Traditional Holi Dishes

Holi is an ancient Indian festival that is celebrated not only in India but also in other parts of the world like Nepal, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, to name a few. Holi marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of the spring season. The festival provides us with an opportunity to relish traditional holi dishes. 

The festival is popularly known as the “festival of colors”, “festival of spring” and the “festival of love”. The celebrations take place in different parts of the world because of our vibrant Indian diaspora. So, let’s explore some healthy and traditional holi dishes. Festivals are a reason to look back and cherish our culture. The traditional dishes can enhance your holi celebrations by giving an authentic touch. 

India has great cultural diversity, and every state has something unique to offer. Here, we will explore famous holi dishes from various states and their health impacts.

Holi Dishes for your Holi menu:

1. Gujias: Gujia is a famous sweet dish, popular in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, but is also enjoyed in all other states. You can have them fried or baked, depending on your preference. This holi dish has filling of mawa(reduced dry milk or whole dry milk) and dry fruits. Weight watchers can enjoy their health benefits, but make sure you have them in moderation. One piece of Gujia has almost 200 calories, so manage your calorie intake. 
2. Dahi Bhalla/ Dahi vada: As the name suggests, this dish consists of Dahi(Curd) and Urad dal Vada(Bhalla). This dish is popularly known as Dahi Bhalla in the northern states and Dahi vada in the southern states. Serve this with chutney and other spices. One serving of Dahi Bhalla/ Vada has almost 200 calories and has high nutritional value because of curd and lentils. 
3. Lassi: This refreshing yogurt-based drink originated from Punjab and is popularly known as buttermilk. Lassi is a good source of probiotics and has amazing benefits for the stomach. Boost your immune system and bone health with this refreshing drink. Salty or sweet, everyone loves it. 100 ml of lassi has 154 calories, so don’t forget to enjoy this chilled drink. 
4. Namak para/ Shakar para: They are the salty and sweet version of the same dish and everyone loves them. You can enjoy them with a hot cup of tea, especially after your energetic holi celebrations. They can be baked or fried and are a healthier snack option for weight watchers. 100 grams of namak para has 551 calories and 100 grams of Shakar para has 492 calories. 
5. Thandai: Perfect option to beat the march heat, this milk-based chilled drink has nuts(dry fruits) and spices. This drink is not as healthy as lassi because of its sugar and dry fruit content which makes it high in calories. So, make sure you have it in moderation as calories through liquids add on more quickly without you even realizing it. 100 ml of thandai has almost 300 calories. These calories can vary according to the milk, sugar, and dry fruit content. Lassi is a healthier low-calorie substitute. 
6. Malpua: Malpua is famous in Odisha, West Bengal, Nepal, Maharashtra, and Bangladesh. You can substitute sugar with jaggery to give it a healthier touch. One piece of malpua has almost 150 calories, and these calories can increase if you consume them with rabri(Indian sweet). 
7. Kachori: They are an all-time favorite, and everyone has different ways to enjoy them. Kachori gives you a great option to add something spicy to your holi menu. One kachori will have almost 144 calories, and these calories might vary according to what you consume them with. 
8. Pakoras(deep-fried fritter): Pick any festival, and you’ll find them on the tables. They are the most popular appetizer or snack in South Asian cuisine. You can serve this crispy-spicy snack with chutneys and a drink. Their calories are dependent on what you’re using as your main ingredient. 
9. Rasmalai: Rasmalai is a popular Bengali sweet which consists of Indian cottage cheese or chenna (paneer), milk, and sugar. It is high in calories because of its high sugar content. One piece of Rasmalai has 184 calories so make sure you enjoy them in moderation.
10. Roasted makhanas: They are not famous as a traditional holi dish but can be a healthier snack alternative for weight watchers. So, if you’re looking for something tasty and healthy, you can add them to your holi menu. They are an excellent escape for weight watchers. 😛

 Let’s Put It All Together:

1. Here is a list of different traditional holi dishes that are famous in India with their calorie content. This list will help you decide your holi menu for the foodies and the weight watchers. 
2. A menu should serve both the groups so they can attend your holi party without any hesitance. They are super easy to prepare. 😛
3. Traditional dishes are important to stay in touch with our culture. There is plenty of readymade stuff available in the market, but traditional holi dishes give a unique touch to the festival. 
4. Share this list with your loved ones and make a holi menu for yourself too. Calories will vary according to your method of cooking, ingredients used, etc.
5. Also, drop in your favorite holi dishes in the comment box below and let others know about your state and culture. 

Let’s celebrate our Indian Food.