Mouthwatering Makar Sankranti Delicacies

January 12, 2018

Festivals and celebrations are incomplete without one thing and that is none other than festive food. Be it any happy occasion or festival, variety of delicacies both sweet and savoury is a must to be prepared at home or bought from the eateries. As winters are the harbinger of delicious foods, festivals falling in these months offer an occasion to prepare and relish some really exotic dishes. The holy festival of Makar Sankranti dedicated to the Sun God- Surya is among the most celebrated festivals of this cold season in whole of the Indian subcontinent with full fervour and festivity. Marking the end of winters and the beginning of spring, the festivals associated with Makar Sankranti is known with various names in different parts of India, like- Lohri in Punjab and Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh (both celebrated on the preceding day to Makar Sankranti), Uttrayan in Gujrat, Thai Pongal in Tamilnadu, Maghi in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, Sukrat in Central India, Magh Bihu in Assam, Khichadi in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Til Sankranti in Mithila, Poush Sangkranti in Bangla Desh, Tirmoori in Pakistan (Sindh) etc. and holds a deep cultural and historic significance. Also known as Harvesting Festival, it brings in a wide range of delicious delights with varied flavours from across India.

Here are a few delicious Makar Sankranti delicacies, easy to prepare at home and also available in market, not only savoured incessantly during winters but also make an integral part of the winter festivities.

Til Poli

As Til (sesame seeds) and jaggery are the vital ingredients of the dishes prepared on Makar Sankranti, Til Gud Poli makes a mouth watering winter delicacy to be savoured on this festival. It is a flatbread prepared from the dough of fine flour and wheat flour, stuffed with the goodness of roasted ground sesame seeds and jaggery, stir fried and served hot with a dollop of butter.

Murmura Laddoo

Murmura Laddoos are yet another delicacy relished on Makar Sankranti. Puffed rice added to jaggery syrup is flavoured with cardamom and bound into Laddoos. Light on stomach and intrinsically warm, this delicacy is widely prepared in many households during the festive season in winters.

Til ke Laddoo

Roasted sesame seeds added to jaggery syrup and bound into Laddoos make a popular and highly relished delicacy of this cold season. Especially, prepared during the winter festivities, like- Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal, Bihu etc., this amazing sweet is a treat to your winter sweets platter.

Bajre ki Khichdi

Bajra (pearl millets) cooked with Moong dal and tempered with cumin seeds, regular spices, asafoetida, Garam Masala etc. packs a punch with flavour. Topping of Ghee lends an exotic taste to this hot and spicy winter delicacy. Prepared especially on festivals and occasions like Makar Sankranti falling during the winter months, Bajre ki Khichdi is a delicacy worth trying for its phenomenal spicy flavour.

Gud ka Halwa

Gud ka halwa is a popularly savoured scrumptious sweet delicacy. Semolina is sauteed in Desi Ghee (clarified butter), sweetened with liquid jaggery and cooked till it attains a thick consistency. Offered to the Gods and Goddesses first and then served hot as Prasad, this luscious treat is relished like hot cakes on the festival of Makar Sankranti.

Aate ki Pinni

A quick snack for any time of the day, Aate ki Pinni too is a delectable festive treat. This Punjabi delicacy is a must try during winters and is, especially, savoured on Punjabi festivals like- Lohri. Ghee roasted wheat flour and semolina is added with dry-fruits, like- diced almonds, cashews etc., shredded coconut, sweetened with sugar powder and bound into round Laddoos. The aroma of Ghee and powdered cardamom added to perk up the flavour of the Pinnis render an irresistible taste, you can never deny to relish.

Rasse ki Kheer

Amazingly unique Rasse ki Kheer is a Punjabi delicacy prepared on Lohri. Though time consuming, it is a luscious treat for your taste buds. Sugarcane juice is simmered and cooked with rice for hours and flavoured with cardamom powder, refrigerated and served cold. Topping of diced dry fruits lends a distinct flavour to Rasse ki Kheer.

Kadhi Pakoda

With thick consistency, Kadhi Pakoda is a savoury and lip smacking side dish to relish during festivities. This delectable delight is prepared in many parts of the country but its Punjabi version is worth giving a try. Crisp gram flour fritters dipped in the slightly sour and spicy Kadhi made from gram flour, buttermilk and tempered with exotic spices, like- mustard seeds and curry leaves pair perfectly with steamed rice and Rotis.

Pheeni

Prepared in pure Desi Ghee, crisp Pheeni is a luscious festive treat of Makar Sankranti. Owing to its cumbersome making process, it is rarely prepared at home, but is the most sought after delicacy at the sweet shops and eateries during this festive month. Topped with pistachios and flavoured with cardamom powder, this delectable dish is best relished as such or with hot milk.

Gud ki Roti

Enjoy the festival of Makar Sankranti with a sumptuous platter of delectable meal along with crisp and sweet Gud ki Roti. Soft wheat flour flatbreads, sweetened with jaggery are stir-fried in butter and served hot as a dessert. Savoured as a quick snack at anytime, these sweet and exceptionally delicious pancakes are best relished with yogurt and butter by young and adults alike.

These are some of the delectable delicacies that can be easily prepared at home and are also available in the market abundantly on the festival of Makar Sankranti. If you wish to know more about such delicacies and locate your nearby food joints, download the app right away!