Light Up Your Diwali With 31 Recipes From Maneet Chauhan, Padma Lakshmi, and More Celebrate the festival of lights with samosas and sweets from some of our favorite chefs. By Chandra Ram Chandra Ram Chandra Ram led the digital food strategy for Food & Wine. She has more than 15 years of experience writing and editing food content and developing recipes. A former restaurant cook and server, she also writes cookbooks. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 17, 2025 Add Us On SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Andria Lo Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is a major Hindu holiday celebrated throughout South Asia and the diaspora. The holiday celebrates the spiritual triumph of light over darkness, and celebrations often last five days or more, during which time people decorate their homes, buy new clothes, exchange gifts, and gather with families and friends to enjoy a magnificent feast of savory and sweet treats. Pulling recipes from Diwali parties hosted by Hetal Vasavada, Maneet Chauhan, and Padma Lakshmi as well other celebration-worthy dishes from Food & Wine's archive, this collection — of chaat, samosas, and other snacks; plus biryani, curries, Indian-style pizza, and of course, desserts — will help you mark this vibrant holiday in delicious style, Keep all of your recipes at your fingertips. With the MyRecipes app you can easily save and organize your favorites from anywhere, including Instagram and TikTok, in one convenient place. Get the free app. 01 of 31 Pani Puri Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Pani puri is a much beloved snack of crispy puffed bread filled with potato and spicy mint water. Using store-bought puri (the crunchy shells) ensures it comes together relatively quickly and easily. Get the Recipe Save 02 of 31 Masala Nuts Matt Blair Maneet Chauhan's zesty, tangy blend of peanuts, cashews, almonds, and walnuts is seasoned with a mix of spices — including mild Kashmiri chile powder, turmeric, and garam masala — then lightly fried for maximum flavor and crunch. Get the Recipe Save 03 of 31 Mango Lassi Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne This sweet lassi is made with canned Kesar mango puree and blended with yogurt or buttermilk until smooth. A bit of lime juice balances the sweet fruit for a refreshing drink. Get the Recipe Save 04 of 31 Aloo Samosas Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Gabe Greco These baked vegetarian Punjabi-style samosas showcase cumin-spiced potatoes and peas enveloped in homemade pastry — the dough is made with oil to ensure the samosas turn crisp and golden in the oven. Get the Recipe Save 05 of 31 Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken) Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley This flavor-packed, 35-minute curry features chicken coated in a rich, spiced tomato sauce and topped with toasted cashews. The inclusion of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce is not traditional, but the mild, smoky heat marries well with the dish's signature notes. Get the Recipe Save 06 of 31 Hash Brown Chaat Andria Lo This mashup snack blends crispy hash browns with the bold flavors of chaat. Topped with sweet-spiced apple butter chutney, tangy green chutney, fresh herbs, and crunchy garnishes, it offers a delightful mix of textures and tastes that's perfect for your Diwali celebration. Get the Recipe Save 07 of 31 Garlic Naan Diana Chistruga Fluffy, chewy plain or garlic naan bread is simple to make — and simply delicious. This version cooks on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet. Get the Recipe Save 08 of 31 Matar Paneer Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling Paneer is a soft, mild, non-melting cheese that's cubed and tossed into all kinds of dishes across South Asia. Here, it cooks with peas in a rich, spiced tomato-based sauce for a tasty meal that comes together in less than an hour. Get the Recipe Save 09 of 31 Chivda Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver Enjoyed year-round, it's a next-level snack mix of poha (flattened rice flakes), roasted chickpeas, shredded coconut, seeds, spices, and more tasty tidbits that you can keep in a jar and serve whenever anyone stops by. Get the Recipe Save 10 of 31 Pista Burfi Bark Andria Lo Ground pistachios are combined with floral, fragrant cardamom and sugar syrup to make this fudgy sweet from Hetal Vasavada. Top it with white chocolate, edible flowers, and gold leaf for a party-perfect presentation. Get the Recipe Save 11 of 31 Vegetable Biryani Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling Vegetable biryani combines aromatic basmati, a medley of fresh vegetables, and a blend of traditional spices to make a fragrant and vibrant rice dish. The inclusion of paneer adds heft and a pleasing richness. Get the Recipe Save 12 of 31 Cheesy Masala Corn Pizza Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Natalie Drobny / Prop Styling by Nidia Cueva This Indian pizza from former F&W restaurant editor Khushbu Shah is an homage to masala corn, a snack of charred corn kernels, butter, lemon juice, and chaat masala spice powder. Here, the tangy and hot-sweet corn is paired with gooey mozzarella cheese. Get the Recipe Save 13 of 31 Tandoori Chicken Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Kelsey Moylan / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle This South Asian chicken dish is popular throughout the world for the big flavor that comes from cooking it in a tandoor, a deep, urn-shaped clay oven. Here, legendary cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey adapted the recipe for a charcoal grill. Get the Recipe Save 14 of 31 Aloo Matar (Indian Potato and Green Pea Curry) Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Chef Chintan Pandya's aloo matar cradles tender potatoes and bright green peas in a thick, luxurious curry of fresh ginger, garlic, jalapeño, and tomatoes. Just before serving, a swirl of rich ghee is stirred in for extra oomph. Get the Recipe Save 15 of 31 Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Dulce de Leche Peda Filling Andria Lo Cookbook author Hetal Vasavada's cardamom-spiced sandwich cookies are filled with store-bought dulce de leche and adorned with edible flower petals and gold leaf for a treat that's as gorgeous as it is delicious. Get the Recipe Save 16 of 31 Baingan Bharta (Eggplant Curry) Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver This North Indian dish of garlicky mashed, charred eggplant and tomatoes with ginger and spices is easy to prepare — and its spreadable consistency makes it perfect to pair with roti or naan for a satisfying meal. Get the Recipe Save 17 of 31 Mango Rasmalai Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Vijay Kumar's creamy dessert owes its gorgeous hue to fragrant saffron and velvety mango. Not only does he stir mango puree into the sweetened, infused milk that blankets the soft chenna, but he also makes a luscious mango sauce to top each bowl. Get the Recipe Save 18 of 31 Chicken Samosas Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Tender, flaky dough is folded around a garam masala-spiced chicken filling and fried until golden and crisp in this classic samosa recipe. Get the Recipe Save 19 of 31 Tempered Curry-Ginger Sweet Potatoes Antonis Achilleos Chef Samantha Fore of Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites in Lexington, Kentucky, learned to make this dish from her mother. She toasts whole spices like cumin and mustard seeds in hot oil to bring out their flavor and then pours the oil and spices over the sweet potatoes, which are ideal for soaking up the chile-and-spice-laden mix. Get the Recipe Save 20 of 31 Masala Chai Adam Friedlander / Food Styling by Pearl Jones Black tea is steeped with crushed cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon along with ground ginger and black pepper, milk, and sugar for a cozy, soul-warming drink that takes just 10 minutes to prepare. Get the Recipe Save 21 of 31 Ombré Coconut Burfi Cake Andria Lo With its burfi-inspired chewy coconut filling, cloud-like Swiss meringue buttercream, and stunning purple and white ombré coat of sweetened coconut, Hetal Vasavada's slim, tall layer cake captivates the eye and the taste buds. Get the Recipe Save 22 of 31 Hina Auntie's Chana Masala with Puri Gerard + Belevender Add distinct depth of flavor to this spicy chickpea dish from western India by toasting and grinding whole spices. The recipe is from Hina Mody, Khushbu Shah's auntie, who emigrated from the Indian state of Gujarat. Get the Recipe Save 23 of 31 Jeera Rice (Basmati Rice Pilaf with Cumin) Food & Wine / Photo by Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Kelsey Moylan / Prop Styling by Addelyn Evans Preserved lemon and aromatic cumin seeds, cardamom, and bay leaf transform plain basmati rice into this fragrant side. It's a great complement to curries or as a side dish to any meal. Get the Recipe Save 24 of 31 Jalebi Anna Stockwell Jalebi is a classic sweet featuring crispy, golden spirals soaked in a vivid saffron- and cardamom-infused syrup. It's especially popular during festivals like Diwali, offering the perfect combination of crunch and sweetness. While traditionally made with a fermented batter, this recipe's quick baking soda method means you can enjoy fresh, homemade jalebi in no time. Get the Recipe Save 25 of 31 Laal Maas (Rajasthani Goat Curry) Matt Blair Maneet Chauhan’s Laal Maas is a Rajasthani-style goat curry inspired by her husband’s childhood Diwali celebrations. Tender goat meat simmers in a spicy, aromatic gravy and is traditionally served with sweet saffron zarda pulao for a rich, festive meal. Get the Recipe Save 26 of 31 Marigold Pooris and Rose Halwa Matt Blair This vibrant Diwali dessert combines golden-fried whole wheat pooris infused with edible marigold petals and a fragrant, rose-scented semolina pudding. It's a visually stunning and flavorful dish that captures the essence of the festival. Get the Recipe Save 27 of 31 Chicken Tikka Masala Samosas Matt Blair These samosas, created by Maneet Chauhan for her son Karma to enjoy during Diwali, deliver on flavor. Turmeric, ginger-garlic paste, tandoori masala, and garam masala spice blends season the chicken filling, while a creamy tomato sauce with even more tandoori masala, fenugreek, and cream invites repeat dips. Get the Recipe Save 28 of 31 Boiled Peanut Chaat Victor Protasio Chef Vishwesh Bhatt's peanut chaat is boiled with turmeric, ginger, garlic, and other spices to create a delicious and aromatic snack. Get the Recipe Save 29 of 31 Pineapple Kesari Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This semolina-based Indian dessert is flavored with saffron and pineapple and studded with raisins and cashews. Each one of these creamy, bite-sized treats melts in your mouth. Get the Recipe Save 30 of 31 Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls with Mint and Date Dipping Sauce John Kernick Padma Lakshmi's take on this classic street food makes a fantastic addition to any party spread. The combination of ground turkey with spices like Madras curry powder and amchoor (dried mango powder) brings rich, savory flavor to the table. Get the Recipe Save 31 of 31 Spiced Pumpkin Lassi Marcus Nilsson Cinnamon sticks and star anise are bloomed in oil and cooked with fresh pumpkin and milk before everything is blended to a velvety puree. After it's chilled, the puree gets mixed with yogurt, sugar, and water for a rich and creamy seasonal lassi. Get the Recipe Save Explore more: Food Holidays & Occasions Diwali Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit