Holi Special!
इस पन्ने को हिन्दी में पढ़ें
Dear Readers,
Holi is a festival of colors. All over India people celebrate this festival with dry and wet colors. They throw colors at each other and enjoy the festive mood. Holi is a festival which brings people together - people play colors in harmony.
According to the lunar calender, Holi falls on the full moon night of Phagun month. In the English calender it falls sometime in March. This year Holi is on March, 24th- 2024 for the pooja (Holika Dahan) and March 25th-2024 for color festival.
While the rest of the India celebrates Holi for 2 days, the cities which are associated with Lord Krishna celebrate this festival for over a week. I grew up in a city where we used to have Holi celebrations for a whole week. Longer festive season means you get a chance to have more fun and lots of good food!
In different regions of India different delicacies are prepared for this special festival. Along with desserts (mithai) Chaat is also a very popular preparation for this festival. Let's make some mouthwatering delecacies for Holi....
Happy Holi to Everyone !!
Shuchi
Mithai (Sweets) For Holi Festival
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chandrakala
Chandrakala is a traditional North Indian dessert specially made for festival of Holi and Diwali. Chandrakalas are similar to Gujiya in taste but are different in shape: these are round. These are khoya/ Mawa (thickened milk), dry fruits and sugar filled pastries; flavored with cardamoms and deep fried in pure ghee. So let us make this traditional dessert on the occasion on Holi, the festival of colors...
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Gujhiya
Gujiya/ Gujhiya are a traditional North Indian dessert specially made for the festival of colors. Gujhiya are khoya/ Mawa (thickened milk), dry fruits and sugar filled pastries; flavored with cardamoms and deep fried in pure ghee. So let us make this traditional dessert...
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Choorme ke-Laddu
Churma or Churme ke laddu is a very famous dessert from Rajasthan. Churma is made with coarsely ground wheat flour balls (that have been deep fried in ghee), sugar, cardamoms and nuts. In order to make laddu, pure ghee is added to the Churma and then round balls are made. Churma is the traditional accompaniment to dal-baati. I was reading a book...
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Akhrot ki Barfi/ walnut squares
Walnut also known as akrot in Hindi. Walnut is one of the healthiest nuts. Walnut is a good source of potassium, magnesium, and iron. It is also a powerful antioxident. This walnut squares/ akrot ki barfi is very easy to make....
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Aate ke Laddu
These wheat flour (aata) laddos are a very delicious and healthy preparation. The edible gum enhances the flavor of the ladoos and is good for health especially in winter time as they are warm in tendency. On the auspicious festival of Diwali make aate ke ladoos this time....
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Besan ke Laddu
Ladoo is a hindi word for round ball. Ladoos are very famous Indian dessert usually made out of different kinds of flour(wheat, gram etc)/grains(sesame) with ghee(clarified butter), sugar and dry fruits.Some very common varieties of ladoos are aate ke ladoo, besan ke ladoo, sooji ke ladoo, Til ke ladoo etc...
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Shahi Tukde/ Shahi Toast
Shahi tukda/ toast or Royal Toast is a rich dessert delicacy, made with deep fried bread, soaked in sugar syrup, and then topped with rabri (thickened milk) and dry fruits. This delicacy has Nawabi influence and since I am also from the city of Nawabs, I just love it. Try this Shahi Tukda on this Diwali....
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Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun is a delicious Indian dessert . This rich dessert delicacy is tradionally made with deep fried balls of milk solids, soaked in sugar syrup. Noy a days paneer gulab jamun, bread gulab jamun etc are also very popular. Here we will make a traditional gulab jamun with mawa (thickened milk)....
Chatpati Chaat for Holi
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Lobiya ke Kebabs
Lobiya is also known as black eyed beans or black eyed peas and is a good source of potassium, magnesium and calcium. It is rich in soluble fibers and is a good source of protein and vitamins. Traditionally Kebab is associated with meat preparations - but this is a vegetarian version of Kebab. ...
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Papri Chaat
Papri Chaat is also called as sev poori in some parts of India. This is an easy to make chaat delicacy. Papdi/Papri is a crispy deep fried round snack made with wheat flour. Small papdis , topped with boiled potatoes, cooked chick peas chutneys and seasoned with spices are called as papri chaat...
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Samose
Samosas are the evergreen and popular deep fried Indian snack known all over the world. These are triangular shaped patties stuffed with spicy potatoes. They can be served with tamarind and green chutney. ..
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Dahi ki Gujhiya
Dahi ki Gujhiya are stuffed lentil dumplings soaked in yogurt (dahi/ curds) . This is a royal Rajasthani dish made for festivals and other special occasions. Many of my readers were asking for the recipe of this authentic Indian delicacy, so let’s make dahi ki gujhiya for Holi..
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Moong dal dahi vadas
Moong dal dahi vadas are light and yummy variety of vadas. Vadas are deep fried balls of lentil paste. In dahi (curd/yogurt) vada, fried lentil balls are soaked in the warm water to remove the oil. Then they are soaked in dahi (curd) for ..
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Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a very popular combo from Western India, especially from Maharashtra. A new twist to pav bhaji!! Serve pav bhaji as a finger food this Holi- The festival of colors...Cut bread or bun into small circles with cookie cutter. slightly toast the buns on greased hot tawa. Put a layer of bhaji on top of buns, sprinkle flavored onions and chopped coriander...et voilà!
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Dahi Sonth Ke Batashe
Golgappe, batashe, puchke, puri, are some different names for one dish- one of the most popular chaat item all over India. Dahi is a Hindi name for yogurt and sonth is Tamarind chutney. This is a very popular chaat form Northern India. Dahi sonth ke batashe can be easily and very quickly made at home. Batashe/ Golgappae are easily available in India, and it can be easily found in Indian stores outside India also. In case they are not available in your part of world you can also make them ...
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Kanji ke vade
Kanji ke vade is very traditional dish made in UP and Rajasthan. This dish is usually prepared for HOLI. Kanji comprises mustard seeds powder, along with salt, turmeric powder, and red chili dissolved in the water. Moong dal vadas are soaked in this tangy water. When this water becomes sour (it takes 2-4 days), the dish is known as Kanji. Vegetables such as carrots, boiled potatoes, radish, etc. can also be soaked in Kanji....
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Ragda Patties
This is a very popular dish from West India - from Mumbai. Ragda is made with white peas (saphed matar) and seasoned with mustard seeds while the same white matar seasoned with cumin seeds called as matara in North. This is a yummy chaat , served with Potato patties and chutneys..
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Chola Chaat
Chole/ Kabuli Chane, also known as Chickpeas / Garbanzo beans, are a very good source of protein. In this preparation, I have also added cucumber, tomato, red onions, and red bell peppers along with a lot of lime juice to enhance the flavor of this healthy salad. This is a popular street food in India and can be easily made at home....
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Cucumber Chaat
Cucumber Chaat is a road side chaat from Karnataka. I have learnt this recipe from my friend Ashwini who is from Mysore and often makes this delicious cucumber chaat. Ashwini says that this chaat goes by ‘soutekayi’ which means cucumber in Kannada. This chaat is very easy to make but superb in taste...
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Noodle Cutlets
Noodle cutlets is a yummy Indo Chinese appetizer. As the name shows these cutlets have been made with noodles, assorted veggies and boiled potatoes. To make these cutlets healthy, these have been cooked in very little oil. Try these delicious noodle cutlets and do not forget to share your comments...
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Paneer 65
Paneer 65 is a very popular appetizer from South India. For this dish, paneer is marinated in a spicy batter and then deep fried. I am not very sure about the origin of the name paneer 65 but can assure you that it is a mouthwatering snack and can be a great finger food for the parties...
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Methi Mathri
Mathris are very famous North Indian snacks. Usually mathris are deep fried tea time snack. Here we are making baked methi mathri. To make these mathris healthier I have used wheat flour. The good thing about mathris is that they can be stored in air tight containers for a month or even longer. This is a good finger snack for parties or for evening tea...
Some Desi Drinks for Holi
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Neebu Shikanji
“Old is Gold” is a perfect expression for Neebu Shikanji. This is a very famous summer drink in the Indian subcontinent. Shikanji is made with fresh lemon juice, sugar and a hint of black salt. This is one of the best coolants and it takes only a few minutes to make it..
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Thandai
Thandai is a very traditional milk based Indian drink. It is made with select spices grinded with rose petals and almonds. In North India this special drink is made for Holi (the festival of colors). My Gujarati and Rajasthani friends have told me that it is also made for the Maha-Shivratri festival..
Some Other Snacks n Starters
Some Mocktails
some photos for party planning and organization!