Whatta nut! Walnut malpua and lauki halwa recipes to add to your Holi spread

Sweets are a must-have in all Indian festivals and what better way to indulge in the temptation than preparing it the healthy way. And when we talk of Holi – the festival of colours, it becomes imperative to savour in some traditional delights. The idea is to welcome spring with myriad colours and nutty recipes for Holi that are sure to be savoured by your near and dear ones.

You can prepare these yummy sweets for your loved ones this year, with a touch of added nutrition, thanks to the presence of walnuts. Just a handful of walnuts (28 grams) offer natural, wholesome, plant-based nutrition that includes 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and 2.5 grams of omega-3.

Try out these amazing recipes for Holi and add to the festivities:

Walnut Gujiya by Chef Sabyasachi Gorai

Ingredients

For the dough
1 cup maida/all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sooji (Semolina)
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup khoya
2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup superfine sugar
2 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoon green cardamom powder
1 teaspoon saffron strands

Sugar syrup dip (optional)

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1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoon water
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon green cardamom powder
1 teaspoon rose water
Few pieces of saffron strands

Preparation:

1. For the gujiya dough, In a big bowl combine all the ingredients listed under ‘For The Dough’.
2. Take lukewarm water and knead soft pliable dough.
3. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 mins.
4. For the filling, in a heavy bottom pan, add khoya, dry coconut and toast them on low heat for 15 mins. When the mixture turns light brown in color, add saffron strand. Mix and take it off the flame.
5. In a separate pan add walnuts and toast them on a medium flame. Once they start omitting their aroma, take it off the flame and allow it to cool off completely. Grind them in a coffee grinder until it turns into a fine powder.
6. Add this nutty mixture to the khoya mixture along with sugar and milk. Mix until everything is well- blended.
7. For the gujiya , take a small piece of the dough and roll it into a thin circle. In one half, place some gujiya mixture and fold the other half to make it into a gujiya. Apply water along the edges and seal it tight using a fork to secure the edges by making imprints of the fork.
8. Heat oil in a pan. When ready for frying, lower the flame and fry gujiyas until golden brown in color. The key to crispy gujiya is – patience! Gujiyas should be fried in medium hot oil for a crispy layer.
9. Remove from oil and drain it on the paper towel.
10. For the sugar syrup, combine all the ingredients in a pan and bring it to a boil on a medium flame. Scum will start forming on top of the liquid.
11. Using a spoon, collect and discard the scum and keep boiling until the liquid is reduced and it starts to thicken.
12. Lower the heat, dip a spoon in the syrup and remove. Do not touch for the first few seconds, it will be very hot. Touch the syrup with your finger and if it coats your finger, it means that it is about to reach its first string consistency.
13. Dip each gujiya in this syrup for 2-3 mins and set it on a clean plate.
14. Garnish with chopped walnuts and serve.

2. Walnut Lauki Halwa by Kumar Nachiket

Ingredients

1 Lauki/Bottle Gourd
400ml milk
3 tablespoon ghee
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/2 cup, crushed walnuts
1 teaspoon kewra water

Preparation:

1. In a pan, heat 3 tablespoon ghee and add grated lauki and cook till it just starts to change colour, approx. 15 mins
2. Add equal parts of milk and cook it together till it reduces and mixes with the lauki completely.
3. Add sugar and cardamom powder. Cook till the sugar dissolves completely.
4. Add crushed walnuts and cook for 2-3 mins.
5. Add kewra water and give it a final mix. Serve Hot.

3. Walnut Malpua by Hemasri Subramanian

Ingredients

For Malpua Batter

1 cup all-purpose flour/maida
3 teaspoon unsweetened khoya/mawa
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Water

For Sugar syrup

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoon milk
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Oil/ghee for frying

For Rabri

1-liter milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
A pinch of saffron
Walnuts

Preparation:

Malpua Batter

1. Mix all-purpose flour/maida and unsweetened khoya/mawa, then add fennel seeds and mix.
2. Gradually add water and mix to a thick flowing batter.
3. Ferment the batter for 12 hours.

Sugar syrup

1. Boil water and add sugar and cardamom pods to it.
2. Stir it until the sugar dissolves, then let it boil for another 5 mins on medium flame.
3. Keep the sugar syrup aside

Rabri

1. Heat a thick-bottomed pot with the milk. Keep the flame on medium-low and continuously stir the milk
2. Once the milk reduces to half, add the sugar, cardamom powder, and saffron strands, mix well.
3. Soak walnuts for 2 hours, then chop them finely and add the walnuts to the rabri and mix well.
4. The rabri is done.

Malpua

1. Heat oil in a wide pan.
2. Gently pour the fermented batter. Flip them and fry till it turns crisp and golden in color. Now add the fried malpua to the sugar syrup.
3. Soak in sugar syrup for 2 minutes.
4. Serve the malpua with rabri, chopped walnuts, and saffron.