The thing about Holi is—no matter how much you try to “play it safe,” the festival has other plans for you. You tell yourself you’ll just enjoy the sweets, sip on some thandai, and watch the madness from a distance. But then when it comes to varieties of Holi recipes you just can’t resist, before you even take the first bite of a perfectly crisp gujiya, someone smears gulal all over your face, and boom—there goes your plan!
Holi at my house has always been about two things: colors and food—and if I’m being honest, food wins every time. I mean, sure, the water balloon fights are fun, and the color-smearing battles are legendary, but there’s something about that first bite of warm, syrupy malpua that just makes the whole day extra special.
One year, my mom made a giant batch of dahi bhalla, and I thought I could sneak one before the guests arrived. I quietly grabbed a plate, sat in a corner, and just as I took a bite—SPLASH! A full bucket of water straight on my head. Goodbye, dry clothes. Goodbye, secret snack time.
But honestly? I didn’t even care. Because Holi is the one day where food tastes even better when you’re dripping wet in colors, surrounded by laughter, and completely lost in the festive chaos.
Let’s dig into some classic Holi recipes that bring all the joy and nostalgia to this festival!
Top Holi Special Indian Recipes
1. Best Holi Recipes | Holi Special Recipe Ideas
Best Holi Recipes | Holi Special Recipe Ideas
2. Poha Chivda Namkeen Recipe | Chivda Recipe
Poha Chivda Namkeen Recipe | Chivda Recipe
3. Satvik Thali Recipe | Festive Thali
Satvik Thali Recipe | Festive Thali
4. Kachori | Crispy Bedmi Puri Recipe | Bedmi Poori Recipe
Kachori | Crispy Bedmi Puri Recipe | Bedmi Poori Recipe
5. Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji Recipe (Indian Potato Curry)
Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji Recipe (Indian Potato Curry)
6. Khatta Meetha Kaddu Recipe (Sweet and Sour Pumpkin)
Khatta Meetha Kaddu Recipe (Sweet and Sour Pumpkin)
7. Amritsari Aloo Wadi Ki Subzi Recipe | Aloo Wadiyan Recipe
Amritsari Aloo Wadi Ki Subzi Recipe | Aloo Wadiyan Recipe
8. Rice Kheer Recipe (Chawal ki Kheer)
Rice Kheer Recipe (Chawal ki Kheer)
9. Aate ka Halwa (Kadha Prasad)
Aate ka Halwa (Kadha Prasad)
10. Peanut Brittle Recipe | Peanut Chikki Recipe
Peanut Brittle Recipe | Peanut Chikki Recipe
11. Eggless Cashew Cake (Kaju Cake) Recipe
Eggless Cashew Cake (Kaju Cake) Recipe
12. Gur Ki Kheer Recipe | Jaggery Rice Pudding Recipe
Gur Ki Kheer Recipe | Jaggery Rice Pudding Recipe
13. Homemade Dal Namkeen Recipe: Homemade Snacks Recipe
Homemade Dal Namkeen Recipe: Homemade Snacks Recipe
14. Authentic Shahi Tukda Recipe | Shahi Tukra Recipe
Authentic Shahi Tukda Recipe | Shahi Tukra Recipe
15. Malai Rabri Recipe | Lacchedar Khurchan wali Rabdi
Malai Rabri Recipe | Lacchedar Khurchan wali Rabdi
16. Strawberry Malai Kulfi Recipe | Strawberry Kulfi Recipe
Strawberry Malai Kulfi Recipe | Strawberry Kulfi Recipe
17. Mathura ke Dubki Wale Aloo Recipe | Aloo Ki Subzi
Mathura ke Dubki Wale Aloo Recipe | Aloo Ki Subzi
18. Paneer Spinach Kofta Curry
Paneer Spinach Kofta Curry
19. Gajar ka Halwa Recipe | Carrot Halwa Recipe
Gajar ka Halwa Recipe | Carrot Halwa Recipe
20. Masala Doodh (Masala Milk) | Kadha Doodh Recipe
Masala Doodh (Masala Milk) | Kadha Doodh Recipe
21. Crispy Homemade Potato Chips Recipe
Crispy Homemade Potato Chips Recipe
22. Veg Dum Biryani Recipe | Hyderabadi Veg Dum Biryani Recipe
Veg Dum Biryani Recipe | Hyderabadi Veg Dum Biryani Recipe
23. Kanji Recipe | Beetroot Carrot Kanji Recipe | Healthy Probiotic Drink
Kanji Recipe | Beetroot Carrot Kanji Recipe | Healthy Probiotic Drink
24. Homemade Chivda Namkeen Recipe
Homemade Chivda Namkeen Recipe
25. Best Pineapple Pudding Recipe | Indian Style Pineapple Pudding
Best Pineapple Pudding Recipe | Indian Style Pineapple Pudding
26. Mawa Cake
Mawa Cake
27. Paneer Do Pyaza Recipe | Authentic Restaurant Style
Paneer Do Pyaza Recipe | Authentic Restaurant Style
28. Dahi Bhalla
Dahi Bhalla
29. Moong Dal Chilla Recipe/ Moong Dal Cheela Recipe
Moong Dal Chilla Recipe/ Moong Dal Cheela Recipe
30. Eggless Mawa Cupcakes Recipe | Mawa Cake Recipe
Eggless Mawa Cupcakes Recipe | Mawa Cake Recipe
31. Kesar Shrikhand Recipe
Kesar Shrikhand Recipe
32. Basundi Recipe | Basundi Sweet Recipe
Basundi Recipe | Basundi Sweet Recipe
33. Easy Chana Masala Recipe (Chickpea Masala Recipe) | Chole Masala Recipe
Easy Chana Masala Recipe (Chickpea Masala Recipe) | Chole Masala Recipe
34. Namakpaare
Namakpaare
35. Panjiri Recipe
Panjiri Recipe
36. Besan ke Ladoo
Besan ke Ladoo
37. Gujiya Recipe | Karanji Recipe
Gujiya Recipe | Karanji Recipe
38. Til Ke Ladoo
Til Ke Ladoo
39. Crispy Mathri Recipe | Mathiya | Mathari
Crispy Mathri Recipe | Mathiya | Mathari
40. Thandai
Thandai
Here’s the truth—Holi colors fade in a few days, but the taste of homemade gujiya lingers for a lifetime. Every festival has its traditions, but Holi? Holi is a full-blown sensory overload. It’s the crunch of namak pare, the sticky sweetness of jalebi, and that unbeatable sip of chilled thandai after a long day of running around like crazy.
And no matter how much color is stuck in your hair or how many gulal-covered fingerprints are on your plate, the best part is always the food. Because Holi isn’t just about playing with colors—it’s about savoring them, in every bite of every dish that brings back a flood of childhood memories.
So, this Holi, go all in. Eat that extra piece of shakarpara, dunk another pakora into your chutney, and let the day be as colorful and flavorful as the food on your plate.
Because at the end of the day, Holi is best celebrated with a full heart, messy hands, and a plate full of love.
Happy Holi! May your day be as vibrant, flavorful, and joyful as a bite of freshly made gujiya!
