Jaggery, or gur, is a popular natural alternative of refined sugar. Due to its distinct strong flavour, it is used across many traditional recipes, both sweet as well as savoury. Often touted for its multiple health benefits, jaggery boasts of certain minerals that are beneficial for our health. Phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, potassium are some of the minerals found aplenty in jaggery. Moreover, jaggery comes loaded with antioxidants, which help boost the immune system and help body to fight against diseases. No wonder our parents and grandparents kept reminding us to load up on jaggery in the winter season!
Health Benefits Of Jaggery:
According to Dietitian Sunita Chowdhary from BLK Super Speciality Hospital, "Jaggery is considered warm as it gives enough calories to keep the body warm. It also helps to dilate blood vessels and produces warmth in the body. It is therefore, said to be beneficial to have jaggery in winters." Besides that Jaggery has a good amount of vitamin C and is also used as a traditional remedy for respiratory disorders and throat problems. Besides all this and more, what amazes us the most is the number of ways one can consume gur in regular meals. While many of us would know the quintessential winter combination of sarso ka saag with makke ki roti served with plenty of gur on the side, there are many delicacies that can be prepared with the sweetener too!
(Also Read: Why Is Jaggery (Or Gur) Good For Your Blood Pressure? 5 Yummy Recipes You'd Love!)
Jaggery For Cooking:
From traditional winter sweets like halwa, kheer, ladoos and chikkis to savoury dishes like roti and sabzis such as phaliyan, jaggery is used in various dishes in Indian cuisine. But did you know that you can even make tantalising chutney from the humble jaggery? Yes, you read that right!
Jaggery Chutney Recipe | Gur Ki Chutney Recipe
This Gur chutney, a speciality from Eastern India, has jaggery sauteed in some mustard oil. It is then mixed with crushed olives, salt, paanch-phoron, chilli powder and roasted jeera, cooked or a while and finished with a dash of honey. Doeesn't it sound like the perfect balance of sweet and tangy? You bet it is!
Find the full recipe of gur ki chutney here.
Pair this in winter with some steamed rice or dry sabzis in a wholesome meal!