Celebrate the festival of colors-Holi with the mouth-watering Indian Sweets & Snacks
Holi is a vibrant festival that is celebrated by people across the world. This festival symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated to welcome spring.
Known as the festival of colors, Holi is celebrated in India every year. People of all backgrounds gather together to celebrate the festival of colors. It’s an event filled with dance, music, and fun.
While the festival is celebrated with joy, its origins go back to historical events. Different parts of India refer to the festival differently. In the North, it is called Holi; in the West, Dhulandi; in Maharashtra, Dol Purnima; in Odisha and Bengal, Dola; in Gujarat, Dhuleti; in Kashmir, Chhoti Holi; and in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Huli.
Holi is also known as the festival of love, because of the symbolic meaning behind the colors, which are used during the festival. The festive season is also a time to eat delicious Indian snacks and sweets!
The festive flavor of Holi celebrates fresh beginnings and togetherness, so what better way than to make some smiles and delight people’s taste buds with something rather tasty!
These mouthwatering Holi delicacies are sure to delight your taste buds!
- Gujiya: This traditional Indian sweet dumpling filled with khoya and dry fruits (mixture) is so tasty that even Indians enjoy making it. There are different varieties of Gujiya. The most popular Gujiya is the baked gujiya which is a variety where instead of refined flour, semolina(suji) is used for the casing. Even though Baked Gujiya makes use of maida, it’s still delicious! On Holi and other times, you can try some other variations like Chocolate Gujiya or Coconut Gujiya.
2. Colorful Kulfis: Kulfis are frozen desserts. They’re chilled, flavorful ice creams originating from the subcontinent of India. A delicious kulfi dish is a must-try for Holi celebrations at home!
3. Malpua is a traditional Indian sweet dessert that can be easily made at home using simple ingredients. Malpua is essentially a pancake that is dipped in sugar syrup after being fried in ghee and thus it makes for the perfect indulgent treat to enjoy during special occasions such as festivals and celebrations.
4. Bhaang ki Pakori: Bhaang is a potent concoction created during the Holi festival which many people drink to have an extra good time. The drink is said to bring good luck and fortune, as Lord Shiva is also known to have drunk it back in history! It adds a festive spark to any gathering, so try serving these treats with your own homemade Bhang ke Pakore.
5. Gulab Jamun is an Indian dessert, enjoyed in most parts of India. These delicious sweets are made from milk solids and flour is fried in oil to create a crispy outside and then soaked in syrup to bring out their real flavor. There are lots of varieties of gulab jamun, but not all are quite easy to make at home as they have different cooking methods and procedures.
6. Paani Poori is an extremely popular street food snack. It’s very easy to make at home. There are many variations that you can try out and each one of them is delicious too!
Holi is a colorful festival celebrated with tremendous zeal all around the world by dancing, singing in the streets, and hurling colors at each other. Interestingly, the festival is not only celebrated by Indians living in various parts of the world but also localities take part in the massive Holi celebration. Sharing Indian sweets, snacking and Thandai drinks makes the Holi festival more happening and cheerful.
As you join in on the fun when celebrating Holi, make sure you choose the most excellent and healthy treats for this uniquely-Indian occasion. Also, remember that online stores like Buddy Basket are the best places to secure those items quickly, easily, and effectively.
Have a Happy & Safe Holi!
Sooji: An all-in-one ingredient for Indian Dishes
Many of us love to cook, spreading awareness about the roots of our recipes and food items, as well as encouraging people to understand where so many culinary delights have come from. Take this one fabulous ingredient for example – Sooji or Suji – which is actually a finer form of what is known as Rawa in most Western countries. Sooji commonly referred to as granulated flour or coarsely ground wheat and has since been an ingredient that’s integral to a number of different Indian rice-based delicacies ever since.
The word Sooji is used in North India to refer to semolina while Rava refers most often to the same ingredient in South Indian cuisine.
Semolina made from ground wheat is an ingredient used in many traditional dishes across both regions as well as being the main component of various foods, both savoury and sweet, like Upma (a porridge-like preparation) and Rava Ladoo (sesame flavoured sweets). For batters, you need to make sure that your sooji is finely ground. This will prevent it from sticking to the pan and allow it to cook properly. If it is used as a primary ingredient then make sure it is processed into finer grains. You can also buy Rava online if you don’t want to buy the traditional variety.
Rava is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine. In fact, it turns up in a variety of popular sweets and is easily available via Grocery home delivery services. Rawa laddoo is common in India and they’re also enjoyed during festivals like Diwali and throughout the year in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Another loveable Indian desert is called sooji ka halwa. Rawa (also translated as semolina) can be used to make popular South-Indian foods like the Idli or Dosa Recipe (both kinds) or the uttapam!
Sooji is considered to be a healthy food
Sooji is a great way to increase your protein intake and the fibre content in Sooji helps control your blood sugar levels. Regular consumption can reduce the risk of certain types of diabetes. Consuming Semolina on a regular basis provides long-lasting energy, increases strength and stamina, and boosts metabolism in the longer term (blood glucose drops gradually as you lose weight). Sooji also works towards maintaining good bone health. It improves heart health by lowering cholesterol (which reduces the risk of heart disease) while improving brain function (having healthy blood vessels & arteries is crucial for a good neurological function that keeps cognition, development & sensory perception better than usual).
Semolina is an important part of the many cuisines around the world. It’s used by Italians, for example, to make different types of pasta. In India, though, it’s a staple that’s often eaten alongside rice, dal, and ghee – which makes it an essential food group in the country. Why? Because while it might seem plain and simple on its own, semolina actually poses a lot of good nutritional values to those who eat it which includes plenty of dietary fibre, protein, and vitamins along with minerals and zero cholesterol, trans fats, and sodium; an ideal food choice for the weight watchers among us! So if you’re looking for something that’ll beat your mid-day hunger pangs without making you gain unhealthy weight then try out dishes like Upma made from Sooji Rava (or even Rava Vada or Rava Kesari!). However, gluten sensitivities and wheat allergies need to be taken into account.
