Chaitra Navratri 2023: Chef Tarun Sibal's Vada Recipe For A Vrat

Chaitra Navratri is a popular Hindu festival celebrated across the country. It is a nine-day festival during which devotees fast and worship the goddess Durga's nine avatars.This year, it began on March 22 and will be observed until March 30. On this festival, people fast, and offer prayers and bhog in order to obtain Maa Durga's blessings. This festival will conclude with Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Ram. 

During Navratri, the devotees only consume food prepared with vrat-friendly items such as sabudana, kuttu atta, and samo rice. These ingredients are very healthy and help keep you energetic for the whole day. Another such ingredient is amaranth seeds. It is high in many essential nutrients, including protein and vitamins, and has numerous benefits, including improved heart health and weight loss.

If you are also looking for vrat-friendly dishes made with amaranth, here is a special recipe shared by Chef Tarun Sibal from Titlie in Goa:

Vada Of Amaranth And Peas With White Pea Salad


Ingredients 

  • 1 cup amaranth seeds 
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1/2 cup peas, fresh or frozen
  • 1 large potato, boiled  
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 
  • 1/4 cup walnuts 
  • 1/2 cup coriander leaves
  • 2 green chillies, or as per the preference of heat 
  • 2 tablespoons ghee, or any high-smoking-point oil
  • 1 cup boiled white peas 
  • 1 tbsp melted butter  
  • ½ cup kachumber (onions, tomatoes, chillies, with chat masala and lemon)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method 

  • Bring the vegetable stock to a boil, then stir in the amaranth and peas. Salt the stock if it is not already seasoned.
  • Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
  • In a food processor, roughly pulse the coriander leaves, walnuts, and green chillies. You don't want to make a paste. Just hand-chop them if you so choose. Combine with Amaranth, peas, and potatoes.
  • Add salt, pepper, and cumin seeds. Roll into equal-sized balls and flatten slightly.
  • Heat the ghee until it's very hot, then add the fritter to the pan. Allow it to sizzle and crisp up on one side before flipping. They take about a minute on each side. 
  • Combine the warm white peas and kachumber, then add the butter.
  • Serve together.