A collection of Holi Recipes with 50+ Holi Special Recipes that you can enjoy on the occasion. With this list, you will be spoiled for choice on the different Snacks and Sweets you can plan for your Holi party.
Holi is a popular Hindu Festival. You can call it the Festival of Spring or the Festival of colours. Over the years, this festival has come to be celebrated across different states of India.
People celebrate this festival over two days, starting on the evening of the Purnima, referred to as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi. The second day is the Holi or the Rangwali Holi. We are celebrating Holi on 29th March.
More on Holi Recipes -> Holi Recipes on C4AS
People across the states celebrating this festival start their preparation a couple of days ahead, making elaborate sweets and snacks. They host Holi parties, inviting extended family and friends.
Some of the popular dishes made on this day are Thandai, Dahi Bhalle, Puran Poli, Rasmalai, Phirni, and snacks like Pakora, Chakli, Kachoris, and Samosas. Similarly, they also make dishes like Pooris, Chana, Aloo Subzi for the brunch.
I have put together this list into different lists to help you pick quickly.
Holi Special Dishes
What's special dish for Holi?
First of all, like other festivals, there many Indian Sweets and savories specially prepared for this festival, some of them are:
Malpua, Thandai, Kachori, and Phirni are some of the common sweets. Finally, I must confess I am yet to share Thandai, though I have made different types of Malpua.
Gujiyas
Gujiyas have different stuffings and we deep fry them. First of all, the North Indians version involves frying in oil, finally dipping in sugar syrup after frying, as a result, the gujiyas have sugar syrup coating on top.
Another difference in the South Indian version is not dipping and serving as such. Gujiya is a traditional Holi sweet across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Similarly, during the festival, people distribute to friends, neighbors.
Gujiyas are known by different names across India - Karanji in Maharashtra, Ghughra in Gujarat, Karchikai/ Somas in Tamil Nadu, Karjikai, or Kadubu in Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh, and Nevri in Goa Gujiyas.
The different stuffings that get prepared are with Khoya (Mawa), Sugared Coconut, Mixed Nuts, Fried Gram, and sugar. Apart from this sweet version, we have savory gujiyas like the Dahi Gujiya and Moong Dal gujiya.
Puran Poli/ Poli / Holige/ Obbattu / Bobbattu
Sweet Poli is an Indian sweet flatbread that originates from southern India.
Poli is an Indian sweet flatbread from the Southern Indian states. The traditional version has the outer layer made with All Purpose flour stuffed with chana dal jaggery stuffing. Similarly, while the outer layer is the same, the other versions have different stuffing.
Bobbattu / Holiga in Andhra, Obbattu in Karnataka, Puran Poli in Maharashtra, Boli in Tamil Nadu, and Vedhmi in Gujarat are some of the other names.
We make different stuffing with moong dal, coconut, and mixed nuts along with mawa.
- Ellu Holige | Til Poli from Udupi
- Khavyachi Poli | How to make Khavyachi Satori
- Ratale Poli | How to make Sweet Potato Roti
- Upwas Puran Poli | How to make Potato Puran Poli
- Varan Bhat, Spinach Dal Curry, Pakoras, Puran Poli ~ Maharashtrian Thali
- Gul Poli | How to make Jaggery Stuffed Flatbread
- Sweet Poli with Badam Katli | Cashew Almond Nuts Poli | Cooking with leftovers
- Chocolate Poli | Step By Step Recipe to make Poli filled with Chocolate
See more Indian Sweets→
Traditional Holi Special Dishes
Traditional Indian Sweets like Ghevar, Rasmalai, Jalebi, and Balushahi apart from Gujiyas are prepared for this festival. First of all, though these sweets might be time-consuming to prepare, it is well worth the efforts.
- Ghevar | How to make Rajasthani Ghewar
- Quick Rasmalai | How to make Instant Rasmalai
- Ras Malai for Indian Cooking Challenge for April ~ Step By Step Recipe!
- Nikhuti Payesh | How to make Nikuti Payesh
- How to make Jalebi ~ Store bought Version
- Jalebi Recipe | How to make Jalebi Step By Step Recipe | Indian Cooking Challenge for August
- XL Jalebi from Lookmanji | How to make Instant Jalebi
- Balushahi ~ North Indian Special | How to Make Balushahi | Indian Cooking Challenge - August
Chaat: Dahi Vada, Papdi Chaat, Aloo Chaat and More
Holi is also known for the Chaats are so popular. The most popular ones are the dahi bhalle, Aloo tikki or gol gappe. Here's an exhaustive list of chaats you can make on the day!
- Dahi Gujiya ~ Holi Special Dahi Gujiya
- Ragda Patties | Aloo Tikki Chat | Step by Step Recipe
- Aloo Tikki Chat | Aloo Tikki Chaat Recipe
- Raj Kachori ~ Rajasthani Special | How to Make Raj Kachori | Indian Cooking Challenge - September
- Pani Puri / Gol Gappe - Indian Cooking Challenge for May ~ Step By Step Recipe!
- Punjabi Samosa | Samosa with Potato & Peas ~ Punjabi Style
- Khasta Kachori / Moong Dal Kachori - Step by Step Recipe ~ Indian Cooking Challenge!
- Sabudana Vada | How to make Sago Vada
See more Street Food Recipes→
Some Kheers, Payasams, and Phirnis
- Carrot Kheer | How to make Carrot Payasam | Step by Step Recipe
- Paneer Payasam | Paneer Kheer ~ Breakfast Thali
- Tandalachi Kheer | How to make Maharashtrian Rice Kheer
- Kesar Seviyan Kheer
- Yellow Pumpkin Kheer | How to make Lal Bhoplyachi Kheer
- Lal Bhoplyacha Halwa | How to make Red Pumpkin Halwa
- Chawal ki kheer | Bihari Style Rice Kheer
- Gulab Phirni Recipe | Easy Rose Phirni Recipe
Brunch Recipes / Thali:
Happy Holi!