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Karwa Chauth is a popular one-day festival in which married Hindu women observe fasting from sunrise to moonrise to pray for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. Traditionally, women abstain from food and water throughout the day and open their fasts after sighting the moonlight. However, of late, the festival has taken a modern turn, and most husbands also opt to keep a fast with their wives as a symbol of love and support.
With Karwa Chauth falling on 20th October this year, Sunday, husbands now have yet another way of expressing gratitude. A fasting wife deserves a delightful dinner, and it is one of the most loving gestures a husband can do. If you are planning to surprise your wife with a delectable meal, here are some light yet satisfying dishes that are easy to prepare, keeping in mind they are sattvic, and thus maintaining the auspiciousness of the day while simultaneously being satisfying and flavourful.
Lemon Mint Shikanji
Prepare a refreshing drink which will hydrate and rejuvenate her. Lemon Mint Shikanji is a tangy and cooling drink, which would just be perfect to break the fast.
Ingredients
Lemon juice
Mint leaves
Black salt
Roasted cumin powder
Sugar
Water, and ice.
Method: Add lemon juice, black salt, roasted cumin, and sugar in a glass, mix well then add fresh mint leaves muddled into it, serve chilled.
This drink is light on the stomach and lets the body restore its energy but also it can be prepared quite simply to present to your wife.
Dahi ke Aloo
This is such a simple, delicious curry which serves as a comfort like nothing else. This goes as well with hot puris, parathas or chapatis. The curd-based gravy makes it so light yet so full of flavour.
Ingredients
Boiled potatoes
Yoghurt
Cumin seeds
Green chillies
Turmeric
Red chilli powder
Coriander leaves
Video credit: MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria
Method: Heat ghee, add cumin seeds and green chillies. Add boiled, cubed potatoes and sauté for a few minutes. Whisk the yoghurt with turmeric and red chilli powder, then pour into the pan. Cook until the gravy thickens a little. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
Dahi ke Aloo is light on spices and is easily digestible so it makes for an excellent dish to be served after any day of fasting.
Masala Puri
Masala Puri is a perfectl simple and healthy bread course. The puris are very easy to fry as they are flavoured with spices, and it goes well with the curry.
Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour
Carom seeds
Cumin powder
Red chilli powder
Salt
Water
Oil for frying
Method: Take flour, spices, water, and knead dough. Roll out small puris and fry them deep till golden. Have is as a snack or with Dahi ke Aloo. Masala Puri is always liked on special occasions and adds a nice crunch to the meal.
Kashmiri Nandru (Lotus Stem)
Kashmiri Nandru or a special lotus stem curry, a unique dish that brings a traditional touch of Kashmiri flavours to the table. Sattvic and perfect for Karwa Chauth.
Ingredients
Lotus stems
Yoghurt
Asafoetida
Cumin seeds
Fennel powder
Ginger powder
Turmeric
Mustard oil
Method: Fry the lotus stems in mustard oil. In another pan, heat oil. Then add cumin seeds, asafoetida, and fried lotus stems. Whip up yoghurt with turmeric and ginger powder and add it to the hot oil. Keep on simmering till the curry thickens. Garnish with fennel powder and serve.
Gol Gappa Chaat
A favourite in most chaats, the tangy and spicy flavours bursting in every way will lighten up the otherwise heavy meal.
Ingredients:
Gol gappa puris
Boiled potatoes
Tamarind chutney
Mint chutney
Curd
Spices
Method: Fill the gol gappas with boiled potatoes and drizzle tamarind and mint chutney on it. Top it with curd and some chaat masala, and serve immediately.
This is a celebrative snack with an easy-eating, fuss-free experience.
Beetroot Tikki
Beetroot Tikki is an healthy and colourful snack that adds a nutritious touch to the meal with something very quickly made.
Ingredients
Boiled beetroot
Boiled potatoes
Green chillies
Breadcrumbs
Cumin powder
Salt
Oil for frying
Method: Crush boiled beetroot and potatoes, add breadcrumbs, green chilies, cumin powder, and salt. Shape small tikkis and shallow fry it till golden. Serve with mint chutney.
The tikkis are light and nutrient -rich, so these can be a Guilt free indulgence.
Dry Fruits Pulao
This is also one of the easiest ones where rice is taken and is mixed with chopped dates, apricots, almonds, and pistachios. Adding a few browned cashews gives it an extra richness of flavours.
Dry Fruits Pulao is the best for a wholesome, fullfilling dish. It's aromatic, lightly sweetened, and a very satisfying dish that goes well along with the curd-based preparations.
Ingredients
Basmati rice
Almonds
Cashews
Raisins
Saffron
Ghee
Cloves
Cinnamon.
Method: Cook the basmati rice with saffron and cloves. Fry the dry fruits in ghee till they are golden. Mix rice with the dry fruits and cinnamon. Serve hot.
This Pulao is not only nutritious but light as well and will definitely pamper your wife after her fast.
Dahi Bhalla
These soft, melt-in-the-mouth lentil dumplings soaked in dahi, however, remain a winner always during festivals.
Ingredients:
Urad dal
Yoghurt
Tamarind chutney
Mint chutney
Cumin powder
Chaat masala.
Method: Soak urad dal and grind to a thick batter. Fry small spoonfuls of the batter into golden balls and soak them in water. Then drain, pour yoghurt over the dumplings, followed by chutneys and spices. Serve chilled.
Dahi Bhalla is refreshing and light and makes for a great ending to a special Karwa Chauth dinner.
Such preparations by your better half on Karwa Chauth will not only satisfy her taste buds but also make her understand how much you care. Cooking is daunting, especially for people who rarely find their way around the stove, but it's the effort that comes out of it, rather than the output. If she needs to intervene a little while in the process, she would still appreciate the thought that goes into the making of such an attempt to make her day special.
