Holi is here and we can see the country painted in different colours of happiness and joy. The celebration has already began in different parts of the country and will continue a few days ahead of the festival.

A day before holi people burn bonfire that includes araad, dung cake, redi wood, grains from the fresh harvest and unwanted wood and leaves. This day is also called “Choti Holi”. Holika Dehan symbolizes the victory of truth over evil.

People celebrate the festival differently at different parts of the country but a few same things are – water, gulal and food.

Here are 5 dishes you can make at home, serve and enjoy with everyone.

PURAN POLI
Ingredients :
300gms. chana (yellow gram) dal
300 gms. jaggery (molasses) or sugar
1 tsp. cardamom powder
150 gms. plain flour
1 tbsp. ghee
warm water to knead dough
ghee to serve

Method
Boil dal in plenty of water till soft but not broken. Drain in a colander for 10-15 minutes. Pass through an almond grater little by little till all dal is grated. Mash jaggery till lumps break. Mix well into dal. Put mixture in a heavy saucepan and cook till a soft lump is formed Take care to stir continuously, so as not to charr. Keep aside.
Mix ghee with flour, add enough water to make a soft pliable dough. Take a morsel sized ball of dough, roll into a 4″ round. Place same sized ball of filling in centre, life all round and seal. Reroll carefully to a 6″ diameter round. Roast on warm griddle till golden brown.
Repeat other side.
Take on serving plate. Apply a tsp. of ghee all over top.
OR
Shallow fry on griddle like a paratha for a better flavour. But this method will consume more ghee and therefore increase the calorie level.
Serve hot with dal or amti.
Note: The water drained from boiling dal is used to make the amti. ( a thin curry made using black masala, garam masala and some mashed dal.)

GUJIA
Ingredients :
500 gms maida (flour)
1kg khoya
3tbsps kismis (raisins)
200 gms almonds (cut into thin strips)
6 tbsps cooking oil. ( keep some more aside for deep frying)
200 ml water.
500 gms sugar.

Method
Mix six tablespoons of oil with maida. Using fingers, mix well so that the mixture takes the form of breadcrumbs and binds to a certain extent. Now add some water and knead lightly. Keep adding water as required and knead into a soft dough. Set aside and cover with a damp cloth.
Put the khoya in a deep-frying pan and fry to a light brown colour. Add sugar into the khoya and mix well. Add almonds and kismis. Fry for a few minutes and remove from the fire. Let it cool.
Roll out the kneaded dough into a chapati, thicker and smaller than a normal chapati. Fill half the chapati with the khoya mixture, fold the chapati and seal the round, twisting the edges inwards. Take care that the filling does not ooze out.

Deep fry these gujjias, a few at a time, till they are a deep golden brown. Fry on a slow fire. When done, take them out with a sieve type ladle, draining the oil completely. Let them drain further on a spread out newspaper, till all the grease is soaked up.
Store in an airtight glass jar.

Dahi Bhalle
INGREDIENTS: (Serves 4)
For the bhallas:
1 cup (200 g) lentils (dhuli urad dal)
600 ml water
1/2 tsp (2 g) salt
1 tsp (5 g) cumin seeds
2 tsp (10 g) ginger, chopped
5 g green chillies, chopped
250 ml oil
For the curd mixture:
2 cups (400 ml) thick curd, beaten
1 tsp (5 g) sugar
1/2 tsp (2 g) salt
3/4 tp (4 g) cumin powder
1/2 tsp (2 g) black rock salt
1/2 tsp (2 g) white pepper powder
For the garnishing:
1 tsp (5 g) ginger, julienned
1 tsp (5 g) green chillies, julienned
5 g coriander leaves, chopped
a pinch of chilli powder
a pinch of cumin powder
4 sprigs mint leaves
2 2/3 tbs (40 ml) tamarind chutney

Method
Clean the urad dal and soak in water for two hours. Drain and grind to a fine paste, adding a little water if required. Remove from the mixer. Add salt, cumin seeds, ginger and green chillies. Mix well. Shape into even sized balls.

Heat oil in a kadai and add the prepared balls, a few at a time, using wet hands. Deep fry till golden brown. (Make a hole in the centre of the ball with the thumb just before frying). Remove and drain on paper towels.

To prepare the curd mixture:
Soak the prepared balls in sufficient lukewarm water till they are soft. Add sugar, salt, cumin powder, black rock salt and white pepper powder to the beaten curd. Mix well.
Remove the bhallas from water, squeeze out excess water and add to the curd mixture. Keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve chilled, garnished with ginger, green chillies, coriander leaves, chilli powder, cumin powder, mint leaves and tamarind chutney

Sweet Kachoris
Ingredients:
250 gm flour
1 tbsp besan
1 tbsp ghee
water for kneading
oil for deep frying

Filling:
100 gm caster sugar
150 gm khoya
100 gm chopped dried fruits
1/4 tsp green cardamom seeds

Saffron Syrup:
250 gm sugar
250 ml water
1/2 tsp saffron strands – soaked in 1 tbsp water

Method:
1. Sieve the flour and besan into a bowl. Rub ghee into the flour with fingertips. Put some water and knead well until dough is smooth.
2. Cover and keep it to cool for fifteen minutes. Mix all filling ingredients together.
3. For the syrup, dissolve the sugar in the water. Boil for five minutes. Stir in saffron and liquid.
4. Roll out dough into flat discs about 4″ in diameter. Put the filling in the center and seal the roll with a little water on its edges.
5. Fry kachoris over a slow flame in hot oil. When it turns golden brown take it out carefully and drain the excess oil.
6. Break the top of the kachoris and pour in 1 big spoon of saffron syrup before serving.