Gudi Padwa, also known as Marathi New Year, is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Maharashtra and other parts of India. It marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Hindu calendar, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor by people of all ages.Â
Celebrated with great enthusiasm, this festival is a perfect opportunity to indulge in some traditional Marathi dishes. From Puran Poli to Shrikhand, there are several mouth-watering delicacies that one can prepare at home to celebrate the festival with family and friends. While the festivities may be different this year due to the ongoing pandemic, preparing these dishes can help one feel connected to their culture and traditions.
One of the key features of this festival is the delicious food that is prepared at home. Here, we will take a look at dishes that you can cook at home on Gudi Padwa.
1. Puran Poli
Puran Poli is a traditional Marathi dish that is a must-have during Gudi Padwa. It is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a filling made of lentils, jaggery, and cardamom. To make the stuffing, you need to soak chana dal for a few hours and then pressure cook it with jaggery and cardamom. Once the dal is cooked, you need to mash it and make a smooth paste. Then, make a dough with wheat flour, water, and a little bit of oil. Roll out small portions of the dough and stuff them with the dal mixture. Roll them out into flatbreads and cook them on a tava (griddle) with ghee.
2. Shrikhand
Shrikhand is a popular dessert that is made with strained yogurt and flavored with saffron, cardamom, and sugar. To make shrikhand, you need to strain yogurt overnight to remove the whey. Then, mix the strained yogurt with sugar, saffron, and cardamom powder. You can also add chopped nuts like almonds and pistachios to enhance the flavor. Chill the shrikhand in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.
3. Aamti
Aamti is a spicy lentil soup that is a staple in Maharashtrian cuisine. It is made with toor dal, tamarind, and a blend of spices. To make aamti, you need to pressure cook toor dal with water, turmeric, and salt. In a separate pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves. Then, add chopped onions, ginger, and garlic and sauté until the onions are translucent. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they are soft. Then, add the tamarind paste, red chili powder, garam masala, and coriander powder. Mix well and add the cooked dal. Add water to adjust the consistency and let it simmer for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
4. Kothimbir Vadi
Kothimbir Vadi is a savory snack made with fresh coriander leaves, besan (gram flour), and spices. To make kothimbir vadi, you need to make a batter with besan, water, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Then, add finely chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Pour the batter into a greased pan and steam it for about 20-25 minutes. Once it cools down, cut it into small pieces and shallow fry them until they are crispy.
5. Batata Bhaji
Batata Bhaji is a classic Maharashtrian dish that is a must-have during Gudi Padwa. It is a simple and easy-to-cook dish that requires minimal ingredients. To prepare Batata Bhaji, you will need boiled potatoes, onions, green chilies, curry leaves, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric powder, salt, and oil. Start by heating the oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they start to crackle, add chopped onions, green chilies, and curry leaves. Sauté until the onions turn translucent. Then add boiled potatoes, turmeric powder, and salt. Mix everything well and cook for a few minutes. Your Batata Bhaji is ready to serve.
Gudi Padwa is an important festival in Maharashtra that marks the beginning of a new year. So, go ahead and try these recipes at home to make your Gudi Padwa celebrations more special and memorable!
