Different regions of India celebrate the harvest season in different ways. One thing that’s common in all of them is the preparation of some finger-licking traditional dishes. You too can be a part of the Makar Sankranti celebrations. You just have to prepare all these traditional delicacies at home on this auspicious day. Keep reading to find out more!
Makar Sankranti is the celebration of the harvest season. With an abundance of fresh and amazing ingredients available, it’s the ideal time to make some delicious dishes. Hence, most Indians prepare some mouth-watering traditional dishes to commemorate the day.
After a long morning of flying kites, there is nothing better than coming home to these treats. Suddenly, they all find the energy to freshen up and taste all the mouth-watering dishes.
You too can imitate the celebrations by preparing all these delicacies at home. The festival may not garner the same atmosphere in the USA. But, there’s no reason for it to not be filled with all its flavorful glory.
Let’s discuss some of the finger-licking treats that are prepared during Makar Sankranti and distinguish them into different parts of a meal.
Note: Makar Sankranti is considered a major festival in the Western end of India. Hence, you might find many treats from Gujarati cuisine.
- Snacks
With an action-packed day to look forward to, most Indian households keep some amazing snacks prepared a day or two earlier. Delicacies that everyone can have on-the-go without being distracted from the kite flying.
Savory snacks like Dal Kachori, Sabudana Vada, Baigan Pakodas, and Chakli are crowd-favorites. Murukku, a South Indian snack, is also often enjoyed during this time.
You can also find many sweet snacks like Til Chikki, Til Ladoo, Besan Ladoo, Gajak, Ghevar, Gur Paratha, and Puran Poli.
- Breakfast
Makar Sankranti may not be celebrated as prominently in South India as it is in the Western part of the country. But there are still some traditional breakfast dishes that South Indians relish during this day.
Curd Rice, Lemon Rice, Tamarind Rice, Sabudana Khichdi, Ulundu Vada, and Pongal are often enjoyed on this day.
You can also try Batata Poha, Upma, and Sheera. Of course, when it comes to the perfect Makar Sankranti breakfast, nothing beats the Gujarati combo, Jalebi, and Fafda.
- Lunch
If you still have the appetite to indulge in a nice lunch, we have the perfect meal options for you.
Lunch is an integral part of the Makar Sankranti meal. As everyone comes back home tired after flying kites under the sun for hours, they expect good food at home. Hence, the Makar Sankranti lunch is often quite soulful and delicious. Here are a few dishes you can try.
Undhiyu: It’s a medley of a million flavors. This is one dish we highly recommend you try. It may take a long time for you to prepare it, but trust us, it’s all worth the effort. From the heavenly green vegetables to the crispy Methi Muthias, to even the hearty yams, and potatoes, everything is perfect. Once you make Undhiyu, we can guarantee you that there will be nothing but smiles on the table. Make sure you serve it with some hot Pooris.
Dal Khichdi: If you’re planning to keep the meal light and tasty, you should make Dal Khichdi. The savory deliciousness of the dish is perfect to put you in a good mood. With one of the main ingredients being rice, it’s also a good option to keep you full for a longer time.
Bhogi Chi Bhaji: Factually, the day of Bhogi falls on the 13th of January, but many people still make it for Makar Sankranti. A Maharashtrian specialty, Bhogi Chi Bhaji is the true representation of a good harvest. It’s another medley of vegetables, but with a Maharashtrian twist. The gravy is coconut-based and gives a sweet and sour flavor due to the tamarind pulp added to it. It’s best had with Bhakris.
- Dessert
Traditional Indian sweets are a major part of the celebration of festivities in India. Apart from the sweet snacks mentioned earlier, there are a variety of heavenly treats that are also traditionally prepared during this day.
Sweet treats like Gajar Halwa, Besan Halwa , Kheer, Seviyan, and Basundi are commonly prepared in every household.
If you’re looking to experiment then you can also try some regional sweet dishes. Recipes like Ganne Ke Ras Ki Kheer, Payesh Puli, Puli Pitha, Til Pitha, and Rewari.
Majority of the recipes prepared during Makar Sankranti often have White Sesame Seeds in them. So make sure you have it at home.
If not, you can find it along with all the other ingredients you need at your nearest Indian grocery store. Visit now and look for Dwaraka Organic products.
You can visit our website, www.dwarakaorganic.com, and check out our range of spices, pulses, cooking oils, and flours we have to offer.
