Sweet Start: Mysorepak's Charm
Mysorepak, a beloved Indian sweet, holds a special place in Diwali celebrations. Its rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture comes from the careful balance of
gram flour, sugar, and ghee. The process involves roasting the gram flour and then gradually adding sugar syrup and ghee. It's then cooked until it reaches a perfect, porous consistency. Different variations exist, with some recipes adding more or less ghee depending on the desired outcome. The preparation can be time-consuming, but the resulting taste is worth every minute, and many families have their own cherished versions of this classic sweet.
Savory Snacks: Mullu Murukku
Mullu Murukku offers a delightful crunch and is a quintessential snack during Diwali. Made from rice flour, urad dal flour, and spices, these spiral-shaped treats are deep-fried to golden perfection. The dough is typically pressed through a murukku maker, creating their distinctive shape. The secret to a perfect Mullu Murukku lies in the right balance of ingredients and the appropriate frying temperature. When fried at the right temperature, they become light, crispy, and irresistible, making them a favorite among all age groups during the festivities.
Seedai: A Crispy Delight
Seepu Seedai is a popular South Indian snack made from rice flour, urad dal, and seasonings. These small, round balls are deep-fried until golden brown. Their crispy texture and savory taste make them highly addictive. The key to successful Seedai is using the right proportion of rice flour and urad dal, ensuring the dough is smooth and free of cracks. A critical element is controlling the oil temperature during frying, which ensures that they cook evenly without becoming too oily. Enjoyed during Diwali and other special occasions, Seedai provides a pleasant contrast of textures and flavors.
Rich Treat: Badusha's Sweetness
Badusha is a traditional Indian sweet with a flaky texture and a sweet, syrupy interior. Crafted from all-purpose flour, yogurt, and a leavening agent, the dough is shaped into small discs and deep-fried. Once fried, they are soaked in sugar syrup, allowing them to absorb the sweetness and achieve their characteristic juicy texture. The process is a careful balancing act of frying and syrup absorption, creating a treat that is both sweet and satisfying. Badusha makes for a delightful addition to the Diwali feast.
Sweet Layers: Kalakand
Kalakand, a rich and creamy Indian sweet, is made from condensed milk or paneer, sugar, and cardamom. This soft and milky confection has a delightful grainy texture and a melt-in-your-mouth feel. Often flavored with cardamom and garnished with nuts, Kalakand is a treat for the taste buds. Making Kalakand from scratch requires patience to slowly cook the milk or paneer mixture. The final texture, from the creamy taste to the grainy texture, makes Kalakand a must-have sweet during Diwali and other celebrations.
Cham Cham's Colorful Touch
Cham Cham, another popular Bengali sweet, is a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. These vibrant sweets are typically made from paneer, shaped into oval forms, and cooked in sugar syrup. Afterwards, they are often dipped in sugar syrup, coated with coconut flakes, and garnished with colorful toppings. The combination of textures and flavors, from the soft paneer to the sweet syrup, makes Cham Cham a favorite. These sweets add a bright and cheerful element to the Diwali celebrations.
Gulab Jamun: Skimmed Milk Delight
Gulab Jamun, a classic Indian dessert, can be made using skimmed milk powder. The process involves mixing skimmed milk powder with all-purpose flour, a little bit of ghee, and then shaping the mixture into small balls. These balls are then deep-fried until golden brown. Finally, they are soaked in sugar syrup infused with cardamom and rose water. Using skimmed milk powder can offer a lighter alternative while still delivering the same rich, sweet, and syrupy goodness. This allows for a delightful and classic dessert.
Savory Bites: Thenkuzhal & Besan
Thenkuzhal and Besan Murukku are a savory duo perfect for your Diwali platter. Thenkuzhal, made with rice flour and urad dal, are shaped into a unique twisted pattern before being deep-fried. The use of coconut milk adds a unique flavor. Spicy Besan Murukku, crafted from gram flour and seasoned with spices, delivers a spicy kick. These snacks offer a satisfying crunch and are wonderful accompaniments to the sweets and add variety to the festival. Both are well-loved for their textures and diverse flavors.
Magizhampoo Murukku & Thenkuzhal
Magizhampoo Murukku and Thenkuzhal are further delightful options for Diwali snacks. Magizhampoo Murukku features a unique flower-like shape and is made from rice flour and urad dal. Magizhampoo Thenkuzhal offers a flavor profile, both of which are deep-fried until golden. These special snacks are perfect for celebrations. These snacks add a traditional, savory option to the celebratory spread.
Sweet Finale: Ras Malai & Jilebi
To end the festive meal, you can offer a variety of classic desserts. Ras Malai and Rasgollas are milk-based sweets that are cherished. Ras Malai, consisting of soft cheese patties in creamy milk, offers a rich and decadent experience. Jilebi, with its spiral shape and deep-fried crispness, offers the perfect finish. These sweets embody the festive spirit of Diwali, allowing people to end the celebrations on a sweet and happy note.
