5 iconic dishes to make yours a truly happy Holi!
Few things in the world evoke such strong emotions as food — transporting you instantly into that time or that day in life when you burned your tongue trying to hog that hot gujiya, or when the sugary syrup dripping from the malpua ruined your new dress.
And somewhere along those stories, you realise what day it was!
“I was 9-years-old at the time — and it was the best Holi of my life!”
And if there’s one festival that truly ensures you’re well-fed (and not compelled to stick to vegetarian food if you don’t want to), it is Holi.
For unlike any other Indian festival that almost always starts off with a puja at home — leading to fasting or certain food restrictions — Holi not only allows you to stuff your mouth with delicious delicacies, it is also (almost) mandatory to get high — courtesy thandai!
While the subsequent hooliganism that has come to be associated with the festival of colours is quite off-putting, if we were to look at Holi as a day for foodies to just be themselves, we don’t think there’d be a counter-narrative to it.
What do you think?
Here are five top must-binge dishes for this Holi.
1.). Gujiya
Anybody who says they are not fond of gujiyas — sweet puff-pastry stuffed with coconut — doesn’t deserve your friendship!
Clearly, they do not value the good stuff, right?
These crunchy, yet melt-in-your-mouth delights are not just godsent, they’re actually a fun activity by itself — picture yourself sitting with a plate of gujiyas and you’re supposed to devour everything without leaving even a speck of flake on the plate, your lips or your clothes. It is easier said than done, brothers and sisters.
2.). Malpua
Pancakes are purely passé — malpuas, dipped in a thick syrup with a crispy outer ring and a soft and fudgy centre, is the thing. In fact, don’t be surprised if the West suddenly usurps it, like they did our Haldi Doodh and called it Turmeric Latte! Now, obviously, they are not healthy in a self-aware modern living way. But don’t forget the sheer love malpua is made with. After all, who cares about a blocked artery when the rest of your heart is spilling over with love, right?
Just kidding. Bura na maano Holi hai!
3.). Thandai
All that sweet needs something really (really, really) potent — that’s when thandai comes to the rescue. It's cold, it's yummy, it's intoxicating — if you thought we are describing Bailey's, well, it is nothing less either. As kids, you were probably forced to stick to the virgin thandai (like a virgin mojito, geddit?) option — but then, that's the best thing about growing up, right?
Also, sweets taste sweeter after the thandai.
That's not a myth. Been there, done that, doston!
4.). Namak Para
Now that the sweet tooth is satiated, let's address the salt cravings. It is not for nothing that namak para is (usually) diamond-shaped — now you know where the line 'Diamonds are a woman's best friend' comes from! They are deep-fried — forget your diet, crunchy — often fluffy pockets of sheer goodness — have you forgotten about your diet already? Look, you can always hit the gym tomorrow; today, why don't you just concentrate on stocking up on something to burn!
5.). Mathri
For the tough nuts who've grown up on Dabur Lal Dant Manjan, Mathri is the snack for you.
It is chunky, it is thick, it is intense, and it is like Lay's — no one can eat just one!
Picture yourself watching Hum Saath Saath Hain! — why? Because it is only the best film to watch when you're high on thandai — on the television with a plate of mathri in front of you. Whatever the emotional crest and trough, you can drown them all behind the chunky crunch of a mathri.
Sshh... no one needs to know of your guilty pleasures!
And, even if they do, well, Holi hai, yaar!
Also read: 5 times Bollywood Holi songs redefined romance