India is a land of varied cultures and colourful festivals that we enjoy all year. Now it is the season of autumn, and we are back to celebrations. There are just a few more days left for the auspicious Hindu festival of Navratri. Starting on October 15, it will end on October 24 with Dussehra. Navratri is a nine-day festival where devotees fast and worship Goddess Durga for her blessings.
Each day of this festival is dedicated to different avatars of the goddess, and on the tenth day, we celebrate Dussehra, which symbolises the victory of good over evil. Besides fasting and puja, Navratri is also celebrated by playing dandiya, visiting pandals, and eating lots of delicious sattvik foods. Just like other festivals, desserts are also an important part of Navratri.
Here are the top six sweet treats you can get on Navratri this year:
Aloo Halwa
It’s a well-known fact that potatoes are a staple during fasting days. However, most of us only include this vegetable in savoury dishes like dahi aloo and curry. So, here is a yummy dessert you can prepare with aloo. All you have to do is pressure-cook some potatoes and mash them well. Then cook it with milk, nuts, dry fruits, and sugar, and it will be a hearty dessert to finish your festive meal.
Apple Kheer
If you are bored of your regular kheer and looking for a new recipe, then try this fruity delight that is a Kashmiri speciality as well. Made with milk, sugar, cardamom, saffron, and diced apples, it is perfect to enjoy during Navratri. Apple kheer is quick and easy to prepare, along with being delicious. You can also garnish it with nuts and a pinch of nutmeg.
Basundi
Basundi is a classic Maharashtrian dessert that can be made with very little effort. All you have to do is cook full-fat milk with sugar or jaggery and add in crushed dry fruits and nuts. Vat-friendly basundi is also popular in the states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. It can be enjoyed both hot and cold.
Dry Fruits Laddoo
Since Navratri is a fasting festival, we need to boost our energy with some nutritious food items. For this, what can be better than dry fruits? To prepare this delicious and nutrition-packed laddoo, heat a pan and toss mixed dry fruits and nuts in ghee. Then blend them in a smooth mixture with jaggery and cardamom powder. Shape the mixture into laddoos with a greased palm and enjoy.
Coconut Barfi
Coconut barfi is a traditional Indian sweet that is enjoyed on several occasions, including festivals. It is rich in taste and can be easily prepared at home. The main ingredients to make this sweet treat are coconut, jaggery, milk, cardamom, and nuts. It is also known as kobbari mithai, copra pak, and tengai barfi across different regions of the country.
Mawa Peda
This is another delicious mithai you can prepare on Navratri. Also known as khoya peda, it is prepared with very few ingredients like mawa, powdered sugar, cardamoms, and almonds. They are creamy and rich in taste and can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator. You can also add saffron strands to the peda to enhance its flavour.