For Navratri, fasting food is prepared with great care, emphasising simplicity and purity. Traditional ingredients are used in a way that aligns with sattvic principles, which promote a balanced and calming diet. Fasting meals exclude onions, garlic, and heavy spices, as these ingredients are considered tamasic and rajasic, which can stimulate energy levels or dull the mind.
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Instead, ingredients such as rock salt, mild spices such as cumin, and herbs like coriander are used to add flavour to fasting dishes. Foods rich in energy and easy to digest are preferred, such as potatoes, millets, and various flours like buckwheat and water chestnut. The use of dairy products such as yoghurt and ghee enhances both nutrition and taste. Fruits, nuts, and seeds are often included for their wholesome properties, providing natural sweetness and energy.
Also Read: Fasting: Why Do We Do It?
Fasting food during Navratri is not only nourishing but also light on the stomach, helping devotees maintain a state of spiritual focus and physical well-being. The focus is on foods that sustain without overwhelming the senses. Here are a few dishes to try on fasting days.
Sabudana Khichdi
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Sabudana khichdi is a staple fasting dish. It is made using sabudana (soaked sago pearls) sabudana and cooked with peanuts, green chillies, cumin seeds, and mild spices. The dish has a chewy, slightly crunchy texture because of the peanuts, and is typically served with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of yoghurt. Sabudana khichdi is light but also filling, making it a go-to dish during fasts. It is rich in carbohydrates and provides a quick source of energy while being gentle on the stomach.
Kuttu Ki Puri
Kuttu (buckwheat flour) is a common ingredient during fasts. Kuttu ki puri is a deep-fried bread made from this flour, typically combined with boiled potatoes for binding. It’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. This dish pairs well with vrat ke aloo (fasting potatoes) or curd. Kuttu flour is rich in fibre and proteins, making this dish not only delicious but also nutritious.
Aloo Ki Sabzi
Aloo ki sabzi is a simple and comforting potato curry, made with minimal spices that are allowed during fasting, such as cumin seeds, black pepper, and rock salt (sendha namak). The dish is usually prepared without tomatoes or any heavy seasonings, keeping it light yet flavourful. Aloo ki sabzi is often served with kuttu ki puri or samak rice. The soft texture of the potatoes, combined with the subtle spices, creates a dish that’s both satisfying and easy to digest, which is ideal for fasting.
Samak Rice
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Samak rice, also known as barnyard millet or vrat ke chawal, is a type of pseudo-grain that’s commonly eaten during fasts. It’s cooked like regular rice but has a lighter, fluffier texture. Samak rice can be prepared plain or lightly seasoned with cumin and green chilies and is often paired with yogurt or a simple potato curry. The dish provides a great alternative to regular rice and is rich in fiber and essential minerals. Its lightness makes it a great fasting dish, ensuring you don’t feel too full or sluggish after eating.
Singhare Ka Halwa
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Singhara (water chestnut) flour is a popular ingredient used during fasting, and Singhare ka Halwa is a delicious dessert made from it. The halwa is prepared by cooking the flour in ghee and sweetening it with sugar or jaggery. It has a smooth, velvety texture, with a subtle sweetness that’s not overpowering. Singhare ka Halwa is often garnished with slivers of almonds or pistachios, adding a bit of crunch to each bite.
Vrat Ke Dahi Aloo
Dahi aloo, or potatoes cooked in a yogurt-based gravy, is a cooling and mildly spiced dish perfect for fasting. The potatoes are simmered in a thick yogurt sauce flavoured with cumin seeds, rock salt, and green chillies. The tanginess of the yoghurt adds a refreshing touch to the dish, while the soft potatoes make it comforting and wholesome. Dahi aloo is often paired with kuttu ki puri or samak rice, but it can also be eaten on its own as a light, satisfying meal. The combination of yoghurt and potatoes makes this dish rich in probiotics and easy on the digestive system, ideal for fasting.
Rajgira Paratha
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Rajgira (amaranth) flour is another common grain used during fasting. Rajgira paratha is a flatbread made using this gluten-free flour, often combined with mashed potatoes to help bind the dough. The paratha is lightly spiced with cumin and black pepper, making it flavourful without being too heavy. It’s typically cooked on a griddle with a little ghee and served with yogurt or aloo sabzi. Rajgira is rich in iron, calcium, and fiber, making this paratha not only a tasty fasting option but also a nutritious one.