Diwali recipes: Easy tips to rustle up a feast in no time

Too tired to prepare an elaborate fare in the kitchen but want to entertain guests this Diwali? Here are some quick recipes that take little time but taste divine nonetheless. Sweta Kaushal writes.

Are you a working professional hard pressed for time? Does it leave you feeling cheated that you can’t prepare for the big Indian festival the way your mom did? Well, this Diwali get different. Prepare an indulgent feast at the dinner table without spending a life-time in the kitchen.

Hindustantimes.com brings to you some quick recipes that take very little of your time but taste yum and look festive as well. What’s better is that these do not need any prior preparation.

1) Peda

Three cheers to the quintessential Indian sweet - Peda. This sweet does not need anything that you wouldn't normally find in your fridge.

Here’s how:
Just melt some unsalted butter and add condensed milk and milk powder. Cook in the microwave, stirring well every one or two minutes for nearly five minutes.

Once the mixture cools down, grease your hands and make balls. Gently press the balls and flatten them to shape -- round and flat.

You can garnish them with coloured sugar, almonds, cashews, pistachios or raisins. Let the Pedas set and cool down.

2) Chocolate Barfi

Chocolate goes desi! If you lust for chocolate but want to keep it traditional, here’s your answer.

Here’s how:
Mix equal amounts of milk powder, whipping cream and sugar. Microwave the mixture for about 10 minutes, stirring it every other minute.

Pour the mixture onto a greased plate and add cocoa powder and melted chocolate chips. Let it set for around two hours. Cut into desired shapes and store in fridge.

Chocolate and sweets can never go wrong, especially if put together. (File Photo)

3) Shahi Bread
Did you know that the humble western bread had in it to get truly regal? Don’t believe us, check out our recipe.

Here’s how:
Boil around half a litre of water with as much sugar till only half of the water is left. Dip bread slices in this syrup and deep fry.

Serve it hot.

4) Cutlet
Yes, that essential western fare makes for a wonderful Diwali dinner table option.

Here’s how:

Chop green vegetables (beans, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower - depending on availability) and some green chillies.

Saute the vegetables with some pepper, salt and asafoetida (Hing in Hindi). Now take some bread slices and crush them to shreds. Add mashed potatoes to the vegetables and make small oval-shaped balls. Roll these balls in the bread shreds at least thrice and deep fry.

Serve with mint paste (pudina chutney) or ketchup. You can also make them with just potatoes but it tastes better with vegetables.

Cutlets are quick to make and easy to eat, perfect finger food for Diwali festivities. (File Photo)

5) Roti Crush
A rather humble option as compared to the regular Diwali indulgence Roti Crush is nonetheless a nice option for untimely hunger pangs.

Here’s how:
Take some leftover chapattis and break them into small pieces. Deep fry the chapattis. Keep separate. Shallow fry potatoes, onions and vegetables like beans and carrot with some salt. Once done, mix the fried chapattis with the vegetable mix.

Serve when hot.

6) Twisted Bloody Mary

Get tipsy this Diwali with home-made cocktails.

Here’s how:

Mix tamarind, chaat masala (a concoction of various pounded condiments, staple in any Indian kitchen), Worcestershire sauce, salt and vodka to tomato juice. Top it with some celery sticks and ice cubes.

You can skip the vodka for non-alcoholic drinks.

7) Lemon Tea
That eternally divine beverage gets a festive twist.

Here’s how:
Boil some mint leaves in water and add sugar. Once the water boils for a minute or two, add tea leaves and put off the flame. Add some lemon juice till you see the black tea turning slightly translucent. Add some chaat masala and pepper powder for taste.

Lemon tea will complement most Diwali food. (File Photo)

(With inputs from Anuja, showmethecurry.com)