Sugar-free makhana-coconut barfi: an easy Navratri fasting sweet to make at home

During the Navratri fast, the plate is usually filled with sabudana khichdi, bhagar and potato dishes. People tire of eating the same things each time, yet many still crave something sweet on fasting days. This time, makhana and coconut barfi can be tried.

Rather than buying sweets from the market, this barfi can be made at home in a short time. It tastes good and is healthy too, and it can be put together quickly from a handful of ingredients.

The ingredients are: 2 cups makhana, 1 cup grated coconut, 1 cup mawa, 1 to 2 teaspoons ghee, dates paste or another suitable sweetener to taste, half a teaspoon cardamom powder, and cashew or almond slivers as desired.

First, heat a little ghee in a pan and roast the makhana on a low flame until crisp. Once the makhana cools, grind it to a fine powder in a mixer.

Now add a little ghee to the pan and lightly roast the grated coconut. Add the mawa and keep stirring on a low flame. Add the makhana powder, dates paste and cardamom powder to this mixture. Keep stirring well until everything is evenly combined. When the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides of the pan, switch off the gas.

Grease a plate or tray with a little ghee and spread the mixture on it. Scatter the cashew and almond slivers on top. Once the mixture has cooled completely and set, cut it into barfi pieces with a knife. The healthy and tasty makhana-coconut barfi is ready.

Here are a few tips to make the barfi tastier. Keep the flame low while roasting the makhana so that it turns crisp. If you are using dates paste, taste the sweetness first. If the mixture seems too dry, a little milk can be added.

After spreading the mixture on the plate, let it cool completely. For the pieces to cut cleanly, run the knife only after the mixture has set. Store the finished barfi in an airtight container in the fridge.