There are three key components of Indian festivals: grandeur, enjoyment, and, most importantly, food. The festival of Dussehra is no exception. Arriving right after Navratri and Durga Puja, Dussehra is the festival rejoicing the victory of good over evil. And on such an occasion, how can one not eat? But that does not mean you will not take care of what you eat. Health comes with good food. That’s why we bring five easy, healthy and delicious recipes to cook and serve this Dussehra.
Dates Sesame Laddu: You would only need three ingredients to make this healthy sugar free and fat free sweet: dates, sesame seeds and dry grated coconut.
How to Make It?
- Make sure the dates are soft so that it is easy to cut and mix to make the laddus. If they are kept in the fridge, take them out a night before you start to make the laddus.
- Roast the sesame seeds in a wok for 1-2 minutes in medium flame. Keep it in a container to cool down.
- Turn the flame off. In the already hot wok, pour the grated coconut and stir.
- Grind the sesame seeds in a mixer for not more than 5 seconds.
- Mix the chopped dates and coconut shreds (keeping aside some of it) with the sesame seeds so that it can be bound tightly.
- After blending all the ingredients, take some of the mixture in your hands and roll it into a laddu.
- Now, roll the laddu over the coconut shreds that were previously saved.
- And your dates sesame laddu is ready.
Nutritious Value
Experience the sweet and crunchy taste of dates sesame laddu this Dussehra and also gain the nutrition of calcium, fiber, protein, and potassium.
Apple Rabdi: Yes, this unique rabdi consists of apples and is very healthy because it also contains dry fruits. The things you would need to make this quick sweet dessert are milk, jaggery, sliced almonds, pistas, saffron and cardamom powder.
How to Make It?
- Bring the milk to boil on medium flame.
- Take 2-3 spoons of the boiled milk in a container and soak 4-5 strands of saffron in it for 10 minutes.
- Peel and grate the apples.
- Add jaggery or palm sugar to the milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add the grated apples to the milk and simmer for 5 minutes.
- After the mixture turns tender, add saffron milk, chopped almonds and pistachios, and cardamom powder.
- Blend all the ingredients and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Serve it hot or cold.
Nutritional Value
Get a healthy dose of Vitamin A, B, D and E along with potassium and magnesium as you savor this delicacy of apple rabdi.
Kacha Kela Aloo Tikki: If you want to gorge on something sweet and spicy, make Kacha Kela Aloo Tikki. All you need is plantain, sweet potato, roasted peanuts, pomegranate seeds, green chillis, minced coriander leaves, and raisins.
How to Make It?
• Boil the plantain and sweet potato for up to 2 whistles.
• Peel them and mash them together.
• Add rock salt, pomegranate seeds powder, roasted cumin powder, chopped green chilies, coriander leaves, and peanuts to the mash of sweet potato and plantain.
• Blend all these ingredients to make a fine and smooth dough.
• Take some of the dough in your hands and roll and flatten it. Put 3-4 raisins in the middle.
• Roll this to a ball again and flatten it to make a tikki.
• Use rice bran oil or canola oil to cook the tikkis for 4-5 minutes in medium flame.
• Your Kacha Kela Aloo Tikki will be ready when both the sides of the tikki have turned golden brown.
Nutritional Value
Have this delicious snack over a good chat with your loved ones and let Vitamin A and C, fiber, potassium, magnesium and iron seep into your body. Canola oil is the healthiest cooking oil with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. So, you don’t even have to worry that it is fried.
Ajwain Roti
Instead of having Ajwain Paranthas, this Dussehra bake nutritious and flavorful Ajwain Rotis. Have it with your favorite vegetables for a sumptuous lunch or dinner.
How to Make It?
• Mix the whole wheat flour and ajwain seeds with 2-3 tablespoons of canola oil and a pinch of salt.
• Add water and knead it into a soft, smooth dough.
• Cover the dough for 15 minutes.
• Roll it into a chapatti.
• Roast it in a non-stick griddle or tava till golden brown.
• Serve hot with curd or raita.
Nutritional Value
Have Ajwain Roti for lunch or dinner to absorb the fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, smoothen digestion and gain a strong immune system.
Chana Dal
What can go better with roti than a healthy and yummy dal? To make chana dal you would need onion, tomato, garlic, green chili, asafoetida or hing, bay leaf, cumin seeds, dry red chili, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander seeds powder, and coriander leaves.
How to Make It?
• Soak the chana dal in water for about 30 minutes.
• Add one-fourth spoon of turmeric and pressure cook it for 4 whistles.
• Mash the pressure cooked dal lightly.
• Chop onions, tomato, coriander leaves, and green chili.
• Heat rice bran oil or canola oil in a wok.
• Add cumin seeds, bay leaf, dry red chili and garlic, and stir-fry.
• After the garlic turns golden brown, add chopped onion and green chilis and stir-fry again.
• As the onion softens, add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and chopped tomato and toss it well.
• Cover the wok till the tomato gets mashed with the remaining mix.
• Pour the mashed dal, add some salt and mix well.
• Pour 2 cups of water and bring it to boil.
• Add some garam masala and stir.
• Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Follow the recipe and prepare chana dal in medium to low flame.
Nutritional Value
Easily digestible, include Chana Dal in your Dussehra diet to strengthen your muscles and bones with zinc, folate, calcium, protein, and fiber.
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