Holi is around the corner, and we cannot wait to enjoy Holi sweets and snacks. It is a time when people welcome the spring season. Red hand, pink cheeks, mouth-watering treats and whatnot! We totally love this festival, right?!
And what better way to celebrate this festival than with some delicious food? One of the most exciting things about Holi is the delicious food that is prepared during this festival. This is how Holi has always been but every year, the level of enthusiasm increases.
Table Of Contents
- Mythological Ground And Types Of Holi
- Top 5 Easy Holi Recipes
- The Final Say
Mythological Ground And Types Of Holi
According to Hindu mythology, “Holi” originated with the name Holika, the evil sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. On Holi eve, a bonfire is ignited to represent the Holika Dahan, when the festivities start.
Types Of Holi
This festival of colours is observed differently in each area. The duration of the celebration, the name and the way of celebration vary depending upon the region.
1. Lath Mar Holi
The celebrations in Vrindavan could go on for more than a week. Lath Mar Holi is a celebration where women beat males with sticks while singing.
2. Kaamadeva
In South India, Holi is celebrated by worshipping and offering to Kaamdeva, the love deity of Indian mythology.
3. Swing Festival
In West Bengal, Holi is celebrated as the Swing Festival. The people of this region celebrate Holi, where Krishna and Radha’s idols are established and worshipped.
Top 5 Easy Holi Recipes
Let’s take a look at the top 5 easy Holi recipes you can prepare and enjoy with your loved ones.
1. Shakkarpare
Shakkarpare is a famous sweet made during Holi. It is made from flour, ghee, and sugar syrup. It is a perfect sweet munching snack. Though with different regional names, this easy Holi recipe is usually diamond-shaped, crunchy, flaky and fried flour cookies coated with crystallised sugar.
Total cooking time: 45 min
- All-purpose flour (maida)- 1½ cups
- Soyabean refined oil– As required
- Semolina (optional)- 1 tbsp
- Ghee or oil- 2 tablespoons
- Sugar- ¼ cup
- Milk or water- ⅓ cup
- Salt to taste
- Heat ⅓ cup milk until warm and pour into a bowl. Add ¼ cup sugar to it.
- Stir with a spoon until sugar dissolves completely.
- Add 1½ cups maida, a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons ghee or oil in the same bowl.
- Mix well and bind the dough. Knead it for a minute. (Do not bind soft dough; otherwise, the shakkarpare won’t turn crispy)
- Divide the dough into 2 equal portions. Take one portion, give it a round shape like a ball, and flatten it between your palms.
- Roll it out into a large 8-9 inch diameter round disc having ¼ inch thickness using a rolling pin.
- Cut it into squares or diamond shape small pieces using a sharp knife.
- Transfer diamond-shaped pieces to a plate. Repeat the process for the remaining dough.
- Heat soybean refined oil in a deep frying pan over the medium flame while rolling the dough.
- Add a few diamond-shaped pieces when the oil is medium hot.
- Stir them at regular intervals to cook them evenly. Fry them until they turn golden brown.
- Remove them using a slotted spoon. Drain excess oil and transfer to a plate lined with a paper napkin. Shakkarpara are ready!
- Thandai
Thandai is a popular Holi special drink made from milk, nuts, and spices. It is a refreshing drink, perfect for the hot weather.
Total cooking time: 20 min (excluding chilling time)
For thandai masala
- Almonds- ¼ cups
- Fennel seeds- ¼ cup
- Cashew nuts- 2 tbsp
- Pistachios- 2 tbsp
- Poppy seeds- 2 tbsp
- Melon seeds- 2 tbsp
- Black peppercorns- ½ tbsp
- Cardamom- 1 tbsp
- Saffron strands (optional)- 10-12 strands
- Full-fat milk- 2 cups (500 ml)
- Sugar to taste
1. Add fennel seeds, black peppercorns and cardamom seeds (or whole cardamom) in a mixer grinder or a blender jar.
2. Grind it until smooth powder.
3. Transfer it to a bowl or container.
4. Pour 2 cups milk into a deep pan and boil over medium flame. Add saffron strands to it.
5. Add sugar to taste,
6. Add 2 tbsp thandai mix.
7. Mix well to avoid lump formation; let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
8. Turn off the flame. Let the milk mixture cool at room temperature.
9. Transfer it to a large bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to chill.
10. Take it out from the refrigerator and sieve the milk mixture through a strainer.
11. Pour thandai into individual glasses and garnish with finely chopped dry fruits, rose petals and saffron strands. Serve it chilled, and enjoy.
3. Gujiya
Gujiya is a sweet dumpling filled with khoya, dry fruits, and coconut. This easy-to-cook Holi recipe is a must-have and is loved by people of all ages.
Total cooking time: 1-hour
- All-purpose flour (maida)- 3 cups
- Khoya- 300 g
- Powdered green cardamom- 1 tbsp
- Semolina- ¼ cup
- Finely chopped almonds- 2 tbsp
- Ghee- 1 ½ cups
- Water- 1 ½ cup
- Sugar to taste
- Add all-purpose flour and water in a bowl to make a soft dough.
- Knead a soft dough. Once the dough attains the perfect consistency, keep it aside for an hour.
- To prepare the stuffing, take a deep-fry pan, then saute khoya and semolina till it turns golden and keep it aside to cool.
- Mix well with sugar, green cardamom, and soaked almonds to the cooled khoya.
- Mix two drops of ghee or refined oil generously on your palms.
- Prepare puris and fill them with the stuffing.
- Then make small round balls from the dough and make a cup-like space in the balls to fill the stuffing.
- After adding the filling, seal the corners so that it secures the stuffing while frying the Gujiya.
- Heat ghee in a pan over medium flame. Deep fry the Gujiyas till golden brown from all sides, and enjoy.
4. Dahi Bhalla
Dahi Bhalla is a popular snack made during Holi. It is made from lentil balls that are soaked in yoghurt and topped with tamarind chutney and spices. Along with its fantastic taste, this Holi festival recipe is weight-loss friendly and provides multiple nutritional values.
Total cooking time: 35 min
- Yoghurt- 2 cups
- Green gram (soaked in water for 2 hrs)- ⅓ cup
- Black gram (soaked in water for 2 hrs)- ⅓ cup
- Pomegranate- 1-2 tsp
- Red chilli powder- 1tsp
- Chopped cashew nuts- 10-12 pieces
- Charoli- 2 tbsp
- Black pepper- 1 tsp
- Cumin powder- 1 tsp
- Green mint chutney
- Take a large bowl, add both the grams and salt and eno food salt and mix well.
- Dahi vada can be made in two ways: in the microwave or using idli mould and steaming it.
- Take the mould; at the bottom of the dish, put 1 cup of water.
- Now add eno food salt in it and then mix it. As the batter becomes fluffy, add batter to the idli stand or mould.
- Add 6-7 small pieces of cashew nuts and charoli, 3-4 seeds of black pepper, 3-4 pieces of chopped ginger, and 2 raisins. Do the same with another mould.
- Put the idli maker in the microwave oven and set the highest degree for 3-4 mins. Vada’s are now prepared.
- Take 3-4 cups of lukewarm water to put Dahi vada in them. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 pinch asafetida and mix it. Then dip vada in it.
After 15 Minutes
- Press them gently to take out the excess water in them.
- Put the dahi vada on a plate, and top it with 3-4 tbsp of yoghurt. Finish it with green mint chutney, black rock salt, cumin powder, and red chilli powder.
Related Blog: Top 10 Popular Indian Street Food You Must Taste
5. Namak Pare
Namak pare is a savoury snack made from flour and spices. It is crispy and crunchy and goes well with tea.
Total cooking time: 45 min
- Wheat flour- 1 cup
- Spice black pepper- 1 tsp
- Asafoetida- ¼ tsp
- Ghee- 1 teaspoon
- Soybean refined oil- 1 cup
- Salt to taste
Take a large tray and sieve the flour
- Add salt, pepper powder and asafoetida powder
- Now add a little water and knead the dough
- Roll dough into chapatis, cut them into small diamond shapes, and keep them aside.
- Heat soybean refined oil in a frying pan over medium flame. Fry the namak paras till they turn golden.
The Final Say
Holi is a time to cherish with family and friends, and celebrating with these delicious food items definitely makes it better. These top 10 easy Holi recipes will surely be a hit with your close ones and add to the festival’s joy and festivities. Happy Holi!