Annapurna: Dried Figs-Dates and Nuts energy Rolls / Anjeer Khajoor Roll

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Dried Figs-Dates and Nuts energy Rolls / Anjeer Khajoor Roll - Healthy Eating

It is mid November and winters have officially begun in Northern part of India. Here in Gurgaon also the mornings and evenings are getting pretty cold. For me this is the best time of the year in Delhi as the weather is very pleasant. With the onset of winters i usually stock up with home made energy and nutrient rich snacks which can be had at any time of the day to satisfy the hunger pangs. Dry fruits and nuts are best snacking option during winters.

This dried figs dates and nuts roll serve as delectable and nutritious snacks. During winters when had as breakfast with milk, they provide the body with the needed warmth and energy to kick start a day. They can be served as a healthy dessert or packed in kids snacks box. A perfect grab and go snacks for kids and working folks. These cute roundels can also be had as fasting food ( food for Vrat). The best part is that these energy rolls can be made easily within short time and have a good shelf life of 10-15 days at room temperature and about a month on refrigeration.

The recipe is inspired from my own Dates and Nuts Ladoo. The nutritious dried figs are an extra addition in this rolls. The recipes calls for tossing the chopped nuts like Pistachios ,Walnuts and Almonds in very little ghee along with poppy seeds. To this the ground paste of figs and dates are added and mixed well. The mixture is allowed to cool down and then rolled out into a log (cylinder shaped)and wrapped in an aluminium foil and refrigerated for 4-5 hours. The firm log is then cut into roundels of desired thickness. Figs and dates both act as natural sweeteners and hence no extra sugar is added to this rolls.

Before moving to the recipe , lets have a look at the health benefits of dried figs , dates and nuts.

Dried figs are an excellent source of minerals , vitamins and anti-oxidants. It lowers the risk for high cholesterol , heart disease and constipation. The fibre in figs may also help you to lose weight since it makes figs more filling, helping you eat fewer calories. Dates are excellent source of iron, potassium , calcium , manganese , copper and magnesium. The fruit is rich in dietary fiber which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. Nuts are bite- size nutritional powerhouses packed with heart-healthy fats , vitamins and minerals.

Serves : 20-25 roundels

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking time : 7-10 minutes.

Ingredients:

200 grams Figs / Anjir
200 grams Dates / Khajur
1/2 cup Almonds
1/2 cup Walnuts
1/2 cup Pistachios
2 tbsp. Poppy seeds / Khus Khus
1 tbsp. Ghee

Method:

Wash the figs thoroughly and them soak them in warm water for 30 minutes minutes. This step not only cleans the figs but also softens them which eases in their chopping and grinding. Drain the water from the figs. Wipe them with kitchen towel and chop them.

2. Deseed the dates and chop them finely.

3. Using a food processor or grinder pulse the chopped dates and figs to a paste without adding any water.

4. In a wok, heat ghee on a medium flame. Lower the flame and add the chopped nuts and shallow fry them until fragrant. Add poppy seeds to the nuts and stir fry for few seconds.

5. Add the figs and dates mixture to the nuts and poppy seeds and mix very well. Put off the flame.

6. Let the mixture cool down enough to handle. Now roll the mixture using an aluminium foil to a thick long log(cylinder shape). Wrap the log completely with the aluminium sheet or cling film.

7. Refrigerate the log for 4-5 hours or overnight so that it becomes firm and hard enough to be cut into roundels.

8. Cut the roll into roundels of desired thickness using a sharp knife. These roundels can be stored at room temperature for 10- 15 days and up to a month on refrigeration.

Hope you would love to try out this healthy treats for your loved ones. Do not forget to give your valuable feed back.

For more similar recipes, do check my posts on