Punjab Dessert with benefits of Jaggery (“KUCH MITHA HO JAYE”)

 Punjab Dessert with benefits of Jaggery

(“KUCH MITHA HO JAYE”)

Source of Image: unsplash.com

 

Punjab has a variety of food cultures. The main traditional Punjabi food is Sarson da saag with Makki di roti, Papad, Lassi, dal makhni, and lots of jaggery desserts. Many traditional dishes are prepared during the festive season. In Punjab, there is a tradition to serve dessert with lots of love in the form of “KUCH MITHA HO JAYE” after the meal. The culture of Punjab is the richest in the world.  In the Punjab sweet confections, mostly jaggery played an important role due to its beneficial point of view.

Jaggery is known by different names in different places like- In India (Gur), Colombia (Panela), Mexico (Piloncillo), Costa Rica (Tapa dulce), Thailand (Namtan tanode), Malaysia (Gula Melaka), Japan (Kokuto).

A half cup of jaggery contains: (source: Healthline.com)

·       Calories -383

·       Fat- 0.1 grams

·       Iron-11mg

·       Sucrose- 65-85 grams

·       Protein-0.4 grams

·       Potassium-1050 mg

·       Manganese-0.2-0.5 mg

·       Fructose and glucose -10-15 grams

Jaggery also contains a small amount of Vitamin B, and other minerals like calcium (Ca), Zinc (Z), phosphorus (P), and Copper (Cu).

Jaggery is full of a package of benefits that help to improve our health. In jaggery, there is the presence of calcium that helps to improve bone health. Besides this, it helps to boost immunity, manage constipation, and help to improve digestion. Jaggery with Carom seeds also helps to relieve menstrual pain in women and helps to purify the blood.

Punjab Sweet Confection containing Jaggery are:

·       Gur Vali Cha (Jaggery Tea)

·       Gur Vaale Chawal (Jaggery rice)

·       Gulgule (Jaggery Doughnut)

·       Bhoot Pinne (Popcorn Jaggery balls)

·       Meethi Puri (Crispy deep-fried Indian Jaggery Bread)

Jaggery has lots of benefits from a digestion point of view. Jaggery helps to boost immunity. It also improves our digestion and bone health. It manages constipation, and stomach pain and might also help in weight loss.

Let’s discuss all of these recipes:

1.     Gur Vali Cha (Jaggery Tea)

When you find fatigue, you want to boost your immunity so go for this Gur Vali cha (Jaggery Tea). This tea helps to detoxify the body, regulates blood pressure, helps to relieve respiratory problems, and improves digestion.

 

 

 

Source of image: www.vecteezy.com

Ingredients:

Ginger -½ Inch

Cardamon-1Pcs

Water – 1 cup

Whole Milk (Boiled)– 1 cup

Tea Leaves -2 Tsp

Jaggery- 1Tsp        

 Method:

·       Crush Ginger and set aside.

·       In a pan, add water and bring it to a boil.

·       Add tea leaves to it.

·       Now, add crushed ginger to it.

·       Boil it for two minutes.

·       Now, add boiled milk to it.

·       When a rolling boil starts to occur in the pan, swirl the pan and simmer for a 2minutes.

·       Add jaggery to it and switch off the flame.

·       Strain it and pour it into your favorite tea mug.

·       Serve and enjoy with cookies.

 

2.     Gur Vaale Chawal (Jaggery Rice)

In Punjab, the Gur Vale Chawal (Jaggery Rice) dish can be made for any festive occasion. This recipe is easy and quick to make. This recipe is a great source of iron and helps to restore the body's energy.

 

 

Source of Image: www.vegrecipesofindia.com

Ingredients:

For Jaggery Syrup

Water -4 Cups

Jaggery- 450 grams

For Jaggery rice

Desi Ghee – 1 Tsp

Raisins- 2Tsp

Dry Coconut (Sliced)-40-50 gram

Almonds -2Tsp

 Fennel seeds - ½ Tsp

Few cardamoms seed

Cloves -2-3 Pcs

Rice (Basmati) – 3 Cups

For Garnish

Saffron strands

Pistachio (Sliced)

 

Method:

For Jaggery Syrup

·       Take a bowl, and add 450 grams of jaggery.

·       Then soak it in 2 ½ Cup water for 30-50 minutes.

·       Then filter it and keep it aside.

For Jaggery rice

·       Pick 3 cups of rice (Basmati), clean and wash it properly a couple of times in water.

·       Soak the rice for 15-20 minutes in water.

·       After, drain it and keep it aside.

·       In a pressure cooker add 1Tsp desi ghee. Add Fennel seeds (½ Tsp), a few cardamom seeds, and Cloves (2-3 Pcs).

·       Stir it for 1 minute.

·       Now, add soaked rice, then add jaggery syrup into it.

·       Add, Raisins (2Tsp), Dry Coconut (Sliced) (40-50 grams), and Almonds (2Tsp).

·       Cover the lid of the pressure cooker.

·       Wait for one whistle.

·       After the one whistle, switch off the flame.

·       Wait for the proper release of pressure from the pressure cooker.

·       Now open it, put it into the serving plate, and garnish with Saffron strands and Pistachio (Sliced).

·       Enjoy it with your favorite TV show.

 

3.     Gulgule (Jaggery Doughnut)

Gulgule (jaggery Doughnut) is one of the famous dishes of Punjab that is prepared during the Teej Festival. Punjabis consider the Teej festival as a “Teeyan”. The Teeyan is very common in Punjab villages. This festival is also called Sawan. Gulgules are doughnut-like treats that are made up of jaggery. They are soft and fluffy it is served with a cup of tea.

Source of Image: www.vegrecipesofindia.com

 

             Ingredients

            Jaggery – 120 grams

            Water – 1 ½ Cup

            Wheat flour- 1 ½ cup

            Fennel seeds -1 tsp

            Cardamom powder -1/4 tsp

            Ghee- 1tsp

            Oil (for frying purposes)

            Method:

·       Firstly, we prepare jaggery water. Take a bowl to add jaggery (120 grams) and mix it properly in water (1 ½ Cup).

·       Leave this mixture for one hour so that jaggery melts and mix in water properly.

·       Filter this jaggery water and keep it aside.

·       On another side take wheat flour (1 ½ cups) in a bowl and add fennel seeds (1 tsp), cardamom powder (¼ tsp), and ghee (1 tsp). Mix it properly.

·       After that add jaggery water (don’t add jaggery water at once, add it slowly) to the wheat flour mixture.

·       Mix it properly to make the proper batter. This batter consistency not should be Thick, not thin.

·       Rest it for 20 minutes.

·       Take hot oil in the pan.

·       On another side, take a scoop of a tbsp of batter, and drop it into hot oil.

·       Make sure a round ball-sized shape is attained.

·       Fry on medium flame until it turns dark golden brown.

·       Drain off. (Make sure all the oil is drained off).

·       Finally, Enjoy it in the rainy season with a cup of tea.

 

4.     Bhoot Pinne (Popcorn Jaggery balls)

Bhoot Pinne (Popcorn Jaggery Balls) is a traditional dish prepared during the Lohri Festival (Lohri is the celebration of the arrival of longer days after the winter solstice). This dish acts like an immunity booster. It helps to prevent anemia.  This is a famous traditional sweet dish in Punjab.

Source of Image: www.youtube.com

 

Ingredients

Popcorn- Big bowl

Jaggery – Big Take equal quantity to popcorn

Water – 2 glasses

    Method:

·       Take a pan and mix jaggery with water.

·       On the flame cook this mixture in medium flame for 20 minutes to make jaggery syrup.

·       Make sure the jaggery syrup consistency is not too thick or in thin form.

·       After making syrup filter it.

·       Now take a popcorn bowl after that add jaggery syrup into it, and mix it properly.

·       After that make a ball with the hands.

·       Store it in an airtight container.

·       Enjoy this delicious bhoot pinne with your loved ones.

 

5.     Meethi Puri (Crispy deep-fried Indian Jaggery Bread)

Meethi Puri is a special dish in Punjab.  This sweet dish is famous in the Teej festival. This recipe is for children. This is a wonderful and tasty treat for all Punjabis in the festive season. This meethi puri is also served with kheer ( Rice pudding).

 Source of Image: www.youtube.com

 

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour- 2 cups

Milk – ¾ cup

Oil -1Tsp

Jaggery- ¼ cup

Cooking oil – For frying purpose

    Method:

·       Take wheat flour then add jaggery, and oil (1Tsp) and mix it properly.

·       Now add milk to the above mixture and knead the dough properly.

·       Cover the dough and keep this dough aside for 20 minutes.

·       After 20 minutes, then make medium-sized balls from the dough.

·       On a rolling board, take one dough ball and spread a bit of oil in it.

·       Roll to a medium round puri.

·       Heat oil in a pan.

·       Add a medium round of the dough to the oil.

·       Gently slide the rolled meethi puri into the medium-hot oil.

·       When one side becomes golden, turn over and fry the other.

·       Fry it till it looks crisp and golden.

·       Carefully remove them with a slotted spoon draining as much oil as possible.

·       Then place them on tissue paper to absorb extra oil.

·       Prepare all puries this way.

·       Once they cool at room temperature, store them in an air-tight container.

·       Serve it as a tea-time snack.

 

Jaggery is such a sweet thing that makes your life so sweet. Jaggery plays a marvelous role in the Punjabi desert. Jaggery also offers several health benefits too. Whenever desert with full of benefits is like a “Cherry on top”. So, enjoy your meal with jaggery.

Happy Sweet Reading!