Deep-fried aloo tikkis, puris and fried chicken sound tempting, don’t they? Though they are very rich in taste, they are also extremely harmful to our health as they are great friends of oil, which is often reused in the markets. Unsaturated fats in oil and high levels of carbohydrates in food are not good for our health. Not only this, sweet sweets like gulab jamun, rasgulla etc are also not healthy. For those who are unaware, cooking methods play an important role in leading a healthy life. Changing the way you cook a specific dish and replacing ingredients with healthier alternatives can make your meals healthier. That is why we have listed down 5 ways of cooking that can lead to a healthier life.
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Here are 5 healthy cooking methods that you can try at home:
1. Boiling
Food items like legumes, beans, eggs etc. can be easily boiled in hot water. When food is boiled in water, no oil is required for cooking. You can simply put the food in hot water and boil it until it is cooked. Instead of fried eggs, you can opt for boiled eggs as they are healthier. You can also make a delicious meal with boiled kidney beans and chickpeas.
Make boiled corn salad at home. photo credit: iStock
2. Grilling
It’s hard to resist the smoky flavor and aroma of grilled food. People all over the world enjoy barbecued meats and vegetables. People in India prefer food made from tandoor which is similar to grilled food. Some of the delicious and healthy grilled dishes that you can try are Tandoori Chicken, Paneer Tikka, Grilled Pork, etc. Meat, when grilled, is cooked in its own fat, and excess fat is rendered out, which makes grilling a very healthy cooking method.
Include grilled food in your diet. photo credit: iStock
3. Steaming
Idlis, dumplings, tigmos, appe and many other food items can be easily steamed. Very little or no oil is needed to make these. Some of these are low oil foods that are good for your heart as they reduce your risk of having high cholesterol levels.
You can make steamed dumplings at home. photo credit: iStock
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4. Baking
Baking is a healthier option as you can cook with less oil. For example, chicken, fish and vegetables can be baked/cooked on foil paper or grease-proof paper. With the help of built-in heating technology in oven, you need not worry about using oil or butter ingredients to cook dishes. For example, you can bake eggs, pasta, and green beans in it.
Pizza is a delicious baked dish. photo credit: iStock
5. Air Frying
Nothing can beat an air fryer. This hi-tech, oil-free frying machine is a multi-purpose appliance. Any dish that requires deep frying can be cooked in an air fryer without the use of oil. Make zero-oil pakodas, gol gappas, french fries etc. in it and fulfill your craving for fried food.
Try to eat well and choose better cooking techniques as our eating habits have a big impact on our health.