Must-try Mouthwatering Traditional Holi Food Items this Festive Season!

Holi is one of the most anticipated festivals in India. Widely known as the festival of colours, Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil. It marks the onset of Spring, as the dark and cold days of winter come to an end. Usually, people wear white clothing on Holi as the colour stands for purity, prosperity and new beginnings.

India is certainly a culturally diverse and rich nation, thus, every region has its unique ways of celebrating a festival. Holi in Maharashtra is called as, ‘Ranga Panchami’. It's celebrated with colours and by dancing to a traditional musical instrument called dholak. Whereas, in Kerala, it is known as ‘Manjal Kuli’ and is celebrated by singing devotional songs of Lord Krishna. Just like that, every region has their own set of traditional Holi food items that they prepare. Right from a plate full of appetising Dahi Bhalle to a glass of refreshing Thandai, in this article, you’ll come across a variety of Holi snacks that you need to try out this Holi season! Let’s begin now, shall we?

Gujiyas

Gujiya is a popular Holi snack in the Northern regions of India like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Bihar and Rajasthan. It’s a deep-fried sweet pastry that has a stuffing of sweetened khoya or mawa (milk solids), cardamom powder and roasted dry fruits. It is later soaked in a sweet sugar syrup (chashni). This is how it was originally prepared, however, now we do see new variations and modern twists to this regional delicacy. Check out the recipe on Soul Kitchen's YouTube channel.

Thandai

No Holi is complete without Thandai. Thandai is a drink that is prepared especially on Holi. The word ‘Thandai' itself has the term ‘Thanda’ which means cool, as it extremely cooling for your stomach and is healthy too. It is a flavoured and spiced drink with a bunch of nuts and spices. These nuts and spices are churned into a paste and added to cold milk. Saffron or Keshar as we call it in Hindi, is also added which gives the drink a yellowish hue. Check out the recipe on the Shyam Rasoi's YouTube channel.

Kathal Ki Sabzi

Not many people might know this, but in Bihar and Jharkhand, Kathal ki Sabzi (Jackfruit vegetable) is a Holi food item that is prepared in every household. This recipe is specially prepared as it is a perfect substitute for mutton curry. Kathal ki Sabzji is now a Holi staple. The rich meaty and soft texture of this sabzi is what makes it a unique traditional Holi food item. Check out the recipe on Cooking with Chef Ashok's YouTube channel.

Puran Poli

Every Maharashtrian knows how incomplete Holi feels without a plate full of steaming hot Puranpoli's with a generous drizzle of tup (ghee) on top. Puranpoli is another popular Holi snack, that is made up of wheat flour, channa dal, jaggery, cardamom and ghee. Puranpoli is not just a Holi staple in Maharasthta but is also made on various festivals like Diwali, Gudi Padwa and Ganesh Chaturthi. Check out the recipe on Ruchkar Mejwani's YouTube channel. 

Ranga Dima

Ranga Dima is a hidden gem recipe from Assam. Made specially during the festival of Holi in Assam, Ranga Dima quite literally translates to - Red eggs. This Holi snack is prepared by deep frying boiled eggs and later covering them with a spicy red masala, which gives them a distinct flavour and a vibrant red colour. Check out the recipe on Food Foodies and more YouTube channel. 

Dahi Bhalla

Holi is the onset of the hotter months, which is why this Holi snack is non-negotiable. Hot and yummy lentil fritters soaked in yoghurt (dahi) topped with a sweet and tangy tamarind and date chutney is a must-have, especially on Holi. Dahi is known for its cooling effects and aids digestion, which makes this dish a perfect treat to begin your summer. Check out the recipe on CookwithParul's YouTube channel. 

Kanji Ke Vade

Traditionally made in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Kanji ke Vade is another Holi snack that is a must-try for this festive season. Kanji is a fermented probiotic drink made with mustard seeds and either carrots or beetroots at times. It is usually prepared in the months of summer. Vade are deep fried fritters which are later on soaked in this fermented drink making it a tangy and sour dish. Check out the recipe on Nisha Madhulika's YouTube channel.

Malpua 

Predominantly made in Odisha, Malpua is a Holi snack that is widely prepared in other states of India like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. This traditional Holi food item is prepared by deep frying pancakes, later soaked in sugar syrup. It also has its variations like, Rajasthani Malpua is stuffed with a rich rabri filling and a version of Bengali Malpua has mashed bananas in it. Check out the recipe on Foods and Flavours YouTube channel. 

Shrikhand

Shrikhand is a household staple in every Maharashtrian and Gujarati home. It is made up by straining curd using a muslin cloth and removing the excess water. After this tedious process, the curd transforms into a rich and creamy texture to which saffron, dry fruits and cardamom powder are added. This thick velvety sweet dish is generally enjoyed with freshly prepared hot Puris. Check out the recipe on Masala Kitchen's YouTube channel.

Phirni

Holi would be incomplete without a classic Phirni. Phirni is a Holi food item that is predominantly prepared in North India. It is a rice pudding, very similar to kheer, it has a subtle difference in the taste. It is made using dry fruits, cardamom powder, rose water and in some cases even rose petals. It is a traditional Holi food item served in earthen pots giving it a distinct earthy flavour. Check out the recipe on HomeCookingShow's YouTube channel.