Halwa is a sweet dish that is prepared during special occasions. Or sometimes simply because you or someone in the family has a sweet tooth! The key ingredient is usually cooked with sugar and ghee to get a soft, heartwarming dish. It is high in sugar and so, people with diabetes may maintain a distance from it. Even those who are watching their weight may try to skip halwa. But halwa can be healthy too, and yes, can be relished by diabetics and people on a weight-loss journey. Since it is Holi, which falls on March 25 this year, make the day special by trying these healthy halwa recipes.

Holi recipes for healthy halwa

You can make healthy halwa by choosing ingredients such as beetroot, chia seeds, quinoa and pumpkin.

If we look at beetroot, it contains betalains, which are powerful antioxidants. It also has fiber that can aid in digestion and promote a healthy gut, says nutritionist Dhriti Jain.

Chia seeds are also healthy, especially for those who are watching their weight. For a 2017 study, 77 obese or overweight people and those with type 2 diabetes had participated. The participants who ate a reduced-calorie diet and took chia seeds daily experienced a good amount of weight loss, according to the study published in the Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases journal.

While having quinoa will give you protein, the fiber, potassium and antioxidants in pumpkin can lower blood pressure, says the expert.

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Here are some healthy halwa recipes!

1. Beetroot halwa

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated beetroot
• 2 cups whole milk
• 4 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
• A handful of chopped nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

Method

• Heat ghee in pan and sauté grated beetroot for 5 to 7 minutes until they soften.
• Add milk and stir well until milk is reduced to about half its original volume.
• Continue cooking until the mixture thickens.
• Add chopped nuts and cardamom powder, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove it from heat and serve the dish warm.

2. Oats chia seeds halwa

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3 tablespoon chia seeds
• 3 cups milk
• 2 tablespoon ghee
• A handful of chopped nuts
• 1/4 cup of honey

Method

• Roast the rolled oats and chia seeds until they turn brown and emit a nutty aroma.
• Keep that aside and then heat ghee on medium flame in a pan.
• Add roasted oats and chia seeds mixture in ghee and saute for a couple of minutes.
• Pour in the milk and stir well. Let it simmer over low heat until oats are cooked and the mixture thickens.
• Add honey and cardamom powder according to your taste.

3. Quinoa halwa

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups milk
• A handful of chopped nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom powder
• Jaggery or Sugar – to taste

Method

• Roast quinoa flour in ghee and when aroma starts coming from it, add milk, sugar or jaggery and cardamon powder to it.
• Stir it well.
• Serve with garnished chopped nuts on top.

4. Sweet potato halwa

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup of ghee
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• A handful of chopped nuts

Method

• Boil sweet potatoes in a pressure cooker.
• When they cool down, peel them then mash the sweet potatoes.
• Heat ghee in a pan on medium heat. Add mashed sweet potato, mix and cook while stirring continuously.
• Add milk and cook for another few minutes while mixing.
• Add chopped nuts in the end.

5. Pumpkin halwa

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated pumpkin
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom powder
• A handful of chopped nuts

Method

• Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat and add grated pumpkin.
• Sauté it for 5 to 7 minutes until it softens.
• Once the pumpkin is soft, add milk while continuously stirring to prevent lumps.
• Cook it until milk gets absorbed.
• Add remaining ghee and cardamom powder, mix it well and cook for few more minutes.
• Remove the halwa from heat, and put chopped nuts on top.

6. Carrot halwa or gajar ka halwa

Ingredients

• 4 cups grated carrot
• 2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoon ghee
• A handful of chopped nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder

Method

• To make gajar ka halwa, heat ghee in a pan and saute grated carrot for 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes soft.
• Add milk and stir well until the dairy product gets reduced to about half its original volume.
• Stir in chopped nuts and cardamom powder and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve warm.