Across the globe flavour and fervour go hand in hand. Closer home, in India, the year is divided into months as much as it is defined by festivals. Every festival in India also has its own flavour. But it's as simple as what meets the eye. Our ancestors clearly knew, the human body changes with the seasons. Ayurveda, ancient science of life has always taught that our meals should balance the doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) and prepare the body for the season ahead.
Diwali is the time when dryness and coolness can increase, hence foods which are rich, warm and nourishing should be consumed to build strength for the coming winter. Most of these foods are made using dry fruits and seeds to build strength for upcoming winters. Also, desi cow ghee is most commonly used in most of the dishes to enhance nutrition and pacify vata.
Badam Halwa Recipe
Ingredients: - Almonds (Badam) - 1 cup (about 150 g) - Desi Cow Milk - 1 cup - Sugar - 3/4 to 1 cup (as per taste) - Desi Cow Ghee - 1/2 cup - Saffron Strands - a pinch - Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp
Process: - Soak almonds in hot water for 1 hour (or overnight if planning ahead) and then peel off the skins. - Grind to a smooth paste with milk (use just enough milk to blend). - Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium-low flame. - Add the almond paste and saute continuously for 8-10 minutes until it starts releasing a nutty aroma and changes to a slightly deeper shade. - Add sugar and saffron (soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk) and mix well. - Keep stirring to prevent sticking. The mixture will loosen as sugar melts, then thicken again. - Add cardamom powder towards the end. - Cook until ghee starts separating from the sides. - Serve hot, garnished with a few slivered almonds on top.
Energy Bar Recipe
Ingredients: - 1 & 1/2 Cup Organic Jaggery powder - 1 Cup Oats - 1/3 Cup Chopped Pistachio - 1/3 Cup Roughly Chopped Walnuts - 1/3 Cup Roughly Chopped Almonds - 1/3 Cup Roughly Chopped Cashew - 2 Tbsp Sunflower seeds - 2 Tbsp Flax seeds - 1 Tbsp Sesame seeds - 1/2 Tbsp Lemon Juice - 2 Tbsp Honey - A Pinch of salt
Process: - Heat a non-stick pan. - Once hot add oats, almonds, cashew, walnuts, pistachio, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds. - On flow-medium heat roast oats, dry fruits, and seeds, stirring continuously for 4-5 minutes. Transfer them to a bowl. - Reheat the same pan and meanwhile grease a pastry tray with oil or ghee. - Once the pan is hot, add powdered jaggery and honey. On medium heat, cook stirring continuously until it melts. After the jaggery starts to set in, on a flow flame, add lemon juice. - After cooking for a minute add the roasted oats, dry fruits and seed mixture. - Mixing and binding them together cook for another 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into the greased pastry tray and spread it evenly. Flatten the top with the bottom of a small steel bowl and cut it into the desired shape, like a rectangular (energy) bar. - Serve them.
