Festive Delicacies of India

Submitted By: Vidya Anant

Festivals are the identity of Indian society. The zeal of celebration and high spirits of enthusiasm is carried all over the festive season with some delectable festival dishes.

There is a huge variety of dishes prepared on most popular Indian festivals. Numerous tempting delicacies are prepared in different regions of India on festive occasions.

From vegetarian dishes to non vegetarian recipes, India has a rich Festive Cuisine. Spelling sweet dishes and desserts enhance the ease of celebration and form an integral part of Festive Cuisine.

Explore the cuisine of most popular Indian festivals like Diwali, Holi, Makar Sakranti, Id etc.

Durga Puja Delicacies

Rasogolla: Rasgulla (spongy cheese balls, dipped in sugar syrup), is a heart winning Bengali dessert. It is like the king among Indian sweets and savories. Rassogolla are so mouthwatering that if you taste one, you can't stop yourself by craving again and again. Rasgulla is the most healthy dish from the Indian desserts.

Sabudana Kheer: Saboodana Kheer is a very popular recipe in India. It's basically a fasting food and is most common in the state of Maharashtra. Prepared from sago(granules of starch)., milk and sugar, the Sabudana Kheer is actually the first face of Maharashtrian cuisine.

Mishti Doi: Mithi Dahi or Mishti Doi is a fermented sweet dahi or sweet yogurt. This type of yogurt is common in the states of West Bengal and Odisha in India, and in Bangladesh. It is made with milk and sugar, while also using yogurt and curd.

Sondesh: Sondesh is traditional Bengali sweet dish prepared with khoya and cottage cheese.

Chum Chum: Chum Chum is a popular sweet dish of West Bengal. Being a traditional treat during festivals in India, the Chum Chum comes in a large variety of colors ranging from yellow, pink, white etc. 

Diwali delicacies

Phirni: Phirni is a classic Indian sweet pudding that is a must in north India on festive occasions or special celebrations like diwali as well as for karwa chauth festival this creamy dessert is very easy to make and liked by many. Phirni is made from ground rice. Phirni is traditionally served in small earthen bowls also called as shikoras.

Gulkand Peda: Gulkand Peda is a famous sweet of India. Due to its components it is very refreshing. It consists of khoya, sugar, cardamom powder and seeds, gulkand, that is rose extract, and almonds.

Gulkand Peda is made by heating some of these ingredients in a pan and then leaving it to chill.

Small amount of this mixture is flattened, gulkand is put in the middle and it is rolled and pressed, so that gulkand remains inside. These pressed rolls are garnished with almonds and cardamom seeds and can be served.

Jalebi: or Jilapi, or Jilawii is a sweet popular in countries of the South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and East Africa. It is made by deep-frying a wheat flour (Maida flour) batter in pretzel or circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup. They are particularly popular in the South Asia during Ramadan and Diwali.

• The sweets are served warm or cold. They have a somewhat chewy texture with a crystallized sugary exterior coating.

Dusshera

Seekh Kebab: Made with keema (lamb or beef mince) and traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven, Seekh Kebab is a traditional South Asian cuisine. Seekh Kebab consists of small cubes of meat threaded on a skewer that are grilled or roasted. Here we are using lamb mince but you can use any kind of meat according to your taste. Lamb Seekh kebab and beef seekh kebabs are the most popular.

Punjabi Chole: Chana Masala (Chole Chana Masala), a delicious chana curry from Punjabi cuisine is popular in all over India. A spicy and tempting curry is prepared from white chickpeas (Kabuli chana), tomatoes, onion and basic Indian spices and best enjoyed with bhatura (deep fried puffed Indian bread)as evening snack or dinner. 

Eid

Butter Chicken: Butter Chicken, a non-vegetarian delicacy is one of the most popular dishes not only in India but also other parts of the world.

Also known as Murg Makhani, the popular Indian non-vegetarian dish of Butter Chicken is easily available across many Indian restaurants and eateries all over India especially the north of India.

Butter Chicken is said to have originated from the popular Moti Mohal restaurant in Daryaganj, Delhi. Butter Chicken is a gravy chicken preparation where butter, cream, tomato and chicken are the main ingredients. 

Nargisi kofta:  Nargisi kofta is boiled and deep fried eggs stuffed inside a shell of keema. This dish is a little time consuming,  Cut into half and dipped into a zesty gravy. Served hot.

Hyderabadi Biryani: Biryani is a popular dish and relished all across India.

Hyderabadi Biryani is one of the most sought after variants of the popular biryani.

The name is a giveaway, Hyderabadi Biryani has its origins from Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

Hyderabadi Biryani is a non-vegetarian dish and its main ingredients are meat, rice and spices.

Hyderabad is the best destination to enjoy the Hyderabadi Biryani.

Ganesh Chaturathi

Besan Ladoo: Ladoos are one of the most popular Indiare Besan Ladoo. n sweets. Any Indian festival or occasion is incomplete without Ladoos. On the occasion of Ganesh- Chaturathi, ladoo is of special significance because it is considered auspicious to offer ladoo to Lord Ganesha at the Ganesh Poojan. There are numerous varieties of Ladoos prepared in India.

Badaam Phirni: Badam Phirni is a tasty dessert prepared specially on this occasion. This quick and easy dish is made of almond, rice flour and milk. The scrumptious and fulfilling Badaam Phirni is a relishing alternative for kheer and payasam.

Malai Peda: Malai Peda is a delicious and popular dessert recipe. It has been used on various festivals in India on many occassions since medieval times. Its main ingredients are milk, citric acid cardamom powder, pistachios and saffron.

Chana Dal Payasm (Kadale Bele Payasa): Chana Dal Payasm is a traditional dessert prepared primarily in South Indian states. It's quite regular for pujas, festivals like Janmashtami, Shiva Rathri and other special occasions including family functions.

Holi

Gujia:   (also called Gujhia), a cuisine of North India particularly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is a sweet dumpling made with suji or Maida flour wheat flour and stuffed with khoya.

• The packaging of a gujhia is very much like that of a samosa, however the gujhia has a very distinct shape.

• The gujhia is filled with a mixture of grated and roasted dry fruits, khoya, coconuts and to add a grainy texture, a little suji (coarse ground wheat flour).

Kusli: Kusli is a special preparation of the people of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It is prepared with Maida (white flour), ghee and sooji (semolina). It is too yummy. This sweet dish is fast and easy to cook.

Malapua: is an pancake served as a dessert or a snack. which is also served to Jagannath in his Sakala Dhupa (Morning food served to the lord). It is prepared in Bengali homes. Malapuas along with mutton curry is served in many non-vegetarian Maithil homes during Holi.

Ghevar: Ghevar is a sweet specialty from Jaipur. It is a round cake made from daal or flour mix soaked in ghee and milk and topped with sliced almonds.