparation
1. Grind the cashews until they turn into powdered form.
2. Use a low flame to heat jaggery powder and water in a non-stick Kadai.
3. In the meantime, grease a plate and keep the butter paper ready.
4. When the jaggery powder has dissolved in the water, add the cashew powder. There is no consistency in the jaggery syrup needed. Simply let it dissolve in the water and then move ahead with the next step.
5. Mix and continue stirring the cashew mixture non-stop using a low flame.
6. The cashew mixture would begin to thicken.
7. Cook the kaju mixture for nearly 7-9 minutes till the complete dough begins to come together.
8. Remove the complete lump of the Kaju dough from the pan and keep it on your work surface or in a bowl or plate.
9. Add the rose petals and coconut oil to the cashew mixture.
10. When the heat in the dough cools down a bit and it can be handled properly, then knead the cashew mixture lightly.
11. Flatten the dough, and keep it on a piece of butter paper or a greased plate.
12. Put butter paper on top and then with a rolling pin, roll gently the dough from all sides until you reach a thickness of 3-5 mm in the dough.
13. Take off the butter paper and allow the rolled dough cool.
14. When fully cooled, use a sharp knife to cut that cashew dough in making square or diamond shapes.
15. Gently remove the Kaju barfi using a butter knife.
Serve the Kaju katli straight away or keep using an airtight container!
This healthy Diwali recipe is nutritious and tasty and is made using dry fruits without the use of any sugar or fat-based oil and ghee! This recipe is laced with the benefits of jaggery!
Ingredients
1 cup of chopped dates
3 tbsp of almonds
2 tbsp of raisins
2 tbsp cashews
8 dried figs
1 tbsp of desiccated coconut
2 green elaichis
Preparation
1. Firstly, start to roast the almonds using a pan until they get brown.
2. Continue stirring the almonds at intervals. You can lightly roast the almonds. Keep that aside.
3. Roughly chop dates and figs.
4. You will be requiring 1 cup of chopped dates, so measure the quantity and set it aside.
5. First, gently crush the cardamom pods using a mortar pestle. Then take out the peels and crush the seeds coarsely. Keep it aside.
6. In a grinder, blender or mixer-grinder, mix the chopped dates, figs, cashews, raisins, almonds, desiccated coconut, and the coarsely powdered elaichi powder.
7. Mix the roasted almonds.
8. Grind to a coarse mixture and spread over a tray or plate, or take the mixture in a bowl.
9. Make small-sized balls from your hands, and your dry fruits laddoos are ready.
10. You can serve them fresh or can also store them in the refrigerator.
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