Diwali 2021: Whip up these 5 healthy desserts and add to the festive cheer

Celebrations of the vibrant and joyous festival of Diwali are incomplete without mouth-watering desserts! Now how can one avoid something sweet? But sometimes, one goes overboard with the sweet quotient, which should be kept in control. To avoid that, you can go for diet-friendly and healthy Diwali sweets that will let you enjoy sweets without any guilt. So how about homemade healthy dessert recipes?

Celebrate a more health-conscious festival of lights with these simple recipes of delicious desserts from Priya Palan, dietitian, Zen Multispeciality Hospital. 

Here is a list of five healthy desserts that you can prepare at home and enjoy without any guilt:

1. Nut Bombs

Nuts are the chota patakha of nutrients which can be enjoyed by all age groups on all occasions. They are antioxidant powerhouses that are high in fat, fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and selenium. Dates are high in fiber, polyphenols, and essential nutrients such as B6, iron, and potassium, rich in natural sugar are a healthy substitute to refined sugar. Eat them in moderation to make a healthy addition to the diet. 

Ingredients

Chopped dates, almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, figs, pistachios, raisins

Cardamom powder

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Ghee

Desiccated coconut (optional for coating)

Recipe

1. Grind the dates. Heat the ghee in a pan on low flame, add in the chopped dry fruits and sauté for 4-5 minutes.
2. Add the coarsely blended dates to the above mix and give it a nice stir.
3. Add in the cardamom powder and mix it well.
4. Cool the mixture well. Roll it to balls.

2. Paneer Rolls

A low carbohydrate, this high protein dessert is made with plant sweetener that makes it ideal for a diabetic. Paneer is a good choice of complete protein food. For vegetarians, it is a source of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Artificial sweeteners can be replaced with cane sugar or brown sugar for children.

Ingredients

Paneer, cardamom powder,  sweetener (stevia, cane sugar, brown sugar), and orange juice

Recipe

1. Knead the crumbled paneer, until smooth.
2. Stir it continuously on a non-stick pan for 5 minutes. Switch of the flame.
3. Add sweetener and cardamom powder. 
4. Cool, add orange juice and make rolls. 

3. Fruit Yoghurt.

A high fiber, good protein dessert with a pinch of goodness from the tiny seeds. A sprinkle of seeds adds nutrition to the dish as they are sources of good fat, antioxidants, minerals, and fiber. Fruits add natural sugars and are good sources of micronutrients, fiber that improves gut health. 

Ingredients

Yoghurt, apple, berries, kiwi, banana, nuts, and flax seeds

Recipe

1. Blend banana with yoghurt.
2. Cut fruits into small cubes.
3. Sandwich the mixture of chopped fruits in between the blended banana.
4. Sprinkle grounded flax seeds and nuts powder.
5. Refrigerate and serve chill.

4. Makhana laddoos

Healthy desserts are made with makhana which are good sources of protein, fiber antioxidants along with micronutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Dates, sesame seeds, and nuts add the natural sweetness and enhance the micronutrient density of the dish.

Ingredients

Makhana, dates, mixed nuts, raisins, and cardamom powder.

Recipe

1. Dry roast makhanas and grind them to a fine powder.
2. Blend the dates and add makhana and nuts powder.
3. Mix it well. Roll shapes of ladoos and garnish them with sesame seeds.

5. Banana Badam Laddoo

Chef Tarun Sibal shares a delectable Banana Badam Ladoo recipe with HealthShots that is not only appealing to the eyes, but to the palate as well. 

Ingredients

1 cup frozen banana

1/2 cup walnuts (chopped or halved)

3/4 to 1 cup almond flour

1/4 cup almond butter

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

A pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/5 cup honey (or maple syrup if vegan)

Almond flakes for coating

Recipe

1. Lightly grind up your banana in a food processor. Be sure not to over-process.
2. Transfer into a mixing bowl. Add your almond flour, cinnamon/nutmeg, and nut butter. Stir ingredients all together.
3. Add in your honey a little at a time. Then mix with a spoon or hand. If the batter is too runny, add more almond flour.
4. Add vanilla then mix again well with your hands.
5. Place the batter in the fridge for 30 minutes or freezer for 10 minutes so it can harden a little bit.
6. Once the batter has set, roll into 1-1.5-inch balls and place on a cookie tray or plastic ware with parchment paper underneath.
7. Let them freeze for 20-30 minutes. Dust almond flakes. Keep in the fridge or freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Have a good time with these easy, healthy desserts, and wish you Happy, Sweet and Healthy Diwali to all of you from HealthShots.