Celebrate Navratri with Flavor: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes to Delight Your Taste Buds : Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
Navratri, the time for devotion and delicious fasting! Join us on a culinary adventure as we present 10 fasting-friendly recipes. From the ever-popular Sabudana Khichdi to delightful Falahari Paneer Tikka, each dish is a celebration of tradition and flavor.
Let’s make this Navratri a tasteful journey!
Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
1. Preparing Sabudana Khichdi: The Crown Jewel of Fasting Delicacies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sabudana (sago)
- 1 aloo (potato), diced
- 1 green chili, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- Rock salt to taste
- 2 tsp oil
- A few curry leaves
Instructions:
- Soak Sabudana: Rinse the sabudana and soak it in water for at least 4 hours or overnight. Make sure to drain and rinse it thoroughly.
- Temper with Spices: Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, green chili, and curry leaves. Allow them to sizzle.
- Add Potatoes: Add diced potatoes and sauté until they turn golden and slightly crispy.
- Combine Ingredients: Now, add the soaked sabudana, roasted peanuts, and rock salt. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook Thoroughly: Cook the mixture until the sabudana becomes translucent, stirring occasionally.
- Garnish and Serve: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the khichdi, garnish with fresh coriander, and serve hot.
2. Crafting Singhare Atta Puris: The Crunchy Delight
Ingredients:
- 1 cup singhare atta (water chestnut flour)
- Rock salt to taste
- Water for kneading
- Oil for frying
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough: Mix singhare atta and rock salt in a bowl. Gradually add water and knead the dough until it’s smooth and non-sticky.
- Form Puris: Divide the dough into small portions and roll them into small puris.
- Frying Puris: Heat oil in a deep pan. Deep-fry the puris until they puff up and turn golden.
- Serve: Serve the puris hot with aloo sabzi or pumpkin curry for a delightful meal.
3. Creating Kuttu Ki Roti: A Nutrient-Packed Roti Alternative
Ingredients:
- 1 cup kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour)
- Rock salt to taste
- Water for kneading
- Ghee for roasting
Instructions:
- Knead the Dough: Mix kuttu ka atta and rock salt in a bowl. Gradually add water and knead the dough until it’s soft and pliable.
- Form Rotis: Divide the dough into small portions and roll them into rotis.
- Roasting Rotis: Heat a griddle or tava. Roast the rotis with a little ghee until they’re cooked through and have a golden color.
- Serve: Enjoy the rotis with your choice of vrat accompaniments.
4. Making Makhana Kheer: A Sweet Indulgence
Ingredients:
- 1 cup makhana (fox nuts)
- 1 liter milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- A pinch of saffron strands
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
Instructions:
- Roast Makhana: In a pan, roast the makhana until they turn crispy. Crush them into smaller pieces.
- Prepare the Kheer: In a separate pan, bring milk to a boil and then simmer. Add the roasted makhana pieces and cook until they absorb the milk.
- Sweeten the Kheer: Add sugar, saffron strands, and cardamom powder. Cook until the kheer thickens.
- Serve: Enjoy the makhana kheer hot or cold as a sweet treat.
5. Preparing Vrat Ke Chawal: The Comforting Pilaf
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sama rice (vrat ke chawal)
- Rock salt to taste
- 2 tsp ghee
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- Water for cooking
Instructions:
- Rinse the Rice: Wash sama rice thoroughly and drain well.
- Temper the Rice: Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds, and let them splutter.
- Cook the Rice: Add the washed sama rice, sauté for a few minutes, and then add water (double the amount of rice) and rock salt.
- Simmer and Serve: Cover and simmer until the rice is cooked, the water is absorbed, and the grains are separate. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
Trivia : Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
Did you know that during Navratri, many people avoid eating onions and garlic?
- This practice is based on the belief that these pungent ingredients can disrupt one’s focus and spiritual energy during this sacred period.
- Hence, many Navratri recipes are prepared without onions and garlic, relying on other flavorful spices and herbs to enhance the taste.
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6. Sama Rice Upma: A Savory Breakfast Delight
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sama rice (vrat ke chawal)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped vegetables (e.g., potatoes, carrots, peas)
- 2 tsp ghee
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- Rock salt to taste
- A pinch of black pepper
- Water for cooking
Instructions:
- Rinse the Sama Rice: Begin by thoroughly rinsing the sama rice and then draining it. Keep it aside.
- Temper with Ghee and Cumin: In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the ghee. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle until aromatic.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the finely chopped vegetables and sauté them for a few minutes until they start to soften.
- Combine Sama Rice: Now, add the washed sama rice to the pan. Season it with rock salt and a pinch of black pepper.
- Add Water and Simmer: Pour in the required amount of water (usually double the amount of sama rice) and bring it to a simmer.
- Cook and Fluff: Cover the pan and let it cook on low heat until the sama rice is cooked and has absorbed the water. Use a fork to fluff the upma.
- Garnish and Serve: Finally, garnish with fresh coriander and serve this delicious upma hot.
7. Aloo Jeera: A Simple Yet Delicious Side Dish : Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
Ingredients:
- 3-4 medium-sized aloo (potatoes), diced
- 2 tsp ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- Rock salt to taste
- A pinch of hing (asafoetida)
- A few curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
Instructions:
- Heat Ghee and Cumin: Start by heating ghee in a pan and adding cumin seeds. Let them sizzle and become aromatic.
- Sauté Potatoes: Add diced potatoes and sauté them until they turn golden and slightly crispy.
- Season with Spices: Sprinkle rock salt, hing (asafoetida), and red chili powder over the potatoes. Mix well.
- Cook Until Tender: Cook the potatoes on medium heat until they are fully cooked and have a crispy outer layer.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh coriander and serve this simple yet delightful aloo jeera as a side dish.
8. Falahari Paneer Tikka: A Protein-Packed Delight
Ingredients:
- 200g paneer (cottage cheese), cut into cubes
- 2 tbsp thick yogurt
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp rock salt
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, mix thick yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, rock salt, red chili powder, cumin powder, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Marinate Paneer: Add the paneer cubes to the marinade and ensure they are well coated. Allow them to marinate for 1-2 hours.
- Thread on Skewers: Thread the marinated paneer onto skewers for grilling.
- Grill or Roast: You can grill the paneer on a barbecue or roast it in the oven until they turn golden and develop a smoky flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the paneer tikka with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot, ideally with mint chutney.
9. Phal Chaat: A Refreshing Fruit Salad: Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
Ingredients:
- Assorted fruits (e.g., apples, bananas, pomegranate seeds)
- Rock salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Roasted cumin powder
- Fresh lemon juice
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Prepare the Fruits: Cut assorted fruits into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Season with Spices: Sprinkle rock salt, black pepper, and roasted cumin powder over the fruits.
- Add a Zesty Touch: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fruits to enhance their flavor.
- Garnish: Garnish the fruit chaat with fresh mint leaves for a refreshing touch.
- Serve Chilled: Serve the phal chaat chilled as a healthy and refreshing salad.
10. Vrat Ke Dahi Aloo: Creamy Potato Delight: Navratri Delights: 10 Detailed Fasting-Friendly Recipes
Ingredients:
- 3-4 medium-sized aloo (potatoes), boiled and diced
- 1 cup thick yogurt (dahi)
- 1/2 tsp rock salt
- 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder
- A pinch of red chili powder
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Mix Potatoes and Yogurt: In a bowl, mix the boiled and diced potatoes with thick yogurt.
- Season with Spices: Add rock salt, roasted cumin powder, and a pinch of red chili powder. Mix well.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve this creamy Vrat Ke Dahi Aloo as a side dish.
These detailed instructions should help you create these Navratri recipes with confidence, ensuring that you enjoy a flavorful and fulfilling fasting experience.