Creamy Moutabel also called Mutabal is part of the Middle East Cuisine is made from Roasted Eggplant. A delicious way to add in your family’s diet aubergine a very healthy but much-disliked vegetable. Serve it as a part of Mezze Platter or for the Tailgating you host next?
Sheera
“Vasant” literally means “spring” while “Panchami” means “fifth.” This festival is celebrated literally on the fifth day of spring or Magh Shukla in accordance with the Hindu traditional calendar.
Vasant Panchami also falls exactly 40 days prior to the major festival of Holi. The significance of these 40 days has a mythological background. After Kamadeva shot Shiva in the eye with his arrow of love, he was reduced to ashes by the angry deity. So, his wife Rati performed penance for 40 days. In many parts of the country, before these 40 days, an effigy of the demoness Holika is placed in a public area. In the days leading up to Holi, the faithful add twigs and logs to help build a pyre around her. On the night of Holi, the bonfire is lit, signifying the triumph of good over evil.
The festival of Vasant Panchami is also related to harvesting. In places like Uttarakhand, in addition to Saraswati puja, the mother earth is also worshipped. Heaps of cow dung are placed in the fields topped with barley or wheat grains. In Gujarat, the people perform the folk form of Dandiya dance in the hopes of a good harvest. In Bihar and Bengal, the same is wished for by worshipping their plough.
In the state of Punjab, this festival transcends all faiths is celebrated as the Basant Festival of Kites. Over 200 years ago, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, began the tradition of flying kites (called patangs,) on this day. Children and adults alike make their own kites and fly these colourful contraptions all over the state. This is a major tourist attraction in the state.
Since yellow plays a significant role on this day the foods offered too are yellow in colour. Here is what I gathered from the net
Indian festivals are incomplete without traditional sweets. Some popular sweets which are relished during Basant Panchami are:
From Bengal, the land of Mishti: Here Goddess Saraswati is offered boondi ke ladoo and sweet rice.
From Bihar, the land of festivals: Here Goddess Saraswati is offered with different varieties of sweets like Kheer, Malpua and Boondi.
From Uttar Pradesh, the land of exotic food: On the day of Basant Panchami in Uttar Pradesh, devotees offer prayers to Lord Krishna. The revered sweet which is offered to Lord Krishna here is kesari bhaat.
So for Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami lets make something that is yellow in colour. While of course, you can try my Besan Ladoo, Sakhar Bhat, Kheer, the health conscious can make Moong Dal Kheer or make Chawal ke Kheer and add lots of saffron in case you do not want to add food colour.
While of course, you can make Rava Kesari or Shira. To make Shira, you need not wait for an occasion. It’s an eat anytime snack, dessert all rolled in one. In Karnataka it is called Sajjige, Maharashtra you will call it Sheera or Shira, North India Sooji ka Halwa and Poori Halwa is a breakfast item. If that is not enough then in Europe and US Semolina Pudding.
What do you think? Will this recipe work with you? What changes are you making? Please share with me.