Winter season is in its full swing leaving our hands and feet numb across the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the seasons where your diet decides how well you can brave the cold. However, eating a healthy diet throughout the year is advised, the winter season requires special attention. Eating nuts, jaggery and seeds has always been a winter staple. Therefore, we have 4 winter special jaggery delicacies for you.
Dr. Smita Naram, Ayurveda Expert, Co-Founder of Ayushakti, who has curated these recipes, says, “People love to cook new varieties of dishes and share them with their loved ones and families. The use of jaggery and sesame seeds during winter is high. Til or Sesame seeds have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and may have numerous health benefits. These health benefits include aiding digestion, reducing cholesterol, and controlling blood sugar levels, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.”
Here are 3 quick and easy recipes to try this year.
Quick til laddoo
Ingredients:
100 gms/17 - Seedless dates
200 gms/20 pieces - Almonds
15 gms/2 tsp - Sesame Seeds
2 pinch - Cardamom powder
1 tsp - Ghee
4 tsp jaggery
1 tsp - Rice Flour
Salt as per taste
Saffron (Optional)
Instructions:
Take around 100 gms / 17 pieces of seedless dates with 1 cup of water to make a smooth syrup. Grind it well and make a puree out of it.
Take a pan and heat it. Add 2 tsp ghee, 1 tsp rice flour, followed by 2 tsp sesame seeds and heat. Roast all these ingredients on a slow flame.
Add the dates puree with 1 tsp cardamom powder once all the ingredients are nicely cooked
Let it slowly cook for another 5 minutes altogether.
Now add the jaggery syrup.
Once there is aroma released, switch off the flame and put it on a plate.
Cool it down for half an hour or so until it holds its shape. Roll small round laddoos from it.
These laddoos can be stored in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days at room temperature and in a refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Sakkarai Pongal:
South India's harvest festival, known as Pongal has its own delicious dish. One of the most well-known recipes for Pongal is Sakkarai Pongal. The quick and easy preparation of sweet Pongal is made possible by the sweetness of jaggery.
Ingredients:
Wash and soak 1 cup of rice and
¼ cup moong dal separately.
1 litre milk
1 tablespoon ghee
¼ cashews
½ cup of dry fruits
½ cup of jaggery
Instructions:
Heat 1 litre of milk in a vessel. Add the rice and continue stirring until the milk starts to reduce.
After that, heat a pan and add moong dal, 1 tablespoon of ghee, 14 cups of cashews, and 12 cups of dry fruits. Saute until the dal turns golden.
Continue cooking while adding this mixture to the rice and milk mixture. Make syrup in a different pan by adding 12 cups of jaggery and some water.
Reduce the heat and add the jaggery syrup once the mixture has become slightly thicker.
Give it a good stir, reduce the heat, simmer for 4-5 minutes, and top with roasted nuts and fruits.
Gur ki gajak
This healthful North Indian delicacy is generally enjoyed in the winter. This easy-to-make dessert is cooked and enjoyed with friends and family while sitting around a bonfire.
Ingredients:
500 gm jaggery
6 tablespoons of ghee
4 cups of raw peanuts
6 tablespoons of fennel seeds
Instructions:
Heat the ghee in a nonstick pan over a medium flame to melt the jaggery (gur). Reduce the flame and add gur to it. It should melt and become golden. After that, add fennel seeds (saunf).
Add ghee to another pan and roast the peanuts in it. Mix the roasted peanuts into the gur mixture thoroughly.
Sprinkle some ghee on a foil sheet and place it on a flat surface. Now, spread the Gur mix out evenly on a glazed sheet.
Slice and serve once it cools. The gajak will get hard once it cools down. Serve this sweet gajak by breaking it into small pieces and enjoy!
