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Celebrate Diwali in Marbella

Celebrate Diwali in Marbella with Authentic Indian Foods from Leo Foods

Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is a time of joy, community, and delicious food. As one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, Diwali signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. This year, Diwali is on October 31st, and will be marked by millions of people around the world.

While the lighting of diyas (oil lamps), exchanging of gifts, and prayer rituals are central to the celebration, food plays an equally significant role. Traditional dishes and sweets are shared with family and friends, emphasising togetherness and prosperity. If you‘re living in Marbella or anywhere along the Costa del Sol, Leo Foods has everything you need to bring the flavours of Diwali to your table. Our wide range of authentic Indian foods and ingredients ensures that you can celebrate with the best tastes of home.

Traditional Diwali Sweets

Sweets, known as mithai, are a crucial part of Diwali. Exchanging these sweet treats symbolises the sweetness of life and brings joy to those you share them with. Leo Foods offers a fantastic selection of traditional Diwali sweets, as well as the ingredients to make them at home, perfect for your celebrations!

1. Barfi: A popular mithai made from condensed milk and sugar, often flavoured with cardamom, saffron, or rose water. Its fudgy texture and sweetness make it a must-have during Diwali.
2. Gulab Jamun: These syrup-soaked, spongy balls of milk solids are perhaps one of the most well-known Indian sweets. They are perfect for celebrating Diwali with family and friends – look out for our recipe at the end to make them at home!
3. Ladoo: Made from gram flour, sugar, and ghee, ladoos are often shared during Diwali as a symbol of prosperity and celebration.

Savory Diwali Snacks

While sweets are a central part of the celebrations, no Diwali spread is complete without savoury snacks. These snacks add balance to the array of dishes and are perfect for entertaining guests.

1. Samosas: These fried, triangular pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, or lentils are a staple during Diwali. Samosas are not only delicious but also easy to make or buy pre-prepared from Leo Foods.
2. Chivda (Bombay Mix): This spiced mixture of dried ingredients like peanuts, chickpeas, and lentils is crunchy, flavourful, and addictive. Whether enjoyed as a snack or part of a larger meal, chivda is a must for your Diwali celebrations.

Essential Main Course Ingredients for Diwali Feasts

Beyond the snacks and sweets, Diwali also calls for a main course that brings out the best of Indian flavours. These dishes are often served during family gatherings and help complete the festive spread.

1. Biryani

Biryani is a fragrant rice dish often cooked with meat or vegetables, spices, and saffron. Known for its rich flavours and aromatic profile, biryani is a staple in many Indian households during Diwali. It’s a dish that brings together the richness of Indian spices and the heartiness of rice, making it a perfect main course for the festival.

At Leo Foods, you can find the finest quality basmati rice and a range of biryani spice mixes to create the perfect biryani at home. We also stock saffron, which adds a distinctive flavour and colour to this traditional dish. Look out for our delicious Biryani recipe at the end of this blog post!

2. Naan & Chapati

No Diwali feast is complete without traditional Indian bread like Naan and Chapati. These breads are typically served with a variety of curries and vegetable dishes like Chana Masala (spiced chickpeas) or Aloo Gobi (potato and cauliflower curry). We offer ready-made naan and chapati for your convenience, as well as premium flour and ghee if you prefer making them from scratch.

Spices for Authentic Diwali Dishes

What sets Indian cuisine apart is the bold and complex flavours created by an intricate mix of spices. Diwali dishes are no different, and ensuring you have the right spices is essential for achieving authentic taste.

Some of the must-have spices for Diwali cooking include:

• Garam Masala: A blend of ground spices used in many savoury dishes, from curries to biryani.
• Turmeric: Adds a warm, earthy flavour and a bright yellow colour to many Indian dishes.
• Cumin: Essential for making curries, adding a nutty and peppery flavour.
• Cardamom: Used in both sweet and savoury dishes, this aromatic spice is especially popular in sweets like kheer (rice pudding).

We stock an extensive range of high-quality Indian spices, perfect for preparing all your favourite Diwali dishes. Whether you’re making curries, sweets, or snacks, you’ll find the right spices at Leo Foods.

Why Choose Leo Foods for Your Diwali Shopping?

Celebrating Diwali in Marbella or the Costa del Sol has never been easier with Leo Foods. We are proud to offer an extensive range of authentic Indian foods and ingredients, ensuring that you can recreate the flavours of home no matter where you are.

1. Authentic Ingredients

We source high-quality, authentic ingredients from trusted suppliers, ensuring that your Diwali dishes are full of flavour and tradition.

2. Wide Selection

Our store offers a wide range of products, from ready-made snacks and sweets to raw ingredients for cooking at home. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or prefer the convenience of pre-made options, Leo Foods has everything you need for Diwali.

3. Convenient Online Shopping

We make it easy for you to shop from the comfort of your home. Browse our online store and have all your Diwali essentials delivered directly to your doorstep, anywhere in Marbella, the Costa del Sol and the rest of Spain!

4. Competitive Pricing

We believe that high-quality food shouldn’t break the bank. That’s why we offer competitive prices across our entire range of products, ensuring that you can celebrate Diwali and everything else in between, without stretching your budget.

Celebrate Diwali with Leo Foods

Diwali is a time to come together with loved ones and enjoy the rich traditions of Indian culture, especially through food. Leo Foods provides everything you need to make your Diwali celebrations special. Whether you’re a home cook or a local restaurant on the Costa del Sol, we have a wide range of products to suit all your needs.

Start your Diwali shopping today! Visit our online store or stop by in person to explore our full range of authentic Indian foods and ingredients. Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Leo Foods, and bring the flavours of Diwali to your table in Marbella!

Leo Foods’ Best Diwali Recipes

With Diwali just around the corner, there’s no better time to tuck into some delicious, fragrant dishes that perfectly capture the festive spirit. Whether you’re hosting a feast for your family or looking to step up your everyday meals, these easy-to-make recipes are packed with vibrant Indian-inspired flavours.

Gulab Jamun Recipe

Gulab Jamun is one of India’s most cherished desserts, especially during festivals like Diwali. These soft, fried dumplings are infused with cardamom and soaked in a fragrant rose and saffron syrup – all of which are available to buy from Leo Foods. However, if time is of the essence this Diwali, you can also pick up our ready-made Gulab Jamun in-store!

Ingredients

For the syrup

• 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 600g caster sugar
• A few drops of rosewater
• ¼ tsp saffron strands, soaked in 2 tbsp warm water for 1 hr
• 2 tsp chopped pistachios

For the gulab jamun

• 6 green cardamom pods (seeds only)
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• 100g full-cream milk powder
• 40g plain flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 50g ghee or unsalted butter (softened)
• 1kg ghee (for frying)
• 1 tbsp natural yogurt
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• 4-5 tbsp whole milk
• Sunflower oil (for shaping the dough)

Method

1. In a saucepan, gently heat the cardamom, sugar, and 500ml water. Don’t allow the water to boil before the sugar dissolves. Simmer for 10 minutes, then allow it to cool.
2. Gradually add rosewater, saffron, and its soaking liquid to create a subtly flavoured syrup. Set aside.
3. Grind the cardamom seeds with the sugar using a pestle and mortar. Sieve the milk powder, flour, and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Stir in the ground cardamom and sugar.
4. Rub in 50g of ghee or butter using your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the yoghurt, lemon juice, and enough milk to form a soft dough. Be careful not to overwork it.
5. Lightly oil your hands with sunflower oil and shape small portions of dough into walnut-sized balls (approximately 3cm in diameter and 20g each). Ensure the dumplings are smooth, with no cracks or folds.
6. Heat the 1kg of ghee in a wok or deep pan to 130°C. Test the temperature by dropping a small piece of dough into the ghee—it should turn golden in about 40 seconds.
7. Fry the balls in batches for 5-7 minutes, turning them evenly until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
8. Add the fried dumplings to the warm syrup and leave them to soak for at least 2-3 hours (or preferably overnight).
9. When ready to serve, gently warm the gulab jamun in a wide saucepan, spooning over the syrup. Garnish with chopped pistachios and serve piping hot.

Aloo Chaat Recipe

It wouldn’t be Diwali without this popular Indian festival snack! These lemony fried potatoes are seasoned with cumin and chaat masala, with green chilli, red onion and pomegranate. Perfect as a snack or a side dish!

Ingredients

• 750g potatoes (Maris Piper or King Edward)
• 1 small red onion, finely diced
• 30g ginger, peeled & grated
• 2 green chillies, deseeded & chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp chaat masala
• ½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• ½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1L sunflower oil (for frying)
• 2 tbsp coriander relish
• 4 tbsp date & tamarind sauce
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander
• 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds

Method

1. Peel & chop potatoes into 3cm chunks, then boil until tender. Drain & chill for 30 mins.
2. Mix onion, ginger, chillies, cumin, chaat masala, chilli powder, and pepper with lemon juice. Set aside.
3. Deep-fry potatoes until golden. Drain & season with salt.
4. Toss potatoes with the onion-chilli mix, drizzle with sauces, and garnish with coriander and pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.

Vegetable Biryani Recipe

This aromatic rice and vegetable dish, inspired by Indian flavours, is not only bursting with flavours but also comes together quickly in a single pot. The best part? It’s entirely vegan-friendly, making it a healthy and delicious option for any meal!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 small cauliflower, broken into small florets
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1L hot vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp hot curry paste (Madras works well)
• 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
• Pinch of saffron strands
• 2 tsp mustard seeds (black or white)
• 500g basmati rice
• 140g green beans, halved
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Handful of fresh coriander leaves
• 50g salted roasted cashew nuts
• Poppadoms and raita, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Heat the vegetable oil in a large roasting tin. Toss the cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and onion in the oil, then season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, until the vegetables begin to brown.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the vegetable stock, curry paste, chilli, saffron, and mustard seeds.
3. Mix the roasted vegetables with the basmati rice and green beans in the tin. Pour over the stock mixture. Lower the oven temperature to 190°C. Cover the tin with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
4. Remove from the oven, stir in the lemon juice, and adjust the seasoning as needed. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and roasted cashew nuts. Serve with poppadoms and raita on the side if desired.