5 reasons why you must eat kaju katli/ Cashewnut barfi, without any guilt this festive season
With Diwali on its way, while most people are looking forward to the
celebrations, some are worried about the consequences it will leave on
their waist-line. Diwali is an Indian festival where delicious mithai
are made and distributed as a sign of love and support among people.
While most Indian mithais are rich in sugar and could present a health
risk, Kaju Katli is not like the others. It is made from healthy cashews
and milk. The fats present in Kaju katli consist of 25 per cent
saturated fats and the rest 75 per cent are healthy oleic acid fats.
Here are some of the health benefits of eating Kaju Katli this Diwali.
Keeps blood pressure under control: Cashew-rich homemade kaju katli, not
only has negligible amount of sodium in it, but are also rich in
potassium, which can help in controlling blood pressure.
Has cholesterol reducing properties: If consumed in moderation, then
eating Kaju katli could reduce your cholesterol level. Filled with
cashew, Kaju katli, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other unsaturated
fats like oleic acid, which can help in reducing bad cholesterol from
the body.
People with diabetes can also have kaju katli: Nuts inside Kaju-katli
have a low glycaemic index, which makes Kaju Katli safe for people with
diabetes. Along with this, Kajiu Katli is rich in magnesium and calcium,
which can lower the risk of diabetes.For the white and green kaju katli
fudge, make a thick sugar syrup in a pan with 35 ml water + 40 gms
sugar-free sugar. Add 65 gm cashewnut powder and 10 gms coconut milk
powder. Divide this into 2 parts- mix white colour in one and green in
the other.For the orange crumble, add 40 gm oats or almond flour, 40 gms
sugar-free sugar, 25 gms butter, 10 gm cashewnut powder and mix
together to make a crumble. Add orange colour. Mix and spread in a
baking tray and bake at 150 degree celsius for 10 minutes.To assemble,
take the half baked tart. Fill it with green fudge and flatten. Layer
the white fudge and flatten. Finally, place the orange crumble on top.
Bake at 150 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Cut and serve.
Improves strength: Forget your whey-protein powder, delicious Diwali
sweets will help you with your protein intake. According to National
Institute of Health (NIH), USA, 100 mg of cashew can contain up to 36
per cent of your daily recommended amount of protein. Cashews also
contain magnesium, which helps in absorption of calcium in the body,
thus improving bones and muscles strength.
Improves heart health: According to NIH, omega-3 fatty acids, found in
cashew can help in lowering triglycerides levels, reducing the risk of
developing a heart condition.