The Noboratri season is upon us! And that means celebrations and festivities galore. And when we are talking about Pujo – Mishti mukh to kortei hobe! - Kuch meetha to banta hai!
With Pujo around the corner, you must be finalising your list of traditional sweets to celebrate days from Subho Shasthi to Bijoya Dashami.
But what about calories and health goals? Have you given it any thought?
If you haven’t, don’t worry, we definitely have given it some food for thought.
Buying sweets from the market may not be a great idea, for they usually include unhealthy preservatives, calories, and excessive sugar. Instead, how about making sweets at home and giving them a healthy twist. The beauty of homemade sweets lies in synergising traditional ingredients with some healthy tweaks of your own.
Try these healthy and simple recipes for each day of Pujo Bhog and indulge in sweets to the hilt without any guilt!
#1 Mishti Doi| Rich and delicious, this traditional Bengali sweet is very popular. But why not go for a healthy take on this classic misthi this festive season. Sweeten reduced and thickened milk with palm jaggery or nolen gur. Then add a dash of Good Lyfe Licorice or Mulethi (Yashtimadhu), which is packed with powerful anti-allergic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Place the mix in an earthen pot or haadi and add some curd culture. Once set, garnish with preferred nuts. Serve it chilled! |
#2 Gurer Shondesh
| This delectable Bengali classic is a must-make for the upcoming festivities. Give it a healthy twist by adding a teaspoon of adaptogen Good Lyfe Shatavari – the healing herb known for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ageing properties. Combine organic cow milk chenna (cottage cheese), date palm jaggery or nolen gur, cardamom powder, and knead the mix well till smooth. Roll out small balls and then flatten them lightly. Make a slight depression in the centre with your index finger. Garnish with pistachios, almonds, and saffron strands. |
#3 Rosogolla
| This soft, melt-in-the-mouth Bengali sweet can be given a healthy spin by adding a tinge of potent immunity-boosting Good Lyfe Ashwagandha. Prepare chenna (cottage cheese) from organic cow milk. Add a teaspoon of unroasted sooji (semolina). Knead and mash the mix well till smooth. Roll out small round balls from the dough. Cook them for a few minutes in a syrup of organic sugar and water. You can flavour the water with rose water, saffron, or cardamom powder. Serve hot or chilled as preferred. You can skip the sugar altogether and replace it with nolen gur for delectable Gurer Golla. |
#4 Patishapta
| You won’t normally associate turmeric with this famed Bengali sweet. But adding a tinge of it can make these sweet pancakes the perfect healthy indulgence. You can even prepare these thin crêpes for breakfast. Combine a cup of refined flour, half a cup of sooji (semolina), a dash of Good Lyfe Lakadong Turmeric powder and ¼ cup of rice flour with two cups of organic cow milk. Make thin pancakes of this batter. For the filling, mix grated coconut, date palm jaggery, khoya, cardamom, and dry fruits. Place the filling in the centre of each pancake and roll them. Serve hot or cold. |
#5 Gurer Payesh
| No celebration is complete without this tasty Bengali rice pudding. Creamy and delicious, this sweet can be made by cooking any short-grain sticky rice like Gobindobhog with low-fat milk and some ghee along with cardamom and bay leaf for flavours. Use jaggery or nolen gur to sweeten and dry fruits to garnish your dish. You can prioritise health by adding a teaspoon of Good Lyfe Licorice to it and create a unique dessert that will surely please your guests too! |
Festivals are happy occasions, and the traditional sweets form an integral part of that joy. With these healthy recipes, there is no reason not to feast on the treats, especially when you can have your sweet and enjoy it too!
So enjoy Dhunuchi, Dhaak, and Misthi this Pujo, ‘Asche bochor abar hobe’
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