Lohri Special: Chefs Share Traditional Recipes For The Festival

As the chill in the air subsides in the northern regions of India, the crops get ready to be harvested. To celebrate the harvest season in Punjab and welcome the warmer weather with open arms, the traditional festival, Lohri, is celebrated. Surrounding the holy bonfire, family and friends sit together for cultural practices, folk music, and, of course, to share regional foods. 

If you want to try authentic North Indian recipes to add to your Lohri thali, here are some chef-special recipes you can try. Whether you want to make the festive special til ke ladoo or a rich serving of halwa, follow these easy steps to recreate the heavenly dishes.

Til Ke Laddoo By Chef Tushar Malkani, The Yellow House, Goa IHCL SeleQtions

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sesame seeds (til)
  • 3/4 cup jaggery (gud)
  • 1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
  • 2-3 tbsp water

Instructions:

  1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan on medium flame. Add sesame seeds and dry roast them until they turn golden and aromatic. Stir continuously to avoid burning. Transfer the roasted sesame seeds to a plate and let them cool.
  2. In the same pan, add grated jaggery and 2-3 tbsp of water. Heat it on low flame. Stir continuously until the jaggery melts completely and starts bubbling. To check the consistency, drop a little syrup into a bowl of cold water. If it forms a hard ball, the syrup is ready.
  3. Quickly add the roasted sesame seeds to the jaggery syrup. Add ghee and cardamom powder (if using). Mix everything well until the sesame seeds are coated evenly with jaggery.
  4. Grease your palms with a little ghee. Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into round balls while the mixture is still warm. (Be careful, as the mixture can be hot initially.) If the mixture hardens, reheat slightly to soften it.
  5. Allow the laddoos to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. These laddoos stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Gur Atte ka Halwa By Chef Amandeep Singh, The Westin Mumbai Garden City

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup jaggery
  • 3 tbsp ghee
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 tbsp chopped nuts

Instructions:

  1. Roast wheat flour in ghee till aromatic.
  2. Dissolve jaggery in hot water, add to flour, and stir.
  3. Garnish with chopped nuts and serve hot.