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The festive season in India is truly one of the most anticipated times of the year. From decorating rooms with fairy lights and rangolis to lighting diyas and, of course, indulging in rich Indian delicacies, the festive months light up homes and faces. But with the irresistible snacks like mathri and tikkis and a range of mithai, it can be hard to keep a tab on the calorie intake.
However, whether in the form of an upset stomach or lingering guilt, the deep-fried treats can harm your body. And the best way to make your fried favourites healthier and enjoy them guilt-free is by changing the cooking process. Cutting down the use of oil in frying, you can bake in Usha’s OTG and have a guilt-free festive feast.
Baked Gujiya
Be it Holi or Diwali, gujiyas always take the spotlight on every festive occasion. To swap the deep-fried version with the baked one, you can start by kneading the dough with maida, suji, and ghee. You can whip up the filling by mixing roasted khoya, powdered sugar, dry fruits, and coconut. After letting the dough rest, shape small portions into a crescent shape and bake at 180°C for 20-25 minutes. Once golden brown, celebrate the festivals with baked gujiya.
Oven-Baked Mathri
The crispy and flaky mathris are staples at many festivals, particularly on Karwa Chauth and Diwali. Since the dough is made of maida and is traditionally deep-fried, mathris can be made healthier by baking in Usha’s OTG. Whether you’re making sweet mathris, spicy ones, or the methi ones, you can simply bake at 180°C and in fifteen to twenty minutes, your festive snack will be ready.
Aloo Tikki
If you’re in the mood to eat something traditional or want to serve the guests something sumptuous, go for aloo tikki. You can start by taking boiled potatoes and mashing them together with finely chopped onion and your go-to spices. After making the mixture, take small portions, make a round shape, and bake them in Usha’s OTG. Once the tikkis are crispy, serve with your favourite chutney. For a more filling snack, you can add dahi, pomegranate seeds, and sev on top.
Baked Samosa
Samosa is an all-time favourite North Indian street food. Being a readily available and utterly irresistible snack, it is one of the most commonly served fried snacks during the festive season. However, to cut down the calories, you can bake the samosas. You can prepare the dough, shape it into the conical shape of samosas, brush them with a thin layer of milk or oil, and let Usha’s OTG do its magic. In about half an hour, you’ll get the perfectly crispy samosas minus the excessive oil.
Khasta Kachori
Whether you’re having a festive brunch or a wholesome snack, khasta kachori is an impeccable option. You can choose the filling you want, like dal, onion, potatoes, etc, and make the snack guilt-free by baking instead of deep-frying. With a maida-based dough, filled with your choice of veggies, spices, and ingredients, your kachoris will be ready in less than half an hour of baking time. Once flaky, serve with a tangy aloo bhaji and make the most of the festivities.
