No Stirring, No Stress: Instant Pot

Sweets

For A Fuss-Free Diwali

Quick Summary

Indian festivals are synonymous with sweets. No festival goes without sweets, but they often require long hours in the kitchen. This article explores the convenience of sweets that require minimal time and effort in the kitchen. Most of the cooking is done with the help of a pressure cooker, which allows for cooking everything at once. Dive deeper to know which sweets can be made in one pot and try them this Diwali. 

Deep Dive

Indian households are filled with the aroma of ghee, cardamom, and saffron during festival seasons. Some classics, such as moong dal halwa, boondi laddoo, rice kheer, gajar halwa, and coconut barfi, are loved across the country and enjoyed on almost every occasion. However, the most challenging part of this preparation is the long hours spent in the kitchen, which require careful attention, constant stirring, and precise control over the heat. In short, precision is the key when it comes to making sweets at home!

However, modern pressure cookers and electric multi-cookers have brought a new revolution to the art of making festival sweets. By cooking under controlled pressure, these appliances not only reduce cooking time but also ensure that the heat is distributed evenly without any extra smokiness or undercooked ingredients. These dishes help milk-based dishes thicken without curdling, lentils and grains cook uniformly, and sugar syrups reach the perfect consistency. 

By using modern appliances to make traditional sweets, you can make Diwali fuss-free and enjoy the sweets in no time! Read this article to know which sweets can be made easily with the help of one pot and yet retain their natural taste. 

Moong Dal Halwa

Moong dal halwa is a Diwali staple, which traditionally requires hours of roasting moong dal and stirring in ghee. Using a pressure cooker, soaked and ground moong dal cooks evenly under pressure, creating a rich and smooth texture in just a few minutes. Roasting dals lightly before pressure cooking improves digestibility and enhances protein bioavailability, making the halwa a healthier dessert. Cardamom, saffron, and chopped nuts can be added after cooking for some extra flavour and texture. This version will help you prepare halwa that tastes authentic without the long hours of effort.

Boondi Laddoo

Boondi laddoos are made with the pearls made from besan, soaked in sugar syrup and then shaped into laddoos. To make the sugar syrup, one needs to carefully monitor it to prevent its crystallisation. Pressure cooking simplifies this by producing a consistent syrup rapidly, reducing the risk of sugar crystallising while keeping laddoos soft for longer. Using jaggery instead of sugar adds iron and minerals, enhancing the nutritional profile. These boondi laddoos are perfectly sweet, aromatic, and visually appealing for festive platters.

Rice Kheer

Kheer is another staple during Diwali and other festive occasions. It is made by boiling rice, milk and sugar together and topped with nuts. Pressure cooking allows rice and milk to cook simultaneously without sticking or burning, and cuts the simmering time in half. Research indicates that pressure cooking milk-based dishes preserves the calcium content and reduces the oxidative breakdown of milk proteins, thereby maintaining both taste and nutrition. Garnishing with saffron, almonds, and cashews after cooking enhances the aroma and texture of the kheer.

Gajar Halwa

Gajar halwa is another festive favourite in Indian households. Traditionally, it requires slow cooking to allow milk and carrots to blend perfectly. But pressure cookers do the job equally well. Pressure cooking softens carrots while retaining beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A. Milk thickens evenly without curdling, and ghee preserves fat-soluble vitamins. All three cook evenly in the pressure cooker, resulting in a rich and delicious taste. This halwa is topped with cardamom and almonds after cooking. Gajar halwa strikes a balance between taste, texture, and nutritional content while saving preparation time.

Celebrating Sweets The Modern Way

Pressure cooker strikes the exact balance between tradition and modern-day convenience. By reducing preparation time and effort, a pressure cooker gives authentic flavours and nutritional benefits. This makes it possible for everyone to participate in festive cooking. From moong dal halwa to gajar halwa, everything gets prepared effortlessly and stress-free in the pressure cooker. It not only saves time but also keeps the taste of the traditional sweet intact.