Honey is often called liquid gold for its rich sweetness and antibacterial properties. It never spoils and it is speculated that it has numerous health benefits such as increasing adiponectin levels, a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation.
Due to its widespread use as an alternative to sugar, honey is used in several Indian dishes, desserts and drinks. Village Square brings to you 5 must-try recipes made using honey to enjoy during the summer.
Honey shrikhand
Shrikhand is a popular west-Indian dessert that has won the hearts of many worldwide. Made from strained yoghurt, it is a traditional sweet treat seen especially in Gujarati and Marathi cuisine. With some honey added to it, this creamy delicacy only gets better.
Ingredients:
Low-fat yoghurt – 1 kg
Honey – 6 tablespoons
Favourite slivered nuts – 3 tablespoons
Few saffron strands and crushed cardamom seeds (optional)
How to make:
In a large bowl, put 2 large square cheesecloths. Place yoghurt on the cheesecloth, and form a pouch by gathering the edges of the cheesecloth and tying them together. Drain all the liquid into a bowl by hanging the pouch from your tap. Let this drain for 4 hours before untying the pouch.
Scoop out the drained yoghurt and add honey to it. This is also the time to add saffron and cardamom.
Stir with a wooden spoon gently until mixed well before covering it up and placing it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Garnish with dry fruit slivers and serve chilled.
Honey kesar badam kulfi
Among India’s most nostalgic sweet treats is the much-loved kulfi. It comes in different shapes and flavours, from rabri kulfi to a dry fruit variant, and from matka kulfi to the quintessential stick kulfi. One among these is the delicious honey kulfi.
Ingredients:
Milk – 4 cups (semi-skimmed)
Honey-1/2 cup
Almond- 1/4 cup (coarsely ground)
Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp
Low fat milk powder-1/2 cup
Corn flour-2 tsp
Saffron strands-1/2 tsp
How to make:
In a small bowl, soak the saffron in some warm milk and let it sit aside.
In another bowl, dissolve milk powder and corn flour in one cup of milk. Ensure to leave no lumps.
Now, pour the milk into a non-stick pan and set to boil.
Add grounded almonds to this milk
Now, add in the milk powder-corn flour mixture, honey, cardamom powder and soaked saffron strands. Set a medium flame and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes.
As the milk gets thicker, turn the flame off and let this mixture cool down.
Pour it into kulfi moulds and place them in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before serving chilled.
Honey Saffron Lassi
Lassi is among India’s all-time favourite summer refresher drinks. Adding a hint of honey and saffron milk to it gives it a flavourful twist. While honey makes the lassi taste especially sweet and rich, the saffron enhances the beverage with its aroma.
Ingredients:
Curd- 1 and 1/2 cup
Honey- 2-3 tablespoons
Saffron Milk- 2-3 tablespoons
Dry fruits- 2-3 tablespoons
How to make:
In a mixer/blender, blend the yoghurt, honey, saffron milk and dry fruits.
Adjust the consistency with the use of water before churning it again.
Pour it in a glass and serve chilled with ice.
Honey Dry Fruit Ladoo
This delicious yet healthy snack is perfect for fulfilling sweet cravings while also keeping you on track with your fitness goals. Dry fruits and honey are considered to be among the healthiest snacking options. These ladoos, with the goodness and anti-bacterial properties of honey, are beneficial for gut health.
Ingredients:
Dry nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts ) ½ cup
Honey 3 tablespoons
Ghee (clarified butter) 1 teaspoon
How to make:
To begin, grind your dry fruits into small pieces or crush them.
in a pan, heat ghee and roast all the crushed dry fruits on a slow flame for about 5 minutes.
Turn off the gas and add honey to it, and mix.
With this mixture, make bite-sized ladoos and enjoy them as a snack.
Kahwa (Kashmiri spiced honey tea)
Kashmir’s famous green tea, kahwa, is a hit among chai lovers. This aromatic hot beverage is made using a range of spices, of which, cinnamon and cardamom are the most essential. Honey is often added as a sweetener to this traditional drink.
Ingredients:
Green tea leaves 1 teaspoon
Honey 2 tablespoons
Ground ginger 2 teaspoons
Cinnamon sticks 2 inch
Whole cloves 4
Green cardamom pods 4
Black peppercorns 4
Few saffron strands
How to make:
In a pot add 2½ cups of water and add the tea leaves, ginger, cinnamon stick, cardamom, peppercorns, cloves and saffron. Bring this mixture to a boil.
With a tea strainer, strain the liquid into a teapot and serve hot in cups.
Garnish with a few strands of saffron for enhanced flavour and add honey as a sweetener.
The lead image features Honey, which is a universal sweetener that contains antibacterial properties and is good for gut health (photo courtsey Pixabay)
