3 Holi Recipes with a Nourishing Twist

Holi is more than just splashes of color — it’s a celebration of joy, togetherness, and delicious food that brings everyone to the table. This year, renowned culinary creator Renu Dalal adds a vibrant spin to your festive feast with three Holi Recipes — a collection of inventive, flavor-packed dishes that honor tradition and your taste buds.

3 Holi Recipes with a Nourishing Twist

Paan Chaat

This is makeable in a jiffy. A chaat where paan leaves have a unique and delicious taste of their own. A refreshing twist on traditional paan, this chaat combines sweet, tangy, and minty flavours with crunchy toppings. It’s a delightful palate cleanser and a fun dessert-style snack in every bite.

Preparation time – 10 minutes
Cooking time – 10 minutes
Serves – 4

Ingredients –

• 7-8 Fresh Paan Leaves (Betel Leaves)
• Oil for frying
• For the batter –
• ½ Cup Besan
• ¼ tsp Haldi
• ¼ tsp red chilli powder
• ¼ tsp Coriander powder
• ¼ tsp Carom Seeds
• Pinch of hing (asafoetida )
• Pinch of Soda bicarbonate
• ½ Cup Water
• Salt to taste

Other ingredients –

Method –

• ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
• ¼ cup chopped onions
• 3 tbsp thick beaten curd
• 1 tbsp tamarind chutney
• 1 tbsp green chutney
• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
• ¼ cup chopped boiled potatoes
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts
• 2 tbsp crushed sev puris
• 2 tbsp sev
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander
• ½ tsp chaat masala
• ½ tsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp aamchur
• Salt to taste

For the batter –

1. Mix all the ingredients properly to make a smooth batter.
   For the Paan pakora –
2. Dip the paan leaves evenly in the batter and fry them until well done.
3. Place on an absorbent paper and remove the excess oil.
   To serve –
4. Place the paan pakora on a plate and add accompaniments of your choice.
5. Serve immediately.

Thandai Shrikhand

Thandai shrikhand is a novelty factor. Goes great during Holi time. Makes a pretty picture and a delicious treat—creamy shrikhand infused with aromatic thandai spices, saffron, and nuts for a festive touch. Rich, cooling, and indulgent, it’s a perfect dessert for warm days and celebrations.

Preparation time: 2 hours
Cooking time: nil
Refrigeration time: 2 hours
Serves 4

Ingredients –

• 2½ cups yoghurt
• 4 tbsp powdered sugar
• 5 tbsp thandai paste
• 2 tsp rose syrup
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• 2 tbsp sliced pistachio

For garnishing –

• Sliced pistachio
• Rose petals

Method –

1. Hang the yoghurt in a wet cloth for 2 hours
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Refrigerate and chill for 2 hours.
   To serve –
4. Garnish with pistachio nuts and rose petals and serve.

Makhana Bhel

A light and crunchy chaat made with roasted makhana, tossed with tangy chutneys, spices, and fresh toppings. Healthy, flavourful, and perfect for guilt-free snacking anytime. Can be made in a jiffy, is very yummy, and has the wow factor.

Preparation time – 10 minutes
Cooking time – 10 minutes
Serves – 3

Ingredients –

For the makhana –

• 2 cups makhana
• Pinch of red chilli powder
• Pinch of turmeric powder
• 2 tsp oil
• Black Salt to taste

Other Ingredients –

• ½ cup chopped tomatoes
• ½ cup chopped onions
• 2 tbsp Tamarind chutney
• 2 tbsp Green Chutney
• ¼ cup Sev
• 2 tbsp chopped Coriander
• ½ tsp Chaat masala
• ½ tsp Red chilli powder
• ½ tsp Lemon juice
• 7-8 Sev puris
• 2 tbsp Roasted peanuts
• Salt to taste

Method

For the makhana

• In a pan, dry roast the makhanas until crunchy.
• Add in oil, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, and black salt.
• Mix well and set aside.

How to proceed –

1) In a bowl, combine makhana, tomatoes, onion, peanuts, puris, tamarind chutney, and green chutney, and mix well.
2) Add in chaat masala, red chilli powder, lemon juice, and salt to taste.
3) Finish by garnishing with sev and coriander.
4) Serve immediately.