Makar Sankranti 2025: Follow these easy recipes to make delicious dishes

As people get ready to celebrate Makar Sankranti today Indian festive celebrations are incomplete without food and while most families are already preparing the delicious sweet and savoury dishes there is always room for some more specialsIt gets even better if you love cooking and want to experiment with different versions of the classic dishesSesame jaggery cookiesAt ITC Grand Central in Mumbais Parel neighbourhood they give a twist to the classic til gud laddoos to make Sesame Jaggery Cookies that are absolutely deliciousIngredientsGhee 12 cupJaggery powder 34th cupVanilla extract 1 tspWheat flour 1 12 cupBaking soda 12 tspBaking powder 12 tspSalt 12 tspCardamom amp dry ginger powder 12 tspSesame seeds 12 cupTahini paste 12 tbspMethod1 Toast the sesame till fragrant and light brown2 Mix the ghee and jaggery powder till everything is completely blended3 Add vanilla extract to the above and again mix everything together4 Mix whole wheat flour baking soda baking powder salt cardamom and dry ginger powder and sesame seeds to the wet mixture and swirl everything to form an even cookie dough5 Add tahini to the cookie dough and mix again Put the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to an hour5 Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator Line a baking tray with parchment paper Preheat oven to 375 degree Fahrenheit Take around 12 tablespoon of cookie dough in your hands form a ball and flatten the little Sprinkle all the cookies with sesame seeds and pat them a little on top6 Bake the cookies for around 1012 minutes in the preheated oven7 Serve the cookies warmTil Gud LaddooWhile there may be many variations the classic is always a favourite not only in Maharashtra but also different parts of the country Narasinh Kamath executive chef at Hilton Goa Resort Candolim reminds how it is a healthy delicious and nutty ladoo prepared with sesame seeds jaggery and peanutsPrep Time 12 minutesCook Time 8 minutesTotal Time 20 minutesServings 10 til laddooIngredientsWhite sesame seeds 50 gm 13 cupPeanuts 14 cupGrated jaggery 100 gm 12 cupWater 3 tbspCardamom powder 14 tspWater or oil a bit for greasing the palmsMethodRoasting ingredients1 Heat a kadai or pan and add the white sesame seeds in it and roast the sesame seeds on low flame stirring at regular intervals until the seeds pop up and become slightly golden in colour2 Remove and set aside in a plate3 Then add the peanuts Dry roast the peanuts on a low heat stirring often until they become golden in colour4 Remove the peanuts in a mortarpestle or on a plate Allow them to cool5 When the peanuts have cooled crush them coarsely You can also crush them in a dry grinder as well6 Add the coarsely crushed peanuts to the roasted sesame seeds7 Next add the cardamom powder8 Mix very well Set asideMaking jaggery syrup1 In the same pan or kadai take the powdered jaggery or grated jaggery and water2 Keep the kadai on the stove top on a low heat3 Keep on stirring the jaggery so that it dissolves in the water4 On a low heat simmer this jaggery and water solution It will start bubbling first5 You have to continue to cook till you come to a soft ball stage6 To check the soft ball stage take some water in a small bowl Drop a bit of jaggery solution in the water The water will cool the jaggery syrup and when you remove it the consistency will be sticky and forming a soft ballMaking til ke laddoo1 At this stage switch off the heat and add the dry roasted mixture of sesame seeds crushed peanuts and cardamom powder to the melted jiggery and mix thoroughly2 Keep the pan on your work surface or kitchen countertop3 When the mixture is still hot begin to shape til laddu from it If too hot then wait for a minute and then form the ladduSpread some oil or water in your palms to shape the ladoo If you are not able to shape laddu when the mixture is too hot wait for some seconds and then shape the laddu4 You can also use a frac12 to 1 tablespoon measuring spoon for scooping the mixture and making the til ke laddu Then just shape the laddu once you scoop them out5 For the last batch scrape the sides very well and then make til ladoo from it6 Make all the til ladoo this way Store in an airtight jar at room temperature7 Serve til ke laddu ladoo during Makar Sankranti or have them as a sweet snackSweet ChilduFor Makar Sankranti chef Arun Kumar says Araiya Palampur in Himachal Pradesh celebrates the festival by offering a traditional yet innovative Sweet Childu recipe at the property He explains Childu is a local sweet made from rice flour which is a typical ingredient for this festival This recipe is perfect for Makar Sankranti a festival known for its celebration of harvest and the warmth of the sunIngredientsGhee clarified butter 40 gmSugar 10 gmCardamom powder 2 gmChopped nuts optional 10 gm cashews almonds walnuts fox nutRice flour 150 gmDouble cream 50 mlMilk 100 mlSalt a pinch to enhance the flavourSaffron threads a few strands soaked in warm water for aroma and colourMethod1 Combine the ingredients add rice flour water and cream to make a batter2 Once the mixture has been well combined and the consistency is smooth not too runny Please make a crepe on a nonstick flat griddle flip and cook both sides and remove it from the heat3 Add chopped nuts shredded coconut or any other dry fruits to the mix These will give an additional texture and richness to the Childu4 Serve hot with milk and jaggery