Navratri is an auspicious festival that carries many zeal and devotion celebrations across India. In fact, nine auspicious days are dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. Many people abstain from regular grains and other food items during this period. While fasting meals often tend to be simple, they don't have to be dull. India shines in its diversity as each state brings out its unique Navratri fasting recipes. From the north to the south, each region presents delectable and healthy dishes to hike up your fast.
As we prepare for Navratri, we should know Navratri 2024's Dates, Timings, and Significance to make this festival special. Moving forward with recipes, they are not only delicious but also adhere to the fasting rules of Navratri as they use buckwheat, water chestnut flour, sabudana, and other ingredients. So let's discover seven unique Navratti recipes from different states in India that will give a new boost to your fasting meals this year.
1. Sama Chawal Idli (Maharashtra)
For a taste of South India, but still a complete South Indian version of your Navratri delicacies, Sama Chawal Idli is a great alternative to regular rice idlis. Sama or barnyard millet is light, gluten-free, and perfect for fasting.
Ingredients:
1 cup Sama Chawal (Barnyard Millet)
½ cup yogurt
Salt to taste (rock salt if fasting)
½ tsp baking soda
Method:
Soak sama chawal for 3-4 hours, then drain and grind it to make a fine batter.
In yogurt and salt, mix well in the batter. Allow it to ferment for 4-6 hours.
Add baking soda just before making idlis.
Steam the batter in idli moulds for 10-12 minutes.
Serve hot with coconut chutney or a thin yoghurt-based dip.
Sama Chawal Idli would be a great addition to your fasting meal as it is easy to digest yet rich in nutrients.
2. Kuttu Ka Dosa (Uttarakhand)
Kuttu, or buckwheat, is a staple grain used during fasts in North India. Kuttu Ka Dosa is the most delicious and crispy version of the usual dosa, and indeed it has been a huge hit in Navratri in Uttarakhand, among others.
Ingredients:
1 cup Kuttu Ka Atta (Buckwheat Flour)
1 boiled potato, mashed
½ tsp cumin seeds
Rock salt (Sendha Namak) to taste
Ghee for cooking
Method:
Mix kuttu ka atta with mashed potatoes, cumin seeds, and water to get a smooth batter consistency.
Apply ghee on a non-stick tawa, spread the batter in a circular motion to make dosas and cook on both sides until crisp.
Serve hot with mint chutney or curd.
Crispy and savory dosa brings a change to your Navratri fasting menu, giving you the perfect mix of taste and nutrition.
3. Singhare Ke Atte Ka Samosa (Uttar Pradesh)
This is a Uttar Pradesh dish wherein the soya flour bread is used as a base and filled with goodness - potatoes and peas.
The outside is made of water chestnut flour, or what is commonly known as Singhare Ka Atta, while inside is fast-friendly with potatoes and spices. A nice twist on the old classic, this will always be liked.
Ingredients:
1 cup Singhare Ka Atta
2 boiled potatoes
½ tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander powder
Rock salt to taste
Ghee for frying
Method:
Singhare Ka Aata kaju ko paani ke saath maln. Smooth dough banane ke liye.
Boiled potatoes mash and mix with cumin seeds, coriander powder, and rock salt.
Roll out small dough circles, put potato filling, and fold into a samosa shape.
Fry the samosas in hot ghee until golden brown.
Serve hot with tamarind chutney.
This Uttar Pradesh's Samosa recipe to treat your favourite snack during fast without any guilt.
4. Aloo Jeera (Punjab)
Aloo Jeera is another classical comfort food from Punjab that requires very few ingredients, thereby suitable for fasting. Boiled with light potatoes and cumin, the flavor hits you like a tornado, yet it remains low on calories.
Ingredients
4 medium-sized potatoes
2 tsp cumin seeds
Rock salt to taste
2 tbsp ghee
Fresh coriander for garnish
Method
Boil them, peel, and cut them in small pieces.
Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds to roast them.
Add potato cubes, sprinkle some rock salt and sauté until golden brown.
Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.
This quick-flavored dish is a perfect side or even a complete main course for the Navratri.
5. Sweet Potato Chaat (Gujarat)
Sweet Potato Chaat is an enthralling fasting dish in Gujarat. The boiled and diced sweet potatoes are extremely nutritious and include a natural sweetness that offers this delightful chaat a delightfully balanced flavor.
Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes, boiled and cut into pieces
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp cumin powder
Rock salt to taste
Chopped coriander for garnish
Methods:
Boil and chop the sweet potatoes.
Mix cumin powder, lemon juice, and rock salt in the sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl
Mix well and decorate with fresh coriander.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
The Navratri chaat, is a refreshing healthful delight at a time when those fasting can be so parched and starving.
6. Coconut Ladoo (South India)
Coconut Ladoo is a favorite in South India, especially during festivals like Navratri. It’s quick to prepare and packed with the goodness of coconut and jaggery.
Ingredients:
2 cups grated coconut
1 cup jaggery
¼ tsp cardamom powder
Method:
Take a pan and dissolve the jaggery with a little water by making syrup.
Add the grated coconut and cardamom powder to the syrup.
Let it become thicker and crowd out from the sides.
Shape the mixture into small ladoos and let them cool.
These are just the right types of sweets for fasting and will relieve your desires and have no effect on breaking up your fast.
7. Makhana Kheer (Bihar)
Makhana (fox nuts) are widely used during fasting in Bihar. Makhana Kheer is a light and creamy dessert that makes a wonderful end to your Navratri meals.
Ingredients:
1 cup makhana
4 cups milk
2 tbsp sugar
½ tsp cardamom powder
Chopped almonds and pistachios for garnis
Method:
Roast the makhana in a little ghee till they become crispy. Then crush them lightly.
Boil milk in another pan and add the roasted makhana to it.
Mix in sugar and powder of cardamom, and let it simmer until kheer thickens.
Garnish with chopped nuts and serve chilled.
Makhana Kheer is one of those dishes that is not only delicious but is also a good source of the most essential nutrients. And if ever you need a perfect fasting food, this is sure to be on the list.
Conclusion
These unique Navratri recipes, each from a different state in India, bring together diverse flavors and traditions of the country and also within the guidelines of fasting. Be it the savory quest of Kuttu Ka Dosa or something sweet to taste such as Coconut Ladoo, these dishes will make your fasting journey both delicious and spiritually fulfilling.
Prepare to celebrate Navratri 2024 with some scrumptious regional Indian recipes. Have no hesitation in giving these regional recipes a try and that would add variety to your fasting meal. Or if very busy, simply order Indian food online so you can enjoy the best fasting-friendly options delivered right to your doorstep. Have a wonderful Navratri!