Mistakes to Avoid When Adding a Modern Twist to Chhath Puja Prasad with Cadbury
Written by jheelum basu | October 1, 2024
From sticking to a vegetarian diet and wearing clean clothes to taking a bath early in the morning and preparing offerings cleanly and hygienically, Chhath Puja epitomizes sanctity, cleanliness, hygiene, and respect in its purest form. The use of pure and fresh ingredients, along with clean utensils, is at the core of the Chhath Puja rituals, which involve offerings to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya.
While traditional ‘Sattvik’ Chhath Puja offerings don’t include chocolate or any other commercially processed ingredients, the chocolate-infused items are offered these days as additional items instead of replacing the traditional ceremonial ones. Respectful and cautious inclusion of chocolate is key to making those unique dessert ideas for Chhath Puja with Cadbury.
During a festival that symbolizes devotion and gratitude to build a harmonious connection with nature, sweets are made in large batches as offerings. While that sounds exciting, it is equally important to take into consideration the mistakes to avoid. From selecting the right kind of chocolate with no compromise on quality, and using fresh ingredients to avoid overheating and improper storage methods, the unique dessert ideas for Chhath Puja with Cadbury require meticulous attention.
From the classic Thekua and Rasiya Kheer to Kasar Laddoo and Halwa, all the traditional dishes can be served with a perfect chocolatey twist, only if you are careful about the mistakes to avoid. To help you out with this Chhath Puja, we have listed the key mistakes to avoid. Let’s explore!
Modern Twist to Chhath Puja Prasad with Cadbury: Mistakes To Avoid
Chocolate: No compromise in quality
Infusing chocolates in traditional recipes is the most common way of adding a modern twist to the age-old taste and flavor profile of desserts. For smooth, decadent, and luscious chocolate offerings during Chhath Puja, it is imperative to choose premium-quality chocolate. Any compromise on this step can change the outcome significantly.
For a perfect finish, it is usually recommended to select fresh chocolates with high cocoa butter content. Lower-grade chocolates are not recommended as they often include vegetable oils and hardeners instead of cocoa butter, affecting texture and flavor.
Melting & Tempering: Avoid Overheating
Avoid overheating
: For almost every chocolate-based sweet recipe, melted chocolate is a must. Therefore, perfect chocolate melting is crucial to achieve the desired consistency and texture. Overheating always burns the chocolates and alters the final taste. There are two most widely practiced methods to melt chocolate- the double-boiler method and the microwave method. In either case, the chocolate should be melted gently to avoid scorching it.
Avoid wrong tempering:
Not maintaining the correct temperature for tempering ruins the outcome.
Tempering at the correct temperature ensures uniform distribution of the fats to create a smooth, glossy finish. It is always recommended to use a chocolate thermometer to check the temperature, ideally 31-32°C.
Insufficient cooling time:
Not giving your chocolate enough time to cool down after melting, and rapidly putting it in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up cooling, often leads to white, powdery sugar or fat bloom due to improper fat crystallization.
Wet, moist environments:
Moisture can spoil chocolate desserts like nothing else. While preparing the batter, even a small amount of water can lead to a lumpy consistency. To ensure the chocolate is not ruined, use dry bowls, spoons, and molds.
Avoid using cold ingredients:
: Using ingredients at room temperature is crucial, as the addition of cold ingredients like cream or butter to melted chocolate can cause the chocolate to split and form an uneven texture.
Chhath Puja Offerings: General Mistakes To Avoid
Wrong measurements
: Making perfect desserts and sweets is a lot about calculation and measurements. Faulty measurement of ingredients can entirely ruin desserts and sweets. Therefore, it is important to focus on the right proportions of ingredients to make perfect Chhath Puja offerings.
Not sifting ingredients:
Sifting dry ingredients such as flour, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar is extremely important for a smooth consistency of the batter and the final product. Not sifting them properly may lead to lumps.
Using stale ingredients:
Stale ingredients can significantly affect the outcome. Therefore, using fresh ingredients is mandatory to achieve the desired freshness, flavor, and consistency.
Overmixing:
It is always recommended to refrain from overmixing the batter to avoid gluten formation, which leads to a final product with a tough texture.
Not preheating the oven
: Preheating the oven is compulsory if you are opting for the healthy baked thekuas in place of the deep-fried thekuas. A cold oven often leads to faulty baking and a poor rise.
Purity, Hygiene, and Cleanliness: Mistakes To Avoid
Avoid stale, impure ingredients:
Chhath Puja offerings are all about using pure and fresh ingredients. Stale, impure ingredients contaminate the offerings made to the deities.
Avoid an unhygienic environment:
To prepare the Chhath Puja offerings, select a clean and hygienic place, and use clean utensils to prepare the offerings. Also, make sure that your entire house is clean and sanitized.
Avoid unwashed clothes:
Taking an early bath and wearing clean clothes are key to performing Chhath Puja rituals. Only clean or new clothes can be worn while you are preparing the sacred offerings of Chhath Puja.