Ganesh Chaturthi is coming up soon. That means normally preparation would have already begun for making sweets and snacks. This year due to COVID-19, Chaturthi will not be the same. It may mean fewer family members being able to celebrate together. It will not be that grand a celebration with people visiting each other or going to see different Ganapathi statues. However, it does not mean that you cannot enjoy it in your home with the food that is a staple offering for this festival.
Panchkhaje is a must when it comes to an offering in Goa to Lord Ganesha. It is dough stuffed with a coconut filling and shaped into 5 different shapes. It is then deep-fried. It is believed to be one of Ganesha’s favorite sweets. I remember eagerly waiting for aartis to get over so that I could get my hands on this delicious fried panchkhaje as a kid.
What you will need:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Basmati Rice | 1 cup |
| Bay Leaf | 1 |
| Black Pepper Corns | 10 |
| Cardamom | 3 pods |
| Cloves | 4 |
| Diced Carrots | 100 grams |
| Fresh Green Chana | 100 grams |
| Ghee | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | 3/4 teaspoon |
| Water | 2 cups |
How to make it:
- Dry roast the peanuts. Remove the peel and grind them into a fine powder.
- Grind the cashews into a fine powder as well.
- Dry roast the poppy seeds until they begin to change color to a light brown.
- Wash the sesame seeds and drain the water. Dry roast them as well. You will hear them splutter and that is when you can take them off the flame.
- In a mixing bowl, add the peanut powder, cashew powder, toasted sesame seeds, roasted poppy seeds, sugar, dry desiccated coconut, cardamom powder, and raisins. Mix everything well. This is your filling.
- Wash and dice the carrots.
- I used fresh green Kabuli chana for this recipe, however, you could replace it with peas. Peel and wash the chana.
- Make the dough with maida, and salt, adding water as needed. The dough should be a firm one. Set aside for 15 minutes to rest.
- Roll out the dough and fill it with stuffing to make 5 different shapes. Below are pics of how to make some of the shapes. However, you can get creative and make your own.
- Fry the panchkhaje in hot oil.
- Let it cool completely and store in an airtight container.
- Offer to Lord Ganesha and then enjoy yourself with your family!