The festival of lights, also known as Diwali or Deepawali, is celebrated all throughout India. Dhanteras, followed by Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), Lakshmi Pujan (Badi Diwali), Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj, is a five-day celebration of lights that takes place in the month of Kartik.
Deepawali comes from the Sanskrit words deep (light) and vali (festival) (row). It literally means "lights in a row." Earthen lights are lit to commemorate the celebration. Diwali is not only the Indian festival of lights but also the festival of flavours. During these auspicious days, we make numerous delicious traditional snacks and sweets that we love to make these days extra special. The preparation for these Diwali dishes starts from one month prior and keeps going till the very end.
In this post, we'll share with you guys some super easy and delicious Diwali special dishes, so without further ado, let's get on with it.
Diwali Dishes:
Indian Sweets: Mohanthal Recipe
Ingredients:
Danedar Besan Mixture:
- 3 Cup Besan
- ¼ Cup Ghee
- ¼ Cup Milk
Roasting Besan:
- 1 Cup Ghee
- ½ Cup Milk
Other Ingredients:
- 1½ Cup Sugar
- ½ Cup Water
- Pinch Saffron
- ½ Cup Khoya / Mawa
- ¼ Tsp Cardamom Powder
- Silver Vark (for garnishing)
- Dry Fruits (chopped)
Step by Step Process:
Danedar Besan Mixture:
- To begin, combine 3 cups besan, 1/4 cup ghee, and 1/4 cup milk in a large mixing dish.
- Crumble the besan and stir it in until it is moist.
- Continue rubbing until the besan becomes gritty in texture.
- Now filter the besan through a sieve with large holes.
- When the texture of the besan changes to a gritty texture. Set aside for now.
Roasting Besan:
- In a large kadhai, heat 1 cup ghee and add the besan mixture.
- Continue to roast the besan on low heat.
- After 20 minutes of roasting, the besan turns golden brown, and ghee drips down the edges.
- Now, slowly pour in 1/2 cup milk and continue to mix.
- The mixture becomes foamy, resulting in a grainier texture.
- Continue to cook the besan until all of the milk has been absorbed.
- Shift it in a bowl and set it aside for now.
Sugar Syrup:
- Take 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a big Kadai.
- Boil until the sugar syrup reaches a string consistency.
- Mix in a sprinkle of saffron or food colouring. It is optional to put colour, but it accentuates the colour of burfi.
- Add 1/2 cup khoya and mix thoroughly. Mix until the khoya is completely dissolved in the sugar syrup.
Mixing it All Up:
- Pour the sugar syrup over the roasted besan mixture.
- Mix well, ensuring sure the besan is evenly distributed.
- Cook until the mixture begins to separate from the pan.
- Add 1/4 tsp cardamom powder to the mix as well.
- Pour the batter into a baking pan that has been lined with parchment paper.
- To make an even top, tap the pan and level up.
- Allow for 4 hours of resting time, or refrigerate to set quicker.
Crispy Crunchy Diwali Dishes: Chilli & Basil Paneer
Ingredients:
Chilli Paneer:
- 250 Grams Paneer (Cottage Cheese)
- 3 Tbsp Chilli-Garlic Paste
- Oil
- Salt to Taste
For Basil Toppings:
- 2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Finely Chopped Garlic
- 1-2 Tbsp Red Chilli Flakes
- 2 Tbsp Basil Leaves, Sliced Thinly
- A Few Basil Leaves Fried
- Salt to Taste
Step-by-Step Process:
Chilli Paneer:
- Cut the paneer into rectangle slices.
- Refrigerate the paneer for 1/2 hours after marinating it in the chilli-garlic paste.
- Grill the marinated paneer slices in an oil-coated grill pan.
- Serve with the topping while it's still warm.
Basil Toppings:
- Heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic until it loses its raw fragrance. It's important not to brown or crisp the garlic.
- Cook for 1 minute after adding the chilli flakes and salt to the garlic mixture. Cook after adding the basil leaves. Set aside the mixture.
- Chop a few basil leaves and cook them individually in hot oil.
- Serve the garlic-chilli sauce on top of the grilled paneer pieces. Serve immediately with crispy fried basil as a garnish.
Sweet and Tangy- Ginger Ale
Ingredients:
- 30 ml Mint Juice
- 15 ml Ginger Juice
- 20 ml Lemon Juice
- 15 ml Sugar Syrup
- Plain Soda
- A Few Mint Leaves
Step-by-Step Process:
- To prepare the mint juice, combine the mint leaves with the ice in a blender. Remove the juice using a strainer.
- To prepare ginger juice, mix ginger with a small amount of water.
- In a large glass, combine the mint juice, ginger juice, lemon juice, and sugar syrup.
- Add a splash of soda to finish it off. As a finishing touch, add a sprig of mint.
- Before serving, let it chill.
Make these Diwali dishes this festive season, and kindly share your experience with us.