Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatars of Lord Vishnu which is celebrated all over India with great zest and passion. The importance of Janmashtami celebration is to cultivate the goodwill and discourage the negative in you. The festival also signifies togetherness and family bonding.

Invite Little Krishna With Healthy Goodies

Any festival is incomplete without the special sweets and delicious dishes prepared and offered to the God. Let’s try out two healthy offerings:

1.Palak Chakli/ Palak Murukku

Palak murukku is a great innovation to your normal butter murukku that you can make this Janmashtami. The striking green colour of Palak enhances the flavour, taste and aroma of the murukku. This Palak murukku will surely surprise the family and friends for its rich nutrient content and makes this savoury healthy.

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped spinach (Palak)

1 tsp chopped green chillies

1 cup rice flour

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)

2 tsp butter

salt to taste

Oil for deep-frying 

Method

1. Add spinach and green chillies in a mixer and blend well into fine puree.

2. Take a bowl add the rice flour, jeera, hing, butter and salt mix it up well.

3. Now add the spinach puree and knead into soft dough using enough water.

4. Fill the dough into murukku presser and press the murukku into small circle of 2inch diameter.

5. Heat oil in deep pan and fry the murukku till golden brown.

6. Drain the murukku in an absorbent paper. Cool and store the murukku in an airtight container. 

2. Poha Kheer

Poha Kheer is the one unique desserts not be missed in the list of Janmashtami offerings. Poha always holds a special place in the list of Lord Krishna’s favourite food. The kheer is made using brown flattened Poha, milk, ghee and sugar. Poha being rich in iron and other essential nutrients, this kheer is an apt healthy dessert.

Ingredients

½ cup Aval /Poha

2 cup milk

1 tbsp ghee

¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp cardamom powder 

For Garnish

Cashew nuts and dry fruits 10-15

Method

1. Heat ghee in a pan, add raisins and cashewnuts, fry till golden.

2. Fry Poha in the same pan and sauté for three minutes. Now add milk and cook, stirring continuously, till the Poha is cooked and thickens.

3. Add sugar, mix well and cook till sugar dissolves completely.

4. Add cardamom powder, and garnish with fried raisins and cashewnuts and mix well.

 5. Serve warm.