Makar Sankranti Recipes

Pongal, sakinalu, ariselu, sweets and savories with sesame seeds are some of the popular Makar Sankranti recipes.

Sankranti

Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated across India. It is one of those few Indian festivals that usually falls on almost the same day every year. Based on the Hindu calendar, it is usually celebrate on 14th or the 15th of January.

This festival is known by different names in various regions of India. In most parts it is Sankranti, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Punjab and Bihu in Assam.

Apart from food, common activity across India during this festival is flying kites. People of all ages; young and old gather on the terrace to fly kites or cheer their family members flying the kites. On Pongal, skies are colorful and beautiful with colorful kites.

Makar Sankranti recipes list is also available as a web story.

Food

Food is an integral part of any festive celebration and it is customary to prepare certain food items depending on the region. In South India, preparation of pongal is a tradition and both sweet and savory versions are common. In some regions of India preparation of puran poli; stuffed sweet lentil flat bread is a tradition and/or sweet sesame seeds stuff flatbread .

Common ingredient during this festival season in most parts of the country is sesame seeds. In Telangana it is Sakinalu and nuvvula (sesame/til) laddu. In other regions it is sesame laddu, sesame brittles, sesame stuffed flatbread or sesame stuffed gujiya. Regardless of the dish, food with sesame seeds is common in most parts of the country.

List of Sankranti Recipes

Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker Sakkarai Pongal

Instant pot sakkarai pongal is a one pot, dump and cook recipe. Sakkarai Pongal or chakkara pongal is a sweet rice moong dal porridge like preparation offered as prasadam to god in many South Indian temples.

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Ven Pongal

Savory lentils and rice porridge usually offers as an offering to deity and also a popular breakfast in Tamil Nadu. It is also a delicious, filling meal for anytime of the day.

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Chegodi

A popular deep fried snack prepared with rice flour and lots of sesame seeds. A common snack in Telangana and Andhra.

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Sakinalu

Sakinalu are a traditional deep fried, round, spiral snack from Telangana, prepared with freshly ground rice flour and sesame seeds. It is a tradition to prepare during Sankranti and weddings.

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Bakshalu – Moong dal stuffed sweet flatbread

Bakshalu are sweet, moong dal stuffed flatbread or puran poli.

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Ariselu

A sweet Indian flatbread with rice flour and jaggery. It is a traditional South Indian sweet prepared for festivals, weddings and during Sankranti.

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Halvah

Halvah is a fudge like dense sweet prepared with tahini (sesame & oil paste) and sugar syrup. It is a popular sweet or dessert sold in Middle Eastern markets.

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Halvah is an Israeli recipe, yet works well for Sankranti preparations.

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Hope you try out a few of these recipes for Sankranti.

Wish you all a Happy Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu and Lohri!