Aliv Laddoo: Iron-Rich Post-Natal Recovery

Aliv seeds — tiny, rust-coloured, and wildly underrated — have been a staple of Maharashtrian postpartum care for generations. New mothers were given aliv laddoos within days of delivery because these seeds are one of the richest plant sources of iron and calcium you'll find in a kitchen. Combined with fresh coconut and jaggery, this is the recipe your grandmother's grandmother knew by heart. Jaggery was chosen over dates here because it's ushna and helps the body recover warmth and strength after childbirth — something dates, though nourishing, don't do quite as effectively.