Krishna Janmashtami 2023- Dhaniya Panjiri – Special Prasad

Janmashtami is one of the most significant festivals that are not only celebrated in India but abroad too. Janmashtami is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Lord Krishna. He is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to the Hindu calendar, the birth of Lord Krishna happened at midnight, which was the 8th day of Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) and in the month of Shravana. 

Krishna Janmashtami is a festival that is celebrated with much enthusiasm to welcome our beloved “Nanhe Gopal.” On this auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, people follow certain rituals like fasting the whole day and bathing the Krishna idol with milk and honey. Then clean the totem with water and dress him up in new poshaks (clothes). Prasad or Naivedyam is prepared in most families, and it plays a significant role during Krishna Janmashtami puja. It is one of the most important prasads, and a dessert that is prepared and considered on this day is called Dhaniya Panjiri. 

What is Dhaniya Panjiri?

Dhaniya Panjiri is a Falahari dish that is also served as Krishna Janmashtami Prasad. This dish is often relished during fasts. It is a nutritional supplement, that is made with wheat flour and fried in sugar and ghee. It is then topped with heavily laced dry fruits and herbal gums. However, during this festival of Krishna Janmashtami, wheat flour is replaced with coriander seed powder so it can be offered to the god. When people fast, they avoid consuming grains because it is not allowed; hence, coriander seeds are used as a substitute. 

Dhaniya Panjiri Recipe

Recipe by Priti GuptaCourse: AperitivesCuisine: MediterraneanDifficulty: Medium

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Methods to Prepare the Dhaniya Panjiri:-

Ingredients

• Ghee ¼ Cup

• Crushed Cashew Nuts (10- 12 Piece)

• Crushed Almonds (10- 12 Piece)

• Foxnuts (makhana) ½ cup

• Coriander powder 2 cup

• Grated Dry Coconut ½ cup

• Powdered sugar ½ cup

Instructions

• Take a pan, and heat 1 tbsp. ghee on a medium flame.
• Add almonds and cashew nuts to the pan; fry them till they turn light brown.
• Remove them to another bowl.
• Add some foxnuts (makhana) to the pan; roast them until they become crispy.
• Put them in another brown, crush them lightly, and set them aside.
• Add the additional ghee to the pan.
• Let the ghee melt, and add the chopped coriander seeds to the pan: Roast it for 10–12 minutes, till it turns brown and gives off an aroma. Keep stirring frequently.
• Add the roasted nuts (cashew nuts and almonds) to the pan and mix well.
• Turn off the flame, remove the pan, and let the mixture cool completely.
• Add dry coconut and powdered sugar to the cooled mixture and mix everything well.
• Then serve the delicious Dhaniya Panjiri.

Notes

• If the coriander powder is not roasted well, it will leave a bitter taste in the mouth. So. Make sure to roast it on medium heat until it is nicely fragrant and browned.
• If the mixture is not cooled properly, the sugar will melt from the heat, and the texture of the Panjiri will be weird.

Is Dhaniya Panjiri Good for Health?

Yes, Dhaniya Panjiri is good for your health. It is very delicious and very nutritious. Many of them add jaggery in replacement of sugar. It is a joyful bite for the celebration of Lord Krishna’s Birth. A widespread north Indian dessert is also prepared on the holy occasion of Krishna Janmashtami in India. You can even prepare this dish on regular days, as it is very healthy and good for your health. A person who is on a diet and has cravings for sweets can relish this dessert.

It is not as heavy as other panjiri and will provide numerous health benefits. Learn how to make Janmashtami special panjiri at home.