Are you just starting out on your weight loss journey to lose weight and get healthier? While your diet might all be sorted with breakfast, lunch and dinner meals in place, you might still be struggling to find healthy Indian snacks to include in your weight loss journey. The long gap between breakfast and lunch and then lunch and dinner can cause a dip in energy and send strong hunger signals, and make you vulnerable to cheat on your diet. Exactly!
When you crave for something in between meals, you would most likely order food from outside or rip open bags of potato chips one after the other, and this practice can ruin your weight loss game. What you need are healthy Indian snacks to munch and calm down hunger pangs. So, to make this easy for you, we have some recommendations for 5 mouthwatering, healthy Indian snacks that are low in calories as well.
5 Mouthwatering Healthy Indian Snacks For Weight Loss:
1. Dhokla:
Dhokla is a savory, steamed cake made from fermented chickpea flour batter, from Gujarat. It is light, fluffy, and often enjoyed as a breakfast, but it is so light on the tummy that you can have it as a snack too. It is typically garnished with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and fresh coriander to add loads of freshness. Dhokla is one of the healthy Indian snacks that you can try at home.
Ingredients:
Besan (chickpea flour): 1 cup
Sooji (semolina): 2 tbsp
Yogurt: 1/2 cup, low-fat
Water: 1/2 cup
Ginger-green chili paste: 1 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
Salt: To taste
Eno fruit salt: 1 tsp (or 1/2 tsp baking soda)
For Tempering:
Olive oil: 1 tsp
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Sesame seeds: 1 tsp
Curry leaves: A few
Green chilies: 2, slit
Asafoetida (hing): A pinch
Water: 2 tbsp
For Garnish:
Fresh coriander leaves: Chopped
Grated coconut: 2 tbsp (optional)
Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix besan, sooji, yogurt, water, ginger-green chili paste, turmeric powder, and salt to form a smooth batter. Ensure there are no lumps. Let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes. Grease a dhokla plate or a shallow dish with a little oil. Boil water in a steamer or large pot, ensuring the water level is below the plate where you’ll pour the batter. Just before steaming, add Eno fruit salt to the batter and mix well. The batter will become frothy. Pour the batter into the greased plate and place it in the steamer.
Steam for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Heat olive oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add cumin seeds, sesame seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, and a pinch of asafoetida. Sauté for a minute. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the tempering and mix well. Pour the prepared tempering evenly over the steamed dhokla. Let it cool slightly, then cut into squares or diamond shapes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut if desired. Serve warm with green chutney or a low-fat yogurt dip. Add this light, fluffy, and nutritious weight-loss-friendly dhokla to the list of healthy Indian snacks when your tummy growl.
2. Moong Dal Sprout Salad:
This is a healthy Indian snack that you should definitely make part of your diet routine. Moong dal sprouts are a rich source of protein and fiber, along with other nutrients such as minerals. You can make a fresh salad by adding other healthy ingredients like cucumber, tomato, carrot, etc. Here’s the complete recipe to make moong dal sprout salad every time you feel hungry in between meals.
Ingredients:
1 cup moong dal sprouts
1 small cucumber, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small carrot, grated
1 green chili, finely chopped (optional, for heat)
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
1/2 teaspoon chaat masala (optional, for tangy flavor)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
Instructions:
If you haven’t already, soak the moong dal overnight. Drain the water in the morning, cover them with a damp cloth, and leave them to sprout for another day or two until they have small shoots. To make the sprouts softer, you can blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain and let them cool. In a large bowl, combine the chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, carrot, and green chili. Add the moong dal sprouts to the vegetable mix. Add salt, black pepper powder, and chaat masala (if using).
Pour the lemon juice and olive oil over the mixture. Toss everything together until well combined. Sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves on top for garnish. Enjoy your refreshing and nutritious moong dal sprouts salad immediately.
Also Read: 4 Desi Foods Ananya Pandey Absolutely Loves
3. Poha:
Poha is everyone’s favorite! Just like dhokla, poha although is a breakfast option, it belongs to the list of healthy Indian snacks that you can have at any time of the day.
Ingredients:
1 cup poha (flattened rice)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1 small potato, peeled and finely diced (optional, for fewer carbs, you can skip or reduce the quantity)
1 small carrot, grated
1/4 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
1-2 green chilies, finely chopped (optional, for heat)
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon roasted peanuts (optional, for crunch)
Instructions:
Rinse the poha under running water in a colander until it becomes soft but not mushy. Drain well and set aside. In a large pan, heat the olive oil or coconut oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds to the hot oil. Let them splutter for a few seconds. Add the finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn translucent. If using, add the diced potatoes and grated carrots. Cook for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the chopped tomatoes and green peas. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the tomatoes soften. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder (if using), and salt. Mix well.
Add the softened poha to the pan and mix gently to combine everything. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the poha is heated through and well mixed with the vegetables and spices. Turn off the heat and squeeze the juice of one lemon over the poha. Mix well. Sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves and roasted peanuts (if using) on top. Serve hot.
4. Khakra:
Khakra is a traditional thin and crispy Gujarathi snack which is available in both roasted and baked forms. Available in a variety of flavours like masala, jeera, methi, garlic and with whole wheat flour as base – it’s a quick-fix healthy snack when you want to bite into something when really hungry. You can buy khakra off the shelf from any supermarket.
5. Paneer Paratha with Hummus Filling:
According to this article on Times Now, paneer is a good source of protein, and as we all know, protein keeps you full for longer, increases metabolism, and burns more calories during digestion. Hummus, which has chickpeas (chole) as the main ingredient, is also a good source of protein and fiber, and this combination boosts weight loss a good deal. And this paneer paratha roll with hummus filling fits the “healthy Indian snacks” bill perfectly.
The Paneer Paratha Roll with Hummus Filling is weight-loss friendly because it uses whole wheat flour for the paratha, providing fiber and complex carbohydrates, while the filling combines low-fat paneer for protein and hummus made from chickpeas, which adds additional protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This combination helps keep you full longer, supports muscle maintenance, and provides essential nutrients without excessive calories.
Here’s a healthy and delicious recipe for a weight-loss-friendly Paneer Paratha Roll with Hummus Filling:
Ingredients:
For the Paneer Paratha:
Whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Paneer (cottage cheese): 100 grams, grated
Carrots: 1 small, grated
Spinach: 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Green chilies: 1-2, finely chopped (optional)
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Salt: To taste
Black pepper: 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
Red chili powder: 1/4 tsp (optional)
Olive oil: 1 tsp for the dough and a little for cooking
For the Hummus Filling:
Chickpeas: 1 cup, cooked
Tahini: 2 tbsp
Lemon juice: 2 tbsp
Garlic: 2 cloves
Olive oil: 1 tbsp
Salt: To taste
Water: As needed for blending
Cumin powder: 1/2 tsp
Paprika: 1/4 tsp
For Assembling:
Cucumber: 1 small, julienned
Bell peppers: 1 small, julienned
Red onion: 1 small, thinly sliced
Fresh coriander leaves: A handful, chopped
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour with salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. Add water gradually and knead to form a soft dough. Cover and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes. In another bowl, mix grated paneer, grated carrots, chopped spinach, cumin seeds, green chilies, black pepper, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt. Mix well to combine all ingredients. This will be the stuffing for the paratha. To prepare the hummus, in a food processor, combine cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, cumin powder, and paprika. Blend until smooth, adding water as necessary to achieve a creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
To prepare the paratha, divide the dough into small balls. Roll each ball into a small circle, place some paneer mixture in the center, and fold the edges over to enclose the filling. Roll out the filled dough ball gently to form a paratha. Heat a non-stick skillet or tawa over medium heat. Cook the paratha, applying a little olive oil on both sides, until golden brown and cooked through.
Spread a generous layer of hummus on each paneer paratha. Place the cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, and chopped coriander leaves on top. Roll the paratha tightly to form a roll. Serve the Paneer Paratha Rolls warm. They make a great lunch or snack, packed with protein and fiber, perfect to be added to your list of healthy Indian snacks diet.
In conclusion, starting on a weight loss journey is exciting, and having the right Indian healthy snacks is important to stay on track. While your main meals might be planned, managing hunger between meals can be challenging. Long gaps between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner can make you feel very hungry, often leading to unhealthy choices like potato chips. Instead, try incorporating healthy Indian snacks into your diet to curb cravings and support your weight loss. We’ve suggested five tasty and nutritious snacks that are easy to make and low in calories. These snacks will keep you full and energized, helping you stick to your weight loss goals without feeling deprived.
