Janmashtami Delights without the Sugar: 5 Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Options from Paneer Kheer to Sattu Laddoo

Diabetes-friendly Janmashtami Recipes: Celebrate Janmashtami with Diabetes-friendly Dishes for Lord Krishna’s Offering: Janmashtami, the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth, is a significant event in India, marked by various festivities, including the renowned offering of 56 dishes to the deity. However, with an increasing health-conscious demographic, especially those managing diabetes, there’s a demand for sugar-free recipes that can be part of the Janmashtami bhog. Thanks to the insights from Sukanya Poojary, Executive Nutritionist from Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Bangalore, we have some delightful diabetes-friendly recipes for this occasion.

1. Laddoos from Sattu:

   • Ingredients: Sattu, date paste (can substitute with stevia for stricter sugar control), ghee, cardamom, and optional nuts for garnish.
   • Method: The sattu is dry roasted to enhance its taste. Mix it with date paste, ghee, and cardamom to form laddoos, garnishing with nuts.

2. Shrikhand without Added Sugar:

   • Ingredients: Greek yogurt or strained curd, cardamom, saffron, stevia, and optional nuts for garnish.
   • Method: Combine strained yogurt with stevia, saffron-infused milk, and cardamom. Refrigerate to enhance flavors before serving.

3. Paneer-based Kheer:

   • Ingredients: Paneer, milk, cardamom, saffron, and optional nuts for garnish.
   • Method: Crumble paneer and simmer it with milk. Once reduced, add cardamom, saffron, and serve chilled.

4. Laddoos from Oats and Dried Fruits:

   • Ingredients: Rolled oats, assorted dry fruits, desiccated coconut, dates (or stevia for a low sugar option), ghee, cardamom, honey or maple syrup.
   • Method: Roast the oats, mix with dried fruits, ghee, and date paste or stevia. Bind into laddoos and enjoy.

5. Panjiri, the Nutritional Delight:

   • Ingredients: Whole wheat flour, ghee, nuts, stevia, coconut, cardamom, nutmeg, saffron, and optional raisins for garnish.
   • Method: Roast flour until golden brown, mix with melted ghee, stevia, nuts, spices, and form into laddoos or serve loose.

These dishes ensure that everyone, irrespective of their health constraints, can partake in the festive joy. Janmashtami’s essence is inclusivity, and with these dishes, the festival becomes all the more special.