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Navratri is grand Hindu festival that is widely celebrated all over the country. It is a nine-day occasion that is dedicated to the divine feminine power of Shakti. During Navratri, we worship different avatars of Goddess Durga and seek her blessings. This year, it starts on October 15 and will conclude on October 24 with Dussehra.
This elaborate festival is also celebrated with dandiya, garba, visiting pandals and indulging into some sattvik delicacies. Onion, garlic, non-vegetarian and other tamsik foods are avoided by the devotees during Navratri. It is also a season to detox your mind and body by following a healthy vegetarian diet. Besides, kuttu atta, sabudana, rock salt and samak rice, vegetables are also an important part of the festive meals.
Here are six vegetable side dishes that you can prepare during Navratri:
Vrat Wale Aloo
Potato is an extremely versatile vegetable that fits everywhere. It holds a special place in the Navratri meals. There are numerous fasting dishes prepared with potatoes and vrat wale aloo is one of the most popular ones. It is very simple to make and can be enjoyed with kutti ki puri, rajgira paratha and samak rice. The main ingredients of this dish are carom seeds, potatoes, tomato and rock salt.
Arbi Curry
It is very important to eat healthy food during the fasting days to maintain energy levels. So, most people opt for nutritious vegetables. Taro or arbi is another go-to item for Navratri meals. Made with very few ingredients like arbi, cumin seeds and tomatoes, arb curry goes well with puri, roti as well as rice.
Dahi Aloo
This is another potato dish you can enjoy during Navratri. Made with boiled potatoes, ghee, curd, rock salt, buckwheat flour and a few spices like peppercorns and cumin seeds, this rich and creamy dish is perfect for lunch as well as dinner. Dahi aloo is best enjoyed with any puri, roti and samak rice.
Kaddu Ki Sabzi
Also known as pethe ki sabzi, this humble side dish is widely enjoyed all over the country with rice for lunch. The vrat-friendly version of kaddu ki sabzi is prepared with pumpkin, rock salt, lemon juice, sugar and a few spices like cumin seeds and coriander powder. It is a perfect amalgamation sweet and tangy flavour and goes well with rice, puris as well as kachoris.
Suran Curry
This is a spicy and tangy dish that perfectly fits into your Navratri meals. It is prepared by pressure cooking yam until soft and mushy and then combining it with cumin seeds, curry leaves, black pepper, lemon juice and rock salt. It is best served with samak rice khichdi and a bowl of curd during the fasting days.
Lauki Kofta
Kofta is a beloved dish all over the country. Packed with plenty of flavours, it is perfect for a wholesome family dinner. Usually it is prepared with onion-based sauce but there is also a vrat-friendly version of this dish. Made with grated bottle gourd, curd, tomato, kuttu atta and spices like coriander powder and cumin seeds, it goes well with all kinds of puris and samak rice.
