Celebrated by married Hindu women across India, Karva Chauth or Karwa Chauth 2023 will fall on November 1, 2023. On the day of Karva Chauth, it is tradition for women to keep a day-long fast that begins at dawn and only ends after the moon becomes visible in the evening. As per the Drik Panchang, Karva Chauth tithi will begin at 9.30PM on October 31 and end at 9.19PM on November 1. Given these timings, Karva Chauth fast kept by most women will last almost 24 hours, which suggests that they will indeed need the perfect dishes to break their fast with.
Karva Chauth tradition dictates that a married woman keeping the Karva Chauth fast must break the fast at the designated tithi by looking at the moon through a sieve, worshiping the Moon God for blessings and then breaking the fast with a glass of water offered by her husband. Following this, married women keeping the Karva Chauth fast then indulge in a meal that is traditional and loaded with flavours as well as nutrition.
Often, what women breaking the Karva Chauth fast do is indulge in a very heavy meal that is packed with deep-fried foods like puri, pakodas, etc. This overburdens the digestive system as it suddenly introduces heavy foods that are difficult to digest. So, instead of indulging in fried foods to break the Karva Chauth fast, the norm should be to eat a few dishes that are loaded with nutrients while not being too rich and heavy. And the best way to achieve this is by consuming dry fruits, nuts and seeds.
Video Credit: YouTube/MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria
Packed with flavours and nutrition, dry fruits are perfect foods to break the Karva Chauth fast with. Here are some dishes that are loaded with the goodness of dry fruits that you can eat to break your Karva Chauth fast.
Dry Fruits Milkshake
A creamy beverage packed with milk and dry fruits like almonds, cashews, pistachios and dates, this one is a must-have after you have had a glass of water to break your Karva Chauth fast. As a healthy drink, dry fruits milkshake is very hydrating and packed with proteins that can give you an instant energy lift. If you want to make this milkshake even more delicious then add chocolate or saffron to it too.
Anjeer Laddoo
Made with dried figs or anjeer, this popular Indian sweet treat is also loaded with other nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews and raisins. These round, bite-sized delights are perfect for snacking on any day, but especially on Karva Chauth when you need something light and delicious to break your fast with. Mildly sweet and lip-smackingly delicious, this sweet is a must-have.
Badam Kheer
If you are Indian then you know that kheer is the perfect dish for every festive occasion. For Karva Chauth, you must try this delicious Badam Kheer which is loaded with almonds and garnished with mixed nuts and dry fruits. Highly nutritious and perfect as a post-fasting treat, this one is a must-have on other festivities too, especially if you are keeping a sattvik fast.
Dry Fruits Chikki
If you are craving a quick sweet treat to break your Karva Chauth fast with then look no further than this dry fruits chikki. Loaded with peanuts, sesame seeds, jaggery, almonds, pistachios and any seeds you may choose to add, this chikki is also great for snacking during winter season. Make this chikki even more interesting with some grated coconut on top.
Kaju Badam Kofta
A sattvik and delicious treat not only for Karva Chauth but also other festivities, Kaju Badam Kofta works both as a starter and a snack. All you need to do is soak cashews and almonds, peel the latter and grind both into a coarse powder. Mix this with mashed sweet potatoes, mild spices, etc, turn into equal-sized balls and air fry to perfection before enjoying with chutneys.
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Date & Nut Barfi
You might be a fan of Kaju Katli, but this Date & Nut Barfi provides a naturally sweet twist on the traditional mithai. For this barfi, make a paste of dates as well as cashews, cook it down and let it set. You can top the barfi with more dry fruits and nuts if you want. Cut the barfi into squares and enjoy it on your Karva Chauth platter.
Dry Fruits Chivda
A quick and nutritious snack loaded with the goodness of dry fruits, nuts, seeds and puffed rice, this Gujarati snack is perfect for post-fast meals on Karva Chauth. All you need to do is dry roast almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc and mix in with raisins, apricots, dates and puffed rice along with some salt and pepper. Viola, you have a delicious snack at hand that’s loaded with dry fruits.