Festival of lights, love, abundance and prosperity is around the corner. This calls for some delicious yet healthy sweets to blend with the festive air, isn’t it?
Needless to say, there’s a great significance of sweets in all Indian festivals, and no Indian festival is complete without an exchange of sweets, the most common of the lot being ladoos. In most of the festivals, boondi or motichoor ladoo fills most of the feast table’s space, this year why not try out something unique yet healthy?
So, here’s a healthy yet super flavourful recipe that will make your Diwali a sweet one. Say hello to gulab ladoo. It is great for diabetics as it is not a sugar-based recipe.
Consult our team of expert dieticians to get personalized diet plans as per your needs.
Here’s what you’ll need to make gulab ladoo (8-10 pieces):
-2 cups or 11 deseeded dates
-10 Figs or Anjeer
-1 cup Warm Water
-1 cup roughly chopped pistachios
-¼ cup edible rose petals
-1 tbsp poppy seeds or khus khus
-3 tbsp ghee + more to grease parchment paper
How to prepare:
1. Go for already deseeded dates to minimize the labor. If it is not available, you can deseed the seeded ones and keep them aside.
2. Roughly chop the pistachios and keep them aside.
3. For about 30 minutes soak dates and figs in a bowl of warm water.
4. Post soaking, both dates and figs would turn really soft in texture.
5. Grind them well until a state of smooth paste is obtained. Mindfully, add as much little water as possible.
6. Now, heat a kadhai and add 1 tbsp ghee to it. Add dates and figs, keep stirring on a medium flame until the mixture tightens up a bit. Now collect them in the center of the kadhai.
7. Add the remaining 2tbsp ghee to the mixture and stir them occasionally to avoid burning of the mixture at the bottom.
8. In about 10 minutes’ time, you would notice that the mixture is getting thick which calls for the addition of edible rose petals, khas-khas and chopped pistachios.
9. Keep stirring the mixture until all the ingredients are incorporated well. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool completely.
10. In the meantime, grease a baking paper sheet and keep it aside.
11. Once the mixture turns to room temperature, place it on the baking sheet, apply some ghee on your hands and work the mixture by slow kneading.
12. Shape the mixture into balls, roll them over edible rose petals, pat them once again and keep aside on a plate.
Your gulab ladoo is ready! Refrigerate them until you feast. Interestingly, they remain fresh for a long time and have a high shelf life. You can store them to savor the flavors even when the festive season is over.
Nutrition Facts:
– Energy: 307 cal
– Carbohydrates: 38.1g
– Protein: 8g
– Fat: 13.6g
– Fiber: 5.6g
Benefits of Gulab Ladoo recipe:
– Dates or Khajoor: Dates are an excellent source of natural aspirin. They ease digestion problems and have laxative effects which help to prevent constipation by increasing bowel movements. They are high in several types of antioxidants which may help in the prevention of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease[1].
– Figs or Anjeer: They possess laxative, anti-ulcer, antibacterial and antiparasitic powers. Figs are high in natural sugar, minerals and soluble fiber. A very potent source of antioxidants, anjeer or figs are rich in vitamins A and K[2].
– Pistachios: They are loaded with fibers, minerals and unsaturated fats which can help keep your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check.
– Dried Rose Petals: Natural plants like rose have several medicinal properties and they have been in use for the prevention of many ailments since time immemorial. They are antitumor and antianalgesic by nature. Also, they are very high in antioxidants and phytonutrients. Consumption of phytonutrient-rich foods helps in flushing out the toxins from your body and also enhances the immune system[4].
– Poppy Seeds: Poppy seeds are an excellent source of fiber, plant fats and manganese. Their rich fiber content may improve heart health and reduce constipation. They are also used for boosting fertility.
– Ghee: Ghee is loaded with vitamins A, D, E and K. It is also rich in dietary fats. It is a potent food for boosting your immune system. Adding ghee to your meals may help in keeping you mentally, physically and emotionally fit. Other than this, ghee also helps in washing out the impurities from your body[3].
This Diwali, be guilt-free, grab your healthy yet tasty ladoo and savor the flavors of rose and other nutrient-packed ingredients. While you enjoy your feast, let all your fears take a back seat. Happy Diwali!
(The article is reviewed by Dr. Swati Mishra, Medical Editor)
Recommended Reads:
12 Effective Tips To Help Diabetics Enjoy A Healthy Diwali!
Simple Tips To Keep Your Heart Healthy This Diwali!
References:
1. Rahmani, A. H., Aly, S. M., Ali, H., Babiker, A. Y., Srikar, S., & Khan, A. A. (2014). Therapeutic effects of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) in the prevention of diseases via modulation of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumour activity. International journal of clinical and experimental medicine, 7(3), 483–491.
2. Hemmatzadeh F, Fatemi A, Amini F. Therapeutic Effects of Fig Tree Latex on Bovine Papillomatosis. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B. 2003;50(10):473-476.
3. Sharma, H., Zhang, X., & Dwivedi, C. (2010). The effect of ghee (clarified butter) on serum lipid levels and microsomal lipid peroxidation. Ayu, 31(2), 134–140.
4. Gupta C, Prakash D. Phytonutrients as therapeutic agents. J Complement Integr Med. 2014 Sep;11(3):151-69