Rajgira flour Halwa/ Amaranth flour Halwa
Wishing you all a very Happy & Shubh Navratri!!
It is that time of the year again when Ma Durga blesses us with her presence on earth, eradicating our sorrows, troubles, obstacles and granting us a chance to start afresh.
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra". Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India.
It is a time for both festivities and fasting.
In most places in India, people fast on all nine days of the festival. They do not eat foods with onion or garlic. Apart from that they cannot use normal salt in the food or use normal wheat flour to prepare the fasting recipes.
But the best part is there is an alternative for all of these prohibited items. You can use rock salt in place of normal salt, buckwheat flour and rajgira flour to make chapatis, and even a special kind of rice known as Samak chawal can be eaten while you are fasting.
Today, I am going to share a very simple, quick and easy to make dessert, Halwa which is apt for people who are fasting. It’s made with super healthy and nutritious Amaranth flour or Rajgira flour.
This recipe of mine is going to my FB bloghop group Healthy Wellthy Cuisines, wherein participating bloggers share recipes every fortnight on a pre decided theme. This time the theme is #NavratriFastingRecipesatHW to go with the upcoming Navratri festival.
Do checkout what my fellow bloggers made for the theme..
Custard Apple Kheer by Jayashree
Lauki Raita by Swati
Sundal Podi by Narmadha
************
Coming back to my super delicious recipe of Rajgira halwa.
Let's see the health benefits of rajgira or Amaranth first---
Amaranth (Rajgira or Rajgiri) isn’t technically a grain like oats, wheat or rice. The flowers of the plant are made up of minuscule, grain-like buds, the reason why this plant often falls into the “grain” category. With recent research highlighting its many uses and nutritional benefits, amaranth has been gaining importance as a super-grain.
Amaranth is a good source of carbohydrates and is packed with fiber. One cup serving of cooked grains provides 46 grams of carbs and 5 grams of fiber. Amaranth grains are high in protein and other minerals like calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, folate and selenium. The grains are also rich in antioxidants.An important aspect of this tiny grain is that it is gluten-free.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Some health benefits of amaranth are:
1 . Helps In Weight Loss
Since amaranth is high on fiber and slow to digest, it makes you feel full for longer eliminating the urge for repeated unhealthy snacking.
2 . Protects Against Cancer
Antioxidants found in amaranth prevent oxidative damage to the cells. This cuts down the risk of cell mutation into cancerous cells.
3 . Fights Inflammation
Amaranth has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in relieving chronic pain that occurs due to gout, arthritis and diabetes. It owes its anti-inflammatory properties to the presence of certain peptides.
4 . Promotes Bone Health
Being rich in calcium and phosphorous, amaranth helps build bone strength and reduces risk of osteoporosis. Since it contains lysine (an essential amino acid found rarely in plants), it helps the body absorb calcium.
5 . Builds Muscle Strength
Since amaranth is rich in protein which is the building block of muscles, they are good for muscle strength. Lysine contained in amaranth also helps in building muscles.
6 . Aids In Digestion
Amaranth is a fiber-rich grain which promotes digestive health and ensures healthy bowel movement.
7 . Promotes Heart Health
Potassium is linked with blood pressure and a healthy heart. Amaranth being rich in potassium helps maintain a healthy heart by balancing the good and bad cholesterol levels.
Coming back to our delicious recipe of this halwa.
I have tried this for the first time but it came out real scrumptious. I gave a bowl full to my neighbors too and they too loved this halwa.
I think I should stop talking now and better jump to recipe part by listing the Ingredient list.
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 3-4
INGREDIENTS:
Rajgira Flour- 1 cup
Clarified Butter/ Ghee- 1/2 cup
Sugar- 3/4 th cup
Milk or Water- 1.5 cups
Cardamom powder- 1 teaspoon
Cashews- 8-10, slivered
Almonds- 8-10, slivered
Pista slivers- 1 tablespoon
Dried Rose Petals- to garnish(Optional)
DIRECTIONS:
We will start by heating the ghee in a heavy bottomed kadai or pan.
Next, add flour to the hot ghee and start roasting it.
Meanwhile, Keep stirring and frying the atta continuously till its color changes to golden brown color.
You may add half of the slivered cashews and almonds. And reserve half for garnishing. This way nuts will also get roasted along with the flour.
There is no need to roast pistachios.
Add in cardamom powder too.
When the flour is roasted nicely, changes to chocolatey brown color, you get the aroma of roasted flour and also begins to release ghee, add in the milk.
Keep on stirring vigorously so that there are no lumps.
When the flour mix absorbs all the milk add in sugar.
Mix everything well.
When halwa reaches to a semi thick or thick consistency, and halwa releases ghee, switch off the flame.
Garnish with slivered nuts.
Serve it either hot or warm.
Enjoy!!!!
Recipe Card
Rajgira flour Halwa/ Amaranth flour Halwa
Scrumptious pudding made with Rajgira flour or Amaranth flour and is apt for people who are fasting. It is a gluten free dessert and can be eaten for vrat or fasting days.
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 3-4
INGREDIENTS:
Rajgira Flour- 1 cup
Clarified Butter/ Ghee- 1/2 cup
Sugar- 3/4 th cup
Milk or Water- 1.5 cups
Cardamom powder- 1 teaspoon
Cashews- 8-10, slivered
Almonds- 8-10, slivered
Pista slivers- 1 tablespoon
Dried Rose Petals- to garnish(Optional)
DIRECTIONS:
We will start by heating the ghee in a heavy bottomed kadai or pan.
Next, add flour to the hot ghee and start roasting it.
Meanwhile, Keep stirring and frying the atta continuously till its color changes to golden brown color, you may add half of the slivered cashews and almonds. And reserve half for garnishing. This way nuts will also get roasted along with the flour.
There is no need to roast pistachios.
Add in cardamom powder too.
When the flour is roasted nicely, changes to chocolatey brown color, you get the aroma of roasted flour and also begins to release ghee, add in the milk.
Keep on stirring vigorously so that there are no lumps.
When the flour mix absorbs all the milk add in sugar.
Mix everything well.
When halwa reaches to a semi thick or thick consistency, and halwa releases ghee, switch off the flame.
Garnish with slivered nuts.
Serve it either hot or warm.
Enjoy!!!!