Stay fit this Diwali without skipping the Mithai

What’s Diwali without loads of mithai – kaju katli, laddoos, gujiya, mohanthal, halwa, biscuits, cookies, and so much more. But these indulgences can wreck your digestion as well as your diet & healthy eating plans. Staying fit and healthy in the festive season with so many temptations wherever you look can be a challenge. But, no more. I am here to help you stay fit without breaking up your relationship with mithai. Now, that’s a deal you would be interested in, won’t you?

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Gulab ni Basundi! Among all the Gujarati sweets, there is one which is not just a sweet for me it’s an emotion and that is Basundi. It’s pure joy for me. It’s milk slow cooked with sugar and dryfruits till it’s thick and creamy. I added rose petals here to make it even more fragrant and delicious. And then served chilled! It has fairly simple ingredients. Milk and sugar mainly. Check out my stories to see the recipe in detail. This Basundi is made specially for #indiaslovefordesserts collab by @nishfas.kitchen. We 10 bloggers have come together to bring you 10 delicious Indian desserts. Hop on to these accounts to see the other desserts for today: •Besan ka meetah from Madhya Pradesh by Zainab @BismillahBros •Mysore Pak from Karnataka by Neha @hungrysoulfood •Payasam – from kerala by Ummhamza @_ummhamza •Milk Halwa aka Paaal kova from Tamil Nadu by Tharani @coo.kingistherapy Also hop on to these accounts to see their deserts posted on the 10th. Modak by @nishfas.kitchen Kalakand by @glamorous_doha Baked Roshogolla by @delishplating Vermicelli cups with rabdi by @foodfoodiefoodist Khubani ka meetha by @yusracookswell Also sending this floral delight to #floralfoodfest by @theeatingsuitcase @myhungryrambles @recipes.refashioned sponsored by @vvs_spices @thehandicraftian @blablafoodz @nutrionus and feature partners @yesindia @yesindiafoods Tagging @theflavourtrailbydivya @masalamojo @mygardenofrecipes to participate. #365daysofeating #basundi #gulabbasundi #milkdesserts #indiandessert #indianfood #dessert #feedfeed #feedfeeddesserts #f52grams #mumbaifoodie #nagpurfoodies #dallasfoodie #swissfoodie #indianfoodbloggers #rosebasundi #homemade #dessert #mithai #diwalimithai #dessertsofinstagram #desimithai2020 #indiansweets #indianfood @365daysofeating

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Here’s what you need to do then:

Stick to homemade sweets

Homemade sweets are healthier and promise to be adulteration-free. The quality of the ghee, sugar, khoya, jaggery, etc. used in homemade sweets is ‘mom-approved’ or ‘grandmother-approved’, and use the best seasonal ingredients that are good for the body. Indulge in sweets made using jaggery and honey instead of sugar, and you are on your way to healthy eating. Insist on making sweets using whole wheat flour instead of maida and you’re sorted!

Load your sweets with spices

Our Indian traditions have ensured that we can maintain our health throughout the year, taking into account the changing seasons and our body rhythms that keep up accordingly. This is why our traditional mithai use a lot of different spices and ingredients that are helpful and healthy. So, go on add some saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom to your mithai. Now, every bite you take, you are working towards being healthy.

Mind when you indulge

If healthy eating & staying fit is your goal, then avoid indulging in mithai post-meals. You should also avoid consuming mithai after sunset as much as possible. Our digestion progresses through the day in line with the Sun, it is the strongest in the morning and then begins weakening as the day passes. So, the best time to eat mithai is in the morning or as a mid-day snack. You can also eat it after a quick workout, say a walk or jog in the park or some pilates or skipping ropes, or whatever you prefer.

To keep it healthy, have a handful of nuts along with your mithai.

Steer clear of the trans-fats

Dalda or hydrogenated vegetable oil has been pretty infamous and rightly so. They are harmful for the body and contribute to harmful LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol to the body. Instead, insist on eating mithai made in shudh desi ghee – made from healthy cow or buffalo milk fat only. Ghee is super healthy for the body, especially for your heart. Ghee also helps keep your blood-sugar levels in control.

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My 💯th post on a sweet note! ✨🪔 Festival of Lights 🪔✨ calls for yet another sweet treat from my kitchen! 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙋𝙚𝙙𝙖𝙨 🍥 are delectable bite-sized portions of yumminess, apt for special occasions and festivals! These are creamy, semi-soft balls, scented with cardamom and saffron, and can be easily prepared with regular available ingredients. Mine are not traditional looking pedas, but no one’s complaining! 😜😆 Try this delicious Peda recipe and enjoy those special moments with your loved ones! Also swipe left ⬅️ for my recipe card for future reference. Milk Pedas 🍥 Recipe Ingredients : Milk Powder 1 cup Condensed Milk 1/2 cup Warm Milk 1 tbsp Ghee 3 tsps Cardamom Powder 1/2 tsp Saffron Strands few (reserve some for garnish) Method : ~Bring a non stick pan on low heat. Add ghee until it melts and coats the pan. ~Add milk powder and stir ~After two minutes add condensed milk and stir until the mixture thickens. ~Infuse few saffron strands in warm milk and add to your mixture. ~Keep stirring until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pan and is less sticky. ~Add cardamom powder. ~Allow the mixture to cool before it can be made into small portions. ~Take a small ball of mixture in your greased palm and flatten to give a desired shape. ~Garnish with saffron or/and cardamom powder. ~Enjoy 😋 . . . . . . . . . #homemade #sweets #dessert #mithai #diwali #diwalimithai #indianfestival #festivaloflights #peda #shubhdeepavali #tamarindtalesbyvartika #vegetarian #saffron #desifood #foodporn #foodgasm #foodies #foodphotography #goodoverevil #foodblogger #foodstagram #instafood #foodtalkindia #nomnomnom #eeeeeats #52grams #foodiesofinstagram #dinner #nomnom24x7 #yummy

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Drink more water

Water is a tasteless, colorless miracle drink. It is also a powerful appetite-suppressant. To make it more healthy, infuse it overnight with lemon, cucumber, berries, mint leaves, and/or any citrus fruit you like and then keep sipping it through the day. This will help you remove harmful toxins from your body and help you stay healthy & fit. To keep up with your unhealthy habits this festive season, drink even more water than you usually do.

Go back to your traditions

While cakes, cookies, and modern twists are all the rage in festive seasons now, there’s nothing like traditional Indian mithais. So, go talk to your dadis and nanis and aunts, and get together with them to recreate their age-old recipes. It is not only fun and makes for happy Instagram memories, but will also help you make & have healthy mithais.

Don’t be a couch potato

It can be as festive as you want it to be, but don’t bunk out on that morning jog. Continue being active through the day. Walk on your terrace or in the nearby park or wherever you feel comfortable for at least 30 minutes a day, jump ropes, and do some simple exercises at home. A lot of health and fitnesses coaches are sharing amazing tips and exercises on Instagram – Deepika Mehta, Malaika Arora, Yasmin Karachiwala, and many more. So, follow them and do what they say. Set reminders in your phone to get up and move around every hour.

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Besan Burfi/ Chickpea flour fudge How did Aaji (my maternal Grandma) get such flawless, flavorful, decadent homemade besan burfi? Her mantra was patience and love to be poured into the making of this basic 3 ingredient recipe. I remember my aaji say to us when we were growing up “Master this art, and you’re gold”. Now I make this quite often as it’s an absolute favorite of my kids. Sweets make everything better, especially when it is melt in your mouth, smooth, pretty, glistening and golden. 🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸 Check the highlights for the recipe with sugar and chocolate drizzle Here’s the recipe to recreate that golden goodness with jaggery. 1 cup ghee 3.5 cups chickpea flour/ besan 1.5 cups grated jaggery 1 teaspoon cardamom powder Few strands of saffron ( optional) Pinch of salt Garnishing Slivers of pistachio, almonds any nuts of choice, rose petals Melt the ghee in a wide pan, add the besan and roast till golden brown, making sure to stir continuously. You need a lot of patience as this is initially thick but as the besan starts turning golden brown and aromatic it will loosen up and the ghee will start to ooze out. Switch off the heat and set aside. Grease a plate with ghee for setting the burfi. Melt jaggery in 1/2 cup water, add saffron and cook till it’s a thread like consistency. Add cardamom and immediately pour the syrup in the besan and ghee mixture, stir vigorously and instantly spread on the greased plate, sprinkle with nuts and score with a sharp knife in desired shape. Let these cool completely before storing. 🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸 . . . . . . #besanburfi #diwali2020 #diwalifaral #diwalisweets #diwaliready #diwalisweets #indianfoodrecipes #easyrecipes #indiansnack #virtualdiwaliparty2020 #diwalimithai #dessertporn #festivetreats #tasteofindia #homemadefood #blissful #makeitfelicious #gatheramdfeast #festivefood #sweetlife #lafoodporn #houstonfoodies #teamharmony3 #recreategharwalidiwali

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Here’s a recipe for my favorite sooji ka halwa. This is my own recipe, that I use to make the halwa every time, so it is completely tried and tested.

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup desi ghee

1/2 cup sooji

Nuts of your choice (I use cashews, almonds, raisins, and some pistachios, roast them beforehand in desi ghee)

1/8 tsp cardamom powder (or more if you like)

Method:

  • In a pan, take the ghee and allow it melt and warm up.
  • Once the ghee is warm, add in the sooji and roast it till it turns pink & fragrant.
  • Then add in the water and milk to it. Sometimes, I skip the water, and use about double the quantity of milk. Doing this gives me a richer and creamier halwa. So, you can choose what you like.
  • Keep stirring to ensure the sooji doesn’t stick to the bottom and the liquids blend well. The sooji will absorb the liquid and the halwa will begin to thicken with time.
  • Once the liquids and sooji have blended well, add the sugar and keep stirring.
  • The sugar will dissolve and mix with the halwa.
  • If you feel the halwa is a little dry, add a little milk. If required, add a small quantity of ghee, if required.
  • Now, cook the halwa till the halwa begins leaving the pan.
  • Once cooked, mix in the roasted dry fruits and fold it in

Halwa is ready!

Do try this recipe and tell me how you like it. Some people tend to cook the milk, water, and sugar first, and then add sooji to it. Some people like to make a chashni and then add it to a mixture. You can decide how you would like to do it, or you can experiment and figure out which halwa you like best. I like the one I make with this recipe.

This Diwali, stay healthy, stay fit. Wishing everyone a very happy Diwali and a prosperous new year!

One Comment Add yours

  1. bhavipatel says:

    Reblogged this on blackbeautyandme.

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