Jaggery Recipes

Jaggery is basically a concentrated product that is derived from cane juice. Jaggery is extracted without the separation of molasses and the crystals.

When purchasing jaggery, consider the level of impurities it contains. If it is brown, this is an indication of the impurities present inside. If it is golden, it is relatively pure. Ensure it is clean and has a sweet smell.

You should always store jaggery in an airtight container. It is recommended to break it into small pieces and store these in a cool and dark place.

Culinary Uses

• Jaggery is an important ingredient in making sweet dishes and desserts in the cuisines of India, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan.
• Jaggery is also added to rasam and sambar as well.
• In the Gujarati cuisine, jaggery is added to introduce sweetness in dals and other delicacies and balance the spicy and sour flavors.
• Several Maharashtrian recipes too make use of jaggery to add sweetness.
• Jaggery is also used to make toffees and cakes.
• Certain alcoholic beverages such as palm wine are made from jaggery.
• The traditional recipes in the cuisine of Karnataka also make use of jaggery. It is often added to sambar and payasam or kheer.

Health benefits

• Jaggery finds several uses in the ancient medicinal system of Ayurveda.
• Jaggery has lots of antioxidants and packs in selenium and zinc as well. These help fight free radicals in the body.
• It is also known to promote immunity levels.
• Jaggery acts like a natural sweetener packed with nutrients.
• The consumption of jaggery also helps the body detox and flushes out toxins from the body.
• Jaggery is also known to help fight constipation and promotes a healthy digestive system.
• Jaggery is made of long-chain molecules which means it is not instantly broken down and the energy contained is slowly released. This is unlike sugar which almost immediately releases energy being absorbed into the bloodstream.

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