Bringing Ganpati home also means preparing for puja, arranging decorations and planning food for family members and visitors. The menu can range from modaks offered as prasad to snacks and a complete Maharashtrian meal.
Cooking everything at home, however, may not be possible for every family. People with limited time can order some of these dishes through food-delivery platforms such as Zomato. The options available will depend on the city, locality and time of order, but here are some foods worth searching for during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Begin With Modaks
Modak is closely linked with Ganesh Chaturthi and is usually among the first items people search for during the festival. Ukadiche modak, the steamed version, has a rice-flour covering filled with coconut and jaggery. Cardamom, poppy seeds and dry fruits may also be added.
Since ukadiche modaks are meant to be consumed warm, order them from an outlet located close to your home. A long delivery journey can affect their temperature and texture. Also check whether the restaurant prepares them only against advance orders.
Fried modaks are another option. These generally have a wheat flour or maida covering and can handle delivery better than steamed modaks. Before placing the order, check the number of pieces and their size. A lower-priced box may contain fewer or smaller modaks.
Mawa, Chocolate and Dry-Fruit Modaks
Those unable to find traditional steamed modaks can consider the versions sold by mithai shops. Mawa modaks are milk-based sweets shaped like modaks. Their ingredients can include khoya, sugar, cardamom, saffron and nuts.
Chocolate modaks are also listed by some bakeries and sweet shops. Chocolate could be used in the covering, filling or both. If you are ordering them for children, check whether the product contains nuts or other ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction.
Dry-fruit modaks are commonly prepared using dates, figs, cashews, almonds and pistachios. Some sellers may label them as sugar-free when no refined sugar is added. However, they could still contain dates, jaggery or artificial sweeteners.
Add Puran Poli to the Meal
Puran poli is another dish that can be served during a Ganesh Chaturthi lunch. It is a flatbread filled with a mixture of chana dal and jaggery, and is often served with ghee or milk. Restaurants may list puran poli as an individual dish or include it in a Maharashtrian thali.
Consider a Maharashtrian Thali
Ordering a thali can be more convenient than selecting several dishes separately. A Ganesh Chaturthi or Maharashtrian thali may include puri, rice, dal, a vegetable preparation, koshimbir, puran poli and a sweet.
Do not rely only on the picture shown on the listing. Read the menu description because the dishes in the actual thali may differ from the representative image. You can also compare its price with the combined cost of individual items, particularly when ordering for several people.
Snacks for Visitors
If guests are expected through the day, snacks such as kothimbir vadi, sabudana vada and batata vada can be considered. Kothimbir vadi is made with coriander leaves, gram flour and spices. It may be steamed or fried, depending on the recipe.
Sabudana vada is prepared with tapioca pearls, potatoes and peanuts. It is often consumed during fasting, but a restaurant’s recipe may not follow every vrat requirement. Confirm whether sendha namak is used and whether the food contains onion, garlic or other ingredients your family avoids.
Complete the Menu With Shrikhand
Shrikhand can be served with puri or as a dessert after the meal. It is prepared using strained curd and sugar, with cardamom, saffron or fruit pulp added in some versions.
As it is a dairy product, refrigerate it if it will not be served soon after delivery. Check whether puris are included in the listing because many restaurants sell the two items separately.
What to Check Before Ordering
Festival dishes may be produced in limited quantities and can sell out during the day. If you are ordering food for puja or expecting guests, place the order early and allow for possible delays. Check recent customer reviews, serving size, packaging charges and delivery time.
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