Advance Holi Kitchen Hacks: Holi means the festival of colors, fun, and frolic with loved ones, and a wealth of flavor! But often, on the day we should be playing with friends, we're toiling in the kitchen. Sometimes we run out of mawa for gujiyas, or sometimes we can't find the thandai ready when guests arrive. If you want to make your Holi stress-free this time, don't leave everything for the festival day. Get these three big tasks done today. Believe me, you'll be able to enjoy the fun with guests and family on Holi!

1. Prepare the mawa and stuffing for gujiyas -
Holi is incomplete without gujiyas, but roasting the mawa and preparing the stuffing is the most time-consuming. Consequently, there's a risk of adulterated mawa being available in the market during Holi. Therefore, it's best to either prepare pure mawa at home today or roast it thoroughly. Roasted mawa stays refrigerated for 10-15 days.

Pro tip: Prepare the stuffing by mixing dry fruits, sugar, and semolina with mawa and store it in an airtight container. A day before Holi, you just need to knead the dough and fry the gujiyas.

2. Homemade Thandai Masala and Syrup -
The joy of Holi seems dull without Thandai. We often buy ready-made syrups from the market, which contain too many preservatives and sugar. It's better to make this at home. To do this, grind almonds, fennel, watermelon seeds, black pepper, cardamom, and saffron into a magical powder. Store it in a glass jar.

Benefit: As soon as guests arrive, simply mix 2 teaspoons of this masala in milk, and your royal Thandai is ready! This will save you time, and your guests will never tire of praising you.

3. Stock up on chutneys and prepare papad and kachri -
Chaat, dahi-bhalla, and pakoras are a must-have for Holi. The heart of all these dishes is the sweet, dry ginger (tamarind) chutney and the spicy green chutney. Make the tamarind chutney now and store it in a glass bottle; it stays piping hot for months. Also, if you're a fan of homemade papad, chips, or kachri, expose them to sunlight and prepare them immediately.

Benefit: This way, you won't have to worry about grinding chutney at the last minute. Just soak the bhalla, add the chutney, and serve!

2 smart bonus tips to make Holi special:
Natural colors: If you have small children at home, make homemade colors using turmeric, beetroot, and hibiscus flowers. Do this with the children; they'll have a lot of fun.

Crockery check: If you have a long guest list, clean your crockery and serving bowls today. A broken spoon or a shortage of glasses at the last minute can ruin your mood.

Remember that Holi is a festival of joy, not a time to confine yourself to the kitchen. If you stock up on these three items today, your face won't be tired on festival day, but will be the glow of real gulal (gold).

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