A lot of people love to eat gorengan, which are different kinds of tasty fried Indonesian snacks. On the other hand, eating too many deep-fried foods can be bad for your health because they are high in fat and calories. There are ways to enjoy these tasty treats without hurting your health, though. You can make lighter versions of gorengan that are still healthy and filling by making a few simple swaps and changes.
1. Cook your food in healthier ways. For example, traditional gorengan is deep-fried in oil, which adds a lot of calories and bad fats. If you want to make lighter versions, choose better ways to cook like grilling, baking, or airfrying. These methods use little to no oil, which lowers the overall fat level while still making the food crispy.
2. Use Whole Grain Flour: Instead of refined flour, which doesn’t have enough fibre and important nutrients, try using whole grain flour in your gorengan meals. You can make the snacks healthier and fuller by using whole grain flour. It gives the snacks fibre, vitamins, and minerals. You can make a better batter for coating with whole wheat flour, brown rice flour, or a mix of different whole grain flours.
3. Add veggies: To make your gorengan healthier, add veggies to the batter or filling. Grated zucchini, spinach, carrots or kale are some vegetables that can be used to make food healthier. They can add fibre, vitamins and minerals. To make the veggies more nutritious while lowering their calorie density, finely chop or shred them and add them to the batter or use them as fillings.
4. Try lean proteins: Most traditional gorengan is made with processed foods or meats that are high in fat. Instead, try tofu, tempeh, lean chicken or fish, or other lower protein sources. These choices give you high-quality protein without the extra fat, which makes you feel full and helps your muscles stay healthy. To improve the taste, marinate the meats with herbs and spices before cooking.
5. Use Less Salt and More Herbs and Spices: Use less salt in your gorengan foods and more herbs, spices, and other flavour enhancers to make them taste better. You can add tasty flavours to your snacks without using too much salt by using fresh herbs and spices like parsley, cilantro, basil, cumin, and paprika. Try out different mixes to find the ones that taste the best to you.
6. Portion Control: When making healthy versions of gorengan, it’s important to watch how much you eat so you don’t overeat. Cut down on the size of your snacks and eat them with a fresh salad or vegetables for a well-balanced meal. Mindfully eating and savouring each bite can help you avoid eating too many calories while still letting you enjoy your favourite treats.
Dips: Instead of putting sauces that are heavy and high in calories, choose lighter ones like salsa, yogurt-based dips, or homemade hummus. These sauces taste good and are creamy, but they don’t have as much fat and calories as regular sauces. You can also play around with different citrus drinks, herbs, and spices to make your own unique dipping sauces that go well with your gorengan.
When you use these cooking tips and tricks, you can make lighter gorengan options that taste great and are good for you. Small changes, like picking healthier foods, cooking differently, and watching how much you eat, can have a big effect on your health and well-being as a whole. You can enjoy your favourite snacks without feeling bad about it while still meeting your health goals if you get creative and try new things.
