It’s Holi, you have been up since morning trying to prank people and playing with colours, dancing and jumping around. You are eventually tired and what do you quench your thirst with? Holi special thandai! Indian festivals are incomplete without their associated foods and drinks, and Holi comes with a huge glass of chilled thandai. In this article, we’ll show you how to make healthy thandai at home for the Holi festival!

This refreshing drink is made with a blend of nuts, spices, and milk, and is often sweetened with sugar or honey. While thandai can be a delicious treat, it can also be high in calories and sugar. However, with a few simple substitutions, you can make a healthier version of thandai at home that is just as delicious. So, as Holi 2023 approaches, it’s time to learn how to make a healthier version of thandai.

Also read: This Holi, quench your thirst with this healthy paan thandai recipe

How to make thandai at home?

Ingredients:

*1 cup of low-fat milk
* 1/4 cup of almonds
* 1/4 cup of cashews
* 1/4 cup of pistachios
* 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds
* 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
* 2 tablespoons of fennel seeds
* 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds
* 2 tablespoons of cardamom powder
* 2 tablespoons of rose water
* 1-2 tablespoons of honey

Recipe:

Step 1

Begin by soaking the almonds, cashews, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds in water for at least 3-4 hours. This will soften the nuts and make them easier to blend.

Step 2

Drain the water and add the soaked nuts and seeds to a blender. Add 1/2 cup of water and blend until you have a smooth paste.

Step 3

In a large bowl, add the nut and seed paste, along with the fennel seeds, poppy seeds, cardamom powder, rose water, and honey. Mix well. You can add any other type of healthy seeds to your thandai.

Step 4

Slowly add the milk and whisk until well combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more milk or water to thin it out. Make use of a hand blender to get a perfect consistency or juggle using two glasses.

Step 5

Chill the thandai in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 6

Serve the thandai chilled, garnished with a few chopped nuts and a sprinkle of cardamom powder. You can also garnish with a few rose petals.

Health tip:

*To make the thandai even healthier, you can use almond milk or coconut milk instead of dairy milk.

* While honey is a great natural sweetener for thandai, you can also use jaggery or stevia to reduce the sugar content. Keep in mind that jaggery is a type of unrefined sugar and will still add calories to your thandai.

*You can also experiment with different spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg or even saffron to give your thandai a unique flavor and flavorful twist.

*Instead of serving thandai with unhealthy snacks like fried foods and sweets, opt for healthier options like fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, or roasted nuts.

So, get ready to add some festive flair to your drink lineup and give this recipe a try and enjoy a healthier, guilt-free thandai this Holi!