Lohri, the vibrant harvest festival celebrated primarily in Punjab, India, is incomplete without a delightful spread of traditional foods. I have some sweet memories of this festival and traditional Lohri food recipes from childhood. Here are some special Lohri recipes that I make at home around this festival-

  1. Sarson Da Saag and Makki Di Roti

A classic Punjabi winter favorite, this dish is a must for Lohri celebrations.

Ingredients for Sarson Da Saag:

  • 500g mustard greens (sarson)
  • 200g spinach (palak)
  • 100g bathua (wild spinach)
  • 2-3 green chilies
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
  • 3 tablespoons maize flour (makki ka atta)
  • 2-3 tablespoons ghee
  • Salt to taste

Ingredients for Makki Di Roti:

  • 2 cups maize flour (makki ka atta)
  • Warm water for kneading
  • Ghee or butter for serving

Instructions:

  1. Wash and boil the greens with green chilies until tender. Mash them coarsely. You can either use spinach or bathua depending on the availability. I sometimes add both if available.
  2. Heat ghee in a pan, sauté onions and ginger-garlic paste, then add the greens.
  3. Mix maize flour with water, stir it into the greens, and cook until thickened.
  4. Knead the maize flour with warm water, roll rotis, and cook on a tawa.
  5. Serve hot with butter or ghee on top.

  1. Til Ke Ladoo (Sesame Seed Ladoo)

Sweet and nutty sesame balls are a Lohri essential.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sesame seeds (til)
  • 1 cup jaggery (gur), grated
  • 2 tablespoons ghee

Instructions:

  1. Dry roast sesame seeds until golden and fragrant.
  2. Heat jaggery with ghee until it melts.
  3. Mix sesame seeds into the jaggery and quickly shape them into ladoos while warm.

  1. Chikki (Peanut Brittle)

Crunchy peanut chikki is a festive favorite.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup jaggery
  • 1 tablespoon ghee

Instructions:

  1. Heat ghee and melt jaggery until bubbling.
  2. Add peanuts, mix well, and spread the mixture on a greased plate.
  3. Let it cool slightly and cut into pieces.

  1. Gajak

A traditional Lohri sweet made with sesame seeds and jaggery. I am sure it is something everyone relishes in winter. The festive is celebrated all over the country with different names. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 cup jaggery
  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom powder

Instructions:

  1. Roast sesame seeds and set aside.
  2. Melt jaggery in ghee, then add sesame seeds and cardamom powder.
  3. Spread the mixture on a flat surface, press it thin, and cut into pieces.

  1. Pinni

Rich and flavorful pinnis are made with wheat flour, jaggery, and dry fruits. This is my mom’s recipe and it always takes me back to my childhood. Me and my siblings used to take it to our hostel and these pinnis were a hit with our friends. These are a perfect combination of health and taste.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup ghee
  • 1 cup jaggery, grated
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds, cashews)
  • 1/4 cup gond (edible gum), optional

Instructions:

  1. Roast the wheat flour in ghee until golden brown.
  2. Fry gond separately and crush it.
  3. Mix flour, gond, jaggery, and nuts; shape into laddoos while warm.

  1. Popcorn and Rewri Mix

A sweet and savory snack. This is something I make for my kids as they love popcorn. You can try for your kids and see if they like this combination of sweet and salty.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups popcorn
  • 1 cup rewri ( sugar or jaggery anyone is fine)
  • 1 tablespoon ghee

Instructions:

  1. You can toss popcorn with rewri in a pan with warm ghee.
  2. Serve as a festive munchie for your kids and family.

Enjoy these delicious recipes with your loved ones. Its time to sing traditional Lohri songs around the bonfire! Wishing you all a Happy Makar Sakranti and Lohri. Do let me know if you have any other Lohri food recipes from your childhood in the comments below.

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