Recipe: Celebrate Janmashtmi with these delicious and healthy dry fruit laddoos

Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be the eighth avatar of the god, Vishnu. The annual Hindu festival, also known as Gokulashtami, is celebrated much pomp and fervour in various parts of the country.
Homemade butter, sweets, and other delicacies made from milk - considered to be a favourite of Krishna - are part of the celebrations. Dahi Handi, a game where people get together to form a human pyramid and break a pot of curd (dahi) hanging high up on a rope, forms a major part of the festivities.

The indulgence in delicious foods during the festive season can often be unhealthy, but it doesn't have to always be that way. The increasing number of healthy options, even in desserts, make it easy to navigate through the festive season.

So, this Janmashtmi celebrate both taste and health with this easy-to-make laddoo recipe.

Seed And Dry Fruit Laddoos
Ingredients
Raisins: 3 tbsp
Ghee: 1 tbsp
Seedless dates: 1 cup
Pistachios: ¼ cup
Cashews: ¼ cup
Cardamom powder: ½ tsp
Almonds: ¼ cup
All Heart chocolate seeded crackers: ½ cup

Method
- Blend seedless dates and chocolate crackers in a blender
- Finely chop cashews, pistachios and almonds, but do not powder
- Take ghee in a deep-bottom pan (kadai), and raisins, cashews, pistachios and almonds
- Fry on medium flame for 3-4 minutes till they change colour lightly
- Now add coarsely blended dates
- Continue to fry on medium flame while smashing dates with a spatula
- Add cardamom powder and continue to sauté. Sauté till the dates start releasing oil
- Turn off flame and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes
- Use mixture to form laddoos
- Serve immediately or store in airtight container

(Courtesy: All Heart)

However, if sweets are not your thing, give this Pushpanna recipe shot. The colourful, opulent rice delicacy often forms a part of dishes offered to Krishna.

Pushpanna

Agencies

Ingredients
Pressed paneer: 225 gm
Cinnamom powder: 1 tsp
Cashews: 100 gm
Cayene pepper: 0.5 tsp
Grated coconut: 100 gm
Ghee: 6 tbsp
Hing: 0.5 tsp
Fennel seeds: 1 tsp
Cloves powder: 0.5 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
Flat rice: 350 gm
Cardamom pods: 6
Raisins: 100 gm
Nutmeg: 1 tsp
Turmeric: 1 tsp
Salt: 1 tbsp

Method
- Soak the flat rice in water
- Heat ghee in a thick-bottom vessel
- When it smokes add hing, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, bruised cardamom pods
- When they start to splutter, add strained flat rice and sauté
- Put turmeric powder, salt, grated nutmeg powder to the mixture
- Steam and cook until soft
- Top with remaining ghee and fried nuts, coconut and raisins

(Courtesy: Chef Mathi Santh, Executive Chef, Elior India)