As Chaitra Navratri brings its festive vibes, let’s dive into the joy of gatherings and delicious treats! This year, why not make it bit different and sprinkle some nutritious goodness into your Navratri delights? Almonds, with their yummy and crunchy flavor and loads of health benefits, are here to make your festive sweets even more special. Packed with 15 essential nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and protein, almonds are a powerhouse of goodness. So, let’s whip up 3 super-easy almond-based healthy sweet recipes to tantalize your taste buds at home!

Almond and Custard Apple Rabri

Serves: 4

Ingredients

Custard apple pulp 2 gm

Double cream (fat) 1 gm

Sugarfree To taste

Almonds 30 gm

Method

• Toast the almonds in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for one minute.

• Grind the toasted almonds to a coarse powder and finely chop the rest.

• Combine custard apple pulp, double cream, and honey, then incorporate the ground almonds.

• Refrigerate the mixture until chilled, and sprinkle with chopped almonds before serving.

Almond Coconut Burfi

Serves: 4 – 5

Ingredients

Freshly grated coconut 1 cup

Grinded, Almonds blanched 1/2 cup

Sugarfree 1 cup

Desi ghee 1/3 cup

Method

• Heat ghee in a non-stick pan over low to medium heat, then add the coconut and almond mixture. Stir thoroughly to ensure even mixing and continue stirring to prevent sticking or burning until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and forms a cohesive mass. Add the sweetener and fold it in gently.

• Grease a baking sheet with ghee and set it aside.

• Reduce the heat to low and keep stirring for a few more minutes until the residue clinging to the sides of the pan appears opaque and dry, indicating that the mixture is approaching the right consistency for solidification.

• Transfer the mixture onto the greased plate or sheet. Use greased hands to knead the dough, then flatten it into a neat square with a greased rolling pin to about 1/4 inch thickness. Smooth out the surface as needed.

• Once the mixture has partially cooled, cut it into equal squares using a knife. After it has completely cooled (approximately an hour), carefully separate the burfis using a flat spatula and store them in an airtight container.

Grilled Almond Burfee

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Khoya (pindi) – 500 g

Sugar free – 40 g

Almonds roasted and crushed – 1 cup

Method:

• Begin by grating the khoya and setting it aside. Heat a pan and add the grated khoya, then incorporate 40 grams of sugar-free sweetener. Cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes, ensuring thorough mixing. Once done, remove from the heat and stir in the roasted and crushed almonds. Promptly transfer the mixture to individual serving dishes.

• Sprinkle the remaining sugar-free sweetener on top of each serving. Place the dishes in a preheated oven set to 200°C, using only the heat from the top, allowing the sugar to caramelize. Once caramelized, remove from the oven and serve immediately.