Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes | 135 Vinayaka Chaturthi Recipes 2024

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I have many childhood memories associated with the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the Vinayaka Chaturthi in South India. Being born and brought up in Mumbai, I got the chance to experience the grandeur of this particular festival in all its glory. In 2024, Ganesh Chaturthi will commence on September 7 and as usual last for 10 days. In this post, I have also shared a recipe card especially for the traditional Modak recipe, which is a personal favorite during this festival.

collage of dishes made for Ganesh Chaturthi festival with text layovers.

Here, I have shared a compilation of 135 recipes which includes 8 modak varieties and 67 other Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi sweets, snacks and lunch or dinner recipes. You can make these for Vinayaka Chaturthi as well.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi (as referred to in South India) is a Hindu festival that celebrates Bhagwan Ganesha’s birth and lasts for 10 days. It is one of the most favorite festivals in my home.

Usually, we look forward to the 10-day long extravaganza as it is the time for our pandal-hopping scenes in our locality. It will be a different scenario this year, where we would get to visit the beautifully decorated and lit pandals.

As I was growing up in Mumbai, it was customary for my family to visit the famous Ganesha pandals in South Mumbai during this festival.

Year after year, we would specially be at my mother’s friend’s place who stayed in Girgaum, Mumbai. Because from her home, we could get the perfect view of the magnificent processions of the visarjan on the last day.  

It was a habit for us to take part in both the morning and evening Ganesh aartis that was regular in the huge pandal of our own locality. I have literally grown up experiencing the positive vibes and celebrations of the Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chaturthi festival.

Ganesh Chaturthi And Food

Along with these festivities, food was, is and will always been an important part of not just the Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations, but also any other Indian festival.

As I mentioned above, the Modak recipe is a chosen one at home. Besides this, I’ve seen my family make other Ganesh Chaturthi sweets as well as other snacks, all these years.

While finalizing recipes for festivals like Vinayaka Chaturthi, make sure to speak to the elders in your home about the use of ingredients like onion, garlic, spices, herbs, etc.

Every community has different rules of using or not using these, when it comes to religious fasting recipes.

Most of the recipes mentioned in this signature collection too, have vegan options. Also, if you are a vegan, then use oil instead of ghee and substitute dairy-based milk with coconut milk or almond milk.

Use fresh ingredients only. This means do not use ingredients that are already unpacked or opened. Try to make all your staples like rice flour, lentil flours, ghee, butter, mawa, paneer at home.

Ganesha is always offered freshly cooked food. So do not make ahead any food and refrigerate it. Cook with devotion and prayerfulness and offer it to Ganesha as soon as you prepare the delicacies.

Other Indian states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Gujarat also celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with equal devotion and excitement. In South Indian states, it takes the form of Vinayaka Chaturthi/Chavithi, also known as Pillayar Chaturthi or Vinayagar Chaturthi. 

The Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi sweets or other recipes vary from region to region and state to state. For example, Modak recipe, one of the favorites of Lord Ganesha, becomes the Kozhukattai in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. While South India has sundals, popular savory preparations, you won’t find them in Maharashtra.

Along with modaks, Ganpati is also fond of ladoo. So, we offer a variety of ladoo too, to him during this festival. This post of mine will help you with many such well-known as well as lesser-known Ganesh festival specials.

Symbolism Of Lord Ganesha

Every year, we wait with all our zeal and excitement to be a part of the vibrant Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi festivities. He is certainly one of the most endearing divine forms and no puja is complete without first paying obeisance to him.

But ever imagined, what exactly does the form of Ganesha represents? What is the significance and why the elephant head? Here are some of the many interpretations:

  • The foremost qualities of the Elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. Thus, the Elephant Head denotes both these. The massive head also signifies knowledge and wisdom. Elephants don’t see obstacles as hindrance. They overcome them and keep walking ahead. This signifies effortlessness.
  • The strong Elephant’s trunk can pull up huge trees and also pick up a delicate flower. Thus, Ganesha`s trunk symbolizes that a wise human being can be both strong and tender.  
  • The large ears are a representation of a sieve – it hears (assimilates) a lot, but retains only the good and eliminates the bad.
  • Ganpati’s eyes are small, just like an elephant’s – which has the ability to see very far. This means that your present day deeds have repercussions in the future too.
  • The huge belly epitomizes kindness and total acceptance.

More On The Symbolism

  • One tusk represents unity, no duality in life. One leg folded over other resting on the ground symbolizes a balance between worldly affairs and spirituality.
  • The Modak recipe might be a loved one with all of us, just as for Ganesha. But, if you observe the modak in his hand closely, it is actually the tip of 5 fingers coming together, depicting power of co-operation.
  • Ganesha also wields a lotus flower. This signifies that when we connect to the supreme power, we purify ourselves. We become like the lotus flower that, despite being in muddy slush, blooms beautifully. This signifies that we could be in the midst of negativity but we have to rise above it and bloom like a lotus.
  • And why does the elephant-headed Ganesha, have a tiny mouse as his ride? It is lust, greed and attachment in life that get on to you and destroy you. The Mouse depicts greed and vices over which we have to be victorious. We have to be in control and ride over our desires.

Modak Recipes

Modak is the most favorite sweet of Bhagwan Ganesha. There are many types of modak prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi.

But the most famous Maharashtrian modak is the steamed Modak also called Ukadiche Modak that is made from rice flour and stuffed with a sweet filling of coconut and jaggery

Many sweet shops serve readymade mava modak or peda modak in Maharashtra. In some shops advance orders are also taken for modak.

If you plan to prepare sweets for Bhagwan Ganesha then Modak and Ladoo are two sweets which are must. You can make either Boondi ladoo, Rava ladoo, Besan ladoo or Coconut ladoo.

8 Modak Varieties

Find below 8 variants of modak which you can choose to make during Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. While the traditional Modak takes time to make, you could opt to make quick versions of modak like the Mawa Modak or Chocolate Modak.

modak arranged beautifully on a bright green plate.
Moderate 1 hour 30 minutes

Modak Recipe (Ukadiche Modak) – With Mould & Without It

Modak or Ukadiche Modak is a traditional Maharashtrian sweet of steamed, stuffed rice flour dumplings filled with a coconut and jaggery filling and are offered to Bhagwan Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
closeup shot of fried modak in a round bamboo bowl with a dark pink flower inside
Moderate 1 hour

Fried Modak

Fried modak is a delicious and popular modak variety made during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and offered to Bhagwan Ganesha. This recipe has the crust made of whole wheat flour with a sweet stuffing.
kozhukattai placed on turmeric leaves on a brass plate.
Moderate 1 hour 30 minutes

Kozhukattai Recipe | How To Make Kolukattai

Kozhukattai or Kolukattai is a festive South Indian sweet of steamed dumplings made with rice flour dough and stuffed with a filling of coconut and jaggery.
Moderate 30 minutes

Rava Modak | Semolina Modak

Rava Modak are sweet dumplings made with semolina and stuffed with coconut jaggery filling and flavored with cardamom powder.
chocolate mode on a white plate garnished crumbled pistachio and decorated with red rose petals
Moderate 17 minutes

Chocolate Modak

Chocolate modak is an easy variation of modak made with 3 ingredients – chocolate, mawa (evaporated milk solids or khoya) and sugar. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and is simple to make during festive seasons.
mawa modak served on a fresh turmeric leaf kept on a white plate.
Moderate 25 minutes

Mawa Modak | Khoya Modak

Mawa Modak is a quickest and instant variation of Modak and gets done in less than 30 minutes. These tasty modak variant is made with minimal ingredients like mawa or khoya (evaporated milk solids), sugar and cardamom powder.
top shot of dry fruit modak placed on a turmeric leaf and served on a white plate.
Moderate 1 hour 20 minutes

Dry Fruit Modak

Dry Fruit Modak is a variation to the classic steamed modak. These are sweet steamed dumplings made from rice flour dough and filled with a mixture of assorted dry fruits, nuts, khoya (evaporated milk solids), poppy seeds and coconut.
mango modaks placed over a turmeric leaf kept on a plate.
Moderate 30 minutes

Mango Modak

Mango Modak is a delicious variant of modak prepared with fresh sweet mango pulp and khoya/mawa (evaporated milk solids).

Ladoo Varieties

No festive occasion is complete without sweets and so is the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Some sweets from the blog that can be made during the Ganesha Festival.

besan ke laddu, besan ladoo
Moderate 30 minutes

Easy Besan ke Laddu Recipe

Besan Ladoo or Besan ke Laddu is a popular Indian sweet made during festivals. These are round sweet balls made with gram flour a.k.a besan, powdered sugar and clarified butter (ghee).
rava ladoo in a circle with lit earthern lamp in center on a bronze plate
Moderate 30 minutes

Rava Laddu Recipe (Suji Ke Laddu)

An easy peasy method to make Rava Laddu for Diwali or any festival. This Rava Ladoo also known as Suji ke Laddu are sweet balls made with rava (sooji or semolina), coconut, powdered sugar, dry fruits, nuts and ghee.
coconut ladoo placed in a circle and in the center on a white plate on a red table
Moderate 15 minutes

Coconut Ladoo Recipe | Nariyal ke Laddu Made In 3 Unique Ways

Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
top shot of six boondi laddu in pink muffin liners on a white plate placed on pink napkin
Difficult 35 minutes

Boondi Laddu (Boondi ke Ladoo)

Boondi laddu is a popular Indian sweet made by combining lovely little bits of fried and sugar-soaked batter (made with gram flour) with seeds and fragrant spices. Each bite is a delightful blend of smooth, soft, and melt-in-the mouth texture.
motichoor ladoo recipe, motichur laddu recipe, motichoor ke ladoo recipe
Moderate 30 minutes

Motichur Laddu (Motichoor ke Ladoo)

Motichur laddu are soft, delish melt in the mouth ladoo made mainly with gram flour, sugar, and spices.. One of the most popular Indian sweet.
atta laddu served in a brown bowl with text layovers.
Moderate 15 minutes

Atta Laddu | Wheat Ladoo

These wheat ladoo make for a good sweet snack for kids as well as for the whole family. Easy and quick to prepare delicious ladoo made with whole wheat flour, sugar and ghee.
til ladoo recipe, sesame seeds ladoo recipe
Difficult 20 minutes

Til Ke Laddu | Sesame Laddu

Til ke laddu is a healthy, delicious, and nutty ladoo prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and desiccated coconut. A vegan recipe and also a Makar Sankranti festival special sweet.
gond ke laddu
30 minutes

Gond Ke Laddu | Nutritious Gond Laddu

Gond ke laddu is a popular winter sweet from north India. This nutrient dense laddu is made of gond aka edible gum, whole wheat flour, ghee and nuts. Gond laddu are tasty as well as healthy. This recipe can be halved, doubled or tripled.
aval laddu recipe, poha laddu recipe, atukula laddu recipe
Moderate 15 minutes

Aval Laddu | Poha Laddu

Aval laddu also called Poha Laddu are delicious ladoo or sweet balls made with thick poha or aval (flattened rice or parched rice), jaggery, cashews, raisins, milk and ghee. They make for an easy festive sweet.
murmura ladoo recipe, pori urundai recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Pori Urundai Recipe | Murmura Laddu

Pori Urundai is a crunchy, crispy, light, delicious, easy ladoo recipe which gets ready in minutes made with puffed rice. These are also known as Murmura Laddu and Puri Unde.
sunnundalu or urad dal laddu served on a white plate.
Moderate 17 minutes

Sunnundalu Recipe | Urad Dal Laddu

Sunnundalu is a special and unique Andhra festive sweet made with urad dal (black gram), ghee and sugar or jaggery. These protein rich treats are tasty and keeps well for a few days at room temperature.
maladu recipe, maa ladoo recipe
Moderate 12 minutes

Maladu Recipe | Maa Laddu | Roasted Gram Ladoo

Maladu or Maa Laddu (Pottukadalai Ladoo) is quick South Indian recipe of ladoo made from roasted gram or roasted chana dal flour. Maladu is made with just 3 main ingredients – roasted gram flour, ghee and sugar.
moong dal laddu served on a white plate.
Moderate 17 minutes

Moong Dal Laddu

Moong Dal Laddu are nutty sweet balls made with moong lentils, ghee, sugar and flavored with green cardamoms. These Moong Dal Ladoo are quite addictive too.
dry fruit ladoo placed on a white plate on a yellow napkin
Moderate 20 minutes

Dry Fruit Laddu Recipe (Naturally Sweetened)

Easy Dry Fruit Laddu Recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. This Dry Fruit Ladoo recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
narkel naru served on a white plate.
Easy 15 minutes

Narkel Naru (Coconut Ladoo With Jaggery)

Narkel Naru is a traditional sweet ladoo made with jaggery and coconut from the Bengali cuisine. These rustic ladoo can be sweetened with date palm jaggery or regular sugarcane jaggery or sugar.
ragi ladoo recipe, nachni ladoo recipe
Easy 15 minutes

Ragi Ladoo

This is a quick, easy and tasty ragi laddu made with three ingredients – ragi, jaggery and ghee.
badam ladoo recipe, almond ladoo recipe
Moderate 10 minutes

Badam Laddu | Almond Ladoo

Here’s a Badam Laddu recipe that is quick, easy, tasty and made with almonds, jaggery and raisins. Make this delish Almond Ladoo the next time when you have a bag full of almonds. Use it for making these ladoos with minimal ingredients.
peanut ladoo served on a white plate.
Moderate 15 minutes

Peanut Laddu (Shengdana Ladoo)

Peanut Laddu is an easy 2 ingredient recipe of delicious and protein rich balls made with roasted peanuts and jaggery.

Barfi Recipes

Below you will find some delicious barfi variants. Burfi or Barfi are fudge-like sweets that are made with nuts, dry fruits, lentil flours or lentils.

coconut burfi slices on a white platter with a rakhi in the background.
Moderate 1 hour 25 minutes

Coconut Burfi | Nariyal ki Barfi

This Coconut Burfi is a delish, melt in the mouth fudge made with sweetened condensed milk, milk, and desiccated coconut. 
7 cup burfi
Moderate 30 minutes

7 Cups Sweet Recipe | Easy 7 Cup Burfi | 7 Cup Cake

7 cup burfi is a easy and delicious South Indian sweet made with gram flour, ghee, fresh coconut, milk and sugar. It is also known as 7 cup cake or 7 cups sweet as it is made with 7 measures of ingredients.
besan barfi recipe, besan burfi recipe
Moderate 30 minutes

Besan ki Barfi

Besan ki barfi is a traditional Indian sweet of a rich and decadent barfi made with gram flour, sugar and ghee. 
kaju katli stacked spirally
Moderate 20 minutes

Kaju Katli Recipe | How to make Kaju Barfi

These Kaju Katli are the way they are actually meant to be – thin, smooth, melt in the mouth slices of cashew goodness. A popular Indian sweet made with cashews, sugar and water.
cubes of mysore pak on a wooden serving tray on a table.
Difficult 25 minutes

Mysore Pak Recipe

Mysore pak is a popular and super delicious Indian sweet from the city of Mysore in the Karnataka state in South India. Mysore pak is made with only three ingredients – gram flour, ghee and sugar. It is rich, luxurious and melt in the mouth sweet.
barfi recipe, khoya barfi recipe, mawa burfi recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Barfi Recipe | Khoya Barfi

This easy, delicious Indian sweet is a quick Barfi Recipe. This Mawa Barfi is made with khoya/mawa (evaporated milk solids), sugar, nuts and some flavorings. It comes together in 20 minutes, right from the preparation to the cooking.
carrot barfi recipe, gajar burfi recipe
Moderate 35 minutes

Gajar Ki Barfi | Carrot Burfi

Easy, quick and tasty recipe of carrot burfi made with carrots, milk powder, ghee sugar and cardamom powder.
dry fruit barfi recipe
Moderate 25 minutes

Dry Fruit Barfi | Date Rolls | Dry Fruit Halwa

Sweet, chewy, and irresistible, this Dry Fruit Burfi (also referred to as Dry Fruit Halwa or Date Rolls) is a simple, quick and easy sweet you can make during Diwali or any festive season. My simple vegan recipe for Dry Fruit Barfi is made without any added sugar, making it a totally guilt-free treat!

Kheer and Payasam Varieties

Kheer or Payasam are some of the dishes that do not take time to prepare. In the list below you will some popular and traditional kheer and payasam variants from across India.

rice kheer recipe
Moderate 50 minutes

Kheer Recipe | Rice Kheer

Rice Kheer is a popular Indian sweet dessert made with basmati rice, whole milk, nuts and saffron. Kheer recipe is easy and is made with a one pan or one pot method. Rice Kheer is basically Indian rice pudding and makes for a creamy delicious sweet dessert. 
seviyan kheer served in a glass bowl with text layover.
Easy 20 minutes

Seviyan Kheer (Vermicelli Kheer North Indian Style)

This creamy seviyan kheer is a North Indian sweet made with wheat vermicelli, milk, sugar, dry fruits and flavored with spices. This incredibly easy recipe of semiya kheer comes together in 20 minutes and makes for an excellent dessert or sweet.
sabudana kheer recipe
Moderate 35 minutes

Sabudana Kheer | How to make Sabudana Kheer

Sabudana Kheer is a sweet, creamy pudding made with tapioca pearls or sago pearls (called sabudana in Hindi), milk, sugar, nuts and flavored with cardamom & saffron. Sabudana Kheer is also a popular pick as fasting food during the Hindu Navratri festival. It is simple and easy to make, and tastes absolutely delicious.
badam kheer recipe
Moderate 50 minutes

Badam Kheer

Badam kheer or almond payasam is a delicious creamy kheer made with blanched almond paste, milk and saffron.
makhane ki kheer served in a black bowl with a spoon kept on it.
Moderate 35 minutes

Makhane ki Kheer

Makhane ki kheer is a sweet dessert pudding made with Makhana (foxnuts), milk, ghee, sugar and dry fruits. This is an easy and popular sweet that is often made during Hindu fasting days.
closeup overhead shot of phirni with pistachios and almond slivers garnish on glass bowl on black board
Easy 30 minutes

Phirni Recipe | Firni

Phirni is a classic creamy slow-cooked sweet pudding made with ground rice, sugar, milk, almonds, saffron and cardamom powder. It is a popular North Indian sweet made during festive occasions.
paneer kheer recipe
Easy 25 minutes

Paneer Kheer

Paneer kheer recipe is a quick and easy Indian cottage cheese kheer for the festive season. Ready in less than 25 minutes.
paal payasam garnished with dried rose petal chiffonade in a brass bowl with text layovers.
Moderate 1 hour

Paal Payasam | Rice Payasam

Paal Payasam is a simple South Indian variant of a slow cooked rice pudding made with only 4 ingredients. This recipe is of a typical Tamil style Rice Payasam that is creamy and delicious.
20 minutes

Aval Payasam

Delicious poha kheer or payasam made with flattened rice, ghee and milk.
Moderate 20 minutes

Paruppu Payasam | Moong Dal Payasam

Paruppu Payasam is simply a Moong Dal Payasam. It is a creamy, decadent pudding of yellow moong lentils, jaggery, coconut milk and flavored with cardamom. This South Indian sweet treat is also called Pasi Paruppu Payasam.
sabudana payasam recipe, javvarisi payasam recipe, sago payasam recipe
Moderate 30 minutes

Javvarisi Payasam | Saggubiyyam Payasam | Sago Payasam

Javvarisi Payasam also referred to as Saggubiyyam Payasam or Sago Payasam is a sweet creamy pudding made with sago(tapioca pearls), milk, ghee, sugar, raisins and cashews. The recipe is super easy and a great way of using tapioca pearls in a dessert form. It is also gluten-free.
sooji kheer recipe, rava kheer recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Suji ki Kheer | Rava Payasam

Suji ki Kheer or Rava Payasam is a quick, tasty and easy to prepare pudding made with semolina, milk, nuts and flavored with green cardamom powder.
top shot of ragi kheer or ragi pudding served in bowls kept on a wooden table with text layovers.
Moderate 20 minutes

Ragi Kheer | Ragi Pudding

Ragi Kheer is a sweet pudding made with ragi flour (finger millet flour), milk, sugar, cardamom powder, nuts and ghee. An easy recipe that comes together in 30 minutes.
pumpkin kheer recipe, kaddu ki kheer recipe
Moderate 40 minutes

Kaddu ki Kheer (Pumpkin Payasam)

Sweet, creamy, and warmly spiced, this Kaddu ki Kheer (also known as Pumpkin Kheer or Pumpkin Payasam) is a flavorsome, easy-to-prepare traditional sweet dish for the Navratri Festival. This tasty pudding like dessert is made with pumpkin, whole milk, ghee, sugar and nuts.

Halwa Recipes

overhead shot of gajar halwa or carrot halwa filled in a bronze bowl placed on a bronze plate
Moderate 1 hour 10 minutes

Gajar Ka Halwa | How to make Carrot Halwa

A Carrot Halwa recipe made in the traditional way and slow-cooked – with just grated carrots, whole milk, ghee, sugar and some nuts. You will love this evergreen and popular Gajar ka Halwa recipe. Make this rich sweet for special occasions or during festivals.
suji halwa recipe
Moderate 15 minutes

Suji ka Halwa Recipe (Sheera Recipe)

Suji ka halwa or Sheera is a classic Indian semolina pudding made with sugar, ghee and dry fruits. The recipe I have shared is a family heirloom recipe. We have been making this suji halwa recipe for decades during family get togethers, special occasions & festivals. The sooji halwa recipe can be easily halved, doubled or tripled.
closeup shot of rava kesari served in dark green plate.
Moderate 25 minutes

Kesari Recipe | Rava Kesari

Rava Kesari is a popular South Indian pudding like sweet that is made with rava or suji (semolina), ghee, cashews, raisins, sugar, water and saffron. This Kesari recipe gives you a really delicious melt in the mouth sweet that can be made in less time.
lauki halwa, dudhi halwa
Moderate 1 hour

Lauki Halwa | Dudhi Halwa

Lauki halwa is also called as dudhi halwa. It is a rich Indian sweet made with bottle gourd (opo squash), milk, sugar and ghee. The method of making lauki halwa is similar to making gajar halwa. Making lauki halwa is easy but takes some time. This is a slow cooked halwa and what you get after minutes of slow cooking is super deliciousness. 
beetroot halwa in a bowl
Moderate 1 hour 15 minutes

Beetroot Halwa

Beetroot Halwa is a tasty Indian sweet made by slow-cooking grated beetroots with milk, sugar, cardamom, dry fruits and nuts.
banana halwa
Moderate 20 minutes

Banana Halwa | Banana Sheera

Banana Halwa or Banana Sheera is delish sweet pudding made with semolina or cream of wheat, bananas, sugar, dry fruits and is often made as a prasad for Ganesh Puja, Satyanarayan Puja, Devi Puja or for any auspicious occasion.
moong dal halwa recipe
Moderate 7 hours 10 minutes

Moong Dal Halwa

Moong Dal Halwa is an addictive and delicious halwa variant made with mung lentils, milk, sugar and nuts. It is popular in Rajasthan and some North Indian states. This sweet is rich, heavy and usually served during festivities and celebrations.
badam halwa recipe, badam ka halwa recipe
Moderate 1 hour 5 minutes

Badam Halwa Recipe | Rich South Indian Almond Halwa

Badam ka halwa is a rich, luxuruous and popular South Indian style delicious halwa made with blanched almonds, ghee and sugar. This recipe gives you one of best almond halwa that you can make.
papaya halwa recipe
Moderate 50 minutes

Papaya Halwa (Papaya Sweet)

Papaya Halwa is a Indian sweet or dessert made with papaya. This Papaya Sweet is prepared by slow-cooking semi-ripe papaya, sugar and almond powder in oil. With hints of lovely cardamom, it makes for tasty dessert to end your meals with.
besan halwa recipe
Moderate 30 minutes

Besan Ka Halwa

Besan halwa is a delicious sweet made from gram flour, ghee, sugar and cardamom powder.
apple halwa recipe
Moderate 45 minutes

Apple Halwa

Apple halwa recipe made with apples, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Apple halwa is a delicious halwa that is easy to make. This apple halwa does not use sooji (rava), milk, khoya or milk powder. Just apples, sugar (optional) and ghee. Flavorings and nuts of your choice can be added to the halwa. 
kesari bath recipe, kesari bhath recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Kesari Bath Recipe | How To Make Kesari Bath

Kesari Bath is a rich sweet made with rava (cream of wheat), sugar, nuts, saffron, water and ghee. This popular sweet from the Karnataka cuisine is quick and easy to prepare. It has rava (also called sooji or suji in Hindi and semolina or cream of wheat in English) as its main ingredient.
semiya kesari recipe
Moderate 25 minutes

Semiya Kesari

Semiya kesari is a delicious sweet made with semiya, dry fruits and ghee.
pineapple kesari recipe
Moderate 15 minutes

Pineapple Kesari | Pineapple Halwa | Pineapple Sheera

Pineapple Kesari also known as Pineapple Sheera or Pineapple Halwa is a delicious, melt in the mouth sweet made with rava or suji (semolina or cream of wheat), fresh pineapple, sugar, ghee and nuts.
ash gourd halwa recipe, kashi halwa recipe, white pumpkin halwa recipe
Moderate 40 minutes

Kashi Halwa | Dumroot Halwa | Ash Gourd Halwa

Kashi Halwa also called Dumroot Halwa is a unique, tasty and rich halwa made from ash gourd or white pumpkin, sugar, nuts, ghee, raisins and flavored with saffron.
atte ka halwa garnished with cashews and served on a white plate.
15 minutes

Wheat Halwa | Atta Halwa

Wheat flour halwa or atta halwa is a smooth sweet pudding made with whole wheat flour, ghee sugar and water.
ragi halwa recipe, nachni halwa recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Ragi Halwa

Ragi halwa is a sweet dessert made from ragi flour, ghee, sugar and milk.
sweet potato halwa garnished with fried cashews, rose petals and served on a white colored plate.
Moderate 40 minutes

Sweet Potato Halwa (Shakarkandi ka Halwa)

Sweet Potato Halwa also called Shakarkandi ka Halwa in Hindi is a delicious Indian sweet made with boiled and mashed sweet potatoes and scented with cardamom, saffron.

More Sweets For Vinayaka Chaturthi

five karanji pieces on a white plate on a cream doily
Moderate 1 hour 20 minutes

Karanji Recipe (Authentic)

Karanji is a crisp, flaky, fried, moon-shaped pastry stuffed with a sweet filling of desiccated coconut, nuts and dry fruits. It is also one of the sweet snack that is made during Diwali festival.
top closeup shot of shankarpali filled in wooden bowl
Moderate 1 hour

Shankarpali Recipe

Sweet shankarpali are crisp, flaky, melt in the mouth fried and baked biscuits. Shankarpali is a popular festive snack from Maharashtra.
7 peda pieces on a red plate placed on white doilies.
Moderate 15 minutes

Peda Recipe | Doodh Peda | Milk Peda

This rich peda recipe is a delightfully sweet fudge-like confection made with khoya (dried milk solids), sugar, nuts and fragrant spices. Make this simple and quick doodh peda recipe (milk peda) for any festival or celebrations.
shakkar pare recipe, shakkar para recipe
Moderate 50 minutes

Shakarpara Recipe | Khurma | Shakkarpare

Shakkarpara or Khurma is a diamond-shaped, crunchy, flaky and fried flour cookies coated with crystallized sugar. Try my authentic Punjabi recipe of this scrumptious Shakkarpare snack that you can literally munch on, any time!
Moderate 1 hour 30 minutes

Patoli Recipe | Patoleo (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Patholi are steamed rice rolls which are stuffed with fresh coconut and jaggery mixture. The outer layer is made with rice batter and the sweet filling is made with coconut, jaggery and optional flavorings or nuts.
closeup shot of brass spoon filled with basundi on top of a brass bowl with basundi
Moderate 25 minutes

Basundi Recipe | Basundi Sweet

Basundi is a flavored, thickened and sweetened milk made with whole milk, sugar, fragrant spices and nuts. It is a popular sweet made in the western parts of India. This basundi recipe is a quicker version made with sweetened condensed milk and comes together under 25 minutes.
squares of kalakand laid out on a piece of parchment
Easy 20 minutes

Kalakand Recipe | Kalakand Sweet

This two-ingredient, super fast recipe for Kalakand (a.k.a. Indian Milk Cake) comes together in just 15 minutes thanks to the help of a can of sweetened condensed milk.
top shot of shrikhand with chopped pistachios on a dark green serving tray
Easy 15 minutes

Shrikhand Recipe (Traditional & Instant)

Shrikhand is a delicious and simple dessert recipe made with thick yogurt flavored with sugar, saffron and cardamom. Get two ways of making shrikhand recipe with hung curd as well as a quick and instant version with greek yogurt.
gulgule recipe
Moderate 25 minutes

Gulgule Recipe | Pua Recipe (Gulgula)

Gulgule (singular Gulgula) are crispy, fluffy, soft, fried Indian doughnuts made with whole wheat flour, banana, sugar or jaggery and fennel seeds. It is a special and unique sweet from the North Indian cuisine and is also referred to as pua, pooda, or puda in Punjabi.

Maharashtrian Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

Each family has its own traditional and favorite dish that they prepare. I am sharing these Maharashtrian recipes from the blog, which you can prepare during Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Traditionally, Modak recipe is made for the first day of this festival.

Note that in some recipes you may find the addition of onion and garlic. Kindly omit adding these two ingredients if you make any of these dishes during the festival.

Breakfast & Snacks

closeup shot of a stack of sabudana vada on top of each other in a white plate with red chilli sauce in a white bowl
Moderate 5 hours 30 minutes

Sabudana Vada Recipe (Maharashtrian Fasting Snack)

Sabudana Vada is a popular savory deep fried snack made during Hindu fasting days, featuring tapioca pearls (sago), potatoes, peanuts and herbs. They are naturally gluten-free and vegan. This fool proof sabudana vada recipe gives you a super delicious crispy vada with a soft and light interior.
closeup photo of sabudana khichdi in a cream plate.
Moderate 25 minutes

Sabudana Khichdi Recipe

Sabudana Khichdi is a delicious preparation of tapioca pearls (sago) made with potatoes, peanuts, a few spices and usually had during Hindu fasting days like Navratri, Ekadashi, Mahashivratri. It is also a gluten-free recipe. Make the best non-sticky Sabudana ki Khichdi with my recipe.
puran poli folded and served on a green color plate.
Moderate 2 hours

Puran Poli Recipe

Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from hulled and spilt bengal gram/chana dal, jaggery and ground spices. This traditional recipe is from the Maharashtrian cuisine.
kothimbir vadi served on a white plate with a small bowl of chutney on the side.
Moderate 35 minutes

Kothimbir Vadi

Kothimbir vadi is a delicious savory crisp snack from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with gram flour (besan), coriander leaves, peanut, sesame seeds and spices. They are a popular tea time snack loaded with coriander leaves (cilantro).
closeup shot of aloo pakora arranged on a plate with slices of wheat bread on a square white plate
Moderate 25 minutes

Aloo Pakora Recipe (Aloo Bajji)

Aloo pakora are soft melt-in-the-mouth fried potato fritters coated in a delicious, golden, crispy gram flour batter. Make this awesome vegan potato snack also known as potato bajji or aloo bajji in less than 30 minutes.
kanda poha or pohe in a white bowl with a lemon wedge and spoon.
Moderate 30 minutes

Poha Recipe | Kanda Poha

Poha recipe with its few versions like Kanda Poha, Dadpe Pohe and Indori Poha – is a staple preparation with flattened rice, herbs and spices. The one is made with both onions and with an extra addition of potatoes. It is also and easy tasty poha that you can make for your everyday breakfast.
chivda in a decorative metal bowl
Moderate 25 minutes

Chivda Recipe | Poha Chivda | Namkeen Recipe

Chivda is a quick and delicious snack mix or namkeen mixture from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with flattened rice (poha), spices, dry fruit, nuts and with hints of salt and sugar.

Lunch or Dinner

poori bhaji
Moderate 40 minutes

Puri Bhaji | Batata Bhaji

This is a warm, lightly spiced potato dish called Batata Bhaji with hints of coriander, ginger and other Indian spices. This semi-dry potato preparation is served with the fried Indian bread called poori (or puri) and thus called Puri Bhaji.
varan bhaat
Easy 1 hour

Varan Bhaat (Maharashtrian Varan Bhaat Recipe)

Maharashtrian varan bhaat recipe – delicious lentil stew or dal made with pigeon pea lentils and served with rice.
aloo methi in a enameled black rimmed small white wok on a brown jute napkin.
Moderate 40 minutes

Aloo Methi Recipe

Aloo Methi recipe is a classic Indian side dish made with soft, tender potatoes and flavorful fenugreek leaves with few spices. This authentic recipe is from Punjabi cuisine and requires only a few key ingredients.
khamang kakdi in a blue rimmed white bowl
Easy 15 minutes

Khamang Kakdi

Khamang kakdi is a delicious lightly spiced crunchy cucumber salad from the Maharashtrian cuisine. Its also known as kakdi chi koshimbir which in Marathi language means, salad (koshimbir) made from cucumber (kakdi)
top shot of khichdi in a bowl with a spoon inside
Moderate 40 minutes

Khichdi Recipe | Easy Moong Dal Khichdi

Khichdi recipe is a delicious one pot meal of rice and moong lentils. Moong Dal Khichdi is light and easy to digest healthy food. Stove-top pressure cooker, Instant Pot and Stove-top Pan instructions are included in the recipe card.
suran fries arranged on a white plate and garnished with coriander leaves placed on a grey and white napkin
Moderate 35 minutes

Yam Fry Recipe | Konkan Style Suran Fry

Fried elephant foot yam, also known as suran, is a crispy spiced veggie dish made with simple, wholesome ingredients. It’s delicious for a snack or side, and pairs great with any Indian main course.
amti recipe, maharashtrian amti dal recipe
Moderate 35 minutes

Amti Recipe | Amti Dal

Maharashtrian Amti Dal Recipe – A slightly spicy, sweet and sour dal made from pigeon pea lentils or arhar dal or toor dal. A satvik recipe made without onions and garlic.
sabudana thalipeeth recipe
Moderate 8 hours 30 minutes

Sabudana Thalipeeth

Sabudana thalipeeth are crisp and soft pancakes made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, ground peanuts and spices. They are also called as Upvasache Thalipeeth in Marathi language and can also be referred to as Sabudana roti.
rice vada or rice puri on a white plate
Moderate 1 hour

Rice Puri | Rice Vada

Rice Puri or Rice Vada are crispy as well as soft fried bread made with rice flour dough and a speciality from the coastal region of Maharashtra. This recipe is a simple version made with rice flour, water, some ground spices and oil.
katachi amti
35 minutes

katachi amti

Katachi Amti Recipe is a thin spicy dal made from the strained stock of cooked chana dal/bengal gram. It is usually served with puran poli but also can be served with steamed rice.
masale bhaat recipe
Moderate 1 hour 5 minutes

Masale Bhat Recipe | Maharashtrian Masala Bhat

Masala bhat is a tasty, spicy and aromatic one-pot traditional rice recipe made with various mix vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts and coconut from the Maharashtrian cuisine.
maharashtrian kadhi recipe
Moderate 15 minutes

Maharashtrian Kadhi

Maharashtrian kadhi is a quick yogurt and gram flour based sauce or kadhi made without pakoras. Tempered with spices and a bit sweet. It is best served with some steamed rice and makes for a simple summer meal.
rishi panchami sabzi recipe
Moderate 1 hour

Rishi Panchami Bhaji | Rushichi Bhaji

Rushichi Bhaji is a unique mix vegetable preparation that is made during Rishi Panchami which is celebrated on the second day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. For this reason, it is also commonly referred to as Rishi Panchami Bhaji. It is one of those delicious veggie recipe that is super healthy, vegan and gluten-free too. Usually seasonal veggies and tubers are used to make this one.

South Indian Vinayaka Chaturthi Recipes

butter murukku served in a cane bowl with text layovers.
Moderate 30 minutes

Butter Murukku | Butter Chakli

Butter Murukku is a South Indian fried snack made with butter and rice flour. It can also be called Butter Chakli. This recipe is surely for the win as it is scrumptious and tasty.
four murukku pieces in a metal jar
Moderate 50 minutes

Murukku Recipe | Murukulu Recipe

Murukku is a popular South Indian crunchy and crispy snack made with rice flour and lentil flour. It is also known as murukulu, chakralu and jantikalu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
madras mixture served in a red-rimmed white ceramic bowl with text layovers.
Moderate 1 hour 15 minutes

Mixture Recipe | Madras Mixture

One of the popular South Indian snacks made during Diwali is this Madras Mixture Recipe which is basically a mix of various edible ingredients, nuts and dry fruits. It is also called as Omapodi Mixture.
kara boondi served in a red-rimmed white ceramic bowl with text layovers.
Moderate 45 minutes

Kara Boondi | Masala Boondi Mixture

Kara boondi is a spiced version of boondi and a mixture consisting of boondi, peanuts, cashews, curry leaves and a few spices.
thattai placed on parchment paper in a cane bowl.
Moderate 40 minutes

Thattai Recipe | Thattu Vadai

Thattai or Thattu Vadai are deep-fried crispy rice crackers served as a snack and made during festivals like Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtmi) or Diwali. Thattai are made with rice flour, spices and herbs having a spiced, crunchy and crispy taste.
ribbon pakoda served in a cane basket.
Moderate 30 minutes

Ribbon Pakoda | Ribbon Murukku

Ribbon Pakoda or Ribbon Murukku are fried crisp ribbon shaped savory snack from South India. They are easy to prepare and tastes good too. They are also known as ola pakoda or nada thenkuzhal.
omapodi served in a cream colored bowl.
Moderate 30 minutes

Omapodi Recipe (Karapusa)

Omapodi or Karapusa is a delicious and crispy South Indian snack of sev laced with the aroma and flavor of ajwain or carom seeds.
three idli on top of a layer of sambar in a white bowl
Moderate 9 hours 25 minutes

Idli Recipe (With Homemade Idli Batter)

Idli recipe with lots of tips and suggestions so that you can make soft and fluffy idli easily. This idli recipe post also details the method of making idli batter. It is a popular Indian breakfast which is filling as well as nutritious. 
rava idli served on a white plate.
Moderate 47 minutes

Rava Idli (Easy and No Fermentation)

Rava Idli are a quick, soft and fluffy idli variant that is made with rava or sooji or semolina, curd, spices and herbs. To leaven the batter, fruit salt (eno) or baking soda is used. Also referred to as Suji ki Idli, the recipe does not require any grinding or blending of the ingredients and fermentation.
kanchipuram idli recipe, kovil idli recipe, kudalai idli recipe
9 hours 20 minutes

Kanchipuram Idli

Kanchipuram idlis are a well known variety of idlis originating from the city of kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram idlis are spiced with cumin, pepper and ginger powder and thus taste different from the regular idlis. 
medu vada stacked neatly in green lined beige colored plate
Moderate 4 hours 40 minutes

Medu Vada Recipe | Sambar Vada

Medu vada are crisp and fried doughnut shaped fritters made with black gram (urad dal), herbs and spices. These urad dal vada are also known as Garelu in Andhra, Uzhunnu Vada in Kerala, Uddina Vada in Kannada and Medhu Vadai, Ulundu Vadai in Tamil.
overhead shot of white plate having halved mysore bonda showing the fluffy texture on top of remaining bonda next to a side of light green coconut chutney
Moderate 8 hours 30 minutes

Mysore Bonda Recipe | Mysore Bajji

Mysore Bonda also known as Mysore Bajji is a popular South Indian snack made with lentils, fresh herbs and vibrant spices. The ingredients are combined to create a thick batter, and are then deep fried to make crisp, soft and fluffy fritters.
three folded neer dosas on a white plate.
Moderate 5 hours 30 minutes

Neer Dosa | Mangalorean Neer Dose

Neer Dosa are soft, thin, light and lacy crepes from the Mangalorean cuisine. These soft crepes made with a finely ground batter of rice, water and salt. No fermentation is required for making these naturally gluten-free and vegan crepes.
sweet paniyaram in a white bowl on a white plate
Moderate 30 minutes

Sweet Paniyaram (With Jaggery)

Sweet Paniyaram are crispy, soft, fluffy and sweet dumplings or pancakes made from leftover idli batter or dosa batter. This recipe of Sweet Paniyaram is vegan and gluten free, and though sweet, it is best had as a snack.
unniyappam recipe, unni appam recipe
Moderate 3 hours 50 minutes

Unniyappam Recipe | Unni Appam

Unniyappam are sweet fritters from the Kerala cuisine and are made with rice, banana, a few spices and coconut.
banana appam recipe, banana paniyaram recipe
Moderate 50 minutes

Sweet Appam | Banana Appam

Sweet appam recipe made with ripe bananas, rice flour and jaggery. Also known as the Banana Appam or Banana Paniyaram these are an easy to make South Indian sweet snack.
poornam boorelu served on a green colored plate with text layovers.
Moderate 40 minutes

Poornam Boorelu | Andhra Poornalu Recipe (Boorelu)

Poornam boorelu also known as Poornalu is a deep fried snack made with a stuffing of chana dal+jaggery and coated with rice+urad dal batter.
curd rice garnished with chopped coriander leaves, fresh pomegranate arils and fried sun dried chili and served in a wooden bowl.
Moderate 20 minutes

Curd Rice Recipe | Daddojanam | Thayir Sadam

Curd Rice also called Thayir Sadam or Daddojanam is a popular and traditional South Indian preparation where cooked rice is mixed with curd (yogurt) and tempered with spices, herbs. It is a staple in many South Indian households and is also made during Hindu festivals.
yellow colored lemon rice served in a white bowl on a white cotton cloth
Easy 25 minutes

Lemon Rice (Tangy Flavorful Rice)

Lemon Rice also referred to as Chitranna or Nimmakaya Pulihora is a crunchy, flavorful and tangy rice dish that is easy to make and tastes so good. Fresh lemon juice, fried nuts, fragrant herbs and spices combine perfectly to give this steamed rice an amazing spicy, tangy and nutty flavor.
ven pongal garnished with a cashew and curry leaves and served on a white plate.
Moderate 25 minutes

Ven Pongal Recipe | Khara Pongal | Ghee Pongal

Ven Pongal recipe also known as Khara Pongal or Ghee Pongal is a popular South Indian porridge like savory dish that is made with rice, yellow moong lentils and laced with the wonderful flavors of black peppercorns, cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves and ghee.
overheat shot of coconut rice topped with two fried curry leaves and cashew bits in a blue rimmed white bowl on a dark blue wooden tray
Moderate 40 minutes

Coconut Rice Recipe

Coconut rice is a light, tasty, savory South Indian rice variant made with fresh grated coconut, lentils, cashews, herbs and spices. This nutty and mild rice based dish is also known as Thengai Sadam in Tamil language. The recipe is vegan and for a gluten-free version, easily skip adding asafetida.
tamarind rice recipe, puliyodharai recipe
Moderate 1 hour

Tamarind Rice | Puliyodharai Recipe

Puliyodharai is a popular South Indian recipe of sour and spiced rice.
Moderate 20 minutes

Sweet Pongal | Festive Sakkarai Pongal | Chakkara Pongal

Sweet Pongal also called Sakkarai Pongal or Chakkara Pongal in South Indian languages, is a creamy, sweet festive preparation of rice, moong lentils, jaggery and flavored with green cardamoms, cashews, raisins and ghee.
rava pongal recipe
30 minutes

Rava Pongal

Rava Pongal is a healthy and delicious breakfast recipe of Pongal made with rava and moong dal.
rava kichadi
Moderate 20 minutes

Rava Kichadi

Rava kichadi is a South Indian breakfast dish made from fine rava or cream of wheat or sooji, cooked with vegetables, spices, herbs and ghee.
overshot shot of sambar filled in a white bowl placed on white plate
Moderate 45 minutes

Traditional Sambar Recipe

I share our favorite Sambar Recipe which I have perfected over the years. Make this flavorsome, hearty and nutritious South Indian vegetable-lentil stew with this easy method. Enjoy the sambar with South Indian snacks like idli, dosa, uttapam, medu vada or simply pair it with rice for a comforting, healthy and filling meal.
udupi sambar in a bowl with spoon
Moderate 50 minutes

Udupi Sambar Recipe

Udupi Sambar is a spiced, slightly sweet and tangy sambar made with pigeon pea lentils, mixed vegetables, tamarind and freshly ground udupi sambar masala paste.
arachuvitta sambar recipe
Moderate 1 hour 15 minutes

Arachuvitta Sambar

Arachuvitta Sambar is a delicious variation of sambar made with lentils, vegetables and freshly ground sambar masala prepared from roasted spices and coconut. This is a no onion, no garlic recipe.
mor kulambu served in a black bowl.
Moderate 30 minutes

Mor Kulambu Recipe | Easy Mor Kuzhambu

Mor Kulambu is a yogurt or buttermilk based sauce or curry from the South Indian cuisine. This recipe has ash gourd (winter melon, petha, white pumpkin) added to the Mor Kuzhambu and also includes a ground rice, lentils, spices and coconut paste which makes it very flavorful and tasty.
rasam served with a steel spoon in a blue rimmed white bowl placed on a jute mat
Easy 30 minutes

Rasam Recipe (Without Lentils)

My Rasam recipe is made without rasam powder, without lentils and comes together quickly. This spiced, tangy, and sour rasam can be had as a soupy drink or served over steamed rice or pair it with your South Indian meals.
mysore rasam recipe
Moderate 40 minutes

Mysore Rasam Recipe

Mysore Rasam is a spiced and delicious rasam variety from the Karnataka cuisine – made with lentils, ground spices and coconut. Here I share both the recipes for mysore rasam and the mysore rasam powder that you can easily scale up and make a large batch to store and refrigerate/freeze.
avial recipe, aviyal recipe
Moderate 1 hour

Avial Recipe | How to make Kerala Aviyal

Avial is a healthy, flavorful dish of mix vegetables in a coconut and yogurt sauce with a finishing of coconut oil and curry leaves. It is a popular traditional recipe from the Kerala cuisine.
neer moru recipe, spiced buttermilk recipe, neer mor recipe
Moderate 10 minutes

Majjiga | Sambaram | Neer Mor

Majjiga or Sambaram or Neer Mor a.k.a Neer Moru or Neer Majjige is a delicious variant of a spiced and salty buttermilk well-known across South India. This recipe variant is made with curd (yogurt) and water, which is later spiced and then tempered. It makes for an equally refreshing summer drink with digestive properties.
coconut chutney
Moderate 15 minutes

Coconut Chutney Recipe

Coconut chutney is a side dish that is served with idli, dosa, vada and pongal. This coconut chutney recipe is an easy and simple recipe versatile enough to go with any Indian snack.

Sundal Recipes For Ganesh Chaturthi

Sundals are usually prepared in south India during Ganesh Chaturthi as well as for Navratri Festival. Apart from above mentioned sundal recipes you can prepare sundal from sweet corn, moong beans, black eyed peas, peanut, chana dal also.

The method to prepare sundal is more or less same with some variations here and there. Sundals are good snack option, you can consider to quickly make for Ganesh Chaturthi.

chana sundal served in areca bowls.
Moderate 35 minutes

Sundal Recipe | Channa Sundal | Chickpea Sundal

Sundal is a stir-fried dish made with different types of lentils, legumes even grains from the cuisine of Tamil Nadu. This Channa Sundal has white chickpeas, spices and a good dose of freshly grated coconut. This dish is vegan and quite healthy too.
rajma sundal recipe, red kidney beans sundal recipe
Moderate 8 hours 35 minutes

Rajma Sundal

Rajma sundal is a South Indian recipe of a no onion no garlic sautéed kidney beans with spices and coconut.
top shot of Black Channa Sundal served in a white bowl on a wooden table.
Moderate 8 hours 35 minutes

Black Channa Sundal (Kondakadalai Sundal)

Black Channa Sundal also known as Kondakadalai Sundal is a South Indian recipe of a sautéed dry dish made with black chickpeas, herbs, spices and coconut.
chana dal sundal recipe, kadalai paruppu sundal recipe
Moderate 1 hour 35 minutes

Chana Dal Sundal (Kadalai Paruppu Sundal)

Chana Dal Sundal is tempered and sautéed dry dish made with cooked chana dal, few spices, herbs and fresh coconut. Chana Dal Sundal is also called as Kadalai Paruppu Sundal where 'Kadalai Paruppu' is the Tamil word for Chana Dal.
sweet corn sundal recipe, corn sundal recipe
Moderate 20 minutes

Sweet Corn Sundal

This Sweet Corn Sundal has steamed sweet corn kernels that are tempered with a handful of spices and finished with a generous sprinkle of fresh coconut. Easy, gets cooked quickly, tasty and vegan as well.

Wishing you all Happy Ganesh Chaturthi. I pray that Bhagwan Ganesha bestows prosperity, luck, wisdom and blessings to everyone.

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

modak kept on a green plate.

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Special Modak Recipe

Modak or modakam are tasty steamed sweet dumplings and Bhagwan Ganesha's favorite sweet.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Shaping Modak 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cuisine Indian, Maharashtrian
Course Sweets
Diet Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 16 modak
Units

Ingredients

For outer covering

  • 1 cup Rice Flour or 200 grams
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon oil or ghee
  • 1.5 cups water

For sweet stuffing

  • ½ teaspoon oil or ghee
  • ½ teaspoon poppy seeds – optional
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder
  • 1 cup fresh grated coconut or 100 grams
  • 1 cup chopped jaggery or jaggery powder, 200 grams
  • 1 tablespoon Rice Flour – optional

Instructions
 

Making stuffing

  • Heat a pan and reduce flame to a low. Add ghee or oil and then tip in the poppy seeds, cardamom powder and nutmeg powder. Fry for a few seconds until the poppy seeds start crackling. 
  • Add the grated coconut and jaggery.
  • Mix very well. On a low flame cook the coconut and jaggery mixture till there is less moisture in the mixture or for about 7 to 9 minutes. Do not overcook.
  • Then add rice flour to this mixture which will help in absorbing any extra moisture.
  • Let this mixture completely cool.

Making the dough

  • Combine water, salt and oil in a pan or saucepan.
  • Heat till the water comes to a boil.
  • Lower the flame and add rice flour. As soon as you add rice flour then stir and mix well.
  • Remove the pan from the stove-top and cover it with a lid.
  • Rest for 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Take the entire mixture in a large plate or board.
  • Begin to knead it. Spread some water on your palms before kneading as the dough will be hot.
  • Knead the dough really well. If the dough appears crumbly, dense or dry, then sprinkling a few teaspoons of warm water continue to knead.
  • Pinch small portions from the dough and roll into small balls in the palms of your hand.
  • Cover the balls with a clean kitchen towel.

Shaping modak with hands

  • Spread some ghee or oil in your palms before shaping modak.
  • Flatten the dough ball with your fingers to a round-shaped circle or a shallow bowl. Place a portion of the sweet stuffing in the center with a spoon.
  • Pleat and press the edges. Bring all the edges on the top and gently press to seal the top. Get rid of any extra portion of the dough from the top. Make modak this way with the entire dough and stuffing

Shaping modak with mould

  • Firstly spread some oil or ghee inside the mould. Then close the mould.
  • Place the dough ball inside the mould. Then create a space inside by pressing the dough inside the mould.
  • Add the sweet stuffing inside the created space.
  • Close and seal the bottom with a small piece of the dough by flattening it.
  • Open the mould and gently remove the modak.
  • Make all modak this way by using any of the method – by shaping with hands or by using the mould. Cover with muslin or a clean kitchen napkin.

Steaming modak

  • Take 2 to 2.5 cups water in a large pan and let it begin to heat on a stove-top
  • Grease the steamer pan with some oil or ghee.
  • Arrange all the modak neatly in the greased steamer pan keeping some space between them.
  • Use a rack or steel stand and keep the steamer pan carefully on top of the rack. The water should have begun boiling in the pan.
  • Cover with a lid and steam for 10 to 15 minutes on a low flame.
  • When the Modak are done, drizzle a bit of ghee on top. Serve Modak to Bhagwan Ganesha.

Notes

  • Kindly check the links above in the post for the remaining modak recipes and the more Ganesh Chaturthi snacks, sweets and lunch recipes.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Special Modak Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 136 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Sodium 31mg1%
Potassium 39mg1%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg5%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Calcium 10mg1%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 3µg1%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 7mg2%
Phosphorus 22mg2%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes post from the blog archives first published in September 2013 has been updated and republished on September 2023.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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