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                                    Healthy Festive-Bites

Reasons for celebrations differ intent is same - that of fun and frolic. Be it  Diwali, Christmas or Id  a festival brings in the aura of merriment and the spirit of social bonding with it. Time to display our culinary skills and swanky attire  to our neighbours.

But festivals can be an ordeal for all those who are suffering from lifestyle disorders and are health-conscious. Healthy festive-bites is dedicated to all of them.

Experiment with some of these traditional festive dishes which are low-cal yet yummy. Indulge in... without guilt !

Posted on 23rd September, 2009/comments

Litebite recipes : Festive recipes

                                                          Modak 

Modak, kozhukattai or steamed rice balls, as called in different regions of our country is any health-conscious' delight. Dough used to prepare the basic wrap or the outer covering is same for all the modaks. Difference being the fillings stuffed inside. Til (sesame) Modak is one of my favorites, the recipe of which is handed over to me by my mother-in-law.  Try out the diffent versions of this healthy treat.

Basic wrap :

Ingredients :

• 1 cup raw rice powder
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp.oila pinch of salt

Method : To prepare rice flour at home, take one cup of rice and wash it with water. Soak it for 15 minutes in water. Drain the water and spread the rice on a clean cloth to dry. Powder and store it for future use. Rice powder can also be purchased off the shelf from the market.

Take a heavy bottom pan and boil water in it, add salt and oil to it. Add the rice flour in it gradually stirring it all the time. Keep stirring till the mixture forms a lump. Take off the flame and let it cool. Dough for the basic wrap is ready .

Take a marble size ball and flatten it to make a  small circle using gentle pressure with both hands. Fill this circle with the desired filling and close tightly. Steam it like idlies or momos in a steamer or pressure cooker (without vent). Modaks are ready to savour.

Variations :

1. Sesame Modaks :

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup sesame seeds (til)
• 1/2 cup clean jaggary

Method: Dry roast the sesame seeds till dark brown in colour. Grate the jaggary. Mix both and the filling is ready for sesame modaks. 

Note : Skinned sesame(black)  is more healthy and tasty option.  

2. Coconut Modaks :

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 1/2 cup jaggary
• 2 tsp water
• a pinch of cardamom powder.

Method : Boil water in a pan and add jaggaryto it,  let it melt. Take off from the flame and filter it. Boil the liquid again on slow flame till it reduces to one string consistency. Add the grated coconut and mix it thouroughly. Cool the mixture before filling in the basic wraps for the modak.

3. Nutty Modaks :

Ingredients :

• 1/4 cup rawa (semolina)
• 1/2 cup coarse powder of assorted nuts(cashew, almonds, pistachios)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar.

Method : Dry roast the semolina till light brown in colour. Mix all the ingredients together and use as filling for the nutty modaks.

4. Cheesy Modaks :

Ingedienst :

• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• a few raisins
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder.

Method : Make cottage cheese with skimmed milk and dry roast it in a thick bottom pan till the water in it dries up. Mix in the other ingredients thouroughly. The filling for cheesy modaks is ready.

                                                 Savoury Modaks

These are prepared the same way as the sweet modaks with a savoury filling inside.

1. Urad dal Modak :

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup de-skinned black gram2 tsp  black pepper powder
• a pinch of both salt and asafoetida (hing)
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• a few sprigs of curry leaves or fresh coriander leaves.

Method : Soak the black gram in water for an hour. Drain the water and grind coarsely in a mixie. Heat oil in a wok and  add mustard seeds let it splutter. Add all the ingredients and  mix in thouroughly. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes. Take off the flame and let it cool. The filling is ready. Use the basic dough to make modaks of different shapes (as in picture).

With less oil & sugar and no refined flour used to make these sweets, these certainl;y are any health-conscious' delight. 

Go ahead make these healthy festive spread and splurge.....

                                                Churma Ladoos

Ingrdients :

• 2 cups wholewheat flour
• 1/2 cup ghee(clarrified butter)
• 1 1/2 cups powder sugar
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp chopped nuts (optional)

Method : Take the flour in a big bowl and rub in half of the ghee into it. Make stiff balls with the mixture by dipping hands in water. Bake the balls for 20 minutes at 180 degrees c. Cool and crumble the balls, grind it again in the mixie to get a coarse powder. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and shape into ladoos.

Note : Traditionally flour and ghee are taken at the same ratio to make the laddos, but this is a little healthy version of ladoo.

Enjoy the healthy festive bites.

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