Laziness, tiredness and bone-chilling cold are winter symptoms that nobody likes! Cough, cold and allergies are becoming more common. A constant urge to snuggle up and eat whatever you shouldn’t. But some traditional recipes have been passed down from one generation to another to keep the belly full of all things and warm from within. This Panjiri recipe that we are going to share with you is one such amazing recipe from my Punjabi mother’s kitchen.

My mom makes this healthy Panjiri dish for me every winter as a token of her love, care and concern. I live in the heart of Punjab where every household prepares this winter superfood to protect our physical health from the ill effects of cold months. My mom spends hours in the kitchen making this recipe because making panjeeri requires patience. I’m excited to share this secret lip smacking recipe with you all, hoping you’ll enjoy maximum winter flavor and good health!

What is Panjiri?

Panjiri (or panjiri) is a toasted mixture of crushed dal, wheat flour or chickpea flour in ghee, with loads of dry fruits and spices. These add to its taste and health benefits. Panjiri is best enjoyed when it’s slightly warm, what’s winter without some hot desserts? So, let’s ditch the warm gulab jamuns and make healthy choices by satisfying our sweet-tooth cravings by tasting panjeeri.

How to make panjiri at home?

Here is a delicious panjeeri recipe from my mom’s kitchen. Follow the steps closely and you will ace the flavor!

What’s needed

• 1 kg Desi Ghee (Best Ghee Brands in India)
• 1 kg ground green moong whole dal
• 1 kg cardboard
• Bowl full of nuts, coconut (shredded or desiccated), almonds, cashews
• Half kg jaggery (or more as per taste)

Recipe:

1. First take 1 kg of desi ghee and melt it in a large cooking vessel.

2. After the ghee melts, add ground green moong to it. You can easily buy pulses from the market.

3. Cook and roast the dal in ghee for 30-45 minutes until it turns slightly brown and the green aroma fades.

4. After the dal turns brown, add 1 kg of flour to the mixture. Cook on low flame for another 30 minutes until the mixture turns brown.

5. After some time, add the bowl full of jackfruit, coconut and all the dry fruits of your choice to the mix and roast for 10-15 minutes, making sure all the ingredients are well combined.

6. Switch off the flame and let the panjiri mixture cool for 15-20 minutes.

7. Now, add half a kg jaggery to the pan and mix well. Make sure your mix isn’t too hot when you add the jaggery or it will melt, making it a sticky mixture. Maintain a grainy texture for perfect panjiri.

8. Your cage is ready! You can transfer it to any steel container, store it throughout the winter and eat it in small portions every day.

What are the health benefits of Panjiri?

There are many health benefits of taking panjari during winter.

1. It is an immunity booster

Panji is a delectable dessert that is also a powerhouse of nutrition, considering the ingredients used to make it. It is an excellent immunity booster during winters and prevents common winter ailments like cold or cough from catching. It’s a calorie-dense snack that can give you energy to fight winter fatigue.

2. Panjiri is good for pregnant women

Panjeeri laddoos are often given to expectant mothers as the healthy ingredients provide nutritional support through pregnancy.

3. It is suitable for breastfeeding mothers

Panjiri is a nourishing sweet for lactating mothers as it stimulates the flow of their breast milk and helps restore overall energy after delivering the baby. Also, it is ideal for children who are more active and need more energy during winter.

4. Good for bone health

As we age, our bones and muscles grow weaker and lose their cartilage, which is difficult to restore. Homemade panjeeri is nutritious and good for our bones and joints as ghee and dry fruits keep it oily and healthy.

5. Healthy for eyes and brain

Looking at the healthy ingredients that make up our homemade Panjiri, we can easily conclude that this desi concoction is healthy for our eyes and brain.

As it is high in calories, it should be eaten in small quantities due to its warming nature.