Delight in the holiday season with delicious and nutritious gut-friendly recipes curated by Dr. Rohini Patil. Explore them in this article and get ready to impress your friends and family.
Festivals are synonymous with celebration and indulging in delicious treats. Regardless of our dietary preferences, it’s often difficult to resist the temptation of delightful sweets and snacks prepared during festivals. Diwali, being one of the most vibrant Indian festivals, is celebrated with immense enthusiasm. However, the aftermath of indulging in sugary treats often leads to stomach discomfort. But fear not, as renowned nutritionist Dr. Rohini Patil has you covered this time. She has carefully crafted five gut-friendly festive recipes to satisfy your cravings without causing any digestive distress.
Ingredients:
FRUIT & NUTS LADOO: A Healthy Twist to Festive Delights
- 85g chia seeds
- 200g seedless dates
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Method:
- Place all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend for 1 minute until well combined.
- Take a small portion of the mixture in your hand and form 1-1.5 inch balls.
- Optionally, coat the balls in sesame seeds or dry roasted grated coconut.
Almond Milk Custard: A Dairy-Free Twist on a Classic Dessert
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup low-fat coconut milk
- 2 tsp rice syrup
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Method:
- In a medium saucepan, mix arrowroot powder with coconut milk until smooth.
- Add almond milk, rice syrup, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the saucepan. Whisk well and place over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously. Then reduce heat to low and continue stirring until the mixture thickens to a custard-like consistency.
- Serve warm or transfer to a food container and refrigerate until cooled.
- The custard can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Sourdough Bread with Avocado Spread: A Savory Twist on a Classic Combination
Avocado Spread on Sourdough Bread: A Flavorful and Nutritious Snack
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados
- Few slices of goat’s cheese or cheddar cheese
- 4 slices of sourdough bread
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Few lettuce leaves
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- Black pepper
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Method:
- Toast the sourdough bread slices in a toaster until golden brown.
- Wash and cut the avocados. Scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash it with a fork until smooth.
- Add chia seeds, olive oil, and lemon juice to the mashed avocado. Mix well to combine.
- Spread the avocado mixture evenly over the toasted sourdough bread slices.
- Top each slice with lettuce leaves and a few slices of goat’s cheese or cheddar cheese.
- Drizzle a splash of olive oil over the toppings and sprinkle with black pepper to taste.
- Serve as a delicious and satisfying snack.
Oats & Coconut Ladoo: A Nutritious Twist on Traditional Indian Sweets
Oats & Coconut Ladoo: A Healthy Twist on a Traditional Indian Sweet
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup jaggery
- 1/4 tsp green cardamom powder
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1 tsp ghee
- 1-2 tbsp water
- Ghee-roasted nuts and raisins
Method:
- Dry roast the rolled oats in a heavy-bottomed pan until fragrant. Allow them to cool completely, then grind them into a coarse or fine powder, depending on your preferred texture. Set aside.
- In the same pan, add jaggery, grated coconut, and water. Cook and stir until the jaggery melts completely.
- Add green cardamom powder to the mixture and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until you notice strings forming in the mixture.
- Stir in the powdered oats and mix well. Turn off the heat.
- Add ghee-roasted nuts, raisins, and ghee to the mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, grease your palms with a bit of oil or ghee. Take small portions of the mixture and roll them into balls to form laddoos.
- These laddoos are not only delicious but also great for your health. Enjoy!
Buckwheat Banana Kebabs: A Nutritious Twist on a Classic Snack
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup buckwheat flour
- 250 grams raw bananas, diced and peeled
- 1 black cardamom pod
- 2 teaspoons roasted coriander seeds, powdered
- 2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 green chili, chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped coriander
Method:
- Steam the diced bananas along with ginger and the black cardamom pod until the bananas are cooked but still retain a firm texture.
- Ensure there is no excess water remaining after steaming.
- Allow the steamed bananas to cool, then mash them.
- Mix in all the remaining ingredients to form a dough-like consistency.
- Shape the mixture into small cylindrical rods and coat them evenly with buckwheat flour.
- Heat a non-stick pan and add 1 tablespoon of ghee.
- Fry the kebabs over medium heat until they turn golden brown on both sides.
- Serve the kebabs with green chutney and enjoy!
Conclusion
If you’re prone to stomach upsets, especially after indulging in festive treats, these recipes are worth a try. They’re gentle on the gut and shouldn’t cause any discomfort after consumption. However, it’s still important to avoid overindulging!