Celebrate Holi With These Delicious Special Foods

As summer begins, everyone in India awaits the happening and colorful festival of Holi! A festival that is not only about playing with colors but also about the delicious snacks and sweets! But what if this year you treat yourselves to some healthier versions of mouth-watering food dishes? Sounds wonderful, right?

9 Holi dishes with healthy recipes:

1. Baked Gujiya:

This traditional sweet, which is most popular in Northern India, is made of khoya. It is crispy and deep-fried. To give it a healthier angle, whole wheat and semolina (suji) dough can be stuffed with almonds and raisins and baked till they become golden. Baking helps reduce the intake of calories, which would double if it was prepared by frying in clarified butter (ghee). It can also be served with pista toppings.

2. Low-Calorie Thandai:

If it’s Holi, you must enjoy it with a thandai. A Holi thandai helps the body get the goodness of dry fruits and nuts to battle the summer. A low-calorie thandai can be made from toned or soya milk along with powdered jaggery (gud). This can be mixed with crushed or powdered almonds. It tastes best when served chilled.

3. Oil-Free Pakora Chat:

Mix your favorite vegetables in the thick besan batter and make small balls from it. Steam it to reduce the stickiness and put it in the oven at a high temperature for a short time till it is golden brown. Top these wonderful pakoras with powdered spices, chilled yogurt, and traditional green and sweet chutneys.

4. The Ladoo Duos:

This Holi, treat everyone with a nutritious combo. One ladoo is made from roasted yellow chickpeas at its base, and the other with nuts. Yellow chickpeas are a great source of protein and require lesser ghee for preparation. The nut-based ladoo can be made of muskmelon, pumpkin and watermelon seeds, dried cranberries and dates. The stickiness created by heating the cranberries and dates helps bind the ladoo. Thus, avoid the use of clarified butter altogether.

5. Ragi Malpua:

This is a traditional Indian sweet that looks like a pancake, is fried in clarified butter (ghee), and dipped in sugar syrup. Popularly prepared during Holi and Diwali, the best way to cut out on all those calories is to simply replace the base with ragi flour, oats, and whole wheat. If you miss the sweetness, add a bit of honey or melted jaggery (gud).

6. Puran Poli:

Puran poli is a Maharashtrian dish consisting of a sweet flatbread filled with a generous amount of chana dal, jaggery as a substitute for sugar, and ghee. It is flavored with nutmeg powder, cardamom powder and fennel powder, which enhances its taste. In Gujarat, the puran polis are made of pigeon peas (toor dal). Knead the dough, take small to medium-sized balls, add the puran mixture and cook the polis on a girdle. Serve with some ghee.

7. Sugar-Free Kaju Katli:

This version of the popular kaju katli is mildly sweet because of milk sugar. Powder the cashew nuts finely. Add milk powder, milk and one tablespoon of rose water. Mix well until a sticky paste is formed, and then microwave for a minute and a half. The paste will fluff up. Repeat the procedure 4-5 times till the paste forms a ball. Add rose petals that impart a sweet fragrance to it. Cover the cashew paste with parchment paper, refrigerate and cut into diamond shapes.  

8. Lauki Ka Halwa:

Lauki Ka halwa is an interesting spin to the regular halwa you have. Sauté your favorite dry fruits (cashew, almonds, raisins) till they are golden brown. Sauté grated bottle gourd in ghee and then add milk till it thickens. Add sugar and khoya in the mixture. Add the roasted nuts, mix well and serve hot. Bottle gourd is a wise choice as it is high in dietary fiber, making it a Holi delight.

9. Dahi Vada:

This popular street snack of North India is made with urad and moong dal, which is loaded with proteins, minerals and vital vitamins. Grind it in a food processor and whisk it till it becomes fluffy. Make a batter and shape them into small vadas. Heat a pan on medium-low heat, add a few drops of oil in each section and add 1-2 tablespoons of the batter. Cover the pan with a lid and cook them until they are golden brown. Prepare this dish with dahi, tamarind chutney, add chaat masala and garnish with pomegranate and sev.

Enjoy this colorful festival of Holi with your family and friends with healthier and guilt-free delights!

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