Cold-pressed olive oil does greater justice to the preparation of tasty and healthy Diwali recipes than anything else. According to Tata Simply Better, the secret to tasty, healthy recipes lies in choosing the right ingredients, and cold-pressed olive oil is one of them. It is known for its purity and nutrient profile, not only enhances the taste of classic Indian dishes but also supports healthier living, making it perfect for festive cooking.

Below, we have five of the classic Diwali recipes that can be prepared with cold pressed olive oil, each with its distinct flavour and nutritional benefits. Whether you are preparing savoury snacks or traditional sweets, adding cold pressed olive oil to your recipe will give it a delectable twist and wholesome boost. So let's dive into these recipes and make this Diwali both delicious and healthy with Tata Simply Better's cold-pressed oils.

1. Shakarpara (Sweetened Flour Bites)

Shakkarpare is among the most tasty Diwali sweets because of its crisp, golden crust and sugar-coated texture. The fried dish is also lighter and healthier because of using cold pressed olive oil. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

- 1 cup whole wheat flour

- ¼ cup semolina

- ¼ cup powdered sugar

- ¼ cup olive oil

- ½ cup water

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, semolina, and powdered sugar.
2. Gradually add olive oil and mix till the dough becomes crumbly
3. Gradually add water to knead into a smooth dough
4. Roll out the dough and cut it into diamond shapes.
5. Bake or shallow-fry in olive oil till golden brown

With olive oil, Shakarpara remains crispy, giving a hint of natural goodness from olive oil while eliminating all unnecessary saturated fats, which makes it a Guilt-Free Diwali Snack.

2. Methi Mathri (Fenugreek Savory Crackers) 

Methi Mathri is the tastiest snack full of flavour and a must have for Diwali. For this recipe, the snack is typically fried, but it has been given a healthier version with olive oil.

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)

¼ teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)

Salt according to taste

¼ cup olive oil

Prep Time: 30  miles. Servings 40 servings

- Serve as many as you require

Dhokla Recipes:

Instructions

1 Take all four flours in a very large mixing bowl along with fenugreek leaves and carom seeds.

2 Add in the oil, mix with the utensil until lumpy.

3 Gradually add some water and then knead to a taut dough.

4 Give it round puffs by rolling them and giving a few dents and shallow fry, bake well, or lightly deep-fry until a brown tint.

Using olive oil, Methi Mathri stays crispy and flavorful without being too heavy like a deep-fried one. So, it's healthier and you can enjoy more of it without losing out on taste and quality.

3. Besan Ladoo (Gram Flour Sweets)

No Diwali is complete without ladoos. The all-time favourite besan ladoo is made mainly with ghee. But to give it a lighter nutty flavour, you could use olive oil without losing the richness.

Ingredients

1 cup gram flour (besan)

½ cup powdered sugar

½ cup olive oil

1 tsp cardamom powder

Nuts and raisins for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and add gram flour to roast on low flame until aromatic.
2. Once roasted, let it cool down a little, then add powdered sugar and cardamom powder to it.
3. Mix well and shape it into ladoos.
4. Garnish with nuts and raisins.

Using olive oil in besan ladoo gives a subtle flavour, which makes it a lighter yet equally indulgent treat. The nutrient density of olive oil complements the wholesome gram flour, making it a delicious and nutritious addition to your Diwali platter.

4. Aloo Tikki (Spiced Potato Patties)

Aloo Tikki is one of the most popular snacks and can be enjoyed all through the year, but it is something special when Diwali is near. The flavour is added with the help of cold-pressed olive oil in shallow frying instead of deep frying. It is much healthier, too.

Ingredients:

- 4 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed

- ¼ cup breadcrumbs

- 1 tsp cumin powder

- 1 tsp coriander powder

- Salt and chilli powder according to taste

- ¼ cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Take mashed potatoes, breadcrumbs, cumin powder, coriander powder, salt, and chilli powder in a bowl.
2. Shape this mixture into small patties.
3. Shallow fry the patties in a pan with olive oil until crispy golden on both sides.

Cold-pressed olive oil does not make the tikkis too greasy while still keeping them crunchy. The overall flavour will also be enhanced, which will add a faint fruitiness to this otherwise quite traditional recipe.

5. Chakli (Spiral Rice Flour Snack)

Chakli is one of those deep-fried snacks, particularly popular during Diwali, that has a spiral shape and crunch. The regular rice flour is deep-fried in refined oil. But the same snack will be a much healthier choice if you substitute it with cold-pressed olive oil.

Ingredients

- 1 cup rice flour

- 1 tbsp sesame seeds

- 1 tbsp carom seeds

- Salt to taste

- ¼ cup olive oil

- Water as required

Recipe

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl using rice flour, sesame seeds, carom seeds, and salt.
2. Pour olive oil and mix well.
3. Add water and form a soft dough.
4. Press the dough in a chakli maker and form spirals.
5. Fry in olive oil and crisp

The application of cold-pressed olive oil in chakli makes this snack light and infuses a hint of flavour; hence it is a wonderful and healthy Diwali treat.

Benefits of Cold-Pressed Olive Oil in Festive Cooking

Unrefined cold-pressed olive oil is a very clean and nutrient-rich oil; it is great for festive cooking. It possesses all the natural antioxidants, healthy fats, and, therefore, is helpful to the heart, reduces inflammation, and provides benefits towards the skin. Cold-pressed olive oil in all your Diwali food just adds wholesome nutrition to that bite.

At Tata Simply Better, we are committed to providing oils that are both delicious and healthy-conscious. This Diwali, take home the best of cold-pressed olive oil to adorn conventional recipes and keep your loved ones feeling their best. Indulge in these unique twists on classic recipes and celebrate with delicious, nutritious food that really honours the festive spirit.

With Tata Simply Better, Tata Consumer Products has entered into a new category, with a range of cold-pressed oils aimed at consumers who want to include cold-pressed oils in their kitchens. Tata Simply Better has come with various cold-pressed oils- Groundnut, Virgin Coconut, Sesame, Olive and Mustard, that provide a healthier and more nutritious alternative to traditional cooking oils.

These oils are carefully extracted to retain their natural goodness, and they are free from trans fats and cholesterol. By using the finest A1-grade ingredients, Tata Simply Better ensures that its products offer a superior culinary experience while promoting overall well-being.