We have a collection of the best Holi Recipes and expert planning tips to make your celebration memorable.
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The Festival of Holi
Holi is one of the most popular Indian festivals after Diwali. It is also known as the festival of colours. It is mainly celebrated in North, Central, and Western India. People play with colours and water, along with tons of good food in the company of family and friends.
The festival of Holi is all about welcoming the spring (Basant Ritu) and harvesting season in India. And like many other Indian festivals, food is an integral part of the Holi celebration.
How To Host a Holi Party?
As with any event, planning (or at least a little in advance) is the key to success.
Here’s a list of things to plan a perfect Holi party:
Party Theme: Pick a fun theme for the Holi party. A few popular ones are – the Bollywood theme, Banaras Ki Holi theme, colour-based themes, Chaat party theme, and so on. The theme gives your Holi party synchronization, makes menu planning much easier, and leaves a long-lasting impression on the guest.
Guest List & Invitations: Holi parties aren’t for the faint-hearted. So invite over fun-loving, like-minded people who won’t play spoilsport or pass judgemental comments.
You can design hand-written invites or make digital ones using mobile apps like Canva, Picasa, Keynote, etc. which have a lot of options for beginners to try their hand at designing.
Party Décor: Try to venture out of your comfort zone and pick up pieces that will lend a festive aura to the party. It doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket either – paper plates, disposable placemats, and cups with colourful prints are all very affordable and readily available at party shops, stationery stores, or even Amazon.
Some fun decor ideas for the Holi party:
- Chalkboard menu or colourful poster announcing the menu
- Paper plates and cups in striking colours/designs.
- Buffet arrangement of chaat and drinks.
- Big bowls of colour/flower petals around the place so that multiple guests can reach in at once
- Try to use organic and safe colours to celebrate the festival. Alternately, you can play with flower petals and organic mixes of sandalwood and fuller’s earth (Multani mitti) – these are great for the skin.
- Fun/disposable sunglasses available for guest selfies
Party Music: There is no memorable Holi party without good music. Prepare the playlist well in advance, choose some fun Bollywood numbers to play (there are Holi playlists on Youtube as well), or have one person be the designated DJ for the day. The karaoke Holi party is also fun and interactive.
What do you eat on Holi?
Holi is all about good food. It is always best to keep the Holi party menu fun and hearty by adding classic favourites and fusion flavours.
- A potluck is also a great idea for the Holi party.
- Prepare the pre-made snacks and thandai powder a few days in advance.
- Finish the prep work for other dishes a night before the party and put your partner in charge of the drinks station.
Here are 50+ Holi Recipes that you must try at home.
Holi Snack Recipes
Dilli Style Aloo Tikki Chaat is one of my favourite Holi recipes.
Serve Moong Dal Chaat as a lip-smacking vegetarian snack for Holi Party.
Papdi Chaat is a must-try Holi recipe.
Have you ever tried making chaat using bread? Try Bread Basket Chaat.
Lobia Chaat is a delicious, healthy chaat recipe.
Chinese Bhel (crispy noodle chaat) is a perfect munching snack for Holi party.
Matar Chaat or Ghugni is a delicious vegetarian, one-pot Holi recipe.
This is the best restaurant-style Paneer Tikka Recipe made at home.
Gobi Tikka is one of the best ways to stuff yourself with the goodness of cauliflower.
Serve Kele (banana) Ke Kebab with mint chutney and sliced onions for snacks.
Dahi Vada brings everyone so much joy that it would be criminal not to indulge in them on Holi.
Cheese Rava Cutlet is a delicious vegetarian snack made with suji (semolina).
Mixed Vegetable Cutlet is an all-time favourite teatime snack.
Paneer Cutlet has a mouth-melting texture with a perfect crunch of corn kernels.
Potato Cheese Balls are a crisp, cheesy, and crunchy Holi party snack.
These Cheese Batata Vada are the perfect Holi snack for a potato lover like me.
Serve mini Dal Samosa with a variety of chutneys as a delicious Holi snack.
Matar Kachori is more than just a snack, it’s a feeling of pure ambrosia.
This Mathri Recipe is a tasty, with a hint of crushed fenugreek leaves.
Nimki is always a favourite munching snack for the festive season.
Crisp and crunchy Aloo Pakora makes a perfect snack for Holi.
Cheese-stuffed mirch pakoda perfectly satisfies fried food cravings.
Whole Wheat Khasta Kachori stuffed with dal filling.
Corn Chaat is an easy and tasty snack for a Holi party.
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chaat is a guilt-free snack.
Crispy Fried Chickpeas are a tasty, crunchy, and healthy snack.
Nothing can beat classic Peanut Chaat, when it comes to snacks for Holi parties.
Broccoli Malai Tikka is a fantastic vegetarian snack for parties.
Spicy Murmura is one of the easiest pre-made Holi recipes.
These soya cutlets are a satisfying and healthy snack.
Holi Drink Recipes
This Thandai Recipe will help you make super delicious thandai at home for Holi.
Paan Thandai is a chilled and refreshing flavour of the classic thandai.
Basundi is a traditional Indian sweet drink made with milk, and saffron.
This Aam Panna recipe requires less than 20 minutes.
Make a large batch of Orange Iced Tea to quench thirst while celebrating Holi.
Mango Lassi is the perfect drink to make on the occasion of Holi.
A tall glass of Masala Chaas is a refreshing and fabulous digestive drink.
Virgin Mango Mojito is a refreshing summer drink perfect for Holi festival.
Badam Milk is an Indian drink made with almonds, milk, and sugar.
Instagram Famous Sugarcane Juice is indeed the best drink for a Holi party.
Refreshing Indian panna recipe with roasted kiwi.
Holi Main-Course Recipes
If you are looking for a traditional Chicken Curry recipe for Holi, bookmark this one.
Mathura Style Aloo Ki Sabzi with poori is a popular main course choice for Holi party.
Who could resist the temptation of Punjabi Rajma Chawal on a festive occasion?
Delhi Style Chana Masala is perfect for dipping naan, poori, or jeera rice.
Chicken Keema Curry is undoubtedly one of our favourite Holi recipes.
The simple and unique flavours of Punjabi Kadhi Pakora never fail to impress.
The combination of Matar Kulcha is a must-try at the festival of Holi.
Dhaba Style Matar Paneer with naan will take your Holi celebration up a notch.
If you are bored of paneer makhani then Soya Chaap Tikka Masala is the perfect Holi Recipe.
Pahadi Style Potato Fry will add great variety to your Holi menu.
Vegetable Pulao is a perfect one-pot meal for a large gathering.
Rajasthani Kadhi is a perfectly comforting main course for a Holi party.
Punjabi Soya Chaap Masala — the ultimate vegetarian comfort food.
This Chicken Pulao is easy to make and big on flavours.
Mughlai Style Chicken Korma is always a crowd pleaser.
Nimona – a winter stew of fresh green peas perfect for Holi party.
An Indian thali meal for festivals is a testament to the grandeur of our heritage and rich food culture. If you want a festive Indian thali meal idea, try my 10 Indian festival Thali Meals.
The festive menu is different from the everyday Indian meal. It is rich, and indulgent, mainly including regional dishes and traditional recipes.
Holi Dessert Recipes
Gujiya is a traditional Indian sweet made on the festival of colours – Holi.
Serve Phirni chilled for a delicious Mughlai style Holi dessert.
The Kesar Pista Kulfi is the best way to beat the heat while enjoying Holi.
Instant Coconut Ladoo is the tastiest and easiest dessert for Holi.
You will be surprised to know that only 5 – ingredients are required for Paneer Kheer.
This 3 Ingredient Mango Ice Cream is always a super hit at my Holi party.
Makhana Phirni Parfait is the most stylish and elegant Holi recipe.
A bowl of chilled Mango Shrikhand will never fail to impress your guest on Holi.
These homemade jalebis will remain crisp for hours and taste delicious.
Mint Pineapple Popsicles are topping the flavour chart on Holi.
Bhapa Doi is a no-bake, no-fuss Indian Cheesecake.
Orange Kheer requires minimal ingredients and tastes truly delicious.
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