Top 10 Delicious Ugadi Recipes You Must Try

Ugadi, the vibrant New Year’s festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, marks the beginning of a new Hindu calendar year. It is a time for fresh starts, family gatherings, and, most importantly, indulging in delicious traditional foods that hold deep cultural significance.

Food plays a pivotal role in Ugadi celebrations, with a variety of dishes prepared to reflect the essence of the festival. In this blog, we bring you 10 must-try Ugadi recipes that will add joy and flavor to your festive menu. Each recipe comes with step-by-step instructions to help you prepare them with ease.

1. Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi is a quintessential dish that embodies the true spirit of the festival. Made with six key ingredients representing the different flavors of life—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and tangy—it is a symbolic and flavorful dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp jaggery
• 1 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 1 tsp neem flowers
• 1 tsp green chili paste
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

1. Dissolve jaggery in a bowl of water.
2. Add tamarind pulp and green chili paste, mixing well.
3. Stir in salt and neem flowers, adjusting flavors as per taste.
4. Serve fresh at the beginning of the meal to symbolize embracing all emotions in life.

2. Bobbatlu (Puran Poli)

Bobbatlu, also known as Puran Poli, is a delicious sweet flatbread filled with a jaggery and lentil mixture, making it a festival favorite.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chana dal
• 1 cup jaggery
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (maida)
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Soak and pressure cook chana dal until soft.
2. Mash the dal, then add jaggery and cardamom powder, cooking until thickened.
3. Knead a smooth dough using flour, salt, and water.
4. Divide dough into small balls, stuff with the prepared filling, and roll into flat circles.
5. Cook on a tawa with ghee until golden brown.

Tip: Ensure the filling is smooth and thick to prevent leakage when rolling.

3. Pulihora (Tamarind Rice)

Pulihora is a tangy and flavorful tamarind rice dish that is a staple in South Indian festivals.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 tbsp tamarind pulp
• 1 tbsp peanuts
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chilies
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, peanuts, and dried red chilies.
2. Once peanuts turn golden, add tamarind pulp, turmeric, and salt.
3. Simmer until tamarind thickens and oil separates.
4. Mix with cooked rice until evenly coated. Serve hot with yogurt or papad.

4. Garelu (Vada)

Garelu, or medu vada, is a crispy urad dal fritter that pairs perfectly with chutneys.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup urad dal (soaked for 4 hours)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp chopped green chilies
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Drain and grind urad dal to a smooth batter with minimal water.
2. Mix in cumin, green chilies, and salt.
3. Shape into small round patties with a hole in the center.
4. Fry in hot oil until crispy and golden brown.

5. Obattu Saaru

A Karnataka-style soup made using leftover Bobbatlu filling, offering a sweet and tangy taste.

Ingredients:

• Leftover Bobbatlu filling
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp tamarind paste
• 1 tsp jaggery
• 1 tsp rasam powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Blend filling with water for a smooth liquid.
2. Add tamarind paste, jaggery, rasam powder, and salt.
3. Boil for 10 minutes and serve hot with rice.

6. Shrikhand

A creamy yogurt-based dessert, chilled and flavored with saffron and cardamom.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups thick yogurt (hung curd)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• A pinch of saffron
• Chopped nuts for garnish

Instructions:

1. Strain yogurt to remove excess water.
2. Mix in sugar, cardamom, and saffron.
3. Chill and serve garnished with nuts.

7. Payasam

A classic South Indian dessert made with milk, rice, and jaggery.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rice
• 4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• Chopped cashews and raisins

Instructions:

1. Cook rice in milk on low heat.
2. Add jaggery and cardamom powder.
3. Garnish with fried cashews and raisins before serving.

8. Kobbari Pachadi (Coconut Chutney)

A flavorful coconut chutney that pairs well with vada and dosa.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup grated coconut
• 2 green chilies
• 1/2 inch ginger
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Blend coconut, chilies, and ginger.
2. Add tempered mustard seeds and curry leaves.
3. Serve as a side dish.

9. Chakkara Pongal

A sweet rice dish made with jaggery, ghee, and lentils.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1/4 cup moong dal
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• Cashews & raisins

Instructions:

1. Cook rice and moong dal together.
2. Prepare jaggery syrup and mix in the cooked rice.
3. Garnish with fried cashews and raisins.

10. Rava Ladoo

A quick, delicious semolina-based sweet.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rava (semolina)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• Cashews & raisins

Instructions:

1. Roast rava until golden.
2. Mix with sugar, cardamom, and nuts.
3. Add warm ghee and shape into ladoos.

Conclusion

These 10 traditional Ugadi recipes will add flavor and joy to your celebrations. Prepare them with love and make this Ugadi a memorable one! Wishing you a prosperous and delicious Ugadi! 🎉