Navratri Special: Easy Barnyard Millet Recipes While Fasting

Sharad Navratri 2024 starts on the 3rd of October, and till the 12th of October; devotees worship Goddess Durga and are popularly known to observe fasts. The nine-day-long auspicious festival holds spiritual significance, symbolising the triumph of good over evil, and is marked by prayers, fasting, cultural programs, and vibrant celebrations.

The devotees who fast during Navratri opt for Satvik food. Some of the popular options include kuttu ki roti, samak chawal, sabudana, potato dishes, fruits, curd, and so on. But making and eating the same dishes for nine days can get boring pretty soon. To add some variety to your Navratri special food, here are some easy barnyard millet recipes you must try.

Samak Chawal Khichdi

Khichdi is the go-to one-pot meal that can be quickly whipped up for any occasion. If you want to keep your meals light while fasting for Navratri 2024, samak chawal khichdi is a great option. You can start by rinsing barnyard millet and cooking it in water till the grains are soft. Then, you can stir in chopped veggies like potatoes, carrots, and peas, along with spices and roasted peanuts. Once well-cooked, you can serve it hot with chopped coriander.

Samak Chawal Idli

Idli is the South Indian staple breakfast and a light and healthy snack. To make the traditional idli vrat-friendly, instead of using regular rice, you can make the batter with barnyard millet. After soaking samak chawak, grind it into a paste and add rava, baking soda, and sendha namak to the batter. Topping with mustard seeds and curry leaves, you’ll get fluffy samak chawal idli to savour.

Samak Chawal Dosa

Another not-miss dish in South Indian cuisine is dosa. The thin and crispy crepe is not only easy to prepare, but its light texture and delicious taste make it a must-add to your Navratri special thali. All you need to do to make dosa while fasting is to make the batter with soaked and ground barnyard millet. Just cook on both sides till crispy, and your samak chawal dosa will be ready to serve during Navratri 2024.

Samak Chawal Pulao

Another one-pot meal that requires little effort to prepare but tastes wonders is pulao. The simplicity of rice cooked in assorted vegetables and a blend of spices results in a flavourful serving of pulao. Using samak rice, chopped veggies like onions, peas, cauliflower, potato, carrot, etc, and vrat-friendly spices, you can make the millet forward pulao in a pressure cooker. Serve it with raita to make your Navratri meal more indulgent.

Samak Chawak Kheer

To end the Navratri 2024 meal on a sweet note, you can make samak chawal kheer. Instead of the usual long-grained rice, you can use rinsed barnyard millet. Let the samak chawal simmer in milk. Once the mixture thickens, add in sugar and flavours like cardamom and cinnamon. Garnish with chopped dry fruits and nuts like almonds, cashew nuts, raisins, and pistachios to make your bowl of dessert richer and Navratri 2024 more special.