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Healthy twists to traditional Holi recipes

Editorial Team — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:54:46 +0000

Colourful Holi celebrations are on the cards and so are yummy treats to look forward to. Just like any other festival, Holi too has its share of special delicacies that are whipped up in many Indian homes and enjoyed by one and all. But this Holi, let’s get healthy and make others healthy too. No, we are not asking you to stop eating these treats, just make these healthier versions of your favourite Holi recipes.

Shahi poli

Puran poli, a traditional sweet flatbread gets a healthy makeover in the form of shahi poli. This version is made using minimum ghee with a little low-fat mawa for an added royal taste. This recipe contains only 2.1 gm of fat and 115 calories is a much healthier option to the traditional puranpoli. Read the recipe here.

Oats chaat

Who doesn’t love chaat, just thinking about it makes one drool! While a traditional chaat consists of too many calories, try oats chaat which is not only rich in fibre content but is also relatively low on calories. Fret not, it is still as yummy as a chaat should be and you won’t have to regret later about eating it. Read the recipe here.

Orange kheer

This is surely a healthy and unusual twist to your regular kheer of milk and rice. The rice goes out and orange takes its place to make it healthy. The cardamom and saffron give it the rich flavour synonymous with kheer. Read the recipe here.

Low-cal thandai

Holi is surely incomplete without its staple thandai. A glass full of that lip-smacking delicacy down your throat is one of the highlights of every Holi celebration. This year, try a low-cal version of your favourite Holi drink and enjoy the festivities without any worry of putting on extra pounds. Read the recipe here.

We hope these healthy recipes will make your Holi celebrations more enjoyable and healthy. Here’s wishing you all a very happy and safe Holi.

Healthy Holi recipe: Oats Chaat

India.com Health — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:51:31 +0000

Oats chaat – a chaat that is so healthy yet unbelievably delicious! When hunger pangs strike, this is quick to assemble – oats, vegetables, curd and chana and tangy chutneys. Good health and great taste! Great for serving your guests this Holi.

Preparation Time: 25 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

For The Meetha Chutney (makes Approx. 2 1/2 Cups)
1 cup deseeded dates (khajur)
1/2 tbsp deseeded tamarind (imli)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder
1/2 tsp black salt (sanchal)
salt to taste

Other Ingredients
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1 cup beaten low-fat curds (dahi)
1 tbsp meetha chutney , recipe above
1/4 cup cooked kala chana (brown chick peas)
2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder
2 tsp black salt (sanchal)
2 tsp chaat masala

For The Garnish
1/2 cup finely chopped coriander (dhania)
3 tbsp fresh pomegranate (anar)

Method
For the meetha chutney

Wash the dates and tamarind and put them in a pressure cooker on a high flame for 2 whistles.
Allow the steam to escape and keep aside to cool.
Blend in a mixer to a smooth paste using 2 tbsp water.
Strain the mixture through a sieve.
Add lemon juice, chilli powder, cumin seed powder, black salt and mix well. Keep aside.

How to proceed

Dry roast the oats in a non-stick pan on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep aside to cool.
Combine all the ingredients, including the oats, in a large bowl and mix well.
Serve immediately garnished with coriander and pomegranate.

Handy tip:

The meetha chutney can stay fresh for 2 months when stored in the deep-freezer.

Healthy Holi recipe: Orange kheer

India.com Health — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:48:59 +0000

Orange segments added to milk flavoured with cardamom and saffron to form a delicious kheer. This orange kheer recipe is a healthy version as we have substituted rice with orange and sugar with sugar substitute to make it diabetic friendly.

Preparation Time: 20 mins

Cooking Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

1 ltr milk
2 tbsp cornflour dissolved in 2 tbsp warm milk
1/2 tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder
a pinch of saffron (kesar) strands dissolved in 1/2 tsp warm milk
4 tsp sugar substitute
1 cup small orange segments

Method

Boil the milk in a broad non stick pan for 15 to 20 minutes,while stirring continuously and scraping the sides of the pan.
Add the cornflour-milk mixture and cook on a medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes,while stirring continuously.
Add the cardamom powder and the saffron-milk mixture,mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute.
Remove from the flame and allow it to cool completely.
Once cooled,add the sugar substitute and the orange segments and mix well.
Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Here is the original recipe source: Orange Kheer by Tarla Dalal

Low calorie thandai recipe

Dr Reshma Nayak — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:10:23 +0000

Makes 8 glasses

Preparation time: 45 minutes

1 cup low-fat milk
1 1/2 liter water
1 1/2 cups sugar substitute
1 tbsp. almonds (badam)
1 tbsp. melon seeds (kalonji)
2 tsp. poppy seeds (khus-khus)
1 tsp. whole peppercorns (sabut kali-mirch)
2 tsp. aniseed (saunf)
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder (elaichi)
1 tbsp gulkand (optional)

Instructions:

Wash and clean all dry ingredients except sugar and cardamom.
Soak sugar in half a litre of the water.
Soak the remaining ingredients in two cups of water. Keep aside.
Keep all soaked ingredients for a minimum of two hours.
Grind all soaked ingredients except sugar to a fine paste. It works best if you use a stone grinder. Add the remaining water to the paste.
Strain the mixture through a muslin cloth or a very fine strainer.
Now add milk, sugar-water and rosewater to the extracted liquid.
If using cardamom powder mix it in with the milk.
Mix well and serve chilled.