Want to avoid feeling all bulky and bloated after Iftar? Here are a few oil-free recipes which will let you enjoy your favorite dishes, without feeling like you are going to explode any minute.
Steamed Oil-Free Samosas:
Samosas are an Iftar staple and everyone loves them, but they are ridiculously calorie-rich. Here’s a healthier version which is oil-free and it won’t leave you feeling either bloated or guilty, so munch away.
Ingredients:
For the dough:
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
salt
Filling:
2 medium potatoes – boiled and mashed
1 green chili
½ tsp garam masala powder
¼ tsp chaat masala
chopped coriander leaves
salt
Instructions:
Add the flour, the baking powder and the salt together. Keep mixing them in a bit of water and knead till the mixture turns into soft dough. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for 30 minutes. Mix the mashed potatoes with the rest of the ingredients to make the filling. Make balls with the dough, dust with flour and roll them into circles. Cut the circles into half to create a semi-circle. Fill the semi-circles with the filling and seal them up by pressing the edges. Steam the samosas for 10-15 minutes in a steamer or a pressure cooker.
Zero-Oil Gulab Jamun:
Ingredients:
1 cup store-bought gulab jamun mix
¼ cup water (for kneading)
1 cup sugar
1½ cups of water (for syrup)
1 cinnamon stick
saffron strands
½ tsp cardamom powder
chopped nuts for garnishing
Instructions:
Take the mix in a bowl and gradually add water to make a soft dough, then put aside for 5 minutes. Take the sugar with one and a half cup of water, and bring to a rolling boil. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom powder and saffron strands to the mixture and cook for a few minutes. Take the syrup off the stove. Let the sugar syrup cool completely. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Make tiny balls and arrange on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning them twice in between to bake them evenly. Now soak the baked Gulab Jamuns in the prepared syrup.
Grilled Pakoras/Fritters
Ingredients:
1 cup chickpea flour
¼ tsp red chili powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
¼ tsp garam masala powder
½ tsp carom seeds
chopped onions
chopped green chilies
finely chopped potatoes
cumin seeds
water as required
salt to taste
Instructions:
Make a paste out of all the ingredients and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Drop dollops of the mixture onto a grill skillet in thin layers. Wait till fully grilled and continue spooning the mixture. Serve with chili sauce or ketchup.
Contributed by: Ameera Mehmood.
