It’s that time of the year when we all look forward to the festival of Holi. Holi is a festival of colours that is incomplete without delightful thandai and gujiya. Thandai is a cool and refreshing drink that is a must-have treat for Holi. It is prepared with dry fruits and flavoured with some fragrant spices. Though it is popular in the northern part of the country, it is relished in other states as well. Recently, Shilpa Shetty Kundra has shared a very delicious, flavourful and super healthy recipe video of Holi special thandai on her IGTV handle. I am sure this thandai will definitely add more joy to your Holi festivities.
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The best part is that this Holi special thandai is made with almond milk instead of regular milk, thus it is a great alternative for vegans and people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies. Another best thing is that it has zero added sugar as maple syrup has been used as a sweetening ingredient. This makes the recipe even healthier for diabetics. You may also use honey as an alternative to sweeten the thandai, as Shilpa Shetty suggested in the recipe video.
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Scroll down and check out the easy, instant and vegan version of thandai!
Ingredients Of Holi Special Thandai
- 800 ml Almond milk (or any other milk of your choice)
- 7-8 strands of Saffron
- 6-8 tbsp Maple syrup (or any other sugar substitute of your choice)
- Dried rose petals or edible flowers (for garnish)
Spice Mixture
- 1 tbsp Khus khus or poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp Sunflower seeds
- One tbsp Melon seeds
- 2-3 Peppercorns
- 1/4th tsp Cardamom powder
- 1/4th tsp Nutmeg powder
- 2 tbsp Saunf or fennel seeds
- 2-3 tbsp Pistachio powder
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Method Of Holi Special Thandai
- In a blender, add all the above-mentioned spices. Blend them together to make a finely powdered mixture.
- Take a pan and pour almond milk in it.
- Add the powdered spice mixture and keep stirring. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Now add 7-8 strands of saffron in it.
- Cook it till the milk gets slightly thicker.
- Once the milk has thickened, switch the gas off. Let it cool down to room temperature.
- Keep it in the fridge and chill for at least an hour, to let the spices infuse in the drink.
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Health Benefits Of Holi Special Thandai
- Poppy seeds (khus-khus) are the key ingredient of this recipe. They are rich in minerals like iron, phosphorus and zinc. In the summer, they are very helpful in quenching thirst and also help during constipation and other gastrointestinal irritations.
- Other spices like black pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon increase immunity and help us fight infections while fennel and saffron prevent indigestion.
- Almond milk is a milky drink made from ground almonds. Almonds are high in protein and being a plant food, they contain no cholesterol. They also have vitamin E, which is considered a powerful antioxidant with cancer-fighting qualities. Almonds are rich in minerals and fibre too. This low-carb beverage is a perfect choice for people on a low-carb diet.
Make your Holi happy and healthy with this almond milk thandai!