101 Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

                           

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavthi is one of the most sacred and traditional Hindu festivals celebrated in India with great enthusiasm and devotion. The festival marks the birth of lord Ganesha, the child of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, also known as the lord of knowledge, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada , starting on the shukla chaturthi ( fourth day of waxing moon period) and last for 10-11 days ending on Ananth Chaturdashi (14th day of waxing moon period). The festival is celebrated with much zeal  and devotion in many states of India, like Maharashtra , Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This year Ganesh Chaturthi festival will begin on 13th September 2018. 
                               

Devotees clean up their houses and install murti (idol) of Lord Ganesha and celebrate the festival by worshiping the Lord in a special way by offering flowers and sweets, singing his arti, reciting shlokas for a day and a half , 3 days, 5 days , 7 days or 11 days depending on the family tradition and commitment of each individual. One can find massive Ganesh pandals with beautiful clay idols of Lord Ganesha in states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Post Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations , the clay idols are immersed in water bodies.

Ganesh Utsav at my home 2016

I have very fond childhood memories associated with this festival. I can recall how actively we kids would participate in all the cultural programs held in our society pandal during this festival. My mom used to make khirapat and ukadiche modak for Naivedhyam to be offered for evening Ganesh Arti. After a few years we starting bringing and worshiping the idol at our home for 5 days. Visiting the " Manache Ganapati "(respected and honoured Ganesha)of Pune at least once during this festival was a ritual for us as we grew up. And weekend evening were booked to watch the artistic idols of various Ganesh Utsav mandals and their settings based on the mythological themes, decorations and lighting was a sight to behold. 
                                      

All these activities developed a strong bond and faith within me about the deity and i wait whole year round for Ganesh Chaturthi festival to welcome Bappa( Ganesha is often fondly called by this name) at my place. My husband also has great faith in God and we have been bringing Bappa home for last 10 years now. Taking into consideration the pollution of water bodies caused by immersion of clay idols , we have stopped buying new idols every year, and from last 3 years we worship the same fiber Ganesha Idol every year. Cleaning up the house, making Makhar for installing His idol, cooking his favourite food and sweets , chanting shlokas and singing His arti twice daily , brings in positive and good vibes to our homes. Bappa is known as Vignaharta, means the one who removes all the obstacles. I believe firmly, it is my turn now to inculcate these values and pass on our traditions and customs to my son (next generation).

                                   

Devotees offer colorful and fragrant flowers , set of 21 durva grass, coconut, bananas and prepare and offer various sweet and savory delicacies as Naivedhyam to please Bappa and seek his blessings. Lord Ganesha is very fond of delicious food and the bhog offered to him varies from state to state. In Maharashtra , various types of modak , ladoos , burfis and other sweet and savory items are offered to Bappa while in South India, various sundals, rice varieties, payasam are made to please the deity.  Each family have their own traditional food that they prepare . The food offered is essentially satvik food ( without onion garlic) . Here are some food recipes from my blog which can be offered to Lord Ganesha.

• Modak : The festivity of Lord Ganesha is incomplete without Modak. It is supposed to be His favourite food .Modak is basically a dumpling which has sweet coconut stuffing and can be either steamed or deep fried. 

1. Ukadiche Modak / Steamed Modak : This is the modak recipe from Maharashtrian Cuisine. Ukadiche Modak are basically steamed rice flour dumplings stuffed with fresh scrapped Coconut, Jaggery and Nuts. We offer this on first day of the festivity ie Ganesh Chaturthi Day. 21 modak are offered to Bappa.
2. Talniche Modak / Fried Modak : I make this fried Modak every month on the day of  Sankashti Chaturthi. These are delicious sweet , the outer covering is crisp and inside is soft. I have used whole wheat flour and Suji to make outer covering instead of maida. I have used dry coconut , dry fruits and candy sugar as stuffing.
3. Chhena Modak / Paneer Modak : Chena Modak are sweet delicacies made from Chena ( Cottage Cheese / Paneer). Paneer gives nice creamy and grainy texture to the modak. I have used home made fresh chhena for the recipe. 
4. Chocolate Modak : Chocolate Modak is a chocolate flavored rich and delicious modak which can be made easily at home and offered to lord on Ganesh Chaturthi. The recipe calls for use of  just three ingredients - milk solids (khoya) , unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar.
5. Panchkhadya Modak :Panchkhadya Modak is a delicious sweet treat made as Naivedhyam (offering) to Lord Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi festival. As the name suggests, "Panch" means five and "khadya" means food in Marathi, this recipe calls for use of just 5 ingredients all of which are considered as Bappa's (Lord Ganesha's) favourite food. All the 5 ingredients used here start with the Marathi Alphabet 'KH' - Khava ( Khoya or milk solids), Khobra ( Coconut), Kharik (Dry Dates), Khus Khus (Poppy Seeds) and Khadi Sakhar ( Rock Sugar).

• Ladoo: Apart from Modak, ladoos  also are considered as lord Ganesha's favourite food . Following are some ladoo recipes from the blog. Click on the highlighted names for the recipes.                                      

                    

                                          

6. Instant Peanut Coconut Ladoo : a quick yet delicious recipe with just three ingredients , which can also be had as fasting food.

7. Almond Chocolate Ladoo : This two ingredient delicious ladoo is enough to treat everyone's taste buds.

8. Suji Coconut Ladoo: This is a traditional Maharashtrian dish where sweet balls made up of roasted Semolina and Coconut are combined with sugar syrup , ghee and dry fruits . 

9. Dates and Nuts Ladoo : The dates and nuts ladoo recipe makes use of fresh Palm dates , Poopy seeds and nuts like Cashew Nuts , Almonds , Walnuts and Pistachios. 

10. Whole wheat flour ladoo with edible gum : Dinkache ladoo are made using whole wheat flour, skinned and split black gram (Urad dal) flour , edible gum , dry fruits (dry dates , grated dry coconut , nuts),sugar and ghee.

11.Methi Goand Ke Ladoo  : Fenugreek seeds , whole wheat flour and dry fruit ladoo

12. Dry Fruits Ladoo: perfect blend of dry fruits, poppy seeds, edible gum and jaggery

13. Kaliche Ladoo : Kaliche Ladoo is a traditional Maharashtrian delicacy. It is basically a gram flour ( besan) sweet ball preparation and it tastes somewhat like the boondi laddoo. 

14. Besan Suji Ladoo: Another Maharashtrian deliciacy made from chickpea flour and semolina.

15.Sesame Seeds Jaggery Ladoo / Til Gul Ladoo : Cardamom flavored sesame seeds and jaggery ladoo

16. Aliv Che Ladoo : Garden Cress Seed sweet ball / Halim ladoo

• Other Maharashtrian Sweets and Savories  : Following are the other sweets and savories from Maharashtrian Cuisine that can be offered to Lord Ganesha during the festivity. 

17 Puran Poli : Puran Poli is a popular Maharashtrian flat bread with a sweet lentil stuffing. A traditional Maharashtrian house will have Puran Poli as bhog / naivedhyam on almost all special occasions. 

18. Anarsa : Anarsa is an authentic Maharashtrian sweet dish . It is a pastry-like snack and is made from soaked powdered Rice, Jaggery/Sugar , Poppy seed and Ghee.

19. Narali Bhat:  sweet rice recipe made with fresh coconut and Jaggery.

20 Gulachi Poli : basically a Jaggery, Sesame seeds and Poppy seeds stuffed roti

21. Pudachi Karanji : A layered sweet fried dumpling .

22. Naralachi Barfi: Fresh coconut fudge

23. Amrakhand / Mango Shrikhand: Mango flavored hung curd sweet

24. Basundi : dessert made by reducing milk which is further sweetened and flavored with Cardamom and Nutmeg. 

25. Ghavache Dhirde : Pancakes made from whole wheat flour, jaggery and ghee

26. Puranache Dind : steamed sweet bengal gram parcels

                                         

27. Narayani Sheera : banana flavored suji halwa

28. Kaanole: steamed sweet made from whole wheat flour and jaggery

29. Masala Doodh : nut and spice flavored condensed milk

30 Tandalachi Kheer: creamy rich dessert in which rice is cooked in flavored condensed milk.

31. Chikki : peanut and jaggery based fudge

32. Strawberry Shrikhand : Strawberry flavored sweetened hung curd

33. Ravyachi Kheer : Suji / semolina pudding

34. Shankarpale: Sweet flaky crispy snack

35. Chakli : Deep fried multigrain savory snack

36. Bhakarwadi : fried rolls stuffed with spicy and tangy mixture of coconut and poppy seeds.

37. Kothambir Vadi: crispy coriander fritter made from fresh coriander leaves, chickpea flour and spices

38. Aluchya Vadya : Stuffed savory taro leaf snack

39. Khamang Kakdi : coconut and peanut flavored cucumber salad

40 Dudhichi Koshimbir : a slightly sweet , a bit spicy and a refreshing yogurt based dish made with Bottle Gourd. 

41 Masale Bhat : Spicy aromatic one pot meal with a perfect blend of rice and vegetables with spices

42. Matar Usal: Fresh green pea curry with spiced coconut as the base

43. Katachi Amti : thin spicy , tangy , slightly sweet tempered chana dal / Bengal gram stock

44. 21 Veggie Stir Fry : a special vegetable stir fry using 21 different vegetables

• Khoya Based Sweets:Khoya also known as mava is coagulated milk solids. It forms the base for wide variety of Indian sweets like Gulab Jamun , Pedha , Gajar ka Halwa , Gujiya , Barfi / Fudge etc . It is also used in many curries and savories. 

45 Homemade Khoya : Reducing whole milk to solids

46 Khoya Gulab Jamun: small balls made from milk-solids are deep fried in ghee are drenched in rose water flavored sugar syrup .

                                                 

47 Gulkand Flavored Bottle Gourd Fudge / Lauki Ki Barfi : Grated bottle gourd added to rose petal jam (Gulkand) flavored condensed milk and simmered.

48 Mohanthal: This fudge is a perfect blend of ghee roasted chickpea flour, khoya (milk solids) and sugar. 

49 Gulkand Flavored Mava Gujiya : Whole wheat flour fried dumplings with milk solids, dates and nuts stuffing

• Other Sweets and Savories:

50 Instant Kalakand / Indian Milk Cake: sweet made out of solidified sweetened milk and cottage Cheese.

51 Sponge Rasgulla : refers to a spongy syrupy dessert made from chenna (cottage cheese) .

                          

52 Rasabali / Sweet Odia Recipe :  deep fried flattened reddish brown patties of Chhena (Farmer's Cheese) that are soaked in thickened, sweetened milk (rabri).

53 Kesar Rabadi : a sweetened evaporated milk dish made by boiling milk on low heat for a long time and flavored with saffron.

54. Chocolate Nankhatai : Chocolate flavored short bread cookie

55: Bengali Sandesh: Cottage Cheese based moist sweet fudge from the Bengali Cuisine.

                    

                   

56 Kesar Phirni: Saffron flavored rice pudding

57 Anjeer Roll: Dry figs, dates and nuts roll

58 Malpua:  Sweet fried pancake

59 Apple Rabadi: Condensed milk with apple

60 Pineapple Halwa : Pineapple flavored suji halwa

61 Gulab Ki Khher : Rose flavored pudding

62 Lauki Ki Kheer : Bottle gourd pudding

63 Orange Rava Kesari : Orange flavored suji halwa

64Mishti Doi : Sweetened yogurt

65. Panchamrut : Panchamrut a holy Indian drink is a mixture of 5 ingredients , milk, sugar , ghee, curd and honey. 

                                                       

                           

66 Til Ki Barfi : Peanut and sesame seeds fudge with Jaggery

67 Sabudana Kheer : Caramel Sago Pudding

68 Makhane Ki Kheer : Fox Nuts seeds Pudding

69 Shahi Laapsi Kheer  : Daliya or broken wheat pudding

70. Gajar Ka Halwa : A lip smacking  dessert made from grated Carrot , condensed Milk ,Sugar and Dry fruits. 

71. Gulgule: small , golden brown sweet fritters made from whole whart flour

72 Bharwa Kela : Jaggery and coconut stuffed Banana

73 Nariyal Aam Barfi : Mango Coconut Fudge

74 Churma : sweetened and cardamom flavored mix of crushed baatis

75 Kaddu ki sabzi : Simple yet flavorful pumpkin curry 

76 Panchmel Dal:  a simple , nutritious and flavorful blend of 5 different lentils with some basic Indian spices

77. Kashmiri Dum Aloo : Aromatic baby potato curry cooked in spiced yogurt gravy

78. Khaman Dhokla : delicious , soft , spongy , savory steamed snack made from gram flour

79. Vegetable Korma : Mildly spiced mixed vegetable curry

80 Kachi Haldi Ki sabzi : Yogurt based fresh turmeric curry

81 Achari Aloo : Spiced pickled baby potato curry

82. Pindi Chole : Garbanzo beans/ chick pea curry 

83. Shakarkand Ki Chaat : Lip smacking sweet poatao salad

84. Sabudana Khichadi : Spicy Tapioca / Sago snack

85. Kacche Kele Ki Tikki : Raw Banana Cutlets

86. Methe Makhane: Caramelized Fox Nut Seeds

87. Thekua : Crunchy Mildly Sweet Cookie

88. Cashewnut Stuffed Paneer Balls : Deep fried paneer balls stuffed with cashew nuts

                                   

                 

89. Meethi Mathri : Whole wheat flour sweet baked snack

90 Cornflakes Chivda : crisp, sweet and savory Indian snack made from Maize flakes (makai poha) , spices and nuts.

91. Namak Pare : Crunchy flaky deep fried ribbons made from wheat flour

92. Instant lemon Pickle : Tongue tickling oil free lemon pickle

93. Homemade Gulkand: Rose petal preserve

• South Indian Dishes : Sundal, rice dishes , coconut flavored curries etc can be offered to Lord Ganesha 

94 Sweet Corn Sundal : a flavorful tempered sweet corn salad

                       

95 Chickpea Sundal : An aromatic and flavorful Chickpea stir fry recipe in which the boiled chana ( kabuli Chana) are tempered with Curry Leaves , Spices and Coconut.

96 Puliyohara: A flavorful tamarind rice 

97 Thayir Sadam : Delicious yogurt flavored rice

98 Beetroot Stir fry : Coconut flavored beet root stir fry

99 Avial : Kerala style vegetable preparation with distinct coconut flavors.

100 Sakkarai Pongal : sweet delicacy made from boiled rice , mung lentils and ghee , flavored with cardamom , cashew nuts and raisins.

101 Gudanna : Jaggery and coconut rice from Karnataka Cuisine.

Sending this collection of 101 recipes to #161th #FoodieMondayBlogHop where the theme for the week is #Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

If you ever try any of these recipe, do share your feedback with us in the comment section below. 

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Wishing a very Happy and Blessed Ganesh Chaturthi Festival to all those who Celebrate !!