Sawan is considered to be a holy month per the Hindu calendar due to a lot of reasons. Not only is it dedicated to lord Shiva, but since rains help in better irrigation for agriculture, the month is considered to be sacred. A lot of devotees across India observe fasts every Monday throughout the month and refrain from eating onion and garlic throughout the Sawan.
But just because you’re fasting, it doesn’t mean that your food has to be bland. Be it while making a fruit bowl, raita, or sabzis, you can add a twist to your everyday meals with these recipes. Read on and explore a selection of Indian dishes that you can make without onion and garlic which are not just Satwik but also flavourful.
Jeera Aloo
Jeera aloo is a comforting Indian dish that can be made in innumerable varieties. But if you are avoiding onion and garlic during Sawan, you can just boil some potatoes and chop them into small pieces. You can then prepare a tadka with your preferred ingredients like cumin seeds, green chillies, and spices. Mix the boiled potatoes in the tampering, simmer till well-cooked, garnish with chopped coriander leaves, and your lunch or dinner will be ready.
Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana or tapioca pearls take centre stage during any fasts. The chewy ingredient is not just vrat-friendly, but it can impeccably absorb the flavours and add more taste to your Sawan diet. The best part is that sabudana khichdi can be quickly whipped up with basic kitchen ingredients like potatoes, cumin seeds, peanuts, soaked sabudana, and spices that you don’t avoid while fasting.
Bharwa Shimla Mirch
If you are tired of relying on curd and salad while fasting, you can make bharwa shimla mirch (stuffed capsicum), that too without using onion and garlic. To enjoy bharwa shimla mirch for a hearty Sawan meal, you can cut off the top of a capsicum and remove its seeds. Then, make a mixture of potatoes, paneer, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala. Stuff the capsicum with the masala, bake, roast or cook it on low heat as per your preference. Once the outsides are tender, you can enjoy it with a gluten-free roti.
Sabudana Tikki
For people looking for a crispy snack that you can eat while fasting during Sawan, sabudana tikki would be just perfect. All you need to do to make sabudana tikki is boil some potatoes and soak sabudana overnight. Then, mash the potatoes and mix in sabudana, with your go-to spices. Heat up a pan and shallow-fry patties made from the picture in cooking oil till they are crispy. Pair with imli or pudina chutney and enjoy.
Beetroot Raita
Eating plain curd while fasting can get boring. To make your accompaniment more flavourful, nutritious, and visually aesthetic, you can make beetroot raita, For adding a splash of colour and sweetness to your plate, you can mix in grated beetroot and chopped coriander leaves into curd. Season with sendha naman, and your beetroot raita will be ready.
Makhana Kheer
To end your Sawan meal on a sweet note, you can make the classic makhana kheer. Considered a superfood, makhana is not just a healthy snack but can also be used to make guilt-free desserts. Just soak some makhanas in water and simmer them in milk till they soften. Then, add in sugar and stir till it dissolves. You can then add in cardamom pods and chopped dry fruits and relish the Indian dessert.