Recipes: Goodies for Ganeshotsav

Festivals call for feasts and as the city celebrates Ganeshotsav, the guide offers readers four quick recipes of healthy items that can be dished up at home

Sweet Potato Halwa

Ingredients
>> 4 medium sized sweet potatoes
>> 1 tbsp rice bran oil (optional)
>> ¼ to ½ cup of raw sugar
>> 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
>> 1 cup soya milk
>> 1 tbsp sliced almonds with skin
>> 1 tbsp sliced cashews
>> ½ tbsp sliced pistachios

Method
>> Peel, wash and cook the sweet potatoes till soft.
>> Mash and keep aside.
>> Heat the oil, if using, in a ceramic pan. If not, add the sweet potatoes and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
>> Now add the remaining ingredients, saving a few of the nuts for garnish, and mix well. Further, add ¾ cup of water.
>> Simmer on low flame for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring well.
>> Garnish with the remaining nuts and serve hot.

Time taken:  40 minutes

Cashew Barfi

Ingredients
>> 250 gm raw cashews with their skin
>> 150 gm raw sugar
>> 1 tsp cardamom powder
>> Few pistachio shavings for garnish

Method
>> Soak the cashewnuts overnight, and then blend to a fine paste. Avoid using water if possible. Add cardamom powder and keep aside.
>> Mix sugar in 1½ cups of water. Heat it, stirring continuously till you get a one string consistency.
>> Now, keeping the flame on low to medium, add the cashew blend into the cooked sugar and cook for about 10 minutes. Continue stirring constantly.
>> Once the mixture begins to turn into a ball, take it off the flame and spread flat onto a prepared thali.
>> Garnish with pistachio shavings, pressing them down a little so they stick to the barfi.
>> When cooled slightly, slice as required. Then let cool till firm to touch, before serving.

Time taken: 30 minutes

Gluten-free Coriander Wadis

Ingredients
>> 2 cups coriander leaves
>> 1 cup bajra flour
>> 2 tbsp brown rice flour
>> 2 tsp cumin powder
>> 5 to 7 garlic pods, chopped fine (optional)
>> 3 to 4 green chillies, chopped finely (use as per taste)
>> Salt to taste

Method:
>> Add all the ingredients except flour into a large bowl and mix with hands. Then add the flour and mix again. Roll into 1 inch thick and 5 inches long tubes.
>> Place in a steamer and steam for about 20 minutes till firm to the touch.
>> Cool on a wire rack. Then cut into half-inch thick roundels and cook in an air fryer or on a non stick griddle till crisp.
>> Serve hot with fresh onion chutney.

Time taken: 35 minutes

Recipes courtesy Anuradha Sawhney, author of The Vegan Kitchen: Bollywood Style!

Gluten-free Jowar halwa

Ingredients
>> 1 cup fine jowar (sorghum) dalia
>> 1 cup raw sugar
>> ¾ tsp cardamom seeds (crushed lightly)
>> 1 tbsp chopped almonds with skin
>> 1 tbsp black raisins
>> 2 tbsp rice bran oil (optional)

Method
>> Roast the jowar dalia in a hot vessel till roasted well enough. Keep aside.
>> Heat oil, if using, and add the roasted dalia, 1.5 cups of water and sugar.
>> Bringing to the boil, stir well, cover and let simmer for a few minutes.
>> Stirring constantly, add the remaining ingredients once it starts to thicken.
>> Serve hot.

Time taken: 20 minutes

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!