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Holi is just around the corner (to be celebrated on March 14, 2025), and people are busy turning their winter wardrobe into summer. The festival of colours marks the seasonal shift, and hence, the festive spread is a melange of ingredients boasting warming and cooling properties. However, one more thing that cannot escape the eyes is the deep-frying of foods.
You can only prepare dishes in bulk when you are deep-frying, and the process also extends shelf life. From gujiya and mathri to dahi vada and kanji vada, every dish has one or other ingredient that is cooked in a pool of ghee or oil until crispy. Not only does it make the dishes slightly heavy to indulge but also posses health risks if consumed in plenty. This article mentions a few snacks that are healthy and are a must-have during Holi celebrations.
Thandai Parfait
The ingredients of thandai mixture are not deep-fried but boiled, roasted, and blended. Almonds, rose petals, cardamom, fennel seeds, cashews, and more make up the blend. You can use the same aromatic mixture to prepare parfait by layering it with hung curd, granola bars, and honey. Don’t forget to add roasted saffron strands on the top for a bit of colour.
Mixed Sprouts Chaat
Instead of papdi chaat, you can opt for mixed sprout chaat this Holi. Boil sprouts and chana soaked overnight and toss them with mixed vegetables like chopped onion, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, and more. Drizzle lemon juice, add pomegranate seeds, and sprinkle chaat masala on top. You can make this in bulk but serve the ingredients in separate bowls so that people can make their own version of chaat and enjoy it.
Baked Mathri
If you have an oven or air fryer, you should try a new way of making mathri. Instead of deep-frying the discs and strips, bake them. You will be surprised how crispy they come out. You can also experiment with the dough by kneading it with beetroot puree, palak blend, or more. You can even replace atta or maida with ragi, bajra, and amaranth flour to make the snack gluten and guilt-free.
Millet Ladoos
This Holi, you should do something interesting by making millet ladoos. They are the healthiest and can satiate your sugar cravings. Not to mention they are gluten-free and nutritious if you make them with crushed dry fruits. You can pick the millet flour of your choice and mix it with toasted nuts, dry fruits, and jaggery. For nuttiness, add grated coconut, and your guests will never have enough of these.
Chia Seed Pudding
Since it’s Holi, you must experiment with chia seed pudding. How about layering the seeds with thandai powder or a thick thandai blend? Every bite will be a boost of flavour and the crunch from seeds will enhance the experience. Don’t forget to drizzle honey and garnish with saffron strands to make the dessert appealing to the eyes.
Baked Gujiya
Even when fried, gujiyas are a staple and healthy because of the nutty stuffing. But if you want to eliminate deep-frying them, you can always go with baking the beautifully shaped and stuffed dough. While gujiyas, make sure you grease each piece with melted ghee so that the crust comes out crispy and brown rather than chewy and charred.
