Janmashtami 2024: Sweet Delights To Honour Lord Krishna's Birth

The joyous celebration of Lord Krishna's birth falls on August 26 this year. Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that honours the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. On this day, devotees fast, sing and prepare traditional, meaningful dishes to enjoy and share with their families.

To add a touch of culinary delight to your celebrations, we've curated a traditional Janmashtami recipe for you to prepare with your loved ones. 

Get your hands dirty with your family and friends, creating these delicious dishes and making this day memorable for the rest of your life.

Makhana Kheer

Ingredients

• 6 cups milk
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 3 cups (30 gms) foxnuts
• 210 g condensed milk
• 1/2 cup (30 gms) grated coconut
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 5 chopped almonds
• 8-10 raisins

Method

• Step 1: Fry makhana in ghee and crush it. 
• Step 2: Mix crushed makhana and milk in a pan, and keep the flame below boiling point while bubbling gently for 5-10 minutes.
• Step 3: Add grated coconut and continue to cook and stir until it becomes creamy.
• Step 4: Add condensed milk and cook till you reach the desired consistency.
• Step 5: Sprinkle a dash of cardamom powder.
• Step 6: Serve with diced almonds and raisins.

Malai Peda 

Ingredients

• ½ cup (75ml) milk
• 3 tbsp 
• 1 tsp corn flour
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 380 g condensed milk
• 1 tsp (optional) elaichi powder

Method

• Step 1: Put milk, corn flour, lemon juice and ghee into a bowl and mix it well. 
• Step 2: In a thick kadai heat the mixture with constant stirring until it thickens and the mixture starts leaving the sides of the kadai.
• Step 3: Once you get the texture of the Peda into the right form leave it to cool down. 
• Step 4: Shape into Pedas 
• Step 5: Sprinkle elaichi powder.

Thandai Kalakand

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp milk powder
• 3 peppercorns
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 5 almonds
• 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder 
• A few threads of saffron
• 500g paneer
• 10-15 rose petals

Method

• Step 1: Coarsely grind together peppercorns, fennel seeds, almonds, poppy seeds, cardamom powder, and saffron.
• Step 2: Minced the paneer and mix it with condensed milk, milk powder, Thandai powder, and rose petals. 
• Step 3: Until the mixture becomes thick cook the mixture on medium heat. 
• Step 4: Pour the mixture onto a greased plate to let it cool down. 
• Step 5: Cut into squares shape and serve it.