Makar Sankranti Recipes: Celebrate With Traditional Festive Foods

Makar Sankranti is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated annually on January 14 in India. It marks the Sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar Rashi), signifying the end of winter and the beginning of longer days. This auspicious occasion is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, with diverse customs and traditions varying regionally. Kite flying, feasting on delicacies made with sesame seeds and jaggery, and offering prayers to the Sun God are some of the common practices associated with Makar Sankranti. Known for its cultural and culinary richness, this festival is observed with unique regional delicacies that capture the essence of the harvest season. Here is a detailed guide to traditional recipes from various parts of India to make your Makar Sankranti celebration a bit more special.

Traditional Makar Sankranti recipes to try

Til Ke Laddoo

Makar Sankranti is incomplete without delicious Til Ke Laddoo or sesame seed balls. Made with sesame seeds (til), jaggery, and often dry fruits, these laddoos are a traditional offering to the sun god. To make them, roast sesame seeds and grind them coarsely. Melt jaggery with a little water and add the ground sesame seeds. Mix well and shape into small laddoos. These energy-packed treats are not only a delightful delicacy but also hold cultural and religious significance. 

Puran Poli

Another popular Maharashtrian cuisine is Puran Poli, which is a sweet flatbread, stuffed with sweet lentils (puran) encased in a soft and flaky wheat flour dough. The filling typically consists of split pigeon peas cooked with jaggery, cardamom, and sometimes grated coconut. The dough is rolled out thin, filled with the puran, and then carefully sealed and cooked on a tawa (griddle). The result is a delicious and satisfying sweet treat that is perfect for sharing with family and friends during the festive season.

Sweet Pongal

Sweet Pongal, also known as Shakarai Pongal, is a South Indian dish made with rice, moong dal, jaggery, milk, and spices. It is a popular offering to the sun god during the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti, symbolizing prosperity and thanksgiving. The dish is cooked in a pot over an open fire, and the overflowing of the milk signifies abundance. Sweet Pongal is a delicious and nutritious dish that is enjoyed by people of all ages. 

Patishpta

Delectable Bengal sweet crepe, Patishpta is consumed on Makar Sankranti. It involves making a thin batter of rice flour and water, then pouring it onto a hot griddle to form a crepe. The crepe is filled with a sweet mixture of grated coconut, khoya, and jaggery, then rolled up and served warm. The sweetness of jaggery complements the delicate flavours of coconut and milk. 

Undhiyu

Undhiyu is a traditional Gujarati dish especially made during Sankranti. This must-have dish is made with a variety of winter vegetables like potatoes, brinjals, yams, and green beans, slow-cooked with fragrant spices and coconut. The unique preparation involves layering the vegetables in an earthen pot, sealing them, and cooking them upside down over a slow fire. The result is a flavorful and heartwarming dish that perfectly complements the festive spirit of Makar Sankranti.

Makara Chaula Khiri

A unique rice pudding Makara Chaula Khiri is a traditional Odia dessert, especially prepared during the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti. This sweet rice pudding is made with newly harvested rice, cooked in milk, and sweetened with jaggery. It's often enriched with flavors like grated coconut, cardamom, and nuts. The dish symbolizes prosperity and abundance, making it a quintessential part of the harvest festival celebrations. Makara Chaula Khiri is not just a dessert; it's a cultural heritage passed down through generations in Odisha.

Celebrate Makar Sankranti with these traditional recipes and savor the richness of Indian culinary heritage!

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