By Ashad Hussain
We’re right in the middle of the joyful Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The decorations are all set, incense wafts through the air, and we’ve welcomed Lord Ganesha’s idol into our homes with open arms. After our daily aarti and puja rituals, what we eagerly look forward to is prasad, which comes in the form of Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods.
Prasad is a special offering to God, and it’s essential not to taste it beforehand, as that would be considered impure. Once it’s offered, the joy comes in sharing it with friends and family, savoring every delightful bite.
We’ve prepared a list of the top three foods to serve during Ganesh Chaturthi, complete with recipes for each. So, grab your aprons, dust them off, and get ready to cook up some delicious treats!
1. Modak
Modak is like a sweet dumpling. If you think of a Hershey’s kiss, it’s shaped the same way. The outside is made from a mix of rice or wheat flour with maida flour. Inside the modak, you’ll find grated coconut and jaggery. People usually cook modak by steaming it or frying it. It’s famous as Ganesha’s favorite food
Ingredients
Outer covering:
- 1 cup rice/wheat flour
- 1.5 cups of water
- ¼ tsp of oil/ghee
- A pinch of salt
Inner filling:
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut
- 3/4 cup grated jaggery (add more to taste)
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1/2 tsp ghee/oil
- 1/2 tsp rice/wheat flour
Making the Sweet Filling:
Start by warming up a pan. Add the grated coconut and jaggery.
Stir this mix for about five minutes. Add the nutmeg and saffron, and mix it all together.
Let it cook for another five minutes, then set it aside.
Making the Modak:
In a big dish, bring some water and ghee to a boil. Mix the salt and all-purpose flour together well
Cover the dish and cook until it’s halfway done.
Spread a bit of ghee on the bottom of a steel bowl. Mix the dough well while it is still hot.
Now, take a small piece of dough, shape it into a ball, and flatten it with your fingers, making a flower-like pattern around the edges.
Place a spoonful of the sweet filling onto the dough and seal it up tightly.
Put these dumplings in a cloth and steam them for about 10-15 minutes. Then, they’re ready to be enjoyed.
2. Puran Poli
This dish is a timeless favorite, not just reserved for Ganesh Chaturthi; it’s so delicious that many folks savor it throughout the year
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 cup powdered jaggery
- 1 cup chana dal
- 3 cups water
- 2 tsp ghee
- 1 tsp fennel powder
- 3/4-1 tsp ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
Poli:
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour combined with ½ cup of all-purpose flour.
- 1 tsp oil/ghee
- 1/2 salt
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- Water (to knead the dough)
- -Oil/ghee for frying
Instructions:
For Preparing the Puran Poli Dough:
In a bowl, mix the flour and ghee, then knead them together until a soft dough forms, using enough water.
Divide the dough into 5 equal portions and set them aside.
For Preparing the Puran Poli Filling:
Soak the chana dal for 30 minutes, then drain and set it aside.
Place the soaked dal in a deep pan with enough water and cook for 20 minutes. Drain the cooked dal and set it aside.
Combine the cooked dal, jaggery, nutmeg, and cardamom in a deep pan. Mix well and cook over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the jaggery melts. Stir continuously and mash the mixture at regular intervals.
Let the mixture cool completely, then divide it into 5 equal portions and keep them aside.
How to Proceed to Make Puran Poli:
- To make puran poli, take one part of the dough and roll it into a circle with a diameter of approximately 100 mm (4 inches), making use of a small amount of whole wheat flour to aid in rolling.
- Place one portion of the filling in the center of the dough circle and fold the edges of the dough over the fillingGently press the edges together to seal the filling inside.
- Flatten the dough and roll it out again into a 200 mm (8”) diameter circle, using a little whole wheat flour for rolling.
- Cook the puran poli on a tava (griddle) over medium heat until it turns golden brown on both sides. Apply 1 tsp ghee while cooking.
- Repeat this process with the remaining dough and filling to make 4 more puran polis.
- Before serving, lightly smear each puran poli with a little ghee and serve them while they are hot.
3. Panchamrut
This dish holds a special place in the holiday celebration as one of the most important and delectable foods. It embodies the fusion of “panch” (five) amruts (divine nectars). The recipe is delightfully simple, requiring just five basic ingredients, and it is a beloved favorite of Lord Ganesh.
Serving Size: 5-10 people
Ingredients
- Milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp ghee
Directions:
- In a medium-sized bowl, place two generous tablespoons of plain yogurt. (You can use a salad or soup-sized bowl.)
- Add two tablespoons of sugar on top of the yogurt.
- Drizzle two tablespoons of honey over the yogurt and sugar.
- Place one tablespoon of ghee on top of the other ingredients.
- Pour enough milk to cover your ingredients and fill the bowl up to within one inch from the top.
- Stir all the ingredients together. You may notice some chunks, which is okay, just ensure that the sugar dissolves.
- It’s extremely important not to taste the Panchamrut before offering it to God. If you do, it is considered spoiled, and you’ll need to start over.
- Once your offering food is prepared, place it in front of God and offer it to Him. After your prayers are finished, you can serve it to yourself and your friends. But remember, use your right hand to serve.
(Recipe Courtesy: Desi Kitchen)
