Snack time - Date ladoo with nuts and seeds, Oven roasted Chivda

Recently our snack stock ran out. I decided to restock it with some healthy snacks. One for the sweet tooth and the other for the savory.

No Sugar Date ladoo with chia seeds Dates provide all the sweetness for this ladoo. They are sweet and full of fiber and nutrition. The nuts and seeds provide crunch and substance while providing good fats.

Ingredients:

1 cup	dates
1 1/2 cup	mixed nuts and seeds *
4	cardamom pods

Method

• Soak nuts like almonds and walnuts in water for about 2 hours. This makes them easier to digest.
• Peel and chop. This is a time consuming process. This step can be done a day ahead. Using a nut chopper or food processor will make it a whole lot easier.
• Boil some water. Barely cover the dates with the boiling water in a container. Cover and leave aside for 15 minutes. This softens the dates. This step is optional if you have a food processor. Since I used the blender, I took this extra step.
• Blend a little bit of dates at a time in the blender till coarsely blended.
• 
  Mix together the dates, chopped nuts and powdered cardamom seeds and roll the mixture into tiny balls. These need to be stored in the refrigerator due to the water used for dates. They easily last atleast a month in the fridge.

Notes:

• Any nuts or seeds that you have on hand can be used. Here are the seeds and nuts I used:
  • 1/2 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1/4 cup cashews
  • 1/4 cup pistachios
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
  Chia seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition and full of omega-3, fiber and protein.
• If you have a food processor, it greatly speeds up the process. Just chop the nuts in the food processor first. Remove. Chop dates. Add back the nuts and cardamom powder and process till it comes together. Roll into balls.

Oven roasted Chivda Instead of frying or roasting on stove top which requires active effort of mixing, I prefer to roast the chivda ingredients in the oven. It practically makes itself without much effort.

Ingredients:

3 cups	puffed rice + puffed wheat
2 cups	cereal (wheat flakes, corn flakes etc)
1/8 cup	oil
1/2 tsp	mustard seeds
1/4 tsp	asafoetida
1 tsp	cumin seeds
1 tbsp	poppy seeds
1 tbsp	coriander seeds
1 tbsp	sesame seeds
1 1/2 tbsp	fennel seeds
1/2 tsp	turmeric
2 tbsp	chopped curry leaves
1/4 cup	cashews
1/4 cup	almonds
1/4 cup	pistachios
1/4 cup	sunflower seeds
1/4 cup	peanuts
1/4 cup	daliya (roasted chana dal)
1/4 cup	raisins and dried berries
1/2 tsp	salt
1/2 tsp	chivda masala
1/2 tsp	amchoor powder
1 tsp	sugar

• Combine puffed rice, puffed wheat and cereal in a large baking tray. Roast for 10 minutes in a 350F oven. Stir once midway.
  
• Heat oil and add the mustard seeds, asafoetida, cumin seeds, poppy seeds, coriander seeds, sesame seeds, fennel seeds, turmeric and curry leaves.
• Add the nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, daliya and sunflower seeds). Let them roast for about 4 minutes. They need to be crunchy.
• Add the raisins and dried berries. Add the salt, sugar, chivda masala and amchoor powder.
• Switch off the flame and mix everything.
  
• Add the flavorings in the oil to the baking tray with roasted cereals and mix together with your hands so everything is evenly distributed.

Notes:

• Puffed wheat is optional. I just used it as I had some on hand.
• I have also used a combination of cereals like corn flakes, wheat flakes and alphabet cereal.
• You do not have to use all the seeds (coriander, sesame etc) in the seasoning. Use what you like or have on hand. The same goes for the nuts. I just use them for the added nutrition and taste. Use what you like and have.
• I had some chivda masala lying around. If you do not have it, just add a little bit of chili powder if you like a little spice in the chivda.
• I chop curry leaves so that they are eaten and not removed from the dish while eating. Why waste nutrition when you can get it. :)