Fall is here, and that means Diwali is just around the corner. Perhaps the most important of all Hindu festivals, Diwali is fast becoming a popular celebration in the U.S. due to the wide-ranging influence of the Indian diaspora on American culture. That’s why Mahatma® Rice is here to explore the origins of this ancient festival and inspire you with the best Indian recipes to make for your Diwali family gathering.
What is Diwali?
Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is a celebration that marks the victory of light over darkness. It takes place over a period of five days and is typically celebrated between October and November, in line with the Amasvashya new moon in the Hindu calendar. During Diwali, people host festive gatherings with family and friends replete with fireworks displays and traditional food.
Hosting Your Own Diwali Feast: Sides and Appetizers
To kick things off, it’s important to stock up on popular Indian snacks and bites to set the tone for your celebration.
Poppadoms: No celebration of Indian cuisine would be complete without these crispy wafers. Perfect for dipping or snacking on prior to the main meal.
Chutney: These sweet and spicy sauces cleanse the palate and whet the appetite in equal measure.
Naan: This oven-baked leaven bread is a staple of Indian cuisine. Doughy and chewy, it’s perfect for dipping in chutney, or mopping up sauce at the end of a meal.
Paneer: This milky and mild-flavored cheese provides a wonderful counterpoint to the spicy offerings at Indian feasts.
Craveworthy Indian Chicken Recipes
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing main dish to serve at your Diwali dinner party, then you can’t go wrong with chicken. This Chicken Biryani Recipe is made with a host of herbs and spices, including ginger, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and garam masala, culminating in a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Alternatively, if time is of the essence, this Easy Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice is a great option. Made with Fluffy Mahatma® Basmati Rice, our tikka masala recipe is perfect for both connoisseurs of curry recipes and newcomers. Best of all, it takes only 20 minutes to prepare.
Tandoori Chicken Dish
Few dishes are as synonymous with Indian food as tandoori chicken, but where exactly does the name come from? Well, the word tandoori is derived from tandoor, which is a vase-shaped clay oven used for cooking. Nowadays, tandoori recipes tend to refer to the method of marinating chicken in yogurt and spices. You don’t have to have a tandoor to make authentic chicken tandoori recipes. If you’d like to try this classic of Indian cuisine in your own home, then our Tandoori Chicken Skillet recipe is a great place to start!
Indian Vegetarian Recipes
As with any gathering of family and friends, it’s good to have some veggie dishes on offer for those who prefer meat-free meals. One of the many upsides of Indian cuisine is its adaptability, making it a popular choice among vegans and vegetarians. The reason for this is that most Indian dishes rely on their unique blend of herbs and spices to impart flavor, leaving plenty of room for creativity when it comes to ingredients. This Lime Saffron Basmati Rice dish makes for a fragrant and herbaceous side dish with rice. Then, for a vegetarian-friendly main, try this Brown Rice and Shiitake Mushroom Pilaf, or pilau, as it’s also known in India.
Diwali Rice Pudding Dessert
Finally, to end your Diwali celebration on a sweet note, how about preparing a creamy batch of good-old-fashioned rice pudding dessert? A truly international treat, rice pudding exists in many variations around the world, including India, where it goes under the name of rice kheer. One way to make your rice pudding kheer dish extra sweet is to make it with coconut milk, as this Easy Coconut Rice Pudding recipe demonstrates.
#Playwithyourfood this Diwali
Whether it’s your first time celebrating, or this unique festival forms an integral part of your life and heritage, make this Diwali a special one. At Mahatma® Rice we believe that nothing brings people together better than good food. Cooking is the oldest art form of them all. That’s what we say, ‘Have fun with your creativity and #playwithyourfood!’
For more expert tips and exciting new recipes, be sure to drop by our kitchen, where there’s always something delicious cooking!
