I am sure most of you would agree that planning meals and snacks for Ganesh Chaturthi is not just about putting together a menu. The food prepared for the puja may differ from what is served at lunch, while guests observing a fast can have their own dietary requirements. The number of visitors may also change through the day.
For those who cannot cook every dish at home, food-delivery platforms such as Zomato offer another route. Depending on the location, users may find modaks, Maharashtrian meals, snacks and fasting options from nearby restaurants and sweet shops. Here is how to plan an online order for the occasion.
Choosing Modaks for Prasad
Ukadiche modak is one of the foods associated with Ganesh Chaturthi. It is prepared with a steamed rice-flour covering and a filling of coconut and jaggery. Since it is best served warm, the distance between the restaurant and the delivery address matters.
Check whether the modaks are prepared throughout the day or made only against advance orders. Some outlets also set a minimum order quantity during the festival.
Fried modaks can be considered if the order has to travel farther. Their wheat flour or maida covering holds its shape during delivery. The filling is generally made with coconut and jaggery, though recipes can differ.
Mithai shops may also offer mawa and dry-fruit modaks. Mawa modaks contain milk solids and sugar, while dry-fruit versions can include dates, figs, almonds, cashews and pistachios. Do not assume that a product marked “no added sugar” is free from all forms of sugar. Dates and jaggery contain naturally occurring sugars.
Putting Together a Maharashtrian Lunch
A Ganesh Chaturthi lunch can include puran poli, varan bhaat, batata bhaji, puri, koshimbir and a sweet. Availability will vary by city, but these names can be used as search terms on food-delivery apps.
Puran poli is a flatbread filled with cooked chana dal and jaggery. It may be served with ghee, milk or a savoury preparation. When ordering it separately, see if ghee is included in the price.
Varan bhaat combines cooked rice with a simple dal preparation. It can balance a meal containing fried snacks and sweets. Batata bhaji, usually made with potatoes and spices, can be paired with puri.
Koshimbir is a side dish that may contain cucumber, curd, peanuts or other ingredients, depending on the recipe. As it may not travel as well as dry food, check the delivery time before adding it to the order.
A Maharashtrian thali can reduce the effort of selecting every dish separately. However, there is no fixed menu followed by all restaurants. Read the complete description to find out which vegetables, breads, sweets and accompaniments are included. The image shown on the listing may be for reference and may not represent the exact serving.
Snacks to Serve Visitors
Guests may come at different times during Ganeshotsav, so snacks are are easier to serve than a full meal. Kothimbir vadi, sabudana vada and batata vada are among the options that may be available online.
Kothimbir vadi is prepared with coriander leaves, gram flour and spices. It can be steamed and then fried. Sabudana vada generally contains tapioca pearls, potatoes and peanuts, while batata vada uses a spiced potato filling covered with gram-flour batter.
Food Options for Those Observing a Fast
A dish carrying a vegetarian label is not automatically suitable for a vrat. Fasting practices also differ between families. Ingredients accepted by one household may be avoided by another.
Sabudana khichdi is commonly chosen during a fast. It is usually made with tapioca pearls, potatoes, peanuts and spices. Other options can include fruit bowls, vrat thali, sama rice, singhara puri and potato preparations.
Before ordering, confirm whether the restaurant uses sendha namak instead of regular salt. You may also need to check for onion, garlic, wheat flour and shared cooking oil. People with a peanut allergy should be cautious with sabudana dishes because peanuts are used in many recipes.
Check the Order Before Paying
Festival menus can change during the day as batches sell out. Look at recent reviews, estimated delivery time and the quantity mentioned in the listing.
The amount shown beside a dish may not be the final price. The bill may include packaging fees, taxes, platform fees and delivery fees. Add all the dishes to the cart and compare the final amount before choosing between a thali and individual items.
It is also helpful to schedule steamed food to be cooked just before serving and to order sweets and packaged snacks in advance.
Also Read: The Same Five Dishes Keep Showing Up in Your Order History. Here’s Why