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Healthy Eating: Eggless Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake

This Cake reminded me of my childhood Britannia cakes. We, as kids, could not stop at one slice. The minute that packet was opened, the whole cake vanished with no crumbs left behind. Marble Cake has both vanilla and chocolate flavors and two distinct colors are mixed together to create a marble effect. To top it all, this gorgeous marble cake is a stress buster for me and made my life super special over the weekend. It is a perfect cake to accompany a cup of Tea or Coffee. Bake a loaf and gift it to your loved ones. I am sure they will love it.

What You Will Need

(1 cup= 200 gm,  1 tbsp=15 gm , 1tsp= 5 gm)

  • Whole wheat flour – 2 cups 
  • Odorless oil/Pure ghee – ½ cup 
  • Jaggery powder/syrup (melt jaggery in ⅛ cup water) – 1 cup 
  • Cocoa powder (unsweetened) – 1 tbsp 
  • Vanilla essence – 1 tsp 
  • Baking powder (7.5gm) – 1 ½ tsp
  • Baking soda (5gm) – 1 tsp 
  • Warm water – 1 cup (can be replaced with milk)  

How To Prepare

  1. Preheat  the oven at 350*F/180*C for 10 mins. Take a normal size Cake Loaf Pan (7-8 inches) and grease it lightly. You may also line it with a parchment paper for easy handling.
  2. Take a big bowl and sift 2 cups of flour, baking powder and baking soda into it. Mix it well with a fork and set it aside.
  3. In another bowl, add ghee/oil, curd and mix well. Add jaggery powder/syrup and beat the mixture till jaggery dissolves. 
  4. Add all the dry ingredients and mix gently with a cut and fold method. Add ¼ cup warm water/milk and fold it again. If you feel the batter is thick then slowly add warm water/milk  till the batter is in flowing consistency (DO NOT OVERBEAT THE BATTER).
  5. Now divide this batter into 2 equal parts.
  6. In one part of the batter, add vanilla essence. Mix it well till incorporated in the batter. This is your vanilla Batter.
  7. In the other half of the batter, add the cocoa powder. Mix well with a fork till well incorporated and therefore, the whole of this batter turns chocolate brown in color.
  8. To pour the batter, add 1 tbsp vanilla batter first at the bottom of the greased pan.Then pour the 1 tbsp chocolate batter on top.Tap the pan on the counter a few times so that the batter settles down evenly with no gaps in between.You may pour the vanilla and chocolate batters in the pan in an alternate sequence or the sequence of your desire, could also be chocolate first and vanilla later. However you want to do it.
  9. Keep it  in the oven for 30-40 mins. at 180*C. After 30 mins, check the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean then remove the cake tin from the oven and keep it on a cool down wire rack . Demould the tin when it completely cools down. (If it sticks on a toothpick, then bake it for more than 10 min. at 160*C .Temperature may vary in different ovens/OTGs.
  10. Cut it into small pieces according to your choice and store it in a steel or glass container in the refrigerator for a week. Enjoy a hearty slice of your Marble Cake with a cup of coffee or tea.

Why Is This Marble Cake Healthier Than A Bakery/Store Cake?

  • We are adding whole wheat flour in a cake which has more fibre, packed with B vitamins, while a bakery cake is made with maida (refined flour). Eating maida raises your bad cholesterol (LDL), makes you put on weight, clogs arteries, raises BP, disrupts blood glucose, keeps you hungry, causes you to crave for sweets, causes mood swings and ruins your health. People eat it because they’re probably unaware of its consequences.
  • We are using jaggery as a sweetener in cake, which is a good source of iron, helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance, aids digestion and helps prevent water retention thanks to its potassium content. Bakery cakes are loaded with white sugar and contain only empty calories without any nutrients. Excess sugar creates higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes and fatty liver disease.
  • In Bakery cakes, they use shortening and margarine, which are Trans Fats (Hydrogenated fats) that raise your risk of heart disease. They also raise your “bad” cholesterol levels, lower your “good” cholesterol and cause inflammation, therefore, hardening of your arteries.

We hope you enjoy this Whole Wheat Jaggery Marble Cake recipe. Do try it out and leave your feedback in the comments below. For more Healthy Recipes, checkout Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Eggless Whole Wheat Gulab Jamun Cake

Gulab Jamun Cake

Can we imagine a Diwali without Gulab Jamun? It’s one of the most delicious Indian desserts! It’s prepared with a blend of all-purpose flour, sugar solution and more. One Gulab Jamun contains 125 calories and while thinking about health and weight, we definitely can’t afford to indulge in this treat. But don’t worry! We’ve found a way to make it healthy with this eggless whole wheat Gulab Jamun Cake recipe! It has the essential flavour without the guilt of eating a deep fried, calorie-laden sweet. 

What You Will Need 

  • Whole wheat flour – 1 cup 
  • MTR gulab jamun mix (or replace with whole wheat flour) – 1 cup 
  • Curd – 1 cup 
  • Odourless oil/pure ghee – ½ cup 
  • Jaggery powder/syrup (melt jaggery in ⅛ cup water) – 1 cup 
  • Cardamom powder – 1 tsp 
  • Saffron – 1 pinch (soaked in 2 tsp milk) 
  • Grated nuts (almonds/cashews) – optional 
  • Baking powder – 1 tsp  
  • Baking soda – 5 gm 
  • Warm water – 1 cup 

Please Note: 1 cup = 200 gm, 1 tbsp = 15 gm, 1 tsp = 5 gm

How To Prepare 

  1. Preheat  the oven at 180*c for 10 mins
  2. Sieve the flour ,baking soda and baking powder all together in one bowl
  3. In another bowl add ghee/oil, curd and mix them well. Now, add the jaggery powder/syrup and beat the mixture till jaggery dissolves
  4. Add cardamom powder, all dry ingredients and mix  gently with a cut and fold method
  5. Add saffron milk and ¼ cup warm water and fold it again. If you feel the batter is thick, then slowly add warm water/milk till the batter is in flowing consistency (do not overbeat the batter) 
  6. Grease a cake tin and line the butter paper in it. Pour the batter in the pan and tap it 4-5 times. Garnish with your favourite nuts. Keep it in the oven for 30 mins at 180*c
  7. After 30 mins, check the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean then remove the cake tin from the oven and keep it on a cool down wire rack. Demould the tin when it completely cools down. If the cake sticks on the toothpick, bake it for another 10 mins. at 160*c (temperature may vary in different ovens/OTGs)
  8. Cut into small pieces as per your choice and store it in a steel or glass container in the refrigerator for a week. 

How Is The Gulab Jamun Cake Healthier Than Gulab Jamun? 

  • We are adding whole wheat flour in a cake which has more fibre, packed with B vitamins and gulab jamun is made up of maida (refined flour). Eating maida also raises your bad cholesterol (LDL), makes you fat, clogs arteries, raises blood pressure, disrupts blood sugar, keeps you hungry, makes you crave for sweets, causes mood swings and ruins your health, looks and relationships. People eat it because they are probably unaware of its consequences.
  • We are also using jaggery as a sweetener in the cake which is a good source of iron, helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance ,digestion and helps prevent water retention thanks to its potassium content .Gulab  jamun is loaded with white sugar syrup in more quantity and contains only empty calories without any nutrients. Excess sugar creates higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
  • 1 piece Gulab jamun contains 125 calories and 1 piece cake has 90 calories.

Do try this Gulab Jamun Cake recipe and light up your Diwali celebrations! We’re sure your family and friends will love it! Do share your experience with us and if you want us to do any healthy versions of sweets and savoury items, let us know in the comments below! 

For more healthy recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Tasty Anjeer Wrap

anjeer wrapHow are all of you doing during this lockdown? We hope you are all safe and healthy. Right about now, we know that your sweet tooth must be craving for something delicious but whatever you do, don’t give in to junk! To ensure that, and to make your quarantine time more productive, we’re sharing a sweet recipe for a delicious anjeer wrap that will warm your heart and keep you healthy!

What You Will Need

  • Anjeer (Figs) – 10 pieces
  • Almonds – 5-6 (roasted and crushed)
  • Walnuts – 5-6 (roasted and crushed)
  • Raisins – 10 pieces
  • Jaggery Powder – ⅓ Cup 
  • Dried grated coconut – ¼ Cup 
  • Cardamom powder – for taste

How to Prepare 

  1. In a pan, dry roast the almonds and walnuts. Once done, keep them aside by roughly crushing them.
  2. In the same pan, put jaggery powder and keep stirring by pouring ½ cup water into it.
  3. Now put cardamom powder along with dry fruits and let it caramelize.
  4. Turn the flame off and let it cool a bit.
  5. Take the Anjeer and fill each with half teaspoon of stuffing material prepared and wrap it like a taco.
  6. Sprinkle some grated coconut on the open front of wrap and enjoy.

Health Benefits of the Anjeer Wrap

  • Figs are a good source of dietary fibre. They are ideal for weight watchers as a high fibre diet gets slowly digested, cutting off hunger pangs. 
  • Being rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium and other minerals, it can help manage and lower blood pressure.
  • Fig fruit and even dried figs are used as natural laxatives to treat constipation.
  • Dried Anjeer has a moderate glycemic index, which makes this a smart choice for people with diabetes as you will experience a rapid increase in your blood sugar.
  • It is found to improve bone health because of its good source of calcium which is the main element required for healthy bones.
  • It has been found that consuming them on a daily basis can lower triglycerides levels within the blood. High triglycerides may contribute to hardening of the arteries which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other related heart diseases.
  • Anjeer has so many health benefits but its leaves have also been used as medicine for a long time to treat diabetes, cholesterol, and many skin conditions such as vitiligo/eczema/psoriasis. 

We hope you enjoy this sweet Anjeer Wrap recipe. Do try it at home and leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more healthy recipes, check out healthy reads within the app or tune in to GOQii Play. 

Stay at home, stay safe and #BeTheForce 

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Immunity Building Recipes For The Fasting Season

immunity building recipesIt’s Chaitra Navratri and that means it is the fasting season. With the coronavirus spreading rapidly, it is imperative that you take care of your health by consuming good food which is permitted during this fasting season. We have compiled a few nutrient-rich immunity building recipes and herbal concoctions to help you get the most during your fast! Have a look.

Immunity Building Recipes For the Fasting Season

 1. Turmeric Tea

Benefits of turmeric are not unknown to us. This tea is full of anti inflammatory ingredients to help fight infections.

Ingredients:

  • Organic Turmeric Powder – ½ Tsp 
  • Water – 200ml  
  • Ghee or coconut oil – 1-2 tsp
  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
  • Ginger juice – ¼ tsp
  • Lemon juice – ½ tsp
  • Raw organic honey – 1 tsp 

Method:
Take water in a pan and add turmeric powder. Let it boil for 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a container & allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend for a while to get a strong immunity boosting tea.

2. Panakam (Pronounced as Panagam in Tamil) 

It is a traditional South Indian drink specially prepared on Ram Navami. This wonder drink is thought to prevent illness due to seasonal changes.

Ingredients: 

  • Water – 4 cups
  • Powdered jaggery – ½ cup 
  • Edible camphor (optional) – ½ pinch
  • Tamarind pulp – 4tbsp
  • Dry ginger powder – ½ tsp
  • Freshly ground black pepper (optional) – ¼ tsp
  • Tulsi leaves – 3 to 4
  • Freshly ground cardamom powder – ½ tsp 

Method:
Soak jaggery in water until it dissolves completely. Now strain the mixture and add camphor, tamarind pulp, ginger, black pepper and cardamom powder. Let it sit for half an hour so all the flavours can infuse. Strain the liquid to remove any particles. Add roughly hand-crushed tulsi leaves and serve. You can adjust the quantity of jaggery and other flavours as per your choice.

3. Green Smoothie 

This smoothie can be considered as a meal replacement. It is full of nutrients that can boost your immunity.

Ingredients:

  • Cucumber roughly cubed (do not remove peel) – 1 large 
  • Banana – 1
  • Handful of spinach leaves
  • 1 Kiwi or handful grapes
  • Chia seeds, Watermelon seeds, Pumpkin seeds – 2 tbsp each 
  • 7-8 soaked almonds

Method:
Soak all seeds in ½ water for around 2-3 hours. (You can also soak them overnight if you’re planning to have this smoothie for breakfast). Now throw all the ingredients in a blender & blend until smooth. You can add water to adjust the consistency as per your choice. Your green smoothie is ready!

4. Papaya Smoothie  

Most of us consider citrus fruits when it comes to getting our daily dose of Vitamin C. But you will be amazed to know that papaya has almost the same amount found in an Orange. Along with that, it’s a great source of Vitamin A too.

Ingredients:

  • Papaya cubed – 2 cups 
  • Fresh curd – ¾ cup
  • Chia seeds – 2 tbsp
  • Fresh orange juice – ¼ cup
  • 7-8 cashews
  • Cardamom powder – ¼ tsp 

Method:
Soak cashews and chia seeds in curd for 2-3 hours. Now throw all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust the consistency using more orange juice or water. Your smoothie is ready!

5. Orange Delight 

Ingredients:

  • Apple cubed – 1  
  • Boiled & cooled chopped carrot – ½ cup
  • Orange – 1 cup 
  • Ginger – ½ inch piece 
  • Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
  • Sunflower seeds and Flax seeds – 2 tbsp each 
  • 4 walnuts
  • Handful of roasted foxnuts

Method:
Soak the nuts and seeds for minimum 2 hours. Throw all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Your orange smoothie is ready.

As you can see, these immunity building recipes are fasting friendly and a great detox as well – which is the main scientific purpose of fasting. Use these immunity building recipes as a part of your meals to stay healthy at all times! For more immunity building and healthy recipes, tune in to cooking classes on GOQii Play. 

Stay Safe, stay indoors and #BeTheForce! 

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