Diwali 2022: Do you have sweet cravings? Mumbai chefs share these unique recipes for you to relish

Diwali, or festival of lights, as it is more commonly known in India is around the corner. It is that time of the year when almost every person is going to make sure to celebrate this festival to the fullest. It is a shared sentiment especially because they haven't been able to enjoy it in more ways than one in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The festival of Diwali may light up the house but the different treats that are both savoury and sweet make everything better. While the namkeen dishes are thoroughly enjoyed, people can't get enough of the sweet meats and gorge on them. This often leaves them in a predicament because of the fear of weight gain. However, if you love eating them, you don't have to worry because we got you covered, as Mid-day Online asked an expert to help with tips to avoid weight gain during the festive season.

Now that you have got out of the way, we reached out to chefs in India to share unique recipes that people can make during this time that are beyond the usual suspects. They not only elevate a shahi tukda but also add a unique touch to barfi while also making a healthy kheer option.

Brioche Shahi Tukda by Aditi Handa, head chef and co- founder, The Baker's Dozen, across outlets
If you love shahi tukda, the absolutely delicious Mughlai sweet made with fried bread and sweetened milk, then chef Aditi Handa's version will make you take it a step further by making the classic dessert with the bread called Brioche Shahi Tukda. She explains, "When I was training in New York, my chef and I would always discuss the possibilities of marrying French techniques with Indian flavours. This recipe is an inspiration from that thought - butteriness of a French brioche with the sweetness of our desi mithai." If you have only started planning your Diwali dessert menu, this is certainly a good option to include especially with the dollops of butter and ghee with the mouthwatering shahi tukda made with pillowy soft brioche.

Ingredients:
Butter 1 block
Milk 1 cup
Saffron 1 tbsp
Almond powder 1 tbsp
Sugar 2 cups
Pista 1 tbsp
Water 1 cup

Method:
1. Take a pan and add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water.
2. Bring to a boil and keep aside to rest.
3. Take another pan, add 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup milk, a few strands of saffron (kesar) and crushed almond powder and continue stirring this mixture on a slow flame until it is thick. Keep it aside for later.
4. Take 1 loaf of brioche and cut it into triangles.
5. Take a pan, add oil and fry it until golden brown.
6. Let the fried brioche cool down and dip it in the sugar syrup made before.
7. Serve it with the creamy milk mixture made before, add a few crushed pistachios for garnishing.

Aam Kesar Mawa Barfi by Vinayak Dalvi, junior sous chef, ITC Maratha, Andheri (East)
With the popularity of barfi in India, this is a must during Diwali celebrations and if you are tired of the regular types, then chef Vinayak Dalvi suggests making an aam kesar mawa barfi for the festival. While it may not be the season for the king of fruits, there are several options available in the market to help you see it through. "Barfi evokes nostalgia amongst all and is a must for this festive season. Kesar and mango have their share of history that dates back to many regal and household traditions and is widely acknowledged for their rich flavours, aroma and intricate sourcing. Combining these alluring taste notes with fresh mawa sweetmeat, the subtle milieu stands for timeless tradition and can never go wrong flavours," shares Dalvi.

Ingredients (for 12 pcs):
Mawa 1 cup
Sugar ½ cup
Saffron ¼ tsp
Cardamom Powder ½ tsp

Method:
1. Mix mawa and sugar and cook on low flame till it turns golden.
2. Add saffron, mango pulp and cardamom powder and mix it well with the batter.
3. Allow it to set for 30 - 45 minutes.
4. Now cut into desired shape and serve.

Apple Jaggery Kheer by Neeraj Chaudhary, chef, The Tamara Kodai, Kodaikanal, St Mary's Road
With the season of apples almost here, what better time to start using them in sweet dishes than for a festival like Diwali. While other dishes may be heavy, chef Neeraj Chaudhary at the Kodaikanal property says the apple jaggery kheer is light and will definitely fulfil sweet cravings. He shares, "This dish is healthy, packed with nutrients and very light on the stomach as compared to traditional Indian Diwali sweet offerings. It can be enjoyed both by elders and young ones in the family." It is also the reason why he says it truly reflects the festive sentiment but with a healthy twist.

Ingredients:
Apples, medium size 2 nos
Milk, full cream 1 litre
Date palm jaggery 2 tbsp
Pure ghee 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder 1/4 tsp
Cinnamon 1 medium stick
Pure ghee 1 tbsp
Raisins 1 tablespoons
Split cashew 1 tbsp
Saffron-a few strands
Pistachio nut slivers 1/2 tsp

Method:
1. Saute the cashew and raisins in ghee and keep aside.
2. Peel and grate the apple and blanch in hot water-strain and keep aside.
3. Boil milk on medium heat till it reduces to half of its original quantity. Now, add the cinnamon stick to this milk and further reduce to one-fourth of the original
quantity. Remove the cinnamon stick from the reduced milk and discard.
4. Add the grated blanched apple to the boiling reduced milk. Further, add the ghee roasted cashew and raisins to the apple kheer. Sweeten with jaggery and enhance the taste with cardamom powder.
5. Cool to room temperature, garnish with saffron strands and pistachio slivers and serve.

Also read: Oktoberfest 2022: How Mumbaikars have warmed up to Indian-flavoured craft beers