According to a report by the Times of India on November 2, dry fruit hampers topped the gift lists this Diwali, even in the face of rising prices. Considered to be a safe gifting option due to their long shelf life, dry fruits have found their way to everyone’s home along with Indian mithais. But in case you haven’t been able to finish off your Diwali gift hampers, you can upcycle those and enjoy them well beyond the festive season. CT spoke to Kolkata bakers and chefs to find out how you can maximise the hamper overload without compromising on shelf life.
Ditch the sweet rush, use dry fruits in salads and savouries
Received an overwhelming quantity of dry fruits as gifts? Add some to your meal. “Dry fruits are a great source of nutrients and should be included in the daily diet. Shaved almonds can be used on salads, walnuts go well with cheese plates and charcuterie boards,” says Pallavi Khaitan of a city cloud kitchen. To this Vidisha Bathwal from an artisanal catering service added, “Chopped dry fruits can be added to biryani for a sweet and nutty flavour. They can also be used in vegetable pilaf as they pair well with the flavours of cumin and cardamom.”
Indian sweets can be used to make fusion desserts and puddings- Preetanjali Pasari
Transform those extra brownies and cookies
Want to add a twist to the left-over chocolatey goodness? Add some ice cream to it! “Freezing brownies and cookies is not a great option, so add some ice-cream and store them as desserts and puddings. You can also use this mix for ice-cream sandwiches, layered desserts and sundaes,” says Preetanjali Pasari, a city baker.
Make different trail mixes
Trail mix is typically made using nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and sometimes chocolate or granola, and can vary widely to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. According to Vidisha, you can make a savoury trail mix by “combining dry fruits with seeds and spices like chilli powder, smoked paprika and herbs.”
Use dry fruits to make granola, energy bars, trail mix
Bake away your Diwali leftovers
Besides freezing, city bakers suggest baking your own mithais. “Incorporate sweets into cakes and muffins to add flavour and also preserve them in a new form,” says Vidisha, adding, “The leftover sweets can be blended together and pressed on a tray. Once set, they can be consumed as bars.”
Easy ways to increase shelf life
Ditch the sweet rush, use dry fruits in salads and savouries
Received an overwhelming quantity of dry fruits as gifts? Add some to your meal. “Dry fruits are a great source of nutrients and should be included in the daily diet. Shaved almonds can be used on salads, walnuts go well with cheese plates and charcuterie boards,” says Pallavi Khaitan of a city cloud kitchen. To this Vidisha Bathwal from an artisanal catering service added, “Chopped dry fruits can be added to biryani for a sweet and nutty flavour. They can also be used in vegetable pilaf as they pair well with the flavours of cumin and cardamom.”
Indian sweets can be used to make fusion desserts and puddings- Preetanjali Pasari
Transform those extra brownies and cookies
Want to add a twist to the left-over chocolatey goodness? Add some ice cream to it! “Freezing brownies and cookies is not a great option, so add some ice-cream and store them as desserts and puddings. You can also use this mix for ice-cream sandwiches, layered desserts and sundaes,” says Preetanjali Pasari, a city baker.
Make different trail mixes
Trail mix is typically made using nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and sometimes chocolate or granola, and can vary widely to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. According to Vidisha, you can make a savoury trail mix by “combining dry fruits with seeds and spices like chilli powder, smoked paprika and herbs.”
Use dry fruits to make granola, energy bars, trail mix
Bake away your Diwali leftovers
Besides freezing, city bakers suggest baking your own mithais. “Incorporate sweets into cakes and muffins to add flavour and also preserve them in a new form,” says Vidisha, adding, “The leftover sweets can be blended together and pressed on a tray. Once set, they can be consumed as bars.”
Easy ways to increase shelf life
- Refrigerate your dry fruits to stop bacterial growth
- Store sweets in moisture-absorbing packets
- Store in air-tight containers to reduce spoilage
- Avoid storing half-eaten sweets
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