Festivals are a time for celebration, joy, and good food. However, the festive season can also be a time for overindulgence and unhealthy eating habits. This blog post will provide you with some tips for healthy cooking that will not only satisfy your taste buds but also nourish your body.
Ensure Healthy Food For Festivals
- Plan Ahead: Before you start cooking your healthy festive meals, plan your meals. This will help you to avoid impulse purchases and unhealthy choices.
- Choose Healthy Ingredients: Opt for fresh, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.
- Cook at Home: Cooking at home gives you more control over the ingredients and the preparation methods. This means you can choose healthier options like using cold-pressed oils from brands like Gramiyaa to ensure your meals are packed with nutrients and flavour.
- Portion Control: Be mindful of portion sizes. It's easy to overeat during the festive season, so be aware of how much you're eating.
- Balance Your Meals: Ensure that your meals contain a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.
Healthy Indian Festive Food Recipes
Here are some holiday cooking ideas for your next festive meals:
1. Modak (Ganesh Chaturthi Special)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cold-pressed coconut oil
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1/2 cup jaggery
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon cold-pressed coconut oil (for greasing)
Instructions:
- In a pan, heat cold-pressed coconut oil and add the grated coconut and jaggery. Stir well until the jaggery melts and combines with the coconut.
- Add cardamom powder and cook until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool.
- In a separate pan, bring water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and cold-pressed coconut oil, then slowly add rice flour and stir continuously to avoid lumps.
- Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth.
- Take small portions of dough, flatten into thin discs, and place a spoonful of the filling in the center. Fold the dough into pleats to form the modak shape.
- Steam the modaks for 10 minutes. Brush them with cold-pressed coconut oil before serving.
2. Pongal (Sankranti/Pongal Special)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1/2 cup split yellow moong dal
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 inch piece ginger, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 4 cups water
- Cashews and curry leaves for garnish (fried in cold-pressed oil)
Instructions:
- Dry roast the moong dal for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Wash the rice and dal together and cook in a pressure cooker with 4 cups of water and turmeric powder for 4-5 whistles.
- In a separate pan, heat ghee and fry cumin seeds, peppercorns, and grated ginger.
- Pour this tempering into the cooked rice-dal mixture, add salt, and mix well.
- Fry cashews and curry leaves in cold-pressed oil, and garnish the Pongal before serving.
3. Fruit Cake (Christmas Special)
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cold-pressed olive oil
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, dates, cherries)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a cake tin with cold-pressed olive oil.
- In a bowl, whisk cold-pressed olive oil and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla extract, beating well.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into the wet ingredients. Mix gently.
- Fold in dried fruits, nuts, and orange juice.
- Pour the batter into the greased cake tin and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool, then slice and serve.
4. Gujiya (Holi Special)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup khoya (dried milk solids)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped dry fruits (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Cold-pressed oil for frying
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix flour and ghee until crumbly. Add water and knead into a firm dough. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
- In a pan, cook khoya until golden, then add powdered sugar, dry fruits, and cardamom powder. Let it cool.
- Roll the dough into small circles, place a spoonful of khoya filling in the center, and fold into a semi-circle. Seal the edges with a fork.
- Heat cold-pressed oil in a deep pan and fry the gujiyas until golden brown on both sides.
- Drain on paper towels and serve.
5. Puran Poli (Maharashtrian Festive Special)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chana dal (split Bengal gram), cooked and mashed
- 1/2 cup jaggery
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Ghee
Instructions:
- Mix wheat flour, water, and salt to form a smooth dough. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
- In a pan, mix cooked chana dal and jaggery. Cook until thickened, then add cardamom powder. Let it cool.
- Roll the dough into small circles, place a spoonful of the dal-jaggery filling, and fold the dough over it.
- Roll it into a larger circle. Cook on a griddle with cold-pressed ghee until both sides are golden brown.
- Serve warm with extra ghee.
6. Malpua (Holi & Diwali Special)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup semolina
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 tablespoon cold-pressed ghee
- Cold-pressed oil of your choice for frying
- 1/2 cup sugar syrup (optional)
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix flour, semolina, milk, sugar, fennel seeds, and cardamom powder. Add water as needed to make a smooth batter.
- Let the batter rest for 20 minutes to thicken.
- Heat cold-pressed oil or ghee in a deep pan over medium heat.
- Pour a ladleful of batter into the hot oil, forming small pancakes. Fry until golden brown.
- Optionally, dip the fried malpuas in sugar syrup.
- Serve garnished with chopped nuts.
7. Payasam (Onam Special)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw rice
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup jaggery
- 1 tablespoon cold-pressed ghee
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup grated coconut
Instructions:
- Wash the rice and cook in 2 cups of water until soft.
- In a pan, heat cold-pressed ghee, and roast cashews and raisins until golden. Set aside.
- Add the cooked rice, milk, and jaggery to the same pan and simmer on low heat until the mixture thickens.
- Add cardamom powder, roasted cashews, raisins, and grated coconut.
- Serve warm or chilled.
Fun Tips & Ideas For Holiday Cooking
- Embrace Innovation: Don't be afraid to experiment with new recipes and healthy twists on traditional dishes. There are a plethora of healthy and delicious festive meal ideas available online – get inspired and find ones that suit your family's preferences.
- Family Fun in the Kitchen: Cooking can be a fantastic way to spend quality time with loved ones. Get the whole family involved in the preparation of the meal, from chopping vegetables to setting the table. This creates lasting memories and fosters a sense of shared responsibility.
- Make-Ahead Meals: Save yourself some stress by preparing some of your dishes in advance. This will give you more time to relax and enjoy the festivities on the actual day. Curries, lentil soup, and vegetable stir-fries all work well as make-ahead options.
Minimise Food Waste During Festivals
Festive celebrations can often lead to food waste. Here are some tips to minimise waste and make your meals budget-friendly:
- Plan Your Portions: Cook according to the number of guests. Leftovers are great, but over-preparing can lead to spoilage.
- Get Creative with Leftovers: Don't toss out leftover ingredients! Get creative and transform them into new dishes. Leftover vegetables can be used in soups, stir-fries, or fritters. Leftover chicken can be transformed into sandwiches or wraps.
- Repurpose Used Oil (For Low-Heat Cooking Methods): This doesn't apply to heavily used oil, but for lightly used oil, you can extend its life by following a few tips.
Wondering how to store used frying oil and how to clean the oil before reusing? Filter the oil first and then store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Remember, it's best to use this oil for low-heat cooking methods like sauteing or shallow frying. Opt for fresh oil for deep-frying.
Healthy Cooking Tips and Tricks
- Use herbs and spices: Herbs and spices can add flavour to your food without adding extra calories.
- Read labels: When purchasing packaged foods, read the labels carefully to choose healthier options.
- Don't feel guilty: It's okay to indulge in your favourite festive foods occasionally. Just be sure to balance it out with healthy eating the rest of the time.
Celebrate the festive season with joy, laughter, and a healthy dose of deliciousness. By planning ahead, choosing healthy ingredients (including cold-pressed oils from Gramiyaa), and embracing mindful cooking techniques, you can create a memorable and nourishing experience for yourself and your loved ones. Let's raise a toast to a healthy and happy festive season!