In anticipation of the Raksha Bandhan festival, when markets are filled with sweets, it is suggested to forgo buying ready-made confectionery and instead prepare healthy dried fruit pedas at home. These pedas can be made without adding sugar or honey, which is especially relevant for those who follow a diet or do not consume sugar.
Chef Ranveer Brar shared a simple recipe that allows these special, healthy pedas to be created in minutes. Instead of traditional ingredients like sugar and honey, dates are used to provide sweetness.
The preparation begins by heating desi ghee in a pan, into which semolina is then added. The semolina needs to be roasted for two to three minutes until cooked. After this, date paste is introduced into the semolina, and the mixture is cooked on medium heat for another five to six minutes.
Next, ghee and freshly grated coconut are added to this mixture, continuing to cook for about ten minutes. Then, chopped apricot paste, figs, almonds, and pistachios are mixed in, after which all components are thoroughly blended.
The resulting mass is transferred to a bowl and allowed to cool slightly. Then, a small portion of the mass, the size of a lemon, is shaped by hand into pedas. The finished pedas are coated with roasted coconut to give them a complete appearance.
Finally, the pedas are placed on a serving plate and decorated with condensed milk, silver foil, fresh rose petals, and pistachios. Since dates have natural sweetness, no additional sugar is required, making these pedas an ideal choice for people avoiding sugar.