Healthy recipes that can be made in a microwave this festive season

The festive season is here and you must have a lot of things running in your mind – home decor, festive shopping, new festive looks and most importantly, the one thing that everyone looks forward to – delicious festive treats! Planning to buy a microwave oven online? It would be just the thing you’d need during the season. Many brands like Panasonic, IFB, Samsung, etc. are offering great discounts during this time.

Here are some healthy, festive treats, that you can prepare for your family and friends at home.

Kalakand

Diwali is almost synonymous with Kalakand. The traditional recipe of Kalakand is a time taking process, but if you have a grill microwave oven, which are available at a good price these days, this traditional favourite will take just 15 minutes!

You’ll need the following ingredients

·         Grated Paneer: 1/2 cup

·         Condensed Milk: 1/4 cup

·         Cardamom powder: 1/8 tsp

·         Ghee (for greasing the pan): 1 tsp

·         Dry Fruits – Almonds and De-shelled Pistachios: 5

Mix grated paneer, condensed milk and cardamom powder thoroughly in a microwave-ready bowl. Place the bowl in your microwave oven that you usually use for baking and grilling. Set the timer for 5 minutes so that the paneer becomes grainy and thick. After 5 minutes, transfer the mixture to a metal or glass tray, which is coated with ghee, garnish it with dry fruits and let it set and cool down to room temperature. You can set the mixture evenly using the back of your mixing spoon. Once the mixture cools, keep it in the refrigerator for about an hour. Take it out, cut into pieces and serve!

Coconut Barfi

Coconut barfi, better known as Kaju Katli is another festive favourite in Indian homes and is served both as sweets and gifts during the festive season. You can prepare this treat at home, in your microwave oven, in just 15-20 minutes! If you don’t have one yet, you can buy a microwave oven online with good discounts during the festive season!

What you’ll need?

·         Grated coconut: 1 cup

·         Milk: 1/4 cup

·         Sugar: 3 tbsp

·         Cardamom powder: 1 tsp

·         Ghee: 2 tsp

·         Few strands of saffron (optional)

Mix 1 cup of grated coconut and ghee, in a microwave-friendly bowl. Place the bowl in a microwave oven that has baking and grilling functions and set the timer 1 minute. When the mixture melts and mixes, add and mix milk, sugar, cardamom powder, while adding saffron, to get a nice, yellow colour. Run the microwave again for 2 minutes. When the timer goes off, shift the mixture to a metal or hard glass tray, coated with ghee. Set the mixture evenly and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour. Once the mixture cools, take it out and cut it into even pieces. You can serve this treat to guests and even gift It to your friends and family.

Besan Ladoo

We’ve all grown up eating Besan Ladoo, which our mothers prepared with utmost love. Traditionally, this sweet was made on the gas stove and usually took a lot of time. But now it can be made in a microwave oven for baking and grilling, easily and in no time! The one we used for this recipe is a convection microwave by Panasonic. You can even buy a microwave oven online at special discounts during the festive season.

Ingredients you’ll need

·         Ground besan (chickpea flour) - 1 cup

·         Powdered Sugar - 1/2 cup

·         Ghee - 4 tbsp

·         Almonds and Deshelled Pistachios – 5

·         Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp

·         Pinch of salt

Add melted ghee, coarse chickpea flour and a pinch of salt to a microwave-safe bowl and mix well. Make sure to mix well till the besan absorbs all the ghee. Now, place the mixture in a microwave oven for 5 minutes and take the bowl out in 1-minute intervals and stir well. Add in chopped almonds and other dry fruits when the mixture turns a medium golden and mix well. Once the mixture cools, add in powdered sugar, elaichi powder, and mix it well so that it binds well. You can do this by pressing it between your fingers.

When the laddoo mixture is ready, grease your palms and take a small portion. Now, roll the mixture into a laddoo by pressing and rolling in between your palm and moving in a circular motion. Repeat for the rest of the mixture and your Besan Ladoos are ready to be served! These too, make for great festive gifts!

We hope you try these super easy and tasty festive treats at home this Diwali. If you don’t have one already, get a grill microwave oven online at a good price and you can make these festive treats in a healthy way!

Image Source: timesofindia.com, nehascookbook.com