The festive season is here and with Dussehra and Navratri behind us, we can’t wait to revel in Diwali festivities. But next on the festival celebration card is Karva Chauth. Celebrated by married Hindu women in several parts of the country, the festival is where women fast from dawn till moonrise to pray for the long lives of their husbands. What makes it different, rather more difficult is that it is a ‘nirjala’ fast, which means besides not consuming any food, women do not consume even a drop of water until the time of breaking the fast; i.e upon the appearance of moon. If you have grown up in India or have seen Bollywood movies, you would know how popular it is.
Karwa Chauth is widely celebrated in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and many other parts of the country. On this day, Hindu women, after observing the fast for whole day, apply mehendi, dress up in their best, mostly in shades of red, do a small puja with other women and wait till the moonrise. However, before sunrise and after moonrise, many delicacies are made to celebrate the occasion. And while fasting, with all the tiredness, all one needs is to cook the quickest meals without compromising on its deliciousness. Isn’t that, right?
So, we have curated a list of six such recipes that one can cook in no more than 30 minutes.
1. Paneer Jalfrezi
Flavours of bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and a host of spices such as cumin, coriander, red chilli and garam masala, tossed-in with paneer chunks, make this a perfect post-Karva Chauth meal to relish.
2. Aloo Gobhi Masala
Your favourite aloo gobhi just got a lot quicker. This super delicious recipe with aloo tossed in with jeera, garam masala, red chilli powder and more is perfet to pair with chapatis and a dal on the side.
3. Saffron Rice
Saffron rice spells decadence, celebration and royalty. And when you can make it under 30 minutes, it’s even better. Full with the goodness of cashews and raisins, this saffron rice is an aromatiic indulgence with a delicious flavour.
4. Methi Bajra Puri
Puri is a deep-fried Indian bread that is widely made on special occasions and festivities. Small, crispy and decadent, these puris have the wholesome goodness of bajra and methi. Lightly spiced, these puris also boast of mashed aloo.
5. Sabudana Kheer
End your Karwa Chauth festivities with this yummy kheer made with sabudana, Just four ingredients and 25 minutes can give you a heavenly dessert to nosh upon.