JOIN USLike any other festival, most of us wait for Holi. So the delicacies that are served to th hen asked about his idea of food delicacies for the festival.
The executive chef at Vivanta by Taj, Surajkund mentions the need to be innovative yet emphasises that “traditional foods should not be alternated with anything”.
A point that gains significance when one thinks about the rich variety of foods and recipes that Indian cuisine is replete with. And when it comes to cooking for a festival, there is definitely no dearth of options!
“There is nothing like a gujiya with well stuffed mawa, since the name is synonymous with Holi,” adds chef Ganesh while adding meethi mathri and balushahi to the list. He explains the procedure to make mathri: “In about a kilo of maida (refined flour), add 500-600 ml oil or ghee and make a tight dough after adding salt and kasturi (dry) methi leaves. Leave this for some time, make small portions, flatten and fry the mathri in medium temperature oil. Once cool, this will last for about a month and so will the feeling of festivity.”
Not so long ago homemakers, with the same ideas to prepare goodies for festivals, used to prepare shakarparas and namakparas at home. Chef Dharmender Singh from The Ancient Barbeque suggests, “These namakparas can be filled with cottage cheese. In a dough of wheat flour, add butter, salt and ajwain to make small cups and stuff them with cottage cheese. Roll and flatten it again to be cut into squares and deep fried.”
For those who like it sweet, the chef suggests a filling of lemon juice and cinnamon instead. This can be an addition to the rice kheer, puran poli, malpuas and pedas that are made and relished in different parts of the country.
As side dishes, dahi bhalla, kanji vada and bhang pakoras work wonders for this festival of colours. “Just like any other pakoras, one can prepare a batter and add a paste of bhang leaves to it,” says chef Deepak from Shraman, The Ashok. “You can also replace rice with peas and make Matar ki Kheer!”
For those who were wondering what to do over the long weekend wear your apron and venture into the kitchen to celebrate Holi with traditional delicacies in desi-style!
But if it’s too much, then try the readymade options below.