Eid Ul-Fitr is a prominent festival celebrated by Muslims all across the globe. On this auspicious day, Muslims offer prayer, gather and wish each other, give Eidi to their younger ones and indulge in a scrumptious feast. When it comes to the Eid feast, one thinks of Biryani, korma, kebabs and the most important ‘Sheer Khurma’. No Eid celebration is complete without sheer khurma, a traditional dessert made up of milk, vermicelli, dates and nuts. It is the first thing eaten by Muslims after offering Eid’s first namaz.
Even though this dessert is irresistibly delicious, some health freaks may refrain themselves from eating this dessert because of its contents. But you know what? You can make this dessert healthier. Celebrating a festival just doesn’t mean that you have to comprise with your health. All you need to do is replace some of the key ingredients of this dessert with some healthy substitutes. Wanna know more? Have a look!
Switch To Toned or Skimmed Milk
Milk is the key ingredient in sheer khurma. Traditionally, this dessert is made up of whole milk but to make this dish healthier, you can switch to with skimmed or toned milk. This is because the fat content in skimmed milk is much lesser than the whole milk. Besides, it is also low in calories. While the saturated fats in whole milk could be unhealthy for the heart, toned milk can be beneficial for heart health and can also aid weight loss.
Using Vermicelli In Moderation
The star ingredient in sheer khurma is vermicelli. Made up of maida, vermicelli has high calorie content, but you can make it healthier if consumed in a limited amount. Even though it is not very harmful, one can always use vermicelli in lesser quantity to make this traditional dessert much healthier and perfect for health freaks.
Use Dates Instead Of Sugar
Sheer Khurma translates to ‘milk with dates’ and as the name suggests, this traditional dessert has the goodness of dates. But many of us don’t know that earlier only dates were used for sweetness and not sugar. So, it is time to bring that old tradition back to the table. For the sweetness, you can add dates, and this will make your sheer khurma much healthier and delicious. Dates have ample health benefits. Not just does it have low fat content, but it can also regulate cholesterol levels. Besides, they are rich in vitamins and proteins.
Switch To Canola Oil Instead Of Ghee
Ghee is an essential part of Sheer Khurma and adds up to the taste. But you know what? You can actually replace ghee in this traditional dessert. All you need is some canola oil which could be labelled as ghee’s modern substitute. It is a healthy form of oil and contains less saturated fat. Besides, it also consists of omega-6 and omega-3 which are good for the body.
Use Cardamom And Saffron
Cardamoms are known for adding a vibrant flavour and aroma to the meal it is added in. But apart from this, cardamom is also power packed with ample health benefits. It can boost the body’s metabolism and is rich in fiber and many other nutrients. Similarly, saffron can also help in hormone stimulation and benefit the body in so many ways. Thus, one must add a pinch of cardamom powder and a few saffron strands to make this dessert healthier.
Eid Mubarak!