25 Best Traditional Ugadi Festival Recipes

Celebrate the Hindu New Year with these delicious Ugadi festival recipes. 

They’re bright, fresh, and best served with good friends!

Authentic Ugadi Festival Recipes

Ugadi, also known as Gudi Padwa, is a traditional Hindu festival. It is celebrated in the Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, among others. 

Ugadi is a Sanskrit word meaning “the beginning of a new era.” According to the Hindu calendar, this celebration marks the start of the new year.  

And what better way to join the festivities than with these traditional Indian dishes? After all, it’s not a celebration without some mouthwatering food! 

These delightful Ugadi festival recipes will make your taste buds dance.

Greetings and Happy Ugadi! 

1. Ugadi Pachadi

Ugadi Pachadi is a festive drink that represents the essence of Ugadi.

It is made by combining 6 ingredients representing 6 tastes. These are sweet, sour, astringent, bitter, spicy, and salty. 

Each taste links to human emotion.

Jaggery (sweet) represents joy, tamarind (sour) is unpleasantness, and unripe mango (astringent) represents surprise.

Neem flowers (bitter) are for sadness, black pepper (spicy) for anger, and salt for fear. 

The combination signifies that life is a balance of happy and sad moments. And how important it is to embrace them with open arms.

2. Poornam Boorelu

Poornam Boorelu is a sweet, deep-fried snack made during festivals and weddings. It is well-loved… and for a good reason! 

It’s delicious! 

Every round shell is made from a thin Dosa-like batter. And each shell is filled with a sweet and gooey lentil filling. 

Their playful combination of textures and tastes make Poornam Boorelu an addictive treat.

3. Semiya Payasam

Semiya Payasam is a luscious Indian dessert. This dessert features thin vermicelli noodles cooked in whole milk, sugar, and cardamom.  

It’s garnished with an irresistible mix of nuts, adding a delightful crunch to every spoonful. 

The vermicelli is silky, while the milk provides a creamy base. This combination creates a delightful balance guaranteed to delight.

4. Rava Kesari

Rava Kesari is a popular South Indian dessert made with semolina or milled wheat. It also contains plenty of sugar, ghee, saffron, nuts, and dried fruits. 

It’s a melt-in-your-mouth, sweet and nutty dessert similar to pudding. But better.

The grainy texture of semolina is balanced by the richness of ghee. Saffron adds a subtle floral aroma and flavor that complements the sugar.

The nuts and dried fruits give a delightful texture and crunch.

5. Puran Poli

Puran Poli is a ghee-roasted flatbread stuffed with sweet lentil filling.

You just can’t beat the flavors of buttery ghee and the sugar filling. Talk about a delicious treat! This dessert is hard to resist.

Puran Poli is often served during festivals and special occasions. But it’s so delicious you’ll want it every day!

6. Kosambari

Cucumber Kosambari is a refreshing, healthy Indian salad perfect for a hot summer day. 

Crunchy cucumber, nutty Moong dal, and grated coconut combine to create a unique dish. Every bite is textural and delectable. 

Tangy lemon juice and robust spices provide a burst of flavor. The combo makes this salad distinctly Indian. 

Plus, it is quick and easy to make, so you can enjoy it anytime.

7. Eggplant Rice (Vangi Bath)

Vangi bath is a traditional rice-based dish hailing from Karnataka, India. 

The dish is named for the primary ingredient, eggplant (vangi). And the word bath means rice dish. 

Vangi Bath has an aromatic taste. You can thank masala powder for its delicious depth of flavor. 

Vangi Bath is enjoyed with plain yogurt or raita (a yogurt-based dip). Both help cool down the spicy flavors of the dish.

8. Masala Vada

Masala Vada is a popular South Indian street food snack. 

They are crispy fritters made with chana dal (split chickpeas) batter. Of course, they contain other yummy ingredients like onions, chilies, and aromatic spices. 

The batter is shaped into patties and deep-fried until golden brown. 

Masala Vada is typically served with hot sauce or coconut chutney. However you eat it, this dish is a local favorite!

9. Channa Sundal

Channa Sundal is a healthy South Indian snack made with chickpeas (Channa), spices, and herbs. 

Hing (asafoetida) and ginger add flavor and help reduce the gassy nature of the dish. 

Channa Sundal can be made with either black or white chickpeas. Once the chickpeas are cooked, this snack is easy to prepare!

10. Tomato Pulihora

This dish gains a tantalizing tomato kick by simmering rice in a tomato broth.

The rice is seasoned with Pulihora. Pulihora is a mix of spices that comprises peanuts, ginger, and green chilies. Everything is fried in ghee until fragrant and crispy. 

The result is a mouthwatering vegetarian meal you will adore. Even if you eat meat.

11. Rava Laddu

Do you love fudge? Then you will treasure rava laddu. 

Rava laddu is a creamy, crunchy fudge ball. But not any old plain fudge. It’s made with roasted semolina, coconut, ghee, milk, and sugar. 

And also, it’s flavored with nuts and cardamom. #evenbetter

But the best part is how amazing this smells when you make it. The aroma of nuts, cardamom, coconut, and sugar are better than a Yankee Candle. 

12. Panaka

Say hello to Panaka! It’s a refreshing thirst quencher, ideal for cooling off on a hot summer day. 

This South Indian beverage is a delicious blend of jaggery and lemon juice. It’s scented with ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and other spices. 

Each ingredient works together to bring you a drink full of flavor sensations.

13. Coconut Barfi

As much as I love Indian fusion desserts, you really can’t beat the classics.

Coconut Barfi is a traditional Indian dessert perfect for the festive season. 

These sweet, square delights are made with milk, cream, sugar, and desiccated coconut. 

Cardamom adds a hint of spice and warmth. The edible silver foil and chopped pistachios on top give it a touch of elegance. 

14. Sambar Rice

Sambar rice is a delicious rice-based dish loaded with an assortment of tender veggies.

The key to its distinctive taste is sambar powder. 

Sambar is made with cumin, black pepper, coriander, dry red chilies, desiccated coconut, and turmeric powder. And boy, it is one flavorful seasoning!

This dish is so satisfying that you won’t need any heavy accompaniments. Just serve it with some crunchy Papad and tangy pickle… and you’re ready! 

15. Badam Halwa

Badam halwa is a decadent pudding-like dessert made with ground almonds, ghee, sugar, and milk.

My favorite part is that it’s flavored with saffron and cardamom. 

This creamy and nutty dessert is a perfect way to end a special meal. And it’s especially popular during Indian weddings and festivals. 

16. Mamidikaya Pappu

This Andhra recipe is made with pigeon peas and raw mango. It is a unique and deliciously textured dish. 

The peas are first cooked with mango chunks, green chilies, and turmeric.

They’re then mashed and tempered with whole spices like mustard, cumin, and curry. 

Serve with plain rice, ghee, or a side of papadum or pickle.

17. Lemon Rice (Chitranna)

Chitranna is a rice pilaf recipe with spicy and tangy flavors. 

This zesty dish features cooked rice, lemon juice, roasted peanuts, and aromatic Indian spices.

You can whip it up in an Instant Pot or a stovetop pot in less than 20 minutes! So, it is an ideal option for a quick meal.

18. Peanut Chaat

Masala peanut chaat is the ultimate snack. You’ll reach for these salty, spicy, tangy nibbles again… and again. 

Crunchy peanuts are mixed with fresh veggies. Everything is infused with spices and lemon juice. So it stands to reason that peanut chaat is seriously yummy. 

It’s the perfect appetizer to pair with beer. 

As a bonus, it comes together in 10 minutes with very little prep. 

19. Poha Vada

If you like Italian arancini, you’ll like these little bites, too. 

Poha vada is a loved Indian snack made from crispy, fried, flattened rice (poha).  

The first step is soaking the poha in water and mixing it with a spicy batter. Then, each savory little fritter is shaped into a ball and deep-fried to perfection. 

Poha vada is the perfect snack for mid-day hunger pangs. 

20. Nuchinunde

Nuchinunde combines small pieces of lentils with aromatic herbs and spices. How yummy does that sound?!

The mixture is then shaped into dumplings and steamed to perfection. This results in a delicious and nutritious dish.

It is perfect for breakfast or a snack on the go. 

Healthy and protein-rich, these dumplings are a great option for vegans and gluten-free dieters.

21. Paal Payasam

Paal Payasam is the ultimate treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. 

It’s basically a uber-scrumptious Indian rice pudding. It features all the typical rice pudding accouterments, like milk, sugar, and rice. 

But this one is extra special because it also contains ghee and cardamom. So its flavor is more buttery than the average rice pudding. And it’s beautifully spiced. 

Top with fried cashews, and enjoy! 

22. Medu Vada

If you have never had a savory donut… you are in for a treat!

Medu vada is made by grinding split black lentils and cold water into a batter. The batter is beaten and fluffed until it is soft and airy. 

Then the batter is seasoned with onions, curry, hing, and chilies. And then it is deep-fried. 

The result is a crispy and delicious snack, perfect for satisfying any carb cravings.

23. Poppy Seed Halwa (Khas Khas Ka Halwa)

Khas Khas Ka Halwa is a decadent Indian dessert perfect for the chilly winter months.

It’s made with poppy seeds, milk, sugar, and ghee. 

The poppy seeds give the halwa a unique texture and nutty flavor. Meanwhile, the milk and sugar create a creamy and sweet base. 

One spoonful will leave you feeling warm and cozy. 

24. Sakinalu

Sakinalu is a crisp, savory snack from the Telangana region of India. 

These deep-fried ring-shaped treats are made by mixing rice flour and spices to form a dough. The dough is extruded through a special press to create its distinctive shape. 

They are often enjoyed as a tea-time snack. But they are also a mouthwatering appetizer for special occasions and festivals. 

25. Andhra Gongura Pachadi

Andhra Gongura Pachadi is a tangy chutney from the Andhra region of Southern India. And there is no better way to add some zing to your dinner. 

This dish is notable because it features gongura leaves. They have a tangy taste that will tickle your tongue. 

The gongura leaves are sautéed with spices like cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds. Then everything is ground into a coarse paste. 

The result is a delicious and spicy chutney.