Brrr? Try these simple hot snacks

With the onset of winter, Metrolife asked health experts for a few easy-to-make snacks.

Roasted sweet potato sticks with herbs

Clinical dietitian Ranjani Raman says the dish aids digestion, boosts immunity, and adds micronutrients such as vitamins A and C and potassium to one’s diet.

Ingredients (serves 1-2)

*Sweet potato: 150 g

*Oregano, basil, chilli flakes, chilli powder and salt (as per requirement)

*Ghee or cold pressed sunflower, olive or groundnut oil to saute

Preparation method

*Slice sweet potato into thin sticks.

*To a little oil, add the spices, salt and herbs. After this, add the sweet potato sticks into this. Toss it well so it all mixes evenly. Let this rest for 5-10 min.

*In a pan, add a little ghee and toss these spiced sweet potato sticks for 5-10 min and cook well. Sprinkle some water if needed.

*Cook it on a low flame using ghee so that the sweet potato cooks from inside and turns crispy. You can also make this in an air fryer.

*Serve hot.

Corn and drumstick leaves chaat

The spice mix used in this chaat will help boost immunity, while drumstick leaves are a good source of iron and can help increase haemoglobin. “In combination with lemon juice, iron absorption improves. Peanuts add a dose of healthy fat that slows down glucose release, making the snack ideal for those watching their sugar levels too,” shares Ranjani.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

*Boiled sweet corn: 1 cup

*Chopped onion, capsicum, tomatoes: ¼ cup each

*Fresh drumstick leaves: ½ cup

*Finely crushed roasted peanuts: 2 tbsp

*Ginger–garlic paste: 1 tsp

*Pepper, chaat masala, turmeric, salt, and chilli powder (as required)

*Any cold-pressed oil or ghee to sauté

*Lemon: ½

Preparation

*Heat the ghee or oil in a pan.

*Add the ginger–garlic paste, followed by the onions, and sauté.

*When the mixture turns translucent, add the tomatoes and capsicum and cook for 2-3 minutes.

*Add the drumstick leaves and sauté well.

*Add the boiled corn and cook everything together for 3-4 minutes.

*Add chaat masala, turmeric, pepper, chilli powder, and salt as per your preference.

*Garnish with roasted, finely crushed peanuts for added flavour.

*Squeeze some lemon juice and serve hot.

Snack bowl

Consultant-clinical dietitian Edwina Raj shared a healthy recipe, which is rich in iron, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin B3.

Ingredients (serves 2)

*Water chestnut: ½ cup

*Sweet potato: ½ cup

*Peanut (roasted and skin peeled): 2 tbsp 

*Sesame seeds (roasted): 3 tsp 

*Pomegranate: ¼ cup

*Apple: ½ cup

*Lime juice: 1 tsp

*Pepper: ¼ tsp

*Salt as per taste

Preparation method

*Wash and peel water chestnut and sweet potato and steam them for 15 min.

*Dice the sweet potato into small pieces.

*Mix and toss all the other ingredients and serve as a snack.

Winter pudding delight

This seasonal pudding is rich in iron, calcium, omega-3, and potassium, points out Edwina.

Ingredients (serves 3)

*Chia seeds: 3 tsp, soaked in 100 ml warm water for 30 minutes

*Makhana/Foxnut: ½ cup (roasted)

*Sesame seeds: 3 tsp (roasted)

*Pumpkin seeds: 1 tbsp (roasted)

*Almonds: 8 (roasted)

*Pistachios: 6 (roasted)

*Raisins: 8 (soaked in warm water)

*Coconut milk/Soya milk/Cow’s milk: 100 ml

*Saffron strands: 6

*Monk fruit powder: ½ tsp, if needed

*Turmeric: a pinch

Method

*Soak the chia seeds in 100 ml warm water for 30 minutes. 

*Dry roast the foxnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and pistachios ahead of time and use as needed.

*Blend the roasted ingredients. Add 50 ml milk and the soaked raisins, and blend again to a smooth purée.

*Mix in the soaked chia seeds, saffron strands, and turmeric.

*Serve as a snack.