Raksha Bandhan 2025: 5 Traditional Dishes to Make & How to Serve Them Right

We’ve all made small lifestyle adjustments, such as swapping out plastic bottles for steel ones, moving from polythene to jute bags, and giving up junk food for healthier options. We don’t say it aloud, but we’ve begun to make more thoughtful decisions. Festivals are no different, particularly one as sentimental as Raksha Bandhan.  

To put it bluntly, we’ve started to reconsider not only what we consume but also how we present it. Because everything counts when making memories over food, from the dish it’s served on to the scent of kheer. 

On August 9, 2025, when you get together for Raksha Bandhan, let tradition and reflection coexist. Using safer, sustainable serve ware, like as Chuk’s compostable disposables, and choosing dishes with cultural roots can help you serve them with love and happiness.  

Because we can celebrate without causing harm to the earth. And the beginning of care is at the table, where the feast is served.  

Family favourites are meticulously prepared, classic recipes are revived, and beloved treats are cooked in the kitchen, which becomes the focal point of the celebrations. This Rakhi, let your food speak for you. 

From traditional thalis to modern-day twists, here’s how to bring festive magic to your Raksha Bandhan menu. 

Rakhi Feast: Top dishes to serve and try 

Every home has a single dish that makes a celebration complete. It may be the enticing golden brown of Gulab jamun soaking in syrup or the reassuring aroma of kheer boiling on the stove. Traditional foods for Raksha Bandhan not only satisfy your palate but also foster intergenerational relationships. 

Prepare for the Rakhi puja by starting your day with a gorgeously designed thali that includes diya, mishri, roli, and of course, some delicious mithai. The thing that everyone looks forward to after the rites is the food. 

Here are some classics to serve, with easy recipes: 

• Kaju Katli – A diamond of a sweet for a festival full of sparkle and love 

1. Blend 1 cup cashews to a fine powder. 
2. In a pan, heat ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup water until it becomes a syrup. 
3. Add the cashew powder and stir until it forms a soft dough. 
4. Let it cool slightly, roll it out, and cut into diamonds. 

• Besan Laddu – Earthy, nutty, and rich in ghee, it’s a true sibling favourite. 

1. Roast 1 cup gram flour (besan) in ½ cup ghee on low flame until golden and aromatic. 
2. Turn off the flame and let it cool. 
3. Mix in ½ cup powdered sugar. 
4. Shape into laddus with your hands. 

• Rasgulla & Sandesh – For a touch of Bengali flair. Undoubtedly every Indian loves it.  

1. Boil 1 litre milk and curdle it with lemon juice or vinegar to make chenna. 
2. Drain and wash chenna, then knead it until smooth. 
3. For Rasgullas: roll into balls and pressure cook in sugar syrup for 7-8 mins. 
4. For Sandesh: shape the kneaded chenna, add powdered sugar and cardamom, and chill before serving. 

• Chole Bhature – Spicy, fluffy, and indulgent – something north Indians always look up to.  

1. Soak 1 cup chickpeas overnight, pressure cook them until soft. 
2. Sauté chopped onions, ginger, garlic, and tomatoes with spices to make the masala. 
3. Add the chickpeas and simmer. 
4. For bhature: knead flour with yogurt, a pinch of baking soda and salt. Let it rest and deep fry until golden. 

• Malai Kofta – If you are someone who loves creamy comfort in every bite, this is your cup of tea.  

1. Mix 1 cup grated paneer and 2 boiled mashed potatoes with chopped dry fruits and spices. 
2. Shape into balls and deep fry. 
3. For the gravy: sauté onion, tomato, ginger, garlic and cashews, blend and simmer with cream. 
4. Add koftas before serving. 

• Jeera Rice & Tandoori Roti – The perfect pairings for festive gravies and something to serve at the main course table.  

1. For rice: sauté cumin in ghee, add soaked rice and cook till fluffy. 
2. For roti: knead whole wheat flour with water, roll into rounds, and cook on a tandoor or hot tawa. 

 

For the New-Age & Modern Party Hosts 

If you’re someone who loves to add a modern touch, try: 

• Rose Kaju Katli – (Add 1 tsp rose water and dried petals to the classic mix before rolling.) 

• Vegan Gulab Jamun – (Use almond milk and vegan ghee. Prepare with semolina and flour.) 

• Air-fried Tandoori Paneer – (Marinate paneer cubes in hung curd, spices, and lemon juice. Air-fry till charred.) 

• Rava Laddu – (Roast 1 cup semolina in ghee, mix with sugar and a bit of warm milk. Shape into laddus.) 

Also, serving styles change as recipes do. Modern hosts require modern solutions for everything from disposable plates to disposables bowls for that extra environmental protection. If you are a modern party host who likes everything to be perfect and modern, Chuk disposables can be your choice.  

Design and sustainability come together perfectly in Chuk’s compostable disposables/tableware. It is free of toxins and chlorine and is designed for considerate festivities. Air-fried paneer skewers or Rose Kaju Katli, you can let your food shine on plates that reflect your ideals.  

Also, think beyond steel and ceramic bowls because your house help needs help too. The modern host knows that celebrations are about ease as much as elegance. This year, enjoy beautiful, hassle-free serving with high-end, toxin-free, chlorine-free compostable disposables from Chuk. They’re not just good for the planet, they’re good for your people too. Serve meals in Chuk disposables, and yes, garnish your desserts with pistachio slivers and dried rose petals. 

A Simple Rakhi 2025 Menu Idea 

Starter: Khaman Dhokla with green chutney 

Main Course: Paneer Butter Masala, Jeera Rice, Tandoori Roti 

Sides: Cucumber Raita, Mixed Veg Pickle 

Desserts: Gulab Jamun & Kheer Drinks: Mango Lassi or Rose Sharbat 

Celebrate with Delicious Food and Modern Serving with Chuk Disposables 

Even a simple, purposefully prepared meal might have a significant emotional impact if you’re celebrating in a smaller fashion or are away from home. Write a note, prepare a delicious thali, or use a video call to share your meal. Rakhi is about connecting rather than luxury.

To keep your party guilt-free and environmentally conscientious, if you’re hosting, go above and beyond with compostable plates and eco-friendly disposables like Chuk. A safer, more environmentally friendly, and more fashionable yet modern serving companion is what your food deserves. 

In Closing 

Raksha Bandhan 2025 is the ideal time to take a moment to connect, cook from the heart, and pause. Let this celebration be about love, thankfulness, and the delight of feeding the people you care about, regardless of whether you are an experienced home cook or attempting your first laddu recipe.  

Thus, spread the dough, mix the kheer, and let the aroma of tradition to fill your home. The finest way to serve love this Rakhi is on a plate. And when the plate is eco-friendly, toxin-free, and 100% compostable, the love gets doubled.  

Happy Raksha Bandhan! 

 

Designed by: Prabhakar Sharma

Written by: Akansha Pal