Eat Healthy with Millets, Palm Jaggery and Cold Pressed Oils
Let’s celebrate diwali, holi and many more in a healthy way! All of these snacks and sweets will remind you of your childhood without compromising on taste!
This delicious payasam or kheer is one of the easiest sweet which can be made very quickly. Aval/flakes/poha is very dear to Lord Krishna. This sweet dish can be made as neivedhyam on any auspicious day. Using millet flakes instead of regular rice flakes makes this recipe more healthy.
Kesari/Sooji Halwa/Sheera is a popular sweet variety throughout our country. Many variations are done by adding various fruit pulps to make it as fruit Kesari. I have already shared 2 Kesari recipes. In this recipe, I have used mango puree to make it as mango Kesari. Try this easy, tasty recipe before the mango season ends!
Kesari/Sheera is usually made with processed rava from wheat and processed sugar. As I wanted to make a gluten free, vegan and healthy version, I used Jowar rava, Karuppatti/Palm Jaggery/Taad Gur/Panavellam as a sweetener and cold pressed coconut oil instead of ghee. A rich source of iron and several other nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium, palm jaggery is not your usual cup of sucrose. It’s a perfect sweetener devoid of any artificial substances and full of natural nutrients. It improves digestion, treats common cough and cold acts as energy booster and helps in weight reduction. Ghee can be used instead of oil and it will definitely enhance the aroma and taste.
In the sacred month of Margazhi, Thiruppavai and Thiruvempaavai are recited daily. In the 27th Pasuram of Thiruppavai Aandal says ''koodarai vellum seer Govinda'' means the Lord Krishna protects even those who are against him! She further says today we will eat rice cooked in milk, ghee and jaggery as her wishes are fulfilled by Govindan. That is the reason behind this festival Koodaraivalli where Akkaravadisil/Akkaraadisil is prepared in every home and offered to Him. Tomorrow being 27th day of Margazhi, try this mouth watering prasadham recipe with millets. Koodaraivalli wishes to all!
Thrivadhirai or Arudhra Dharisanam is a festival celebrated in the month of Margazhi on Thiruvadhirai Star which usually falls on Full Moon Day. This festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva and in Chidambaram it is celebrated in a grand manner in 5 sabhas.
In Thillai Chidambaram 10 day Festival is held during Thiruvathirai. On the 9th day night (i.e., 10th day very early morning) Maha Abhishekam will be done to Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakamasundari at Raja Sabhai at around 3 am. The MahaAbhishekam will be held for about 3–4 hours.
Then special Thiruvabaranam (Sacred Jewels) Alankaram, Rahasiya Pujai will be done to Sri Natarajar. Pancha Murthi Thiruveethi Ula, will be held at around 12 pm Noon. Soon after Pancha Murthi Ula in the afternoon Lord Natarajar and Goddess Sivakami will bless devotees with Aarudra Darisanam and enter Kanaka Sabhai.
KaLi and kootu are made as Prasadam in every household and offered to Lord Shiva in the wee hours. This year, the festival falls on 10th of this month and I thought this millet version will be useful for many. Try this traditional recipe using millets and enjoy the festival.
