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Gajar ka halwa, or this carrot-based sweet dish, is made using milk of your choice, 8–10 shredded carrots, ghee, khoya and nuts of your choice, such as chopped almonds or cashews, depending on your flavour preferences. From pandal hopping to pujas at home, Dussehra brings with it an abundance of festivities, and, of course, boxes of sweets. As the celebrations continue, it is easy to find ourselves reaching for one sweet after another. it also brings sweet dishes that are often high in sugar content While the season brings home abundance and positivity. But if you’re looking for easy homemade recipes that allow you to enjoy the season of celebrations and puja while also keeping your health in check, here are eight sweets you can try at home. Instead of white sugar, you can consider using a suitable sugar substitute, such as stevia, a sweetener derived from the Stevia rebaudianaplant. However, carrots and milk also contribute carbohydrates, so portion sizes remain important. especially during winter, it can be enjoyed any time of the year for its warm, comforting burst of flavours Although this dish is a popular delicacy in North India. Coconut ladoos is a popular sweet dish, especially around Dussehra.

Sandesh, a popular Bengali-style sweet dish, is a delectable choice for those looking for a sweet with less added sugar. Made using paneer that has been thoroughly mashed and cleared of all lumps, this sweet can be prepared with stevia, powdered pistachios and cardamom powder. Kneading all the ingredients together helps ensure that the mixture comes together smoothly before being shaped into small portions. Dates, rose and pistachio ladoos can be made at home by combining seedless dates, crushed pistachios, almonds and a little rose water or dried rose petals. The dates help bind the ingredients together while providing natural sweetness, and the pistachios add texture and flavour. Every year, around the festive season, we find ourselves reaching for one more ladoo, sandesh, a bite here and a bite there. With guests visiting and sweets being offered during prayers, sweets become a staple of the celebrations, but they do not have to come with the guilt of consuming too much sugar. With diabetes comes the constant checking of sugar levels, ingredients and more. However, with recipes that can be made at home using suitable sugar alternatives, both taste and health can be kept in mind.
Roast the nuts according to your preference, lightly roast the coconut in a pan, and mix the ingredients together. These tiny coconut balls can also be prepared with less added sugar. For a lower-carbohydrate variation, you can use desiccated coconut, a small quantity of almond flour, seedless dates for sweetness, some ghee, chopped nuts and a pinch of salt. As you assemble the mixture, delicately shape it into small balls of flavour, or ladoos. Once prepared, these can be stored for the upcoming days of the Puja festival, provided they are refrigerated appropriately. Kheer, or payasam, is one of the fondest recipes enjoyed during festivals such as Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra across India. Sevaiyan and rice kheer are some popular choices, allowing you to add flavours of your choice to this sweet slow-cooked milk-based dish. You can also use a suitable sugar substitute to reduce the added sugar while preparing it at home.


