Festivals are incomplete without a lavish food menu. The first festival of the year 2021 is here, call it Makar Sakranti, Lohri, Pongal, Bihu or Uttarayan. The concept remains the same of harvest and sun’s movement.
Our favorite TV Stars also shared their favorite food for this festival with an Interview with BT.
Actress Shalini Kapoor from shows like ‘Qubool Hai’ and ‘Swaragini’, will make patishapta, which is famous in Bengal. She says, “There are two components to this stuffed dessert. First, the crispy crepe that is made with all-purpose flour, and second is the sweet and crumbly jaggery, coconut or khoya filling that is wrapped inside the crepe. These are further sweetened with condensed milk.”
Actress Amrapali Gupta, from ‘Qubool Hai’, ‘Ishqbaaaz’ and ‘Bahu Begum’, shares, “I’ll be trying dahi chura gur, which is a traditional dish served in Bihar. This is essentially made with just three ingredients — yogurt, flattened rice flakes or chivda, and jaggery. It’s one of the iconic recipes of Bihar as consumed on the day of Makar Sankranti with much fervour. Ingredients like jaggery and even sesame are very significant to this festival, as they help you transition from the bitter cold weather to a slightly warmer one.”
Kanisha Malhotra, last seen in ‘Yeh Hai Mohabbatein’, enjoys cooking khichdi. She adds, “Having khichdi and ghee for lunch is a unique tradition of people of Himachal Pradesh and also Uttar Pradesh. The one-pot comfort dish made with a combination of lentils and rice can be enjoyed by itself, or with ghee, mixed vegetables, papad and chutney.”
‘Saath Nibhana Saathiya’ actress Bhavini Purohit is planning to make undhiyu. She says, “This mixed veg delicacy is Gujarat’s winter staple. The dish was traditionally cooked underground, that too upside down in earthen pots. Nowadays, we can use pressure cookers or heavy bottom pans to cook the same. It comprises the goodness of yam, potatoes, raw bananas, beans, kasoori methi, and so much more.”