Makar Sankranti is observed in the month of January each year. The significant pan-Indian solar festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the same day but goes by several names, and occasionally on several days surrounding Makar Sankranti. In Andhra Pradesh, it is known as Pedda Panduga; in Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra, it is known as Makara Sankranti; in Tamil Nadu, it is known as Pongal; in Assam, it is known as Magh Bihu; in parts of central and northern India, it is known as Magha Mela; in the west, it is known as Makar Sankranti; and in Kerala, it is known as Makara Sankranti or Sankranti.
Festivals mean new clothes, delectable sweets, family reunions, and unlimited fun. There is no better occasion than a festival to make sweets. In general, we use refined sugar for sweets, which has several negative health consequences. So instead of that, we can use jaggery or gud. It’s common to hear claims that jaggery is “healthier” than refined sugar or white sugar. It is also good for weight loss also.
Benefits of jaggery/Gud
What if you can find organic jaggery or gud? It will improve the taste and health of the dish. In addition, jaggery contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Jaggery is also a great plant-based source of iron. One serving could provide around 10% of the daily recommended iron consumption. Supporting healthy blood cells requires iron. You may have less fatigue and better muscle performance if you consume adequate iron.
Festivals would not be complete without a tray of ladoos, barfis, halwa, and other treats! But have you ever considered how the making of sweets in different regions of India reflects the diversity of Indian culture? Every region in India enjoys showcasing its distinctive culinary inventions. With Makar Sankranti quickly approaching, we thought it would be a good idea to collect a few traditional sweet jaggery recipes with multiple health benefits from around the nation.
Follow our simple instructions to make a variety of desserts to enjoy this Makar Sankranti with your loved ones!
1. Jaggery Roti
Jaggery roti is a delightful and simple-to-make sweet roti prepared with whole wheat flour and jaggery. These sweet (meethi) rotis can be prepared for breakfast as well as an evening or after-school snack for children.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:
1. Mix grated jaggery, elaichi powder, and til.
2. Make them into equal-sized, tiny balls. Now, only enough dough (pedas) needs to be rolled out to stuff and fold in the jaggery.
3. Roll it once more into a ball, gently. Roll out the dough thinly to resemble a paratha when dusted with flour.
4. Using desi ghee, fry the rolled-out bread on both sides on a hot tawa. Cook until both sides are browned. Remove and serve hot.
2. Til Gud Ke Ladoo
Made with white sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and desiccated coconut, this laddu is nutritious, one of the healthier recipes, delectable, and nutty. A sweet treat made especially for the Makar Sankranti celebration that is vegan. These sesame seed ladoos are a tasty, comforting winter treat.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:
1. Roast sesame seeds (til) over a low flame. Stir occasionally till the sesame seeds pop open and change color. This takes two to three minutes on low heat. Don’t let them burn.
2. Add a teaspoon of cardamom powder and mix thoroughly. Place aside.
3. Take 12 heaping cups of grated or powdered jaggery and place it in the same pan or kadai.
4. Pour in 3 teaspoons of water. Cook until the jaggery solution reaches the soft-ball stage and keep stirring continuously.
5. Make small balls. Your Til-Gud Ladoo is now ready to eat.
3. Peanut Ladoo
Jaggery and roasted peanuts are the only two ingredients in this simple yet delicious recipe for ladoos. At room temperature, these peanut ladoos last approximately a week, and in the refrigerator, they keep for 15 to 20 days. These ladoos can be served simply or even as a sweet snack in a tiffin box and are considered healthy recipes for kids.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:
Jaggery is simply melted and combined with roughly crushed peanuts in the peanut ladoo recipe. Later, it is formed into rounded balls that can be used as protein balls or ladoos.
4. Strawberry Jam
This is a simple and delicious recipe for strawberry jam that is made without preservatives. Instead of using sugar to sweeten the jam, jaggery is used. The jam keeps well in the refrigerator for around two months.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:
1. First, place 750 g of strawberries and jaggery in a big kadai. If you don’t care about your diet, you can add three cups (750 g) of sugar.
2. Stir thoroughly until the sugar dissolves while keeping the flame on medium.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice now to prevent the sugar from crystallizing. Stir thoroughly, then boil for five minutes.
4. To protect the strawberries from burning, stir them occasionally. Boil the strawberry for a further 10 minutes, or until it becomes soft.
5. The strawberries should be well mashed to achieve a smooth consistency.
6. Cook the mixture over a medium flame until it thickens, and the foam totally vanishes.
7. Dip a cool metal spoon into the mixture to test the consistency; the mixture shouldn’t fall off.
8. Put the jam in a glass jar and allow it to cool fully. Enjoy your homemade strawberry jam with jaggery.
5. Murmura Ladoo
A quick and simple recipe for puffed rice ladoo that is crunchy, crisp, light, delectable, and ready in a few minutes. You can substitute puffed poha (flattened rice that has been puffed) for the puffed rice in this recipe. They are also called “puri unde” or “murmura ladoo.” This is one of the healthy recipes to lose weight.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:
1. Dry roast 3 cups of murmura in a pan over a low flame until crispy. Set it apart.
2. Add 1 cup of jaggery and 1 tsp of ghee to the pan now. Stir continuously over a medium flame until the jaggery dissolves completely. Jaggery syrup should be boiled on a low flame until glossy and thick.
3. Drop some syrup into a water bowl to test the consistency; it should form a hard ball.
4. Turn off the gas and add the roasted murmura to the jaggery syrup. Make sure the jaggery syrup is thoroughly coated; mix carefully. Roll the ladoos right away, using slightly wet palms. Be prompt to prevent the mixture from cooling off and making ladoo rolling difficult.
5. Once it comes to room temperature, you can store it in an airtight container. Enjoy this winter delicacy made with simple home ingredients.
The food eaten on Makar Sankranti is of great significance since it represents completion and productivity. We should always prioritize foods that help us live a healthy lifestyle while also adding flavor to our lives.
Please give these recipes a try and let us know how they turn out. We would love to hear about your experiences. Upload your videos while you make any of the above-mentioned sweets, and don’t forget to tag us. We will select one video, and the winner will get a surprise gift from Team SABEZY.
If you are looking to buy organic, chemical-free jaggery or gud powder for your recipes, then click here. For more healthy food products, visit our website.
We wish you a wonderful day ahead and a prosperous new year 2023! And enjoy your Makar Sankranti 2023….