37 Diwali Recipes That Are Perfect for Any Celebration

Diwali, or the Hindu Festival of Lights, is a celebration of good vanquishing over evil. The holiday is observed with lighting dozens of small lamps called diya, fireworks, rituals, prayers and food (from luxurious homemade treats to savory Indian dishes). Diwali sweets are a must during this holiday, with friends and family presenting each other with trays and beautifully-wrapped boxes of luxurious confections featuring nuts, milk and expensive spices like saffron and cardamom. These pillowy soft, syrup-soaked fritters are a favorite during the holiday. They can be finicky to make (as they are traditionally made from khoya, a solidified milk product, and need to be fried at a low temperature) but this recipe makes them simpler to prepare by calling for milk powder rather than khoya.

Samosas are perhaps one of the most popular Indian savory snacks and a fixture among the many Diwali treats. They are essentially fried triangles of pastry filled with spicy fillings, potatoes being the most common. This recipe includes instructions for making your own homemade pastry and sweet/tart tamarind and date chutney. However, if you want a shortcut, you can use frozen empanada disks in place of the pastry. Just slice them in half through the middle and pinch the edges closed.

Diwali sweets are an integral part of this Hindu festival of lights. While many households outsource their sweets (called mithaai) from confectioners, there are some that are best made at home, like this gajar ka halwa. This is a traditional North Indian pudding made from sweet grated carrots and warm spices, like cardamon.

These potato and pea patties are full of flavor from homemade chaat masala — a spice mixture that is popular for seasoninig and serving Indian snacks called chaat. It also includes ginger, cilantro and green chiles for a kick. You can form these tikkis ahead of time and fry them when you're ready to serve.