Yasmin Karachiwala, Alia Bhatt’s fitness trainer, shares healthy, sugar-free modak recipe for Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is the time to welcome Bappa home and indulge in some of his favourite sweets. Modak is a staple of the traditional festive dessert platter, thoroughly enjoyed during the celebrations. To make it guilt-free for people with diabetes or those on a weight-loss programme, Alia Bhatt’s trainer Yasmin Karachiwala took to Instagram to share a healthy, nutritious modak recipe.

Sharing her video on Instagram, she wrote, “Ganpati Bappa Morya! This Ganesh Chaturthi, let’s dil se enjoy celebrations with my sugar-free, nutrient-packed modaks!”

Ingredients:

• Handful Cashewnuts


• Handful Almonds


• Handful Walnuts


• Handful Pistachios


• Dates (6–8 pieces) depending on size; if small, use more


• Soaked Figs


• Ghee (optional)

For Seasoning:

• Rose petals


• Sesame seeds

Recipe:

• Take a handful of your favourite nuts and roast them for a few mins. Take 5–8 dates + dried fig rings. (Soak the figs in water for 5 mins before grinding)


• Grind the nuts into a dough.


• Brush ghee in a modak mould, add rose petals & sesame seeds at the base.


• Fill with the nut mixture & set in the mould.


• Freeze for 10–15 mins and your healthy, sugar-free modaks are ready to offer to Ganpati Bappa.
  While dates and nuts remain a popular option, modaks made with organic ingredients as substitutes have also gained popularity. For instance, organic jaggery-coconut modak makes for a delightful guilt-free choice this season, being rich in iron and fibre.

  Another great option is millet flour steamed modak, which uses foxtail millet flour (or finger millet), jaggery, sesame seeds, coconut, and ghee. It packs a punch when it comes to health benefits, as it is rich in fibre and calcium, and also aids digestion.

If you are on the lookout for a kids’ treat, go for chocolate organic modak made with organic cocoa powder, almond flour, desiccated coconut, jaggery powder, and ghee. It contains no added sugar and is preservative-free.