Top 10 Traditional Sweets & Foods Made During Holi

Apart from colors and music, sweets and food are two essential components of the Holi festival. During Holi, every home makes Holi festival food items of some kind or other. The air inside the homes smells wonderful due to the aroma of these Holi special food items. Add to that, Holi sweets are also served as a tradition.

Though there are hundreds of mouthwatering dishes and sweets to offer during Holi, here are some of the most common Holi festival food items that you must try, depending on the region you are in and its availability.

Gujiya

Gujiya is the most common Holi special sweet, making this iconic item the star of all Holi sweets. Every household makes this essential food in Holi. This Holi special dish is basically a stuffed pastry. Gujiya typically is a sweet pastry. It consists of a mixture of dry fruits, khoya kheer, and coconut inside a refined wheat flour or maida covering. It is deep-fried.

Thandai

This is an essential and refreshing Holi drink that cools the body while you indulge in different Holi activities. This drink is made of milk consisting a paste of nuts, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, saffron and more. It is usually served chilled. Typically, this spiced drink also contains bhang, a mild intoxicator.

Malpua

This is another popular sweet dish for Holi. It is a fried pancake coated with sugar, made from refined wheat flour. Sometimes, people also use mashed ripe bananas along with fennel powder for added flavor. Malpua can be eaten as it is but is also served with rich rabri for additional delight.

Puran Poli

A common Holi special dish of Maharashtra, this is actually a delightful flatbread. The unique taste of Puran Poli comes from the sweet filling made of lentils. It is very soft to the touch and is usually cooked in ghee which adds to its flavor. People usually eat it along with a glass of warm milk. Some even add a spoonful of butter. This adds to the rich taste of this Holi special dish.

Dahi Bhalla

Dahi Bhalla is another common Holi special food item without which the festival seems incomplete. This refreshing Holi treat is tasty and very filling. These are typically dumplings made from soaked and pasted lentils. While serving, cool and creamy yoghurt is spread over the dumplings. Special spice powder and a spoonful of tamarind chutney make the Dahi Bhalla taste wonderfully sweet, salty, and tangy. This khata-meetha Holi special food is not only refreshing and refreshes the palate but is also quite filling.

Besan Sev and Namak Pare

If you want something crunchy and crispy to munch on, besan sev and namak pare are the true companions. This fried and salty Holi festival food item is usually enjoyed with tea. Typically, sev is made by frying a shredded mixture of gram flour or besan and wheat flour.

Kanji Vada

Like something spicy? Try this special food in Holi. This is actually a fermented drink. It offers a tangy taste and is usually served along with lentil vadas. The primary ingredients of Kanji vada include water, mustard seeds and a wide variety of spices. This unique Holi special food is a tasty and healthy dish. It is a very good combination that improves your ability to digest the rich Holi festival food items.

Shakkar Pare

A delightful Holi special sweet, these crispy, sugar-coated, sweet and crunchy bites are very easy to make and store. Shakkar pare is made from wheat flour and deep-fried until golden brown. This is a wonderful item to carry and eat during the entire festival.

Moong Dal Halwa

Are you looking for a tasty and rich dessert? The moong dal halwa is what you should try. This is a typically classic Holi special sweet that is made by slowly cooking lentils in pure ghee with sugar. The preparation process is pretty long as it is cooked slowly but the unique and wonderful taste of the halwa does not take time to melt in your mouth. This gives a comfortably warm feeling.

Spicy Aloo Sabzi and Crispy Kachori

If you want to have something more filling that tastes rich and spicy, hot and crispy kachoris served with spicy potato curry is what you need. This food in Holi will balance the taste of Holi sweets due to the spicy potato curry. The crispy kachoris are usually stuffed with lentils and sattoo and deep fried.

Conclusion

The true essence of Holi is enhanced by the traditional sweets and food in Holi. These food items bring families and people of the community together and closer. This increases the joy and the festive mood. Ideally, unity and the rich tradition and culture of India are displayed through these Holi special food items and Holi sweets.

So, do not forget to try these Holi delicacies this year, no matter in which region you are celebrating the festival of colors.