If you’re staying away from homemade sweets during Rakhi, simply because you’re trying to monitor your carb intake, you can explore alternative options! There are plenty of ingredients besides maida or white flour which can be used to make festive desserts, be it dal, besan, atta, ragi, sattu or even oats!
Modak is a common festive dessert which can be made with alternative ingredients like bajra, atta, sattu or coconut and jaggery. Laddoo, barfi, ghevar, malpua etc are other examples of desserts which can be made with ingredients other than maida. Let’s have a look at some of them.
Atta Ladoo
Atta Ladoo completely avoids refined flour, using whole wheat instead, which is a healthier, fibre-rich alternative and has a nutty flavour, making them a popular choice during festivals like Diwali. The key ingredients are atta, ghee, sugar, and cardamom. Some variations also include nuts like almonds, cashews, and raisins, which add a delightful crunch. The process involves roasting the wheat flour in ghee until it turns golden brown, then mixing it with sugar and cardamom before shaping it into laddoos.
Besan Barfi
Besan or gram flour is the star ingredient of this traditional dessert, which is often made during festivals like Holi and Diwali. Besan Barfi is known for its rich, nutty flavour and crumbly texture. The preparation involves roasting the besan in ghee until it releases a fragrant aroma, then adding sugar, cardamom, and sometimes khoya (dried milk) to create a thick mixture. The mixture is then spread out on a tray, allowed to cool, and cut into squares or diamonds.
Ragi Halwa
Ragi flour is naturally gluten-free and a great alternative to maida, making this halwa a healthier festive option. Ragi, or finger millet, is a highly nutritious grain rich in calcium and iron. Ragi Halwa is a delicious, wholesome dessert often prepared during festivals like Navratri. The halwa is made by roasting ragi flour in ghee, and then cooking it with milk, jaggery, and cardamom. The result is a warm, comforting dessert with a slightly earthy flavour. Adding nuts and raisins enhances both the texture and nutritional value of this dish.
Rajgira Kheer
Rajgira, or amaranth, is another superfood that finds its place in traditional Indian cuisine, especially during fasting periods. Rajgira Kheer is a light, yet rich dessert made by boiling amaranth grains in milk and sweetening it with jaggery or sugar. The kheer is often flavoured with cardamom and garnished with nuts like almonds and pistachios.
Jowar and Date Rolls
Jowar (sorghum) is a gluten-free millet that is gaining popularity for its health benefits. Jowar and Date Rolls are a modern twist on traditional Indian desserts, combining the nutritional power of jowar with the natural sweetness of dates. The rolls are made by cooking jowar flour with ghee and milk until it forms a dough, which is then mixed with date paste. The mixture is rolled into cylinders, chilled, and sliced into bite-sized pieces. These rolls are naturally sweet and don’t require any additional sugar, making them a guilt-free indulgence during festivals.