Navrati Special: 8 Quick And Easy Fasting Recipes That Anyone Can Make

This Navratri festival, try these quick and easy fasting recipes that will leave the entire house a fan of your cooking. Check it out!

Navratri is one of the most awaited festivals of Goddess Durga, which is celebrated across India with a lot of pomp. It is a nine-day festival, wherein devotees observe fast and pray to the Goddess to get her blessings. This is the time to celebrate feminine energy, known as 'Shakti' and the nine avatars of Goddess Durga are worshipped during these days. It is also believed that during this time, Maa Durga travels to earth and blesses her devotees. On the ninth day, the fast is opened by performing kanjak pujawith nine young girls.

Navaratri food is different from the food which we eat daily. People keep a strict fast to please the Goddess. And this is why it has to be made with only limited ingredients. But, it does not mean that Navratri food cannot be tempting. And, if it is your first Navratri after marriage and you are worried about what to cook on these nine days, then you are at the right place. We bring you some mouth-watering and delicious dishes, which you can make quickly and easily. So, here are eight Navratri special recipes that will definitely earn you brownie points and will satiate your hunger pangs during the festival.

#1. Khire (cucumber) ke pakore

Try this delicious recipe of khire (cucumber) ke pakore and impress everyone at home!

All you need is:

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients, except khira and oil, and add water to make a thick batter.
• Heat oil in a pan. Now, dip the khira slices in the batter and drop them in the oil.
• Remove once they turn golden brown and crispy.

Serve your khira pakoras hot and enjoy them with tea or any other way you like.

#2. Arbi tikki (taro root cutlet)

Who does not love tikkis? So, this Navratri, make this delicious dish and surprise everyone! It is quick and easy to make, so roll your sleeves up and try it out!

All you need is:

Method:

• Boil arbi till it becomes soft, and then peel it.
• Mix all the ingredients in the arbi and mash it well.
• Shape the mixture into round balls. Do apply some oil on your palm while shaping the tikkis as the mixture will be sticky.
• Now, heat some oil in a pan and fry them till they are golden brown on both sides.

And voila! Your delicious arbi tikki is now ready to be served.

#3. Vrat ka uttapam

This festive season, ditch making kuttu ki poori and try this yummy uttapam instead! It will even satisfy your south-Indian food cravings during the nine-day fast.

All you need is:

Method:

• Mix cumin seeds, coriander leaves and rock salt in swang (vrat) ke chawal ka atta, along with water to make a thick batter.
• Heat some oil in a pan and pour the batter on it. Spread it a bit to give it a round shape.
• Now, sprinkle tomatoes and green chilli on the uttapam. Then, pour a few drops of oil on the top as well as the sides of the uttapam.
• Flip the uttapam after a few minutes and cook till the tomatoes on it turn slightly brown. Flip again to cook the plain side one more time.

Serve the uttapam with pudina chutney.

#4. Sweet potato halwa

Halwa is yet another dish that is liked by almost every Indian. So, here is another recipe for you to leave a good impression on everyone and satiate your taste buds.

All you need is:

Method:

• Boil, peel and mash the sweet potatoes.
• Heat oil. Fry cashew nuts till they turn slightly brown.
• Add mashed potatoes and sauté them for three to four minutes. Add sugar and sauté for another five to six minutes or till the sugar dissolves completely.
• Now, add crushed cardamom (elaichi) and saffron (kesar), and stir well for about 10-12 minutes, or till the ghee or oil starts to leave the sides.

Lastly, garnish the halwa with fried cashew nuts and serve it piping hot.

#5. Kacche kele ki chaat

Try this chaat to win everyone’s heart! Believe us, one bite and you will crave for more.

All you need is:

Method:

• Peel raw bananas, cut them into fine slices and dip them in cold water for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry them till they turn brown and crispy.
• Mix both the chutneys with the banana chips that you just prepared, and garnish them with coriander leaves.
• If you want, you can add a few drops of lemon and rock salt or chaat masala in it as well.

And now, serve them to your dear ones.

#6. Dry fruit milkshake

This milkshake will boost everyone’s energy instantly! So, here goes the recipe:

All you need is:

Method:

• Blend all the dry fruits in half a cup of milk.
• Add sugar and the remaining milk in the blended dry fruits and blend them again.
• Put the mix in a glass and garnish it with the remaining dry fruits.

Serve this yummy milkshake for breakfast and get ready to receive appreciation for it.

#7. Falahari dosa

This Navratri, surprise your family by making dosa instead of poori. It will even bring a fresh change in the usual fasting food. Try it out!

All you need is:

Method:

• Soak sanwa (sama) millet in water for at least two hours. Drain and blend it in a paste, with just two tablespoons of water.
• Transfer paste to a bowl and mix all the ingredients in it. Cover and keep it aside overnight to ferment.
• Heat oil in a pan and pour the batter in the pan and spread it in a circular motion. Pour a few drops of oil on the sides and cook by flipping both the sides till dosa turns golden brown in colour.

Fold the dosa and serve it with chutney.

#8. Khatta meetha kaddu (sweet and sour pumpkin)

Make this delicious kaddu recipe and enjoy it with rice or poori!

All you need is:

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, pumpkin, sugar and salt, and stir well. Cover the pan and cook the pumpkin till it becomes soft. Do not add water as it will cook in its own juices. But, in case the pumpkin juice dries up, then add a little water at regular intervals till the pumpkin get completely cooked.
• Add mango powder and season it with roasted cumin powder and black pepper powder.

Garnish the pumpkin with coriander leaves and serve it hot.

So ladies, instead of making the same old poori, sabudane ki khichdi, etc., this Navratri, try any of these delicious and easy-to-make recipes! And trust us, your family will be totally impressed by your culinary skills after having these delicious dishes!