4 Heart-Healthy Christmas Recipes 2022

Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. It calls for some quality time with friends and family, while indulging in some delicious comfort foods and tasty treats. But do you often feel guilty indulging in your favourite Christmas foods during the holiday season?  Would you want to enjoy your favourite festive feasts guilt-free? Don’t worry, we’ve got you!  Finding the right balance between tasty and healthy is possible. We can make yummy dishes that are good for us and our hearts by using heart-friendly ingredients in our recipes. How about making this holiday season the time we start our heart-healthy Christmas diet?  We present to you 4 heart-healthy Christmas recipes so that you can have yourself a truly merry holiday season. 

1. Sweet Potato Crostini 

Ingredients:  Base:  

• 1 sweet potato
• 1 tbsp Saffola Gold Oil
• Use salt as per taste
• 1 tbsp paprika

Stuffing  

• 1 avocado
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 red onion 
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning ( basil, rosemary, thyme)
• 1 tsp like Saffola Gold Oil

Instructions:  

• Slice strips of the sweet potato into ½-inch thickness.
• Heat 1 tbsp of Saffola Gold Oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. 
• Shallow fry the strips on each side until they are crispy and golden brown in colour. 
• Once done, place the strips on a tray and sprinkle salt and paprika on it. 
• Prepare salsa by chopping and dicing the avocado, tomatoes & onion.
• Combine them in a bowl with the Italian dressing and 2 tsp of Saffola Gold Oil 
• Top the strips with a generous amount of the salsa before serving. 

Heart Health Meter:  Sweet potato contains antioxidants that can help keep your heart healthy. Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats that help lower the levels ofLDL cholesterol  (bad cholesterol) and keep your heart healthy. The sweet potato crostini is a twist on the classic bread crostini Christmas recipe.  

2. Italian stuffed mushroom

Ingredients  

• 12 whole portobello mushrooms
• ¼ cup finely diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley 
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup low-fat cheese
• ½ tsp oregano
• Salt 
• Black pepper 

Instructions:  

• Wipe off any dirt from the mushroom with a clean cloth but do not wash them with water. 
• Remove the stems from the mushrooms
• Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add 1 tbsp of Saffola Gold oil
• Add in the chopped onions, garlic, and parsley with salt. Cook and sauté for about 5-7 minutes till soft.
• In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180 ° C
• In a bowl, combine the sauteed onion mixture with breadcrumbs, low-fat grated cheese, oregano, salt, and black pepper. 
• Spread a little of Saffola Gold oil on the base of a baking dish and place the mushrooms on it
• Fill the centre of the mushroom with the filling and bake it at 180 ° C for 10-15 minutes, till it turns darker.
• Serve hot and garnish with cheese or parsley. 

Heart-health meter: Portobello mushrooms can help in lowering the risk of heart-related diseases. It is also rich in antioxidants and fibre but low in carbohydrates hence helping manage weight. Healthy Christmas snacks like the Italian stuffed mushrooms are going to be an instant hit at the Christmas party. 

3. Roasted Whole Cauliflower with Herbs 

Ingredients:  

• 1 whole cauliflower
• ½ cup fresh cilantro
• 4-5 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp of tomato ketchup 
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 3 medium tomatoes (chopped into 4 quarters)
• 1 tbsp Saffola Gold oil 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:  

• Preheat oven to 200° C.
• Cut the leaves and trim the stem of the cauliflower and place it in a deep casserole dish
• Blend the cilantro, cloves, lime, tomato ketchup, paprika, Saffola Gold cooking oil, salt, and pepper in a mixer grinder till a coarse paste is formed. 
• Rub the marinade generously on the entire cauliflower head and add the tomato pieces to the casserole dish.
• Bake the cauliflower in the oven for 20 minutes at 200° C.
• Keep aside till cool 
• Chop into desired thickness and serve with the roasted tomatoes. 

Heart health meter: Cauliflower is a rich source of antioxidants that reduces inflammation which can protect the heart. It also has fibre that keeps cholesterol at a healthy level. Tomatoes too arerich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The Roasted Cauliflower is a healthy Christmas dinner recipe that is easy to prepare. 

4. Oatmeal Raisin cookies 

Ingredients  

• 1 cup rolled oats 
• ¼ cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup jaggery
• ¼ cup Saffola Gold Oil 
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1-2 tbsp milk 

Instructions:  

• Preheat the oven to 180° C. 
• Line a baking sheet with a parchment sheet and apply a little of Saffola Gold oil.
• In a wide bowl, mix the whole wheat flour, rolled oats, raisin, and baking soda
• In another bowl whisk the jaggery and oil until the jaggery has mixed well and melted
• Add this to the bowl with dry ingredients and mix well. Then add a tbsp of milk to form a cookie dough by binding it together.  
• Using a cookie cutter, shape the cookies and place them over the tray. Bake the cookies at 150° C for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
• Allow the cookies to cool and serve warm. You can also dunk it in milk to make a comfortable snack. 
• You can then store them in an airtight jar for future delights. 

Heart health meter: Oats contain soluble fibres such as beta-glucan which help lower bad LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels and help in maintaining heart health. Raisins contain both soluble and insoluble fibre, potassium, and antioxidants — which may be beneficial to your heart. Oatmeal raisin cookies are tasty yet healthier Christmas cookies you can try.  So here you have it! These heart-healthy Christmas recipes are definitely going to get your family closer and healthier this holiday season. To make your Christmas recipes even more delicious and nutritious, you can use Saffola Gold cooking oil which has antioxidants for better immunity and a good balance of MUFA and PUFA that can make your Christmas even more heart-healthy!