Nolen Gurer Millet Oats Modak

 

            Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete without his favorite Modak. There are many types of modak that can be prepared. Traditionally it is made of rice flour and with a coconut-jaggery stuffing. 

            However, let me share a healthy modak recipe made of Nolen Gur (Date Palm jaggery), millets and oats. This type of jaggery is available in West Bengal during winter and you can dish out a wide range of sweets with it. Apart from Foxtail Millet that I have used, you can go ahead with any other millet of your choice. 

        

           Coming to the recipe, I flavored these guilt-free modak with cardamom powder. Very easy to prepare, they can be made in a very short time. The end result are these yummy and healthy modak that can be offered to Lord Ganesha on this festive occasion. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this divine festive treat.

• 1 cup cooked Foxtail Millet, mashed
• 1/2 cup nolen gur (date palm jaggery)
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/4 cup oats, dry roasted & powdered
• few chopped pistachios

          

          Heat a pan and add the nolen gur (Date palm jaggery). Keep stirring it continuously till it melts.

          Now add the cooked millet and combine everything well. Add the cardamom powder and keep stirring till all the moisture dries up.

          Add the powdered oats and give it a mix so that everything comes together. Switch off the flame and transfer the dough to a plate. Allow it to cool down completely.

          Grease a modak mold with ghee and add few pieces of chopped pistachios. Take a small portion of the prepared mixture and fill the mold. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. 

          Now gently demold and arrange it on a serving plate. Make similar modak with the remaining mix. Your amazing Nolen Gurer Millet Oats modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha. 

Heat a pan & add the nolen gur (Date palm jaggery). Keep stirring it continuously till it melts.

                   Add the cooked millet.

                        Combine everything well.

 Add the cardamom powder & keep stirring till all the moisture dries up.

Add the powdered oats & give it a mix so that everything comes together. Switch off the flame & transfer the dough to a plate. Allow it to cool down completely.

Grease a modak mold with ghee & add few pieces of chopped pistachios. 

Take a small portion of the prepared mixture & fill the mold. Press it with your fingers to make the modak. Now gently demold & arrange it on a serving plate. 

Your amazing Nolen Gurer Millet Oats modak is ready to be offered to Lord Ganesha. 

Dates Dry Fruit Roll (Sugar Free Dessert)

 

             Dates Dry Fruit Rolls are very easy to prepare. They are healthy with the goodness of dates and mixed dry fruits having almonds, cashew, pistachios, walnuts and raisins. I flavored these rolls with cardamom powder and rose water. This is a perfect guilt free dessert apt for any festive occasions. Besides, they can be enjoyed as a quick breakfast on the go. It is also a perfect snack for weight watchers and ideal for the youngsters.

             Dates and Dry Fruit Rolls are completely sugar free as it has only the natural sweetness of the dates. So they are diabetic friendly. It can be made much in advance and stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. So check out a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this yummy treat. 

• 1 cup soft dates, deseeded & chopped
• 3 tsp. ghee
• 1 cup mixed fry fruits, chopped
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. pistachios, chopped
• 1 tbsp. rose water
• pinch of chopped pistachios, almonds and dry rose petals

              Blend the chopped dates and the rose water in a mixer grinder and keep aside. 

              Dry roast the sesame seeds for a minute and keep aside.

              Heat 1 tsp. ghee and sauté the dry fruits for 2 minutes. Keep aside. 

              Heat 1 tsp. ghee and sauté raisins for a minute. Set aside. 

              Heat the remaining 1 tsp. ghee and sauté the ground dates and cardamom powder till it comes together as a lump. 

              Now add the roasted dry fruits and raisins. Combine everything well. 

              Transfer to a plate. When it is cool enough to handle,  roll the mix into a log. 

              Now on a surface or in a pan, spread the roasted sesame seeds, chopped pistachio, chopped almonds and dry rose petals.

              Roll the log on it so that it is well coated. Wrap it in an aluminum foil and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

              Then cut into slices with a sharp knife. Date Dry Fruit Rolls are ready to be enjoyed.

                                  Dry roast the sesame seeds for a minute and keep aside.

                            Heat 1 tsp. ghee & sauté the dry fruits for 2 minutes. Keep aside. 

                                 Heat 1 tsp. ghee and sauté raisins for a minute. Set aside. 

                     Heat the remaining 1 tsp. ghee & sauté the ground dates & cardamom

                       powder till it comes together as a lump. 

                        Add the roasted dry fruits & raisins. Mix everything well. Transfer 

                        to a plate. When it is cool enough to handle, roll the mix into a log. 

                              Now on a surface or in a pan, spread the roasted sesame seeds, 

                              chopped pistachio, chopped almonds and dry rose petals.

                                  Roll the log on it so that it is well coated. 

                                 Wrap it in an aluminum foil and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

                                  Cut into slices with a sharp knife.

                        Date Dry Fruit Rolls are ready to be enjoyed.

Dates & Nuts Laddu / Laddoo

 

                      Dates & Nuts Laddu is very easy to prepare. They are healthy energy balls with the goodness of dates, almonds, cashew, pistachios, coconut, roasted chana dal and sesame seeds. I then flavored them with cardamom powder and rose water. This is a perfect guilt free dessert apt for your Diwali celebration. Besides, they can be enjoyed as a quick breakfast on the go. It is also a perfect snack for weight watchers and ideal for youngsters.

              Dates and nuts laddu is completely sugar free as it has only the natural sweetness of the dates. So they are diabetic friendly. It can be made much in advance and stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. So check out a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this Diwali treat. 

• 1 cup soft dates, deseeded & chopped
• 2 tsp. ghee
• 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup cashew nuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped
• 2 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1/4 cup roasted chana dal
• 2 tbsp. raisins
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. dry rose petals
• 1 tbsp. rose water

          Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in a pan and sauté the chopped almonds and cashew nuts till they turn slightly brownish in colour. 

         Then add the chopped pistachios and sesame seeds. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Keep aside.

          In the same pan, dry roast the fresh grated coconut till light brown. Add the roasted chana dal and give it a stir. Keep aside. 

          Heat remaining 1 tbsp. ghee in the pan and sauté the raisins for a minute. Then add the chopped dates and mix well till it is soft and comes together.

          Then add all the roasted nuts, dry rose petals, pinch of salt, cardamom powder and rose water. Combine everything well.

          Switch off the flame and set aside for a couple of minutes to slightly cool down. 

          Take a small portion of the mix and form into round shaped balls. Make similar balls with the rest of the dates mixture. Yummy Dates & Nuts Laddus are ready. 

                         Heat 1 tbsp. ghee & sauté the almonds & cashew till light brown.

                     Add the pistachios & sesame seeds. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Keep aside.

                                 Dry roast the fresh grated coconut till light brown. 

                                  Add the roasted chana dal & give it a stir. Keep aside. 

                            Heat remaining 1 tsp. ghee & sauté the raisins for a minute. 

                          Add the chopped dates & mix well till it is soft & comes together.

                        Add all the roasted nuts, dry rose petals, pinch of salt, cardamom 

                        powder & rose water. Combine well.  Switch off the flame & set

                        aside for a couple of minutes to slightly cool down. 

                           Take a small portion of the mix & form into round shaped balls. 

                       Yummy Dates & Nuts Laddus are ready. Enjoy !!!!!

Poha Kheer with Dates (Flattened Rice Pudding)

 

          Check out this yummy dessert prepared with flattened rice / poha. It turns out just amazing with just a few ingredients easily available in your kitchen. This dessert is apt for festive occasions. However, in this recipe I gave a slight twist by substituting sugar or jaggery with dates puree for the sweetness. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this healthy dessert. 

• 1 cup brown / white poha / flattened rice
• 12-15 dates, deseeded & soaked for an hour
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 2 bay leaves
• 500 ml. full fat milk
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• pinch of saffron
• handful of mixed nuts, chopped

           Wash the poha 2-3 times. Then keep it aside to drain well.

           Puree the dates with 1/4 cup water into a smooth paste. Keep aside. 

           Heat ghee in a saucepan and sauté the mixed nuts till light golden in colour. (Keep aside few to garnish).

           Now add the drained poha. Fry for 1-2 minutes, but do not brown them. 

           Add the milk and the bay leaves and bring it to a boil. Simmer on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes.

           Add the dates puree and cardamom powder. Mix well and continue to simmer till the consistency comes to a desirable thickness. 

           Switch off the flame and discard the bay leaves. Add the saffron and rose water. 

           You can serve it warm or chilled. Garnish with mixed nuts and enjoy.

Notes - 

1.  Keep the consistency slightly thin as it will thicken once it cools down.

2.  You can substitute dates puree for brown sugar or jaggery as per your choice. 

3.  I have used brown poha. However, feel free to use the white variety too. 

                   Heat ghee in a saucepan & sauté the mixed nuts till light golden 

                   in colour. (Keep aside few to garnish).

                       Add the poha. Fry for 1-2 minutes, but do not brown them. 

                    Add the milk & the bay leaves and bring it to a boil. Simmer 

                    on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes.

                              Add the dates puree..... 

                     and cardamom powder. Mix well & continue to simmer till 

                     the consistency comes to a desirable thickness. 

                      Switch off the flame & discard the bay leaves. Add the saffron

                      and rose water. 

                 You can serve it warm or chilled. Garnish with mixed nuts & enjoy.