Holi 2021: Festive treats you can make at home and a guide to ordering in

Barley thandaiOne of the many reasons to look forward to Holi celebrations is thandai points out home chef Vindhya Karwa who runs the food blog vinsplate While the North Indian beverage is made with lots of nuts and spices Karwarsquos version has a healthy twist in the form of the popular super food barley ldquoIts benefits were wellknown in ancient India and it was commonly used to heal heat sickness in the form of barley water It also keeps up your energy levelsrdquo she elaboratesIngredientsFor thandai mixgt 12 cup almonds gt 12 cup cashew nuts gt 12 cup unsalted pistachios gt 25 black peppercorns gt 10 cardamom pods gt 2 tbsp poppy seeds gt 2 tbsp fennel seeds gt 1 tsp nutmeg powderOthersgt 25 to 30 saffron strandsgt 4 tbsp rose petalsgt 14 cup soaked and boiled pearl barleyMethodFor a thin thandai consistency Add the thandai ingredients into a blender and grind into a coarse powder Mix two tbsp of this powder in a glass of chilled milk add honey as per your taste and blend it in too Tip in the boiled barley Garnish with rose petals and saffron strandsFor a thick smoothielike version Whisk one serving of yogurt in a bowl Mix in the thandai paste and add the boiled barley Sprinkle rose petals and saffron strands and serve chilledBaked jaggery gujiyaWhatrsquos Holi without hot decadent gujiyas Patisserie chef and recipe curator Guntas Sethi Bhasin adds a healthy baked spin to this caloriehigh dish with jaggeryIngredientsFor the doughgt 15 cups wheat flourgt 3 tbsp gheegt 13 cup watergt A pinch of saltFor the fillinggt 12 cup fine semolinagt 1 cup jaggery powdergt 14 ghee gt 2 tbsp desiccated coconut gt 2 tbsp almonds chopped gt 2 tbsp cashew chopped gt 2 tbsp raisinsgt 1 tbsp pistachio choppedgt 2 to 3 tbsp dates choppedgt 12 tsp cardamom powderMethodIn a large bowl mix together the flour salt and butter with your hands until it bears a bread crumblike texture Pour little water at a time and mix the dough until it comes together Cover and let it rest for 20 minutes For the filling heat a pan and add ghee Once it melts add raisins as soon as they puff up take the raisins out and set aside Add semolina in the same ghee and roast it on medium heat until it gives off a nice aroma and slightly changes in colourTip in coconut and other dry fruits and roast for a minute Switch off the flame and pour in the jaggery and raisins let the mixture coolNow take a small ball of the dough and roll it into a small puri shape Pack in one to two tbsp of filling on one side of the puri apply water on the sides and fold it into half making semicircular dumplings Shape all the gujiyas similarly and arrange in a baking tray lined with baking paper Brush some melted butter or ghee on top and bake in a preheated oven at 175 degrees Celsius for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown Drizzle some honey and sprinkle some chopped nuts and rose petalsThandai mousse jarWhile thandai is a popular drink on Holi an indulgent and unique way to enjoy it is to turn it into a piece of confection like chef Sethi Bhasin has with the thandai mousse jar ldquoItrsquos a refreshing and sweet twist to enhance the festivity of your Holi celebrationsrdquo she assertsIngredientsgt 2 cups whipping creamgt 1 tbsp icing sugargt 1 cup fullfat milkgt 3 tbsp thandai powdergt A pinch of saffrongt 14 tsp cardamom powdergt Vanilla sponge cakeMethodWhip the cream in a bowl till it has more than doubled in its size Add the sugar and whip until the cream reaches very soft peaks Next on a stove top in a bowl tip in the milk thandai powder cardamom and saffron Whisk until lumpfree Now heat it on the stovetop stirring occasionally until it reaches a simmer Switch off the flame and let it coolFold in the chilled bowl of cream and the thandai mixture together until everything is mixed well Assemble the thandai mousse in a jar by adding layers of vanilla cake sponge soaked in thandai and alternate with the thandai mousse Sprinkle some nuts and rose petals on top Refrigerate and serve chilledFeast at homegt Bombay Sweet Shoprsquos Phoolon Ki Holi collection includes thandai kheer kadam nutty gujiya and phool and pista barksLog on to bombaysweetshopcomgt NairOnFirersquos Kallu Shaap Holi menu features a meaty spreadCall 9324059522gt Dig into Karnatakarsquos popular sweet dish Bele Holige at ThangabaliLog on to Zomato or Swiggy