The word dessert makes your mind wander to a luscious and glistening bowl of moong dal halwa, or a cool matki of phirni, or some warm malpuas. While those images linger on, are you counting the calories that go along with them? Or wondering if you could opt for something less extravagant to tackle that craving for a bit of sweet? The term ‘healthy dessert’ has been coined for just such thoughts and I tell you, put it out of your mind – the term that is. 

Having dessert after a meal and having something sweet just to satiate that temporary urge are two completely different things. And they should be! There’s really no need to forgo a little sweet after a meal. You can make not-so-decadent choices and still satisfy that craving. Now, that’s not to say that you’ll need to opt for something like a chia pudding or a berry and chocolate concoction. We really don’t have time to make that and ordering in ‘healthy dessert’ options can get quite expensive considering the delivery charges, packaging charges and tip –  it does add up to quite a bit. And sometimes the options just don’t make a good follow up to a home cooked meal like this. 

Now let’s take the words healthy and dessert far far away for just a minute and focus on only ‘sweet’. What image does that word conjure up? Fruit? Raisins? Jaggery? Dates? Honey? All relevant, all good and all totally acceptable. 

Now if we look at these from a dessert-perspective, on their own, they really wouldn’t cut it. But pair it with another food and you have something to calm that urge for sweet and something that won’t make a hole in your pocket or make you feel guilty. Not that eating dessert should EVER make you feel guilty. It shouldn’t. Eating with guilt is never a good idea and one that quite defeats the purpose of enjoying eating it! How does one enjoy guilt?

I’ve compiled 4 things you can choose after a good meal and it’s safe to say, they’re delicious and quite simple. 

Coconut and jaggery

Simple and quick. These are ingredients almost every Indian household will have, and if you don’t there are hazaar (please excuse the hyperbole) delivery services that will bring them to you quickly.

Here’s how you can keep the coconut fresh and have it taste like you’ve just cracked it open! 

Simply

  • Grate it
  • Put it in a bowl
  • Add jaggery
  • Mix
  • Add a pinch of elaichi powder (if you’d like) for that kick and you’re set.
  • EAT!

Think of it like a deconstructed coconut laddo. Now, coconut and jaggery both have excellent nutritional values. So even if you’re counting carbs and calories, you really cannot count these as empty calories. 

Dates in Ghee
This particular combination has its roots in Ayurveda and we know that the world is only now opening their eyes to what we’ve known for years. The thing about Ayurveda is you need to be consistent with it and use it correctly. It won’t be helpful if you don’t practise it the way it’s meant to be. 

For this sweet, you’ll need to prep in advance. You can make a jarful and dip into it everyday.

Use dry dates for this and if possible home made ghee. If you don’t have home made ghee, whatever ghee you use for cooking is fine. 

You can use saffron too in this.

You’ll need to:

  • Chop the tops off the dates. Slice in half if you want smaller bite-sized pieces. 
  • Put it in a clean, dry jar
  • Grind the saffron using a mortar and pestle.
  • Warm up about half a cup of ghee and add the saffron to it.
  • Pour the warm ghee over the dates and let it cover the dates completely.
  • Let it cool down and then close the jar tight
  • Store in a cool place


You can either eat this to calm that urge to eat something sweet or just a quick bite. 

We cannot overstate the usefulness of adding ghee to your food. It’s one of those sublime additions that can elevate any food – vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dal or even just plain steamed rice. Add a dollop of ghee to steamed salted rice and you have a delicious, nutritious  dish that’s great for an upset tummy, teething kids and even the elderly. 


And if you didn’t already know it, ghee is great for your skin too!


Gur chana
This combination is quite delightful and making it isn’t too much of a hassle. But, it does require you to be quick. The final result is wholesome and fulfilling and doesn’t make you feel like you’ve overindulged. 

Jaggery contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. All important to us. But because of its high glycemic index it isn’t the best option for diabetics. Bummer. 

All you need to do is –

  • Heat one cup of jaggery in ¼ cup water. 
  • Bring it to a boil. Stir occasionally until the jaggery is completely dissolved. 
  • Once the jaggery has dissolved, increase the heat to and bring the mixture to a boil. 
  • Then reduce the heat to minimum and let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add one cup of  yellow roasted chana  to the pan and mix well, ensuring that all the chana is coated with the jaggery mixture. 
  • Switch off the gas.
  • Let it cool slightly, enough to separate the chickpeas by hand. 
  • Let them cool completely.

Once cooled, store the gur chana in an airtight container.

Keep these options handy, so the next time you have a hankering for sweet you don’t end up spending too much money or feeling guilty or worse, doing both! 

Unfortunately these options aren’t ideal for those with diabetes or any other underlying illness. If you aren’t sure about the nutritional value about some of these options consult with your doctor or physician.