The prasad of Ugadi/Gudi Padwa is the bitter leaves of the neem tree with jaggery. There are special foods prepared for this festival. In the southern states, puligore-a sour tamarind rice dish, bobbatlu, holige- a sweet stuffed bread and Ugadi Pachadi made of jagerry, raw mango pieces, neem flowers and tamarind is prepared. In Maharastra, shrikhand -a fragrant yogurt dessert , with poori-a fried puffy bread is prepared.
SHRIKHAND
Ingredients:
2 cups sour yoghurt
2 cups fresh yoghurt
3 1/2 cups ground sugar
4 tbsp sliced almonds and pistachios
1 tsp cardamom and nutmeg powders
1/2 tsp saffron
1/4 tsp edible yellow color
Method:
Mix both yoghurts and hang up in a piece of muslin for 2 hours. Drain out all liquid. Holding a fine cloth over a bowl, rub the hardened yoghurt or chakka through it, adding sugar alternately. When the mixture is ready, add all the other ingredients. Mix well, chill and serve with hot puris.
SOONTH PANAK
Ingredients
8 peppercorns, ground
1 cup jaggery
1 tsp dry ginger, ground
one half tsp cardamom powder
Method:
Melt jaggery in 6 cups of cold water. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
Refrigerate and serve chilled.
PANNA(Raw Mango Juice)
I n g r e d i a n t s :
1 raw mango
1 one and half cup sugar
1/4 tsp saffron strands
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1 tiny bit nutmeg
Method
Peel and chop mango into chunks. In a pan, put mango, sugar and nutmeg. Boil till the mango is soft. Cool. Blend in mixie till smooth. Sieve. Add cardamom, saffron and bring to boil, stirring continuously. Take off heat. Cool. As and when required add a tbsp or more to a glass of chilled water and mix with an egg-beater, to froth.
PURAN POLI
This dish is called Puran Poli in Maharashtra, Bobbatlu in Andhra and Holige in Karnataka
Ingredients:
1 cup (yellowgram) dal
1 cup (molasses), substitute with sugar
1 tsp. cardamom powder
½ cup plain flour
1 tbsp. ghee
warm water to knead dough
ghee to serve
Method:
Boil dal in plenty of water till soft but not broken. Drain in a colander for 10-15 minutes. Pass through an almond grater little by little till all dal is grated. Mash jaggery till lumps break. Mix well into dal. Put mixture in a heavy saucepan and cook till a soft lump is formed Take care to stir continuously.. Keep aside. Mix ghee, flour, add enough water to make a soft pliable dough. Take a morsel sized ball of dough, roll into a 4" round. Place same sized ball of filling in centre, all round and seal. Reroll carefully to a 6" diameter round. Roast on warm griddle till golden brown. Repeat other side. Take on serving plate. Apply a tsp. of ghee all over top