3 delicious dishes you should try this Uttarayan

With the sky filling up with colourful kites, your kitchen should also be filled up with delicious dishes. 

Uttarayan, the festival of kites, brings in that time of the year where the sky is the most colourful and terraces are filled up with people of all the age groups having fun. Uttarayan is one of the favourite festivities in Gujarat. And it is known to all that no celebration in Gujarat can come to an end without devouring upon lip-smacking delicacies. So, here are 3 tasty Gujarati delights for you, which are heavenly in taste and are easy to make.

Undhiyu

One of the favourite Gujarati foods, Undhiyu is a must-try dish, especially in winters. It is prepared using different types of vegetables, spices and oil, which makes it a healthy and nutritious dish to eat. Uttarayan in Gujarat can never be complete without eating the most delicious undhiyu- puri. Undhiyu is a simple dish to cook. In case you don't know how to prepare it, you can check out our detailed undhiyu recipe. Make this delicious undhiyu using 100% pure and authentic spices from Vasant Masala – one of the best spice manufacturers in India. Also, do not fail to add more taste and aroma to undhiyu using Vasant Rajwadi Garam Masala. 

Sesame (Til) Laado

Making Til ladoos in Indian households during Uttarayan is a tradition going on for many years. Til ladoos are super easy to prepare and also healthy to eat. Sesame seeds add crunchiness and nutty flavour to the ladoos so once you start eating them, you cannot keep yourself away from eating them again and again. Here is an easy and quick recipe for you to prepare til ladoos. 

Ingredients for til ladoos:

• 1 cup of Vasant Sesame (Til) Seeds
• 1 tsp. Ghee
• 1 cup of chopped jaggery
• 1/2 tsp. Cardamom (Elaichi) Powder (Optional)

Method to prepare Til ladoos:

• Heat a non-stick kadhai and roast sesame seeds by stirring them continuously until they turn golden brown and start to splutter. 
• Now take another non-stick pan, add ghee and jaggery and mix them well on a medium flame. Stir continuously. 
• Add sesame seeds with ghee and jaggery and cook them on a medium flame for a minute. You can also add cardamom powder (as per your taste) to this mixture. Let it cool for 4-5 minutes. 
• Now apply some oil in your palms and then take a small portion of the mixture and give it a round shape. 
• Repeat the process, and now your ladoos are ready. 

Spicy Peeled Wheat Risotto (Khichdo)

Khichdo is a distinctive Gujarati dish, which comes in both the varieties - sweet and spicy. It is eaten especially in winters and during festivities. For all the spicy lovers, this dish will delight your taste buds. Check out the recipe to prepare spicy khichdo below. 

Ingredients for Khichdo:

• 3 cups peeled wheat (fada ghau)
• 1/2 cup split pigeon peas
• 2 tbsps. Chopped green chillies 
• 1 tbsp. chopped green garlic
• 2 tbsps. Chopped coriander
• 2 tbsps. Chopped ginger
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp. Vasant Turmeric Powder
• 1 tbsp. Vasant Red Chilli Powder
• 1 tsp. Vasant Carom Seeds ( Ajwain )
• 1 tsp. cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp. Vasant Black Pepper Powder
• Salt as per taste

Method to prepare Khichdo:

• Soak peeled wheat and split pigeon peas separately and then strain them.
• Now take a pan filled with water and heat it on a medium flame. When the water is boiled, cover it with lid and add strained wheat to it. Cook the strained wheat on a medium flame for good 20 minutes. 
• Now boil water in a cooker and add pigeon peas and salt as per taste to it and cook until 2-3 whistles. 
• Now pour some oil into a deep non-stick pan. Add ginger, green garlic, green chillies, garlic cloves and carom seeds. Now fry them until they turn brown and add salt as per taste. 
• Now in the same pan add red chilli, turmeric, cinnamon and black pepper powder and mix everything well.  
• In cooker with pigeon peas, add strained wheat and cook it on a medium flame.
• Now add all the ingredients tempered in the pan to the cooker. Stir it nicely and cook it on a medium flame. Add chopped coriander and salt. Stir it a little, and it is ready to serve.  

Do try out these delicious recipes this Uttarayan and comment on your experience below. 

Have a Happy and Safe Uttarayan!