Traditional Recipes You Must Try This Ganesh Chaturthi

The exciting festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, that brings along with it pujas, sounds of beating dhols, blessings, and sheer joy, is almost around the corner. It’s a special time when everyone’s favourite Lord Ganesha is welcomed into millions of homes. Just like any other Indian festival, this one too is incomplete without its delightfully tempting delicacies. Here are some traditional Indian recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi that you ought to try this season.

1. Puran Poli

Ingredients 

• 1 cup blanched chana dal 
• 2 tablespoons ghee
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt as per taste 
• ½ teaspoon refined oil
• 1 cup powdered jaggery 
• 1 teaspoon powdered green cardamom 
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric 
• ¼ cup of water 

Instructions 

1. Put a saucepan over medium flame and add ghee in it. Once the ghee is melted, add in the blanched dal. Roast for 2-3 minutes.  Then add jaggery, cardamom powder, fennel powder, and ginger powder in it. Mix all the ingredients and cook the dal for another 2-3 minutes. Once done, turn off the flame and mash the dal using a masher
2. In a dough kneading plate, add all-purpose flour, turmeric, salt and refined oil. Rub well.  Then, add a little water at a time and knead well to make a stiff dough
3. Divide the dough into three  parts and keep aside
4. Take one part of the dough and press it a little to make space in the centre. Once done, take the chana-jaggery mixture and fill it in the centre. Close and shape again like a ball
5. Grease your hands a little with ghee and make roti with your hands. You can roll it out using a rolling pin too
6. Put a non-stick tawa on medium flame and place the roti on it. Add 1/2 teaspoon ghee and cook well from both sides. Serve hot.

2. Paal (Milk)Kozhukattai 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of rice flour
• 2 cups milk, divided into half 
• 1 cup jaggery 
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon powdered green cardamom
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated coconut 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water or as required
• 2 tablespoons ghee 
• Saffron strands for garnish 

Instructions 

1. In a pan, add jaggery and just enough water to cover the jaggery
2. Bring it to a boil. Filter the syrup and set it aside
3. In a medium-sized pan, add sieved rice flour, salt, 1 cup of milk and water. Whisk to get a lump-free creamy mix
4. Now, place the pan on the stove and cook the mix till it thickens and starts leaving the side of the pan. Add one teaspoon of ghee to bring it all together
5. Remove the paste and keep it aside for 5 minutes
6. Grease your palm with ghee and make tiny balls out of the rice paste. Now keep all the kozhukattai in a muslin cloth to prevent it from drying
7. In another pan, heat the rest of the milk and water and bring it to a boil. Add the rice balls into the boiling milk and cook it for 3-5 minutes
8. Gently keep stirring to avoid the balls from breaking. Once the kozhukattai is cooked, it will float to the top
9. Now, add the syrup that you had earlier made along with green cardamom powder. Cover and cook for another 5 -10 minutes
10. Add coconut milk and stir for about a minute. Then, take it off the flame. Do not bring the coconut milk to a boil
11. Garnish with a few strands of saffron and serve.

3. Rice Kheer

Ingredients 

• 4 and ½ cups of milk
• ¼ cup super basmati rice
• ¼ cup warm full-fat milk 
• ¼ teaspoon of saffron strands
• ½ cup of sugar 
• ½ teaspoon of powdered green cardamom 
• 5-10 cashews and raisins for garnish 

Instructions 

1. Combine the ¼ cup of warm milk and saffron strands in a small cup and set aside
2. Heat the milk in a deep saucepan. Add the rice and keep stirring occasionally. Cook for 7 minutes on a medium flame
3. Continue cooking the rice for another 10 minutes. Then, mash the rice with the back of the spoon while also scraping the side of the pan
4. Add sugar, the saffron milk mixture, cardamom powder and mix well
5. Cook for another five minutes while stirring occasionally
6. Cook till all the flavours are well-combined
7. Garnish with cashews and raisins. Serve kheer warm or cold based on your preference.  

Now that you are all sorted with  Ganesh Chaturthi dishes, here are a few exotic Indian curries you can prepare at home during the celebration period.