Navratri 2023, that festival of the year when every Hindu household in India evokes the name of Goddess Durga and her nine forms has started with great festive spirit across India. While in North India, people celebrate the nine days of the festival with ritual fasts and jagratas and in Eastern India, Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja, for the people of Gujarat, Navratri 2023 means immersing in the worship of Ambe Maa, dancing Raas Garba all night and following an upvaas or vrat during the nine days.
At the centre of Gujarati Navratri celebrations is Faraal food, more commonly known as Farali recipes and dishes—as popularised by iconic Gujarati-origin chef, Padma Shri Tarla Dalal. Consumed during all ritual fasting days or upvaas of the year, whether it is Navratri 2023 or Ekadashi, Faraal food consists mostly of sattvik ingredients that are high-energy and nutrient-dense without being too heavy on the digestive system.
Gujarat is anyways a predominantly vegetarian state, but what makes Faraal foods separate from regular vegetarian food is the complete absence of onions, garlic and most spices. However, many Gujaratis continue to consume haldi or turmeric during Navratri because it is considered to be both healthy and auspicious. Further, many also prepare Faraal dishes without salt or with rock salt or sendha namak to stick to the fasting rules.
Video Credit: YouTube/Tarla Dalal
Wondering which Gujarati Farali dishes you should be trying out this Navratri 2023? Here’s a whole list you can refer to and try out.
Kand Rasawala
Yams and root vegetables of all sorts are allowed during Navratri 2023, and this Gujarati specialty is always on the menu. Made with yams, often even purple yams, this simple and sattvik curry is prepared with a tomato-based gravy that is mildly spiced with cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric and green chillies. Enjoyed with simple rotis made with rajgira, jowar or bajra, this curry is a must-have dish during Navratri 2023.
Moongfali Kadhi
Gujarati Kadhi is quite popular for being mildly sweet in taste and white in colour. This simple and watery Moongfali Kadhi is a Faraal variation of the same dish. Peanuts are cooked with yoghurt and mild spices like mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, chillies and ghee to make this one, and a bit of sugar is added at the very end. This dish is also very rehydrating, so you must try it out.
Kuttu Dhokla
Made with buckwheat flour instead of the regular rice-dal mix or besan, this dark-hued Kuttu Dhokla is a nutrient-dense snack for Navratri 2023. The buckwheat flour is mixed with a bit of jowar or rajgira flour to give it more body, and then mixed with yoghurt, salt and other ingredients. Steamed to perfection, this one is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies and sugar syrup.
Ratalu Raita
A simple yet delicious dish that can be consumed as it is or on the side of a full meal, Ratalu Raita is a must-have Faraal dish during Navratri 2023. This dish can be made with elephant foot yams, regular yams or purple yams based on what’s available. You can chop or grate the yams, boil it in water, drain it and then mix with yoghurt, cumin seeds, chillies, salt and coriander leaves to make this raita.
Kand Aloo Pakoda
Since both potatoes and yams are allowed for consumption during Navratri 2023, it is but natural that there would be a crispy snack made with them in Gujarati cuisine. Boiled yams and potatoes are grated or mashed together along with spices like black pepper, salt, ginger, green chillies and coriander. These are then added to a rajgira or kuttu flour batter and deep-fried in ghee before serving.
Rajgira Kadhi
Another Gujarati Kadhi variety that is usually consumed during fasts as a part of Faraal meals, Rajgira Kadhi is a delicious dish to enjoy. Many Gujaratis make small amaranth flour fritters or pakodas to add to the mildly spiced, yoghurt-based Kadhi which is traditionally slightly sweet thanks to the addition of sugar.
Farali Pattice
Popular in both Maharashtra and Gujarat, Farali Pattice is a vrat-staple snack served at least two ways. Most people make the pattice with potatoes, sweet potatoes, coriander leaves, chillies, salt and ginger paste. Once fried, you can have these cutlet-like Pattice with coriander chutney, or add a generous amount of yoghurt, chutney, pomegranate seeds and peanuts on top to make it a vrat-friendly chaat.