Healthy and Oil-Free Recipes for Diwali Celebrations

Oil-Free Diwali Delicacies

Diwali Food Without Oil: The festival of Diwali is not only about lights and decorations but also about rich flavors and traditions. Each region in India has its own special dishes that represent prosperity, sweetness, and good fortune. In Northern India, traditional foods include puris, kachoris, potato-tomato curry, dal makhani, paneer specialties, and a variety of sweets like laddus, gujiyas, chaklis, balushahis, and gram flour laddus. Meanwhile, in Southern India, desserts made from coconut and jaggery, such as payasam, adaiyappam, and naliker laddus, are favorites. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, dishes like farsan, chivda, namkeen, puranpoli, and shakarpara are prepared with great enthusiasm.

On this festive occasion, the food prepared is typically sattvic, rich, and sweet, as the day is dedicated to honoring Goddess Lakshmi and inviting prosperity into homes. Sharing sweets is a tradition that symbolizes joy and good luck, making the preparation of various dishes at home a representation of culture, love, and unity.

Festivals can be more than just indulgent sweets and fried snacks; they can also be a blend of delightful flavors and health. If you're looking to create lighter yet tasty meals for Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi, consider these simple and healthy recipes.

Semolina Upma

Begin by lightly roasting semolina in a dry pan. In another pan, add a small amount of ghee or half a teaspoon of olive oil. Sauté mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, and onions until fragrant. Pour in hot water, then add the roasted semolina while stirring continuously. Finish with lemon juice, salt, and chopped coriander leaves. This dish offers a light breakfast option that is energizing without frying.

Dalia Khichdi

Rinse the lentils and moong dal together. In a pressure cooker, heat some ghee, then add cumin seeds, turmeric, and assorted vegetables. Incorporate the lentils and add three times the amount of water, cooking for two whistles. A splash of lemon juice enhances the flavor, and it remains delicious even without onion and garlic.

Paneer Tikka

Create a marinade using yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, lemon juice, and a touch of olive oil. Coat paneer, capsicum, and onion in the mixture. Cook in an air fryer or oven at 180°C for 15 minutes, or lightly fry in a pan if preferred. This dish is rich in protein and offers a smoky flavor without the use of oil.

Veg Pulao

In a pan, heat 1 teaspoon of ghee and add bay leaves, cloves, and cumin seeds. Add vegetables and sauté, covered, for 2 minutes. Mix in cooked basmati rice, a pinch of salt, and lemon juice. Garnish with coriander or mint. This dish can also be made without ghee in a rice cooker, using olive oil or an air fryer instead. For dessert, opt for sugar-free or jaggery-based treats like date rolls or oat laddus. By choosing this type of non-fried festive menu for Chhoti Diwali, you can enjoy a balance of flavor and health.

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