Ugadi, the festival of new beginnings, is just around the corner. When celebration comes, it’s all about coming together and enjoying delicious food with loved ones. Ugadi is the perfect time to share tasty dishes that carry deep meaning and tradition. If you want to make this celebration unforgettable, here are a few Traditional Ugadi dishes you must try.

Ugadi Recipes: Traditional Festive Dishes to Celebrate the New Year

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And for those looking to make their meals a little healthier, Millex offers a range of nutritious millet-based products that will add a wholesome twist to your festive menu. Now, let’s explore the delicious dishes that will make your Ugadi celebrations truly unforgettable.

Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi is an essential dish that truly represents the spirit of Ugadi. This special chutney blends six distinct flavors:

●      Sweet

●      Sour

●      Salty

●      Bitter

●      Spicy

●      Astringent

Each ingredient symbolizes different experiences people encounter in life. Made with ingredients like jaggery, tamarind, neem flowers, green chilies, raw mango, and salt, every bite is a journey through emotions. This Ugadi festival food is a meaningful reflection on life’s ups and downs. Serve it with rice, or enjoy it as a refreshing side dish to enhance your Ugadi feast.

Ingredients

●      1 small piece of jaggery (grated)

●      1 tbsp tamarind extract

●      2 tbsp grated raw mango

●      1-2 green chilies

●      1 tbsp mustard seeds

●      1 tsp cumin seeds

●      1/4 cup grated coconut

●      A pinch of salt

●      A pinch of asafoetida

●      Fresh coriander leaves

Method

1. In a small pan, heat a little oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and a pinch of asafoetida. Let them splutter, releasing their lovely aroma.
2. Slit and add the green chilies, sautéing for about a minute to release their spice.
3. Mix in the jaggery, tamarind extract, grated raw mango, and salt. Cook this mixture until the jaggery melts and thickens to a perfect consistency.
4. Stir in the grated coconut for an added texture and flavor boost.
5. Garnish this Ugadi Pachadi recipe with fresh coriander leaves and serve alongside rice or as a delicious side dish.

Puran Poli

Ugadi festivities cannot be complete without Puran Poli, a classic sweet to celebrate this special occasion. With a delightful filling of jaggery and Bengal gram, this dish is wrapped in a soft, golden flatbread that’s infused with aromatic cardamom. The balance of flavors is simply tempting. Adding millet flour gives the dough a slightly nutty flavor and makes it one of the best Healthy Ugadi recipes. Traditionally offered warm with a scoop of ghee, this is a much-beloved Ugadi dish to celebrate the joy of the season.

Ingredients

●      1 cup Bengal gram (chana dal)

●      1/2 cup jaggery, grated

●      1/2 cup millet flour (Foxtail millet or Finger millet/Ragi flour)

●      1/4 tsp cardamom powder

●      A pinch of salt

●      Ghee for frying

Method

1. Cook the chana dal until soft, then drain the water.
2. In a pan, heat the jaggery until it melts, and mix with the mashed dal.
3. Add cardamom powder to infuse the mixture with a fragrant sweetness.
4. Prepare a dough with millet flour, a pinch of salt, and water, and knead it until soft. Millet flour might need a little more water than regular flour.
5. Roll out the dough, stuff with the dal-jaggery mixture, and seal it well.
6. Roll it into a flat disc and fry in ghee until golden brown. Serve with a generous drizzle of ghee for a heavenly taste.

Millet Bisi Bele Bath Recipe

Millet Bisi Bele Bath is a nutritious and flavorful one-pot dish that’s perfect for a wholesome meal. This South Indian Ugadi recipes replaces rice with millet, making it a healthier alternative without compromising on taste. Packed with lentils, vegetables, and aromatic spices, this dish brings comfort and nourishment to your plate. It is served hot with ghee, can be paired with papad or raita for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

●      1/2 cup Foxtail millet

●      1/2 cup toor dal

●      1/2 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrot, beans)

●      1 small onion, chopped

●      1 small tomato, chopped

●      1/4 tsp turmeric powder

●      1 tsp mustard seeds

●      1 tsp cumin seeds

●      1 sprig of curry leaves

●      2 tbsp Bisi Bele Bath powder

●      1 tbsp tamarind pulp

●      2 tbsp ghee

●      Salt to taste

●      Water as needed

Method

1. Rinse and cook the Foxtail millet and toor dal together until soft.
2. Sauté mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, and onions in ghee.
3. Add tomatoes, mixed vegetables, and turmeric powder, and cook until soft.
4. Stir in tamarind pulp, Bisi Bele Bath powder, and salt, then add cooked millet and dal.
5. Simmer until everything blends well, then serve hot with ghee.

Chakli

Chakli, a crunchy and savory snack, is a perfect addition to your Ugadi feast. Made with rice flour and a blend of spices, this deep-fried snack offers a delightful crunch with every bite. The crisp texture and flavorful spices make Chakli a favorite snack during the festive season. Whether served as an accompaniment or enjoyed on its own, Chakli brings a deliciously satisfying flavor to your Karnataka Ugadi dishes.

Ingredients

●      1 cup rice flour

●      1/4 cup chickpea flour (besan)

●      1/2 tsp cumin seeds

●      1/2 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)

●      1/2 tsp red chili powder

●      1/2 tsp turmeric powder

●      Salt to taste

●      Water as needed

●      Oil for frying

Method

1. In a bowl, add rice flour, chickpea flour, cumin seeds, ajwain, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt.
2. Add water little by little to form a smooth dough.
3. Fill a chakli maker with the dough and shape it into circular patterns on parchment paper.
4. Heat oil in a pan and fry the Chaklis on medium heat until golden brown and crispy.
5. Let them cool, then serve and enjoy as a crunchy treat during Ugadi!

Rava Ladoo

Rava Ladoo is the perfect treat to round off your Special Ugadi meals. These sweet balls, made with semolina, ghee, and sugar, are flavored with cardamom and topped with crunchy cashews and raisins. They’re the kind of dessert that melts in your mouth and leaves you wanting more. Easy to make and incredibly satisfying, Rava Ladoo is a delightful addition to your festive spread. If you want to make ladoo healthier instead of semolina, try using Millex Millet Health Mix. It’s a great way to enjoy festive sweets while making them more nourishing for your family.

Ingredients

●      1 cup semolina (rava)

●      1/2 cup sugar

●      1/4 cup ghee

●      1/4 cup cashews and raisins

●      1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Method

1. Heat ghee in a pan and roast the semolina until it turns golden brown and fragrant.
2. In a separate pan, melt the sugar with a little water to make syrup.
3. Add the syrup to the roasted semolina, stirring until it thickens.
4. Add cardamom powder, cashews, and raisins to the mixture and stir well.
5. Shape the mixture into small ladoos and let them cool. Once set,  your Festive sweets for Ugadi are ready to enjoy.

Mango Sambar

Mangoes are in season, and what better way to celebrate the king of fruits than by adding them to a flavorful Mango Sambar? As one of the Andhra Ugadi recipes, this dish brings the perfect balance of tangy mangoes, savory lentils, and aromatic spices to your festive meal. Whether paired with rice or roti, Mango Sambar is a must-try during the celebrations!

Ingredients

●      1 cup toor dal (yellow lentils)

●      1 large raw mango, peeled and cubed

●      1 tbsp tamarind extract

●      1 tbsp sambar powder

●      1/4 tsp turmeric powder

●      1/2 tsp mustard seeds

●      1/2 tsp cumin seeds

●      2 dried red chilies

●      1 sprig of curry leaves

●      1 tbsp ghee or oil

●      Salt to taste

Method

1. Cook the toor dal in a pressure cooker until soft.
2. In a separate pan, cook the mango cubes with a little water until tender.
3. In a pan, heat ghee or oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves. Let them splutter to release the aroma.
4. Add tamarind extract, sambar powder, turmeric powder, and salt to the pan and mix well.
5. Add the cooked dal and mangoes to the pan, stir, and simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
6. Serve this Mango Sambar hot with rice or roti for a refreshing festive meal!

Make Your Ugadi Feast Healthier with Millex Millet Products

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As you celebrate Ugadi with these traditional dishes, why not add a healthy twist with Millex millet-based products to make your festive spread even better? At Millex, we offer a variety of nutritious, gluten-free options, including Millex Millet Health Mix (Without Chrunam) and Millex Millet Rava Idli Instant Mix, designed to enhance the flavor and health benefits of your meals. These products are perfect for your Ugadi prasadam, too. Check out our website now, order your products, and enjoy fast delivery to enhance your Ugadi feast.