Top 3 Ganpati foods during Ganeshotsav
Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav is a festival celebrated on the 4th day of the Bhadrapad month as per Hindu Calendar. Lord Ganesh mainly loved to eat modak or modakam. Indian Hindu women generally prepare modaks at home in a variety of ways. They may also purchase these Ganpati foods, sweets and fruits during the festival of Ganeshotsav. They offer it as prashad or offerings to God. People pray to Lord Ganesha and perform Pooja and distribute prashad to family, friends, colleagues and visitors.
Top 3 Ganesh Chaturthi recipes
Patoli, Modak, Rushi chi bhaji (Rishiyo ki sabji) are the top 3 Ganpati foods cooked lovingly in maharashtrian homes during Ganesh Chaturthi. The modak is the favourite snack of Lord Ganesha. Modaks are made in different ways. They could be made by steaming, frying or just put together.
1. Modak
Steamed modak is also called Ukadiche modak.
The coating is made with rice flour while the filling is prepared by cooking coconut with either sugar or jaggery and cardamom powder. It is cooked by steaming and soft to eat.
Fried Modak
Fried modak coating is made usually with whole wheatflour. Some people may use refined wheat flour (maida). The filling of modak comprises coconut and jaggery/ sugar with cardamom powder, but it is deep fried and crispy to eat.
Chocolate modak
Chocolate modak is made with mawa, Khoa or Khoyay. It is pressed into moulds with chocolate and sugar. One could add dry fruits, as necessary. There is usually no cooking involved.
Mango modak
Mango modak is also an alternative variety. Mango pulp is used. Mostly fresh mango pulp or even canned pulp maybe used. One may use any sweet pulpy mango. Most preferred pulp is from Alphonso mangoes. Mango pulp is mixed with khoya, sugar and cardamom powder. These mango modaks have a lovely sweet mango taste.
Karanji, Mandi and laatni are different shape variations of the same modak.
2. Patoli
Patolis have a coating of rice flour. Some add ground cooked rice or puffed rice to the rice flour with salt to make a smooth batter. Spread this batter over turmeric leaves. Add the filling inside. Cook coconut and jaggery together to make the filling. Steam cook till done. People make patolis specifically during Gauri Ganpati festival in Goa and Konkan regions in India.
3. Rushi chi bhaji (Rishi Panchami ki sabji)
Rishi Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day of the Bhadrapad month or the 2nd day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Rishi Panchami Sabji has green vegetables like leafy greens, raw bananas, whole corn on the cob, pumpkins (green and red), colocasia root (arbi), yam, specific roots (Kandmula). It is a simple, cooked non-spicy vegetable. Salt and chilies are the only spices in it. Some people add coconut. The vegetables are believed to have a special taste only on the day of Rishi Panchami, as they are cooked in their own juices with some water.
These Lord Ganesh offerings could be unhealthy when you indulge in them.
Take-home health messages for you:
Healthy Ganpati food choices can be made if you are aware of the cooking methods and recipes. The purpose of this write-up is to help you make healthy informed food choices.
- Choose steamed and boiled food recipes rather than deep-fried options. For example, ukadiche modak and patolis make use of steaming and they are healthier food choices than deep-fried modaks.
- Choose jaggery filling over a sugar filling inside the modaks and karanjis.
- Try to cut down on sugar or jaggery by using cocoa based whey protein instead. It will not only add more protein but also cut down on the sugar content while retaining the sweet taste.
- Use coconut water to sweeten ladoos rather than using sugar.
Use these Top 3 Ganpati foods and take-home messages as a guide to help you make healthier food choices during Ganeshotsav. Laddoos are also a favorite during festivals. Haleem laddoo recipe is a nutritious laddoo recipe to make during Ganeshotsav.
Pallavi Pinge is a Clinical Nutritionist and Dietitian | Content Director & Editor for health websites | has a passion for digital health and enjoys promoting health and wellness. She’s the founder and director of Ambrosia Wellness, where she provides personalized nutrition counseling, education, and coaching to individuals with various health conditions. You can follow her on her social media channels below to stay tuned in with the latest in health and wellness | Health Blog | Contact her for appointments |
