Diwali is a time for celebration, lights, and delicious food. But if you’re living alone, you may not want to spend time making a lavish meal for yourself. Here is a simple yet festive menu that brings all the joy of the festival to your plate, minus the stress. These Diwali food recipes are easy to follow and require minimal ingredients, giving you a mix of flavourful starters, hearty main courses, and indulgent desserts.

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Starters:

1. Masala papad recipe

Ingredients:  

Papads (readymade)  

1 small onion, finely chopped  

A small tomato, finely chopped  

1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional)  

Fresh coriander, chopped  

Chaat masala 

Salt, to taste

Lemon juice, for garnish

Method:  

Roast or microwave the papads until crisp.  

Add the chopped onion, tomato, green chilli, and coriander in a bowl.  

Add a pinch of chaat masala, salt, and lemon juice.  

Spread the mixture over the roasted papads and serve immediately.

2. Paneer tikka recipe 

Ingredients:  

200gms paneer, cubed

Oil

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste  

2 tbsp yoghurt

1 tsp red chilli powder  

½ tsp turmeric  

½ tsp garam masala  

1 tsp lemon juice  

Salt, to taste

Skewers (optional)  

Method:  

In a bowl, mix yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, lemon juice, and salt.  

Add paneer cubes to the mixture and coat well. Let it marinate for 15-20 minutes.  

Heat a nonstick pan or grill, drizzle oil, and cook the paneer cubes until golden brown on all sides.  

Serve with green chutney.

3. Stuffed aloo tikki recipe

Ingredients:  

Oil

2 boiled potatoes   

1 tsp cumin seeds  

1 green chilli, chopped  

½ cup boiled peas (optional)  

Salt, to taste

Chaat masala, to taste

Method:  

Mash the boiled potatoes and peas if you are using them.  

Add salt, cumin seeds, green chilli, and chaat masala.

Mix well.  

Shape into small patties and shallow fry in a pan until crispy on both sides.  

Serve with ketchup or chutney.

Main Course:

1. Vegetable pulao recipe

Ingredients:  

1 cup basmati rice  

Oil/ghee

1 small onion, chopped  

1 carrot, diced  

½ cup peas  

1 tsp cumin seeds  

1 bay leaf (tej patta)

2 cloves  

½ tsp garam masala 

Salt, to taste

2 cups water 

Method:  

Wash and soak rice for 10 minutes.  

Heat 1 tbsp oil or ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds, bay leaf, and cloves.  

Add chopped onions and sauté until golden.  

Mix diced carrot and peas and sauté for 2-3 minutes.  

Add drained rice, garam masala, and salt. Stir for a minute.  

Pour water and cook on low heat until rice is done. 

Serve hot.

2. Palak paneer recipe

Ingredients:  

1 bunch spinach  

200gms paneer, cubed 

1 small onion, chopped  

1 tomato, chopped  

½ tsp cumin seeds 

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste   

1 tsp garam masala

Salt, to taste

1 tbsp cream (optional)  

Method:  

Cook the spinach in boiling water for 2 minutes.

Let it cool for 2-3 minutes, then blend it into a smooth paste.  

Heat oil, add cumin seeds, and sauté onions until golden.  

Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes. Cook until soft.  

Add the spinach puree, salt, garam masala, and cook for 5 minutes.  

Add paneer cubes and a little cream (optional). 

Simmer for 2-3 minutes.  

Serve with roti or rice.

3. Jeera aloo recipe

Ingredients:  

Oil  

3 boiled potatoes, cubed  

1 tsp cumin seeds  

½ tsp turmeric  

1 tsp red chilli powder  

Salt, to taste  

Fresh coriander for garnish  

Method:  

Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds.

Add turmeric and chilli powder. Sauté for a few seconds.  

Add boiled potato cubes and salt, and stir well (don’t break the potato cubes).

Cook for 5-7 minutes until the potatoes are slightly crispy.  

Garnish with chopped coriander and serve.

Desserts:

1. Coconut laddoo recipe

Ingredients:  

1 cup desiccated (dried) coconut  

½ cup condensed milk  

1 tsp cardamom powder  

Method:  

In a pan, dry roast the desiccated coconut for 2 minutes on low heat.  

Add condensed milk and cardamom powder. 

Stir continuously until the mixture thickens.  

Let the mixture cool slightly, then shape into small balls.  

Roll them in extra coconut for coating, if desired. 

Chill before serving.

2. Kesar phirni recipe

Ingredients:  

1 cup basmati rice, soaked for 20 minutes

2 cups full-fat milk  

Sugar, to taste

A few saffron strands  

Cardamom powder

Chopped nuts  

Method:  

Blend the soaked rice into a coarse paste.  

Heat milk in a pan, add saffron strands.  

Add rice paste to the milk and cook, stirring until it thickens (about 10 minutes).  

Add sugar, cardamom powder, and nuts. Cook for 2-3 minutes.  

Serve warm or chilled.

3. Instant Shrikhand recipe

Ingredients:  

1 cup Greek yoghurt or hung curd  

2 tbsp powdered sugar  

A few saffron strands  

½ tsp cardamom powder  

Chopped nuts (optional)  

Method:  

Mix saffron strands in 1 tsp warm milk and set aside.  

In a bowl, whisk the yoghurt with powdered sugar until smooth.  

Add saffron milk, cardamom powder, and nuts. Mix well.  

Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

Light those diyas and enjoy the festival of lights with these flavourful Diwali food recipes. 

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