5 Ganesh Festival Special Side Dishes

Learn 5 Ganesh Festival side dishes to celebrate this festival held in India. It is one of the most celebrated public festivals. The festival celebrates Lord Ganesh, a god worshipped by the Hindus. During the festival, they build idols, dance, perform music, and prepare good food to eat. The festival represents India's struggle for freedom through dance, music, poetry and food. It is the one of the only public food festival celebrated. Enjoy these simple easy to make Ganesh Festival side dishes for a change of pace.

Yellow Lemon Rice

• 1 cup white basmati rice
• 2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 cup  lemon juice or concentrate
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a pot on top of the stove, boil the water. Add the rice to the water.
2. Boil the rice on medium heat for about 20 minutes until cooked.
3. In medium fry pan, heat the oil and mustard seed. Stir with spatula.
4. Add turmeric and chili powder stirring gently.
5. Add cooked rice, stir. Toss with lemon juice.
6. Heat thoroughly and serve.

Cucumber Carrot Raita Salad

• 1 cup grated carrots
• 2 pickling cucumbers peeled and diced
• 1 medium tomato finely chopped
• 5 leaves of red leaf lettuce finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon  lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste.

1. Grate the carrots using a potato peeler or grater. Put into a medium size bowl.
2. Peel the cucumber and dice finely. Dice the tomato; add to the bowl.
3. Chop the red leaf lettuce. 
4. Toss with cumin and chili powder.
5. Mix the olive oil and lemon juice. Pour over salad.
6. Chill for an hour and serve.

Spicy Kidney Beans

• 1 can kidney beans drained
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion peeled and diced
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1. In a pan on top of stove, drain kidney beans and add to pan. Bring to boil over medium heat.
2. Add oil and mix well. Add diced onion; mix with beans.
3. Add tomato puree and minced garlic.
4. Stir in cumin, chili powder and turmeric.
5. Cook ingredients for about 1/2 hour over medium heat stirring. Serve hot with white rice.

Spicy Green Cabbage

• 1 head of green cabbage shredded or diced fine
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion peeled and diced fine
• 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste

1. Shred the cabbage or dice fine. 
2. In a medium or large frying pan, heat the oil.
3. Add the cabbage to the oil. Stir with spatula.
4. Chop the onion and add to cabbage.
5. Add chili garlic paste and mix well.
6. Cook cabbage over medium heat for fifteen to 20 minutes. Serve hot.

Coconut Rounds

• 1 bag of shredded coconut
• 1 can of condensed mil
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cardamom powder
• almonds

1. In a pan on top of stove, mix coconut, condensed milk and sugar.
2. Mix and cook mixture over medium heat until it begins drying out on sides.
3. Let it cool for an hour.  Add cardamon powder. Mix well.
4. Roll into balls with hands.  Sprinkle with coconut flakes.
5. Add an almond on top. Serve or cover and store in container in refrigerator.