Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is ancient Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of light over darkness. It falls each year between October and November and is celebrated all over the world, being a time for family gatherings and gift-giving. Along with candles, lights and fireworks, a large part of Diwali celebrations are centred around food, with families and friends taking the opportunity to cook – and eat – together throughout the five day festival. This collection of Diwali recipes should provide some mouth-watering inspiration for some celebrations of your own.

With the festival's emphasis on sharing and giving, it's no surprise that sweets and snacks are the most popular Diwali food. Whip up a batch of Paul Foster's Chocolate and cumin fudge, or try Vineet Bhatia's elegant Carrot fudge recipe to keep in a tin ready to share with any passing guests. Alfred Prasad's white chocolate-dipped mint leaves are beautiful eaten on their own or as a garnish, while Vivek Singh's Hot chocolate biscuit recipe makes the perfect treat to make with little ones during the Diwali celebrations.

Vegetarian Indian dishes remain popular during the Diwali period. Alfred Prasad's Papdi chaat is a fantastic savoury street food recipe to act as an antidote to any sugary over-indulgence, while his Chickpea and edamame sundal is the perfect portable treat to munch while watching the fireworks. Try Alfred Prasad's Chettinad mushroom, a south Indian curry dish with a mix of three mushrooms, or his Saag paneer for a protein-packed vegetarian dinner.