Rava Laddu is south India’s common sweet made for festivals, weddings, gatherings, pujas. Laddu can be compared to bliss balls, truffles known to the western world. To be more precise, Rava laddu is no-bake, no chocolate bliss balls or no-bake, no chocolate truffles. Rava aka Semolina and coconut laddu is all-natural and high-quality and tasty dessert you can ever have. It is perishable. Will stay fresh for 3-4 weeks. Freshness can be extended by refrigerating and also by not using milk. Don’t settle down with store-bought low-quality sweets. Making your own laddu is easier than you think. Satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade, natural, high-quality sweets.
Dates, poppy seed and walnut laddus
Dates are sugars with sweet benefits. They are nutrition powerhouse. Dates are wonderfully delicious super fruits which carry natural sugar and high fiber. A natural toffee without plastic wrap. If you are like me – not keen on sweets made of white sugar, flour, and other low-quality ingredients, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, then meet your new BFF. Adding dates to your diet is the smart decision. With some planning and knowledge, you can safely replace white sugar with dates in several recipes. Cutting down processed sugars is tough. Scoring the health benefits, dates make your life sweet.
Flax, poppy seed and coconut laddu
I am a huge fan of traditional boondi laddu’s. Because they are deep fried and then dipped in white sugar syrup, they are obviously high in calories, and they carry bad calories. Bad calories meaning it is from oil and sugar. For these reasons boondi laddu’s are not in my festival food list. Instead I started making quiet yummy laddu’s with other healthier ingredients yet no compromise in taste. They are all-natural, diet -friendly laddu’s. For those who have diet restrictions don’t have to think much to eat. Just relax enjoy the festive season. They carry healthy calories, as minerals (magnesium, potassium, iron),Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber. They are also good source of proteins.
Flax seeds are known to reduce blood pressure, hyper tension. They improve eye, kidney, skin, hair and nail health. Remember flax seeds also improves women’s and men’s health. From fitness perspective, adding whole flax seeds to your diet is nothing but adding all-natural good protein.
Laddu can be compared to bliss balls, truffles in western world. To be more precise, no-bake, no chocolate bliss balls or no-bake, no chocolate truffles. Flax, poppy seed and coconut laddu is all-natural and high quality dessert you can ever have. It is perishable. Will stay fresh for 3-4 weeks. Freshness can be extended by refrigerating.
Panchamritham – all time favorite festive offering
Panchamritham is a liquid sweet, which is offered to God during worship or Puja in Hinduism. This sweet mixture is made of five ingredients. Pancha is 5, amrutham is nectar. In Hindu Mythology Nectar (Amrutham) is a divine food of Gods which gives them Immortality.5 ingredients are honey, jaggery, milk, yogurt, and ghee. It is made at home and at temples as a luxurious offering to God during worship. Panchamritham is filled in a bowl and kept in front of God idol representing that we are offering it god. Rest is offered to guests. In certain regions, yagna is performed, and panchamrit is offered to God by pouring it on fire.
Pumpkin bakshalu (poli)
You call Bhakshalu, Oliga, Poornam poli, sweet chapati or puran poli, It is Indian’s most favorite festive food. Name itself makes me drool. Traditionally made with channa dal (Split chickpeas), jaggery stuffed in flour dough and fried on griddle. Pumpkin stuffing makes the dish so light, you can pour your favorite ghee as much as you want. It not as time consuming as traditional dish. You can replace pumpkin with sweet potato or squash. Remember pumpkin is really a squash.
Sesame, besan laddu
The word ‘Sankranti’ means the movement of the sun into Capricorn. On Makar Sankranti, the sun enters new zodiac-sign of Capricorn or Makara. Most Hindu festivals are based on the lunar calendar, making the dates of festivals change every year. But Makar Sankranti is a festival which falls on the same day every year as it follows the solar calendar. As Makar Sankranti is one of the oldest solstice festivals and falls on the equinox, day and night on this day are believed to be equally long. Post the festival, it is officially the beginning of spring. Indian summer and the days become longer, and nights shorter.
Makara Sankranthi is celebrated for three days. The first day is Bhogi. North India is known as Lohri.The second day is Sankranthi which is dedicated to worshipping Surya (the Sun god), Varuna (the rain god) and Indra (king of gods). The third day is Kanuma which is dedicated to cleaning cows, farm animals and farm equipment and also offering prayers to them for helping with a successful harvest season.
Till and almond laddu
Makara Sankranthi is celebrated for three days. The first day is Bhogi. North India is known as Lohri.The second day is Sankranthi which is dedicated to worshipping Surya (the Sun god), Varuna (the rain god) and Indra (king of gods). The third day is Kanuma which is dedicated to cleaning cows, farm animals, and farm equipment and also offering prayers to them for helping with a successful harvest season.
Bhogi day starts with Bhogi manta (Bonfire) in the early hours of the morning. People light a bonfire, offer prayers to fire god discarding outdated things and ideas and welcome new things and new ideas to prosper. In the evening Bommala Koluvu (arrangement of images of Gods, toys, and dolls) is arranged at homes.
Avakaya Biryani
Avakaya is South India’s state of Andhra Pradesh favorite pickle. It is go-to pickle at festivals, weddings, gatherings, pujas, and wherever people gather. If you taste, you will soon realize the exaggeration about Avakaya is genuine. In other words, you will experience heaven on earth. Avakaya biryani is basmati rice cooked with avakaya. Avakaya biryani is an extravaganza.
Avakai is spicy, reflecting Andhra’s significant taste. Made from scratch, using household ingredients, Avakaya is a seriously tasty pickle. It is an exceptional combination to eat with rice and ghee. It also goes great with any dish which needs more flavor and spice. It even works as a dip. Lastly, it can be transformed into India’s favorite dish Birayni.
Chestnut (Singoda) flour laddus
Looking for a quick way to wow your guests? Celebrate your delicious style even in a pinch with this quick recipe. A quick fix for your sweet tooth. The water chestnut packs a significant nutritional punch, while the brown sugar provides that smooth, easy flavor that makes laddu so irresistible. Make sure to use fresh ghee to significantly enhance the aroma and flavor. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, each of my laddus contains a different super-ingredient, and this one is chestnut time to shine. Chestnut has a plethora of health benefits, from lowering cardiac risks, significantly improving skin, hair health, with heightened minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients and fiber content to keep you strong physically and mentally. This festive season, enjoy low-carb and low-sugar Indian food without sacrificing genuine Indian taste. Those looking for low-carb, low-sugar recipes will find a haven here. Whether it is Diwali, Navratri, Dasara, Sankranthi or Rakhi, this sensational laddu will impress everyone.
Steamed rice balls in pumpkin, poppy seed gravy
Pumpkin season is right around the corner here in United States. Perfect time for Ganesh Chaturthi prasad. Why not take advantage this season? Pumpkins are actually very healthy! They are low in calories, fat and sodium, and rich in vitamin A, potassium and fiber! Pumpkins may not be available in every region. You can certainly substitute pumpkin with sweet potato. Follow same cooking instruction. But cooking time may vary. This dish can certainly made vegan. It takes very less milk. Replace milk with coconut milk.
Ganesh chaturthi is also festival of food. Lord Ganesh is said to be foodie. His favorites varieties of prasad are modak, kheer, puran poli, undrallu, kudumulu and list goes on. Foodies wait for mouth-watering food made of grated jaggery, coconuts and dry fruits.
