From Karanji to Strawberry sharbat; 5 must-try festive recipes from Bigg Boss 12 winner Dipika Kakar for Diwali party

With Diwali just a few days away, party planning is in full swing. To help you prepare for the festive season, we explored actress Dipika Kakar's YouTube channel for some of her best-loved recipes. Known for her passion for cooking, Dipika's dishes are simple yet flavorful. Here are five standout recipes from her channel to create an unforgettable Diwali menu for friends and family.

Dipika Kakar’s chicken popsicles offer a unique twist on a classic appetizer, making them a fun treat for guests of all ages. To recreate them, boil chicken with spices, shred it, and mix it with mashed potatoes, chopped onion, and capsicum. Shape the mixture onto ice cream sticks, coat in a flour batter, roll in breadcrumbs, and deep-fry until golden brown. These popsicles are crispy on the outside and filled with a cheesy, flavorful mixture inside, making them an ideal party starter.

Dipika Kakar’s karanji recipe brings a traditional touch to festive celebrations with the sweet flavors of coconut and semolina. To make them, you’ll need all-purpose flour, ghee, water, salt, semolina, dried coconut powder, powdered sugar, dried fruits, poppy seeds, and cardamom powder. First, make the dough by mixing flour, salt, and ghee. For the filling, roast the coconut powder and semolina in ghee, then mix with powdered sugar, dried fruits, and cardamom. Shape the dough into circles, fill with the mixture, fold them over, and deep-fry until golden brown.

Add a global twist to your Diwali party with Dipika Kakar's creamy white sauce pasta, a dish that everyone will enjoy. To make it, you will need butter, olive oil, flour, milk, pepper, red and green chili sauce, optional magic cubes, grated cheese, boiled pasta, and any veggies you like.Start by melting butter to make the white sauce, then mix in flour, milk, and spices. Boil the pasta with a little olive oil, then combine it with the sauce. Garnish with extra milk, salt, and pepper, and add veggies if desired. This creamy pasta is a tasty addition to your festive menu.

Kakar’s Chicken Korma is a delicious and aromatic dish perfect for Diwali celebrations. To make it, start by heating ghee and oil in a large pan and frying sliced onions until golden brown. Add 2 kg of cubed chicken and sauté until browned. In another pan, heat spices like black and green cardamoms, javitri, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, cumin seeds, and peppercorns, then grind them into a powder. Mix this spice blend into the chicken along with garlic paste. Blend cashews, almonds, and coconut powder into a paste and add it to the chicken with coriander powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, red chili powder, and salt. Finally, blend yogurt with the fried onions to create a smooth paste and stir it into the chicken. Cook on low heat until the chicken is tender.

Strawberry and rose-flavored sharbat is a simple and refreshing drink that's perfect for festive gatherings or as a quick way to cool down. To make it, start by adding 1 cup of strawberry ice cream to a large container with 1 liter of milk. Stir occasionally until the ice cream melts completely. Next, pour in the remaining 0.5 liters of milk and mix in 3-4 tablespoons of Rooh Afza syrup, adjusting the amount to your taste. Combine everything until smooth, then serve chilled, garnished with ice cubes or fresh mint leaves.