Indian recipes using honey, Veg Recipes using Honey

Honey is one of the most natural substances known to humans since ancient times. It is a thick, gluey and sweet tasting liquid. Honeybees collect nectar from flowers and store it in their hive, where it is processed with their digestive juices. It is then extracted using traditional methods or a mechanical honey extractor. Although honey is preferred in its raw form, commercially you can also find pasteurized, strained, ultrasonicated and dried honey.

While buying honey make sure you check the expiry date and possibly opt for organic honey. Organic honey refers to the honey or honey combs produced, processed, and packaged in accordance with national regulations.

Honey is a natural energy booster and immunity builder. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It helps to lower cholesterol level, it also helps in increasing antioxidants in the blood and so it helps prevent heart diseases.

Honey is a flavor enhancer; it has high level of fructose and a lower GI. It is sweeter than table sugar and hence required in lesser quantity. Kickstart your morning with this quick and delicious Black Raspberry smoothie or a Papaya and green apple smoothie  

Healthy Honey Drinks

Honey helps in reducing throat irritation and cough. It is the main ingredient in many home-made kadha / healthy hot drinks which work wonders for body. It is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners. This chia seed drink with honey and lime triggers energy in body and makes an amazing food for endurance athelets. Try this honey lemon water first thing in the morning or pre workout. 

Honey in Salads

Making salad dressing from scratch is a very quick process. They can be then stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and used whenever required. Quit buying bottled dressing and try your hands on these flavorful dressings made using a combination of honey and mustard , honey and lemon or a minty honey dressing and create beautiful salads mixing exotic ingredients, millets and sprouts. Don't forget to pack the dressing separately and toss the two together just before eating.

Honey enhances browning and crispness, and is hence great for glazing roasted and baked foods to promote surface browning. Try these coconut flour or almond flax bread which are gluten-free and makes an ideal snack.

Nothing can beat the heavenly combination of dates,oats and mixed berries granola bars. Replace your jars of deep-fried snacks with these healthy bars when your hunger strikes.They are made using honey which binds all the ingredients and adds sweetness to it. 

Honey in Desserts

Honey provides binding due to its viscosity, and aids in shaping of desserts. It retains moisture, an essential ingredient for prolonging moisture retention in rich cakes. Treat your loved ones with this chocolate nut cake or chocolate mousse cake which is really easy to make and an ambrosia for every chocolate lover!

Is Honey Safe for Diabetes?

In reality honey and sugar both are filled with carbs and will affect blood sugar levels. The use of honey by diabetics has been under debate. Research shows that on consumption of honey by a group of diabetics, initially increased the blood sugar levels. But after 2 hours the blood sugar levels dropped and were under control. This probably indicated that the consumption of honey, might increase insulin levels in the body which has a positive effect on blood sugar levels. Moreover, it is also a fact that honey is more sweeter than sugar and so may require less quantity. However, honey is not the wisest option to be picked by diabetics. Any fluctuation in blood sugar levels is not considered safe for them. So addition of generous amounts of honey to make desserts is a complete No-No. However if you wish to have it in moderate amounts occasionally, talk to your doctor and dietitian. Adjust the dose of medicine and other carbs in the diet before adding honey to your diet. 

Is Honey Beneficial for Weight Loss?

Honey Lemon Water is a drink which most weight watchers prefer to have early in the morning. The hot water in this concoction helps to break down the fat globules, while the honey and lemon duo aids in cleansing and removing toxins from the body and thus boost metabolism. But at the same time honey lends some calories as well. So if you opt for this drink pre-workout, probably honey will give you an energy boost and you will also burn these calories from honey. Thus, though honey can be used, you should be in mindful about the amount of honey being added to your meal plan. Restrict the quantity of honey to not more than 1 tsp per glass (this will add only 20 calories). Also concentrate on eating a whole lot of other foods which aid in giving a trimmed waistline, as there is no such one food which helps in achieving your weight loss targets.

Enoy our honey recipes | Indian Veg Honey Recipes given below.