Kheerapat and Panchkhadya or panch gudkhadya  is served after ganpati aarti  during Ganesh chaturthi festival. This is a easy to make dry prasad for ganpati. This recipe is made in variety of ways in many Marathi homes. My mom used to make both kheerapat as well as panchkhadya. Panch khadya is made from 5 ingredients, it is also called as panch gud khadya. She always made a big batch of this dry Prasad so that it will go for 11 days. But me and my brother would never let it last for more than 5 days. It was very tasty. This Panchkhadya Prasad has long shelf life as compared to kheerapat, due to roasted ingredients.

[box]Also check- Different types of Modak Recipes[/box]

Many people make kheerapat and Panch khadya seperately. Kheerapat is a very simple recipe and it contains only 3 ingredients – coconut, sugar and cardamom powder. Kheerapat is generally served in “Sarvajanik Ganesh mandal” after ganpati  aarti. It is also served after gulabai and bohondla songs which are very famous in Maharashtra. All this makes me very nostalgic!

[box]Also check- Satyanarayan pooja Prasad recipe[/box]

Panchkhadya has 5 ingredients whose Marathi name starts from ” kh” they are kharik (dry dates/ chuara) , khopra (dry coconut / sukha gola) , khishmish ( dry grapes), khus khus  (poppy seeds), khadisakhar ( rock sugar / mishri). This mixture of 5 ingredients is said to be very nutritious for brain. You can also use panchkhadya for stuffing of fried modak .

[box]Also check – Panchamrut recipe for pooja[/box]

I have shared how to make kheerapat and panch gudkhadya. Make any recipe according to your  convenience in this Ganpati festival.

[ingredients title=”Ingredients to make Kheerapat | Khirapat”]

• 1 cup grated dry coconut ( kislele sukha khobra/ sukha nariyal or gola)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar ( pithi sakhar / pisi hui chini)
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder ( velchi pud / elaichi)

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Step by step directions to make Kheerapat | Khirapat”]

1. Roast grated coconut on low flame for 2-3 minutes
2. Let it cool down. Coarsely grind it in mixer or pound it in khal batta.
3. Mix it with powdered sugar and cardamom powder.

   

4. Kheerapat is ready for ganpati naivedyam and Prasad.

[/directions]

Note- Shelf life pf kheerapat is less as compared to panchkhadya . You can keep it only for 2-3 days. If you want to store it for 11 days, roast the coconut until it becomes light brown. But many people like kheerapat white in color. In that case, keep it in airtight box and refrigerate.

[ingredients title=”Ingredients to make Panchkhadya| Panchgudkhadya | Panch khadya”]

• 1 cup grated dry coconut ( kislele sukha khobra / kadukas kiya hua gola)
• 1/2 cup rock sugar ( khadisakhar / pathrishakhar/Mishri
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds ( khus khus )
• 10 -15 dry dates ( kharik / chuara)
• 1/2 cup kishmish
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom ( welchi / elaichi ) powder – optional for flavor

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Step by step directions to make panchkhadya or panch gudkhadya for ganpati naivedyam “]

1. Dry roast coconut until it becomes light brown on low to medium flame. Let it cool down
2. Crush the roasted coconut with your fingers or coarsely grind it in mixer.
3. Dry roast  khus- khus or poppy seeds on low flame for 1-2 minutes, pound it in mortar and pestle ( khal batta) or coarsely grind it in mixer .
4. Remove seeds from dates and make powder of it.
5. Pound the rock sugar / mishri in mortar and pestel ( khal batta ) or mixer into coarse powder.
6. Mix all the above ingredients, and add cardamom powder. Panchkhadya is ready for naivedyam and Prasad.

   

[/directions]

Note – if Kharik ( dry dates/ chuara ) are soft, roast it for 3-4 minutes on low flames. Let it cool down completely and then make powder of it. You can also microwave it for 1-2 minutes , let it cool down and then make powder of it .Its difficult to powder dry dates (kharik) if its soft.