Diwali Faral Items: Sweet & Savory Recipes to Try!

Diwali is an auspicious festival for all Indians and is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. The spirit of the festival is not just seen in India but also abroad. All members of the family take an active part in Diwali preparations.

Right from cleaning the houses to decorating them with lights and lamps, every event is an exciting one. The most delightful aspect of this festival is the preparation of a variety of sweets and snacks. 

Diwali faral food is made well before the festive day and the whole house is filled with the scent of yummy festive foods. The faral ranges from sweets such as ladoos, and burfis to snacky foods such as chakli, chivda, and shakarpara. It provides a mouth-watering array that satisfies all cravings and brings the festival spirit alive.

These sweets not only add to the festivities but also symbolize the rich cultural tradition of the festival. Diwali is incomplete without exchanging farals with neighbors, family, and friends. Indians all around the world cherish this custom. Whether you're in the USA, UK, Dubai, or Australia, keeping this tradition alive helps you stay connected to your roots. And if you’re missing the flavors of home, we’ve brought you easy-to-make recipes so you can recreate these festive treats wherever you are!

Traditional Diwali Faral Items

Each family has their traditional recipes which get handed down from generation to generation. Hence, it's a part of the festive occasion cherished by everyone.

Let us consider some of the most popular Diwali faral relished during the festival:

Sweets

Ladoo - A traditional sweet that comes in versions such as besan, rava, boondi, and motichoor. Traditionally made with gram flour, semolina, jaggery/sugar, ghee, and nuts, the sweet balls have you craving more.

Chirote - A delicate, flaky, layered bread that is fried and dusted with powdered sugar. The golden, crispy pastries are light and indulgent, making them a special Diwali treat.

Karanji (Gujiya) - It is a deep-fried dumpling with a tasty filling. The filling includes grated coconut, dry fruits, sugar, and cardamom. The delightful mix of crunch and sweetness is sure to tempt you.

Shakarpara – Made of flour, sugar, and ghee, these diamond-shaped crispy bites are light, sweet, and crunchy. Great to munch on or as a gift.

Savories

Chakli – A crunchy, spiral-shaped fried snack prepared from rice flour, gram flour, and spices. Chakli is crispy, mildly spicy, and goes well with a cup of tea.

Chivda (Poha Mixture) – It is a light and crispy tea-time snack mixture. Chivda is prepared using flattened rice (poha), peanuts, dry coconut, curry leaves, and a mixture of mild spices.

Sev – A crunchy, thin noodle-like snack that is prepared from gram flour (besan) and spices and fried to a golden brown. Sev is enjoyed as is or as a topping for chivda and other snacks.

Recipes for Diwali Faral

If this is your first time making faral and you want to try out a variety, here are a few recipes,

1. Besan Laddoo

Ingredients

2 cups gram flour (besan), 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ cup ghee, ½ tsp cardamom powder, and 2 tbsp chopped nuts

How To Prepare

Heat ghee in a pan on low heat and add besan to it. Roast it continuously until golden brown and release its aroma. Switch off the heat and let besan cool down slightly.

Add powdered sugar, chopped nuts, and coriander powder. Mix well and make laddoos when the mixture is warm. Store it in an airtight container when the laddoos are set.

Tip: Proper roasting of the besan is the key to getting the right flavor and texture.

2. Chakli (Spiral Crispy Snack)

Ingredients

2 cups rice flour, half cup besan (gram flour), 2 tbsp sesame seeds, 1 tsp carom seeds (ajwain), and 1 tsp red chili powder. Also, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 2 tbsp butter or hot oil, salt to taste, water as required, and oil for deep frying.

How To Prepare

Take a bowl and fill all the ingredients in it. Add water slowly and knead it to a hard dough. Grease the chakli maker, and insert a star-shaped nozzle. Fill the dough and take spiral shapes by soft pressing of the chakli maker.

Heat oil in a pan and on medium heat, fry the chaklis till golden brown. Remove the chaklis and place it in a strainer to drain excess oil. Once chaklis are at room temperature, store them in an air-tight tin.

Tip: Fry on medium heat for even cooking and crispiness.

3. Chivda (Flattened Rice Snack Mix)

Ingredients

2 cups of poha (thin flattened rice), ½ cup peanuts, ¼ cup roasted chana dal (split chickpeas), and ¼ cup cashews. Also, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 8-10 curry leaves, 2 green chilies (chopped), and ½ tsp turmeric powder. You would also need 1 tsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, and 2 tbsp oil.

How To Prepare

Add tempering by adding mustard seeds, peanuts, cashews, green chilies, curry leaves, and turmeric powder. Slightly roast flattened rice in another pan and add tempering to it. Add salt and a pinch of sugar as per taste.

Roast on low heat for 5-6 minutes until the chivda turns crispy. Store it in a container when it is cool.

Tip: Thin poha must be used to provide a crispy and light texture.

4. Karanji (Gujiya)

Ingredients

For the Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour (maida), 2 tbsp ghee, and water (as needed).

For the Filling

1 cup grated dry coconut, ½ cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup chopped dry fruits, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1 tbsp poppy seeds, and 1 tbsp ghee.

How To Prepare

Make a stiff dough of all-purpose flour and rest it for half an hour. In another bowl, place all the ingredients of the filling and mix. Then make small balls of dough and flatten them into circular shapes.

Place the filling in the center and fold it into a half-moon shape. Seal the edges by pinching or with a fork. Deep fry these karanjis until golden brown. Place them on a paper towel for excess oil to drain.

Tip: Seal the edges well so the filling does not come out when fried.

5. Shakarpara

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour (maida), ¼ cup sugar, 2 tbsp ghee, ½ tsp salt, water (as needed), and oil for frying.

How To Prepare

Take all the ingredients and mix them to make a stiff dough. Let it rest for 30 minutes. Roll the dough into a thick sheet and cut into small diamond shapes.

Deep fry these shakarparas on medium heat until they become crisp and golden brown. Let them cool completely before storing them in an air-tight container.

Tip: Fry on medium-low heat for a crisper texture.

Healthy Alternatives of Diwali Faral

Make your Diwali faral healthy by practicing these healthy alternatives

1. Make use of whole wheat or ragi flour to make chakli and other snacks

2. Bake faral items instead of deep frying

3. Use cold-pressed oil or ghee in place of refined oil

4. Swap refined sugar with jaggery in laddoos and other sweets

Check here to know more healthy Diwali faral items.

Storage Instructions

• Store faral in air-tight containers to retain freshness

• Keep the items away from moisture to prevent spoilage

• Place savory and sweet items separately to avoid mixing of flavors.

• Refrigerate milk-based sweets for extended shelf life.

Explore The Desi Food for Ready To Eat Snacks and Sweets

The Desi Food platform hosts an array of sweets and snacks from renowned Indian brands. If you are short of time preparing Diwali faral items abroad, order from our website from the comfort of your home. We deliver to 80+ countries across the globe and offer free home delivery on orders above $100.

Conclusion

Diwali faral is more than just a festival snack, it's a tradition where the whole family gets involved. Having loved ones around in this process is what makes this festival a memorable one. So this festival season, make some time and prepare these treats at home and serve them to your beloved.