Anupama's Kitchen
Scrumptious and Nutritious Dates and Dry Nuts Balls (Without Sugar)
As per Ayurveda, during the wintertime when Vata or Air element is high, it is advised to eat nuts and seeds such as almonds, pecans, cashews, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds, etc. Dates are high in iron and they are hot in properties. Dates are useful in Anemia and are natural blood cleanser. Raisins are incredibly good antioxidant. Raisins are strength giver, highly nutritious and is a drug of choice for respiratory diseases. Poppy seeds have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects that provide relief from inflammations in circulatory system and nervous system. They have deep relaxing and calming effects and hence, useful for insomnia. Hence, during wintertime these scrumptious balls are very nutritious to reserve the energy which we need to balance vitiated Vata.
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Serving Size
Makes 15 Balls
Also, I get inquiry from many moms, postpartum doulas and birth doulas about healthy snacks during postpartum period. At Ayurved Sadhana, we teach many recipes in this regard, but my favorite go to snack for postpartum period is these dates and dry nuts with seeds balls which are not only scrumptious and nutritious as they are high in protein and has natural sweetness from dates. These balls are gluten free and dairy free (if you use almond oil instead of Ghee). For postpartum moms, you can add Ginger powder or Shatavari Powder.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Seedless Organic Dates
- ¼ Cup Organic Cashews Roughly Chopped
- ¼ Cup Organic Pistachios Roughly Chopped
- ¼ Cup Organic Pecans Roughly Chopped
- ¼ Cup Organic Almonds Roughly Chopped
- ¼ Cup Organic Raisins
- 2 Tsp Organic White Sesame Seeds or Pumpkin Seeds
- 1 Tbsp Organic Ghee
- ½ Tsp Cardamom Powder
- 1-2 Pinch Nutmeg
- 1-2 Tsp Organic White Poppy Seeds
- ¼ Tsp Vanilla Essence
Instructions
- Step 1: Preparing Dates, Nuts and Seeds:
- 1. In a heavy bottom pan, add Sesame or Pumpkin seeds and on slow flame, dry roast the seeds till they turn light brown. Keep it aside.
- 2. In the same pan, dry roast Poppy Seeds till they turn light brown and keep it aside in separate plate.
- 3. Using small chopper or knife, chop Cashews, Pistachios, Almonds, and Pecans roughly so that you can still have crunchy bites. If you prefer to powder them, the balls will be softer.
- 4. Take seedless Dates and blend them using 8-10 pulses as they will be coarsely chopped. Keep it aside. I use Vitamix for chopping dates.
- Step 2: Assembling Balls:
- 5. In a heavy bottom pan, on slow flame, add Ghee. Once Ghee is melted, add all the dry chopped nuts, seeds, and raisins in the pan.
- 6. Roast them on a low flame for 4-5 minutes till they change light brown in color, and they give nice aroma.
- 7. Add coarsely blended Dates to the above mixture and mix it well.
- 8. Add Cardamom powder, Nutmeg powder and Vanilla Essence.
- 9. Continue to stir till the Dates start releasing the oil.
- 10. Take the pan from flame and allow the mixture to cool for a minute or so.
- 11. Apply dash of ghee on your palm. Using ice cream scoop, take the mixture in palm of your hand and start making a ball. Put the pressure as needed using both hands and roll the balls. Please do not leave the mixture to cool down as you will not be able to make balls.
- 12. Roll all the ball in Poppy Seeds plate so that they can stick to the balls.
- 13. Store these Scrumptious and Nutritious Sugar Free Dates and Dry Nuts with Seeds Balls in airtight container after they cool down. Enjoy with breakfast, afternoon tea or as a snack anytime you want.
Recipe By Anupama Vaidya
All rights reserved by Ayurved Sadhana Vidyalaya, Dr. Bharat Vaidya and Anupama Vaidya. Do not distribute or publish this material.