Sweet Diwalitreats!

Indulgeyour sweet tooth, but with a different, healthier form ofsugar

utensils,fireworks,earthenlampsand sweets.Festivitiesbeginwithprayersand arefollowedbythelightingoflampsor fireworks,andahugefeastconsistingofa largevarietyofsweetsandsavories.

BYGAURAVMASAND

Jgarnee Duvall

Therearemanynatural andhealthy alternativescowhitesugaravailableon themarker.They givethesamesweet flavouryecdonorposethesamehealth risksasartificials,veereners.Someofthe commonlyusednaturalsweetenersinclude ritualstypicallyein:endfora5-dayperiod, coconutsugar/palmsugar,scevia,erythrirol signifyingthevictoryofligbtoverdarkness. andJ,.·ylitol. AheadofDiwali,peoplecleanandrenovate tbeirhouses,andshopfornewclothes,

DhvaliisthebiggestHindu festiv . alandiscelebrated onthenewmoonnightof theHinducalendarmonth Karcik. Thefestivitiesand

Bengali Rasgulla

Rasgulla is a syrupy dessert immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent. They are cottage cheesedumplingssoaked in a light sugar syrup andserved cold. This traditional recipe can be made one or two days in advance and requires no oil.The syrup can be re-used for another batch if required.

The two most important things to make good quality Rasgulla are the softness of the cheese and the clarity of the sugar syrup.

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1 ½ litres full fat milk

2 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice

250 gm palm/coconut sugar

6-8 cups water

Metho

Boil the milk and keep aside for 5 minutes so that it cools a little.

Mix 2tbsp. of lemonjuice/vinegarwith ¼ cupwaterand slowly add to the milk as it startsto coagulate.Add morelemonjuice

Sugar free rnanqo eda

1n�edlen evaporated milk, erythritol, stevia and

1 large mango ghee to a bowl and mix well.

(or 1 ½ cup mango puree) Slowly addthe skimmed milk powder

½ cup lukewarm milk to the mixture andcombinewell with a

½ cup light evaporated milk whisk.

1 ¼ cup skimmed milk powder Heat a pan and add the mango puree.

2 tbsp. ghee Stir continuouslyfor 3-4 minutes on a

1/3 cup erythritol medium f ame.

2 tsp. stevia

Add the milk powder mixture to the

½ cup shredded coconut mango puree and mix well for 2-3

3-4 cardamom seeds/pods minutes.

(powdered)

Add shredded coconut to the mix, this

5-6 saffron strands will make the mixture thicken a bit.

5-6 pistachios chopped

Add the saffron milk and cardamom powder to the mix, stirring continuously

Method until a light dough forms and starts tothemilk until the cheese andthe water is clearly separated. Strain coagulated milk in a muslin cloth. Drain it in a bowl beneaththesieve.This will separatethe chena or cottage cheese. Pour a cup of cold water on the cheese to remove any bitter residue from the lemon. Add 4-5 cups of water to palm sugar and let it boil in a pressure cooker. Add 2 tbsp. milk to the syrup to remove any impurities in the palm sugar. Continue this process until a clear base with light orange colour is visible. Alternatively, you may add around ½ cup of milk to the sugar mixture and cook

Puree the mango pieces in a blender separating from the sides of the pan. for 2-3 minutes with a dash of water/ Turn off the heat, allow it to cool at milk if required. room temperature.

Keep the saffron strands with 2 tbsp Take some butter/ghee in your hands warm milk in a separate bowl. and mould the dough in small peda. Add rest of the warm milk, light Garnish with pistachios.

•

•

A

Urroll

• Dates (Khajur) are anatural source of

: energy and are power packedwith protein, dietary fibre, Vitamins 81, 82, 83,A and :C.Theyarefreefromcholesterolandhave

• high potassium and iron content.

: This traditional recipe can be made

: one or two days in advance. It

: requires no additional sugar and

• requires little cooking.

. : lneredlent

: 1 cupdates pitted

• ¼ cup almonds

• ¼ cup cashew nuts

: ¼ cupshreddedcoconut

: 1-2 cardamoms

• 2 tbsp. ghee or unsalted butter

: 1-2 tbsp. milk

: 3-4 pistachios (optional) until 1whistle in thepressurecooker, this will speed.up the purification process. Mash the cheese on a plate for 4-5 minutes until smooth.

Roll cheese into 10-12 small balls of the same size.

When the syrup is boiling, add the balls one by one and cook on medium fame. Reducethe fame and cook for 7-8 minutes after 1 whistle. Keep the cooker aside until the steam cools.

Transfer the contents to a serving bowl. Let it cool further in the refrigerator for a minimum of 5-6hours.

Meth1\.1

Heat a pan and dry roast almonds and cashew nuts for 3-4 minutes on a slow flame. Keep this aside. Coarsely chop along with cardamoms. Chop all dates in small pieces. Heat ghee in a pan.Add the dates and cook on a slow f ame for 3-4 minutes. Add milk and keep stirring until dates become soft start sticking together Add the roasted nuts along with shredded coconut.

Let it cook for a few minutes, mix well until it forms a slightly sticky mixture. Turn off the heat and let it cool.

Grease your palms with ghee, mould this mixture into a cylindrical shape by rolling in baking paper.

Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Cut the roll in small discs and serve on a plate

Garnish with dry pistachios if desired