Think Easter and what flashes across our minds are Easter bunny, ornate eggs, and roast turkey for dinner.
Easter is the festivity of the revivification of Jesus from the crypt on the third day after his crucifixion, which is observed as Good Friday. Christians regard Easter as the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be persecuted, die for the sins of mankind, and rise on the third day. It reinstates the victory of good over evil, goodness over sin.
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday in western Christian churches and culminates in the course of the Easter week, which is called the Holy Week. During the 40 days of Lent, Christians evoke the time when Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray prior to the commencement of his work for God.
Then why all the blitzkrieg on rabbits and eggs, you wonder? One of the reasons is that the hare is associated with fertility; it is also the symbol of the moon and the date of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar or on the moon. Easter, like Holi, Baisakhi, Ugadi or Gudi Padwa, comes in spring and reinforces hope for new life and new beginnings. The credence of new life is represented by the hare which produces many young ones. Eggs symbolize the empty tomb after Christ rose on the third day of crucifixion. In later times, to celebrate this day, eggs were decorated and people started Easter parades and traditional Easter foods. Get the connect here?
“In India, there are very few foods traditionally prepared on Easter Sunday with the exception of delightful Easter eggs and Easter bunnies,” says master chef Ajay Chopra. Easter brunch is put up in many restaurants to celebrate the festival.
We bring you a couple of vegetarian recipes for Easter:
Honey-Glazed Carrots
Ingredients:
Baby carrots 10 to 15
Honey 4 tbsp
Olive oil 1 tbsp
Sweet chili sauce 1 tbsp
Red chilli flakes 1 tsp
Freshly chopped coriander leaves for garnish.
Method: Heat oven to 240 degrees C. In a bowl mix oil, 2tbsp honey, chilli sauce and flakes. Set aside. In another bowl, toss cleaned and trimmed carrots with remaining honey. Layer the carrots in a baking dish and bake for half an hour. Remove from oven and spread the honey mixture and garnish with coriander leaves.
Mini Parfait
Ingredients:
Fruits – strawberry slices, blueberries, blackcurrants, cherries, banana slices
Crushed Nuts –walnut, almonds, raisins
Yogurt – 2 cups thick
Method: Take a parfait glass. Layer it with mixed fruits, nuts and yogurt. Repeat the layering. Serve chilled
Picture courtesy: Pixabay
