Holi, the festival of colors, is just around the corner. It is such a wonderful day and brings back memories of fun and food. Here you can find a wonderful list of sweets and snacks you can make this Holi, along with a lunch menu for your Holi party!
March is the season of Holi, the festival of color, similar to the beautiful colors of spring. This is the Indian festival welcoming spring. In different regions of India, people perform different rituals. In North India, the day before Holi people burn a holy fire, called Holika Dahan.
As a child, I prepared for Holi starting early in the morning. Filling balloons with water, getting the variety of colors ready. Then as the day started, all friends and family would get together to play Holi. Put lots of colors on each other and throw the balloons, get everyone wet.
Now let’s discuss the most important part, food for Holi. Click the link to see delicious recipe ideas for Holi.
Holi Sweets
Thandai
Holi is not complete without the delicious drink, Thandai. It is made with milk, flavored with nuts, seeds and spices. Learn to make Thandai powder and Thandai Milk in this recipe.
Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun, the most popular Indian dessert. Gulab Jamun’s are deep fried donut-like balls, soaked in sweet rose flavored syrup. These heavenly melt-in-the-mouth Gulab Jamun's are a perfect addition to your day!
Suji ka halwa
Suji Ka Halwa, also known as Sheera is an Indian semolina pudding, made with basic ingredients – semolina, sugar, and ghee. The pudding tastes simply divine, and takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
Coconut Pumpkin Halwa
Coconut Pumpkin Halwa, also called as Kaddu ka Halwa is a pumpkin dessert made with pumpkin, sugar, ghee, coconut and nuts. It can be cooked in a pressure cooker and takes less than 30 minutes to make this delicious dessert!
Carrot Kheer
Carrot Kheer, also called carrot payasam, is made with carrots, milk, cashews and dates, with the added aroma of cardamom & saffron. A delicious & satisfying desert, with no added sugar. You would not mind yourself or your kids asking second and third servings!
Meethe Chawal
Meethe Chawal or Zarda Rice is 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.
Carrot Halwa
Carrot Halwa or Gajar ka halwa, is a delicious dessert made with grated carrots, milk, sugar, cardamom and almonds. This is a healthy and light dessert from North India.
Coconut Laddoo
Coconut Almond Balls or Nariyal Badam Laddoo is an easy sweet recipe, made with almond (badam) powder, desiccated coconut (nariyal) and sweetened condensed milk. This is a quick sweet that can be prepared in just 20 minutes.
Kheer
Kheer or Payasam is an Indian favorite dessert for special occasions. It is basically rice pudding made with rice and milk infused with saffron, cardamom and assorted dried fruits.
Chocolate peda
An easy healthy sweet loved by kids and perfect for any occasion. Made with just 3 ingredients in less than 20 minutes.
Lapsi (Cracked Wheat Sweet)
Lapsi is a sweet dish made with roasted broken wheat (Dalia) and sweetened with jaggery. Garnished with nuts and flavored with cardamom, this cracked wheat recipe is perfect for celebrations.
Sabudana Kheer
Sabudana Kheer, or Tapioca pudding, is a sweet made with tapioca pearls and milk. This kheer is popular during the fasting festive season in India. It is super easy to make in the instant pot or on the stovetop. Vegetarian & Gluten-free!
Holi Snacks
Kala Chana Chaat
Kala Chana Chaat, is a nutrition packed Black Chickpea Salad made with black chickpeas, crunchy onions, tomatoes, avocado and spices. This refreshing salad has fresh and tangy flavors, and can be enjoyed as a great protein rich snack or salad.
Vada Pav
Vada Pav is the humble street food of Mumbai, and a favorite for any gathering. A fried potato fritter or vada, is stuffed in between mini-burger buns called pav, along with sweet and spicy sauces or chutney.
Khaman Dhokla
Soft and fluffy Khaman Dhokla made in the pressure cooker and stovetop. These delicious steamed savory chickpea flour cakes are a popular Gujarati delicacy, perfect to enjoy for breakfast or snack!
Paneer puffs
Paneer Puffs with a flaky golden crust with spicy flavorful paneer filling. Perfect appetizer for a party that can be prepared ahead of time. So easy and delicious!
Sev Puri
Sev Puri is a sweet, spicy and tangy chaat. Sev Puri is made with crispy puri (whole wheat crackers) topped with potatoes, onions, tomatoes and a variety of chutneys, and finished with sev (thin gram flour noodles). This no-cook chaat recipe is a favorite snack to enjoy with your evening tea!
Tandoori Gobi
Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi or Cauliflower Tikka Bites is a wonderful healthy snack or appetizer to enjoy at a get-together!
Pav bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian street food, loved by all. Pav Bhaji is made with potatoes and vegetables cooked in a tomato base, and enjoyed with pav or dinner rolls.
Dahi Vada
This favorite Dahi Vada or Dahi Bhalla recipe has the softest lentil fritters drenched in creamy yogurt and topped with sweet and spicy chutney’s. This popular Indian street food is loved by all and is a perfect inclusion to any festive menu!
Rava Dhokla
Soft and fluffy Rava Dhokla made in the Instant Pot and stovetop. These delicious savory semolina cakes are a popular Gujarati delicacy, perfect to enjoy for breakfast or snack!
Holi Party Menu
Are you planning a lunch or party for Holi? Let me share some of my favorite dishes to include in your menu.
For mains, go for the traditional favorite Dal Makhani or Chana Masala. You can also make the favorite Aloo Puri.
Every party has to have a paneer dish or chicken for the non-vegetarians. So add Paneer Tikka Masala or Chicken Tikka Masala to your menu.
Along with the above, add a Chicken Biryani or Vegetable Pulao as a sidelong with Dahi Vada!
Oh..and no Holi party is complete without Thandai!
Wishing you all a very Happy Holi 2020!
Hope you guys enjoy this collection of Holi 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!
Check out our collection of 30+ Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes!
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