30+ Best Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

Ganesh Chaturthi is right around the corner and it is one of the most celebrated Indian festivals. This festival is celebrated with pomp and flair all across India. Here you can find a wonderful list of sweets and snacks you can make this Ganesh Chaturthi!

What is Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day-long festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesh. He is honored as the Lord of Wisdom in Hindu mythology. As per custom, Lord Ganesh is invoked at the start of every ceremony as he is also known as the Lord of Beginnings.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a major festival celebrated all over India. Ganesh idols are bought to homes, and worshipped for 10 days. You can hear loud cheering of Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya along with celebrations with dance and music. No Indian festival is complete without lots of food and sweets.

In Southern India, this festival is also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Lord Ganesh is known by many names including the name Vigna Harta (one who removes obstacles). As a god who removes all obstacles faced by us in the journey of life, this festival adorns the name, Vinayaka Chaturthi.

I am sharing below a variety of recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi, including both sweet and savory recipes. Sweets are a major part of the celebration and are offered to Lord Ganesha as Prasad.

Modak Recipes

Modak's are essentially anything made in a conical structure. They can be sweet or savory, with a filling or without, simple or complicated. Modak are the main part of naivedya (offering to Lord Ganesha) on Ganesh Chaturthi. They are prepared in a variety of ways and are known to be Lord Ganesha's favorite snack. I have compiled a list of best modak recipes that will brighten your celebrations.

Ukadiche Modak (Kozhukattai)

Ukadiche Modak, also called Thengai Poornam Kozhukattai is the traditional Modak made on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is a sweet rice dumpling made from steamed rice flour and stuffed with a sweet mixture of jaggery and grated coconut. that is a steamed rice flour dumpling.

Rava Modak

A brilliant twist to the ever famous Sheera or Sooji Halwa. Sheera is a sweet semolina pudding prepared with semolina(rava), sugar and ghee. Paired with a sweetened coconut filling, this rava modak makes a great addition to Ganesh Chaturthi prasadam.

Fried Modak

Modak is usually of two types- steamed and fried. This beautiful recipe details how to make crunchy fried modak with a sweet filling of coconut and jaggery.

Dry Fruit Modak

This dry fruits modak is a simple and quick version that takes only 10 minutes. The modak mixture is made with all the healthy ingredients - nuts, dates, raisins, and coconut. And guess what, there is no cooking required.

Chocolate Modak

Make this Ganesh Chaturthi a fun festival for kids. This chocolate modak uses cocoa and khoya along with Ghee(Clarified butter) and makes scrumptious addition.

Coconut Khoya Modak

A twist on traditional Modak with this Chocolate Chip filled Coconut Khoya Modak, that can be made in about 15 mins. If you are short on time, this is a great option!

Other sweet recipes

Here are a variety of other sweets you can include in your Ganpati sweets.

Coconut Laddoo

Made with desiccated coconut, condensed milk and almonds, this coconut laddoo is a great sweet to add to your ganesh chaturthi lunch menu.

Puran Poli

A sweet dish native to many parts of India, puran poli is often made during Ganesh Chaturthi. Puran Poli is a mix of lentils, jaggery and all-purpose flour (maida). It is served hot with a generous dollop of ghee.

Sheera / Sooji Halwa

If you are a fan of halwa, then all you need is Sheera. Made with easily available kitchen ingredients such as rava, ghee, and milk, this recipe is perfect for sweetening your taste buds.

Besan Laddoo

A common sweet dish that is very popular in North India, this Besan Laddoo is found almost in every Indian festival. Made with only a handful of ingredients such as gram flour, sugar and ghee, this dessert tastes amazing!

Chocolate Peda

Make this easy and healthy sweet for your little ones this Ganesh Chaturthi. It is a gluten-free dessert that kindles your taste buds.

Rose Coconut Karanji

This famous Maharashtrian dish is a crispy and flaky pastry filled with a flavored coconut filling. The highlight of this dish is the addition of the rose flavor to the coconut.

Sweet Rice

A sweet and rich rice preparation loaded with dry fruits, sugar and ghee. This aromatic sweet saffron flavored rice is royal dessert made on special occasions and festivals.

Basundi

A delicious Indian dessert whose main ingredient is milk. It is easy to make dish that lets you add the flavor of your choice.

Kheer

Kheer (Rice pudding) is the go-to dessert during festivals in India. Made with aromatic ingredients of milk, saffron, and cardamom, this dessert is  gluten-free.

Shrikhand

This addictive sweet dish made from yogurt takes all of 5 minutes and can be served as a dessert or as a delicious accompaniment to pooris.

Carrot Kheer

A delicious and healthy variation of pudding. Made with carrots, milk, and dates, this recipe will definitely be on your to-do list of sweet recipes for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Coconut Burfi

Mix nuts coconut burfi or fudge is an easy to make Indian sweet with a twist of fennel flavor that makes it unique.

Sabudana Kheer

Sabudana Kheer, or Tapioca pudding, is a sweet made with tapioca pearls and milk. It is super easy to make in the instant pot or on the stovetop. 

Savory recipes

Along with a variety of sweets, lots of savory recipes are also included in a Ganesh Chaturthi food menu. Here are some options for snacks and main course for Ganpati festival.

Potato Curry

Easy and comforting Potato Curry, also known as Batata Curry, along with poori is often included in the Ganesh Chaturthi lunch menu.

Vada Pav

One of the best Indian street foods that can be had breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try the healthier version of this dish in an air-fryer.

Amti

A traditional no-garlic, no-onion, this Maharashtrian lentil stew (dal) is super easy to prepare in an instant pot or a slow cooker.

Sabudana Khichdi

Sabudana (Tapioca or Sago) Khichdi  is a perfect course for breakfast or can be had for an afternoon snack with tea. This recipe also includes carrots and green peas to make it more healthy and nutritious.

Masale Bhaat

Masale Bhaat is a delicious Maharashtrian one-pot rice dish filled with vegetable and mildly flavored with spices and garnishing. This recipe can be prepared in a pressure cooker or in instant pot.

Rava Dhokla

A popular Gujarat delicacy made from semolina that can be enjoyed as an afternoon snack. This recipe can be made in a pressure cooker or in an instant pot.

Poha

Poha is a flattened or beaten rice that is tossed with onions, peanuts, and other seasonings. It is a quick recipe that sates your hunger in minutes.

Varan Bhaat

Varan Bhat is a lentil stew made with Arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) and is part of the Ganesh Chaturthi prasadam. Steamed rice with a dollop of ghee is the perfect combination for this stew.

Patra

A delicious steamed appetizer made from colocasia leaves rolled with a spicy mixture of gram flour and spices.

Misal Pav

Misal Pav is a wholesome meal that can be enjoyed as breakfast or dinner. A is a spicy sprouts curry, made in the pressure cooker, this recipe is dairy-free and vegan.

Sabudana Vada

Crunchy fritters made with Sabudhana(sago), potato and peanuts. A perfect accompaniment for tea time.

Lemon Rice

A tangy and aromatic rice meal from South India, this Lemon rice can be prepared quickly in the pressure cooker.

Wishing you all a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2019!

Hope you guys enjoy this collection of Ganpati recipes. If you try any of the recipes, leave a comment or share on Facebook or Instagram. I would love to hear back from you!

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