Planning to Fast During Navratri? Here are 9 Quick and Healthy Recipes for Your Navratri Fast in 2019!

Planning to Fast During Navratri? Here are 9 Quick and Healthy Recipes for Your Navratri Fast in 2019!

The days of Maa Durga are here. Navratri marks the destruction of evil and start of the festive season. To seek her blessings, many people fast during the nine days of Navratri. But, fasting can be a tough affair if you do not know the recipes of some delicious dishes. We are here to help you with some of the easiest and quality dishes which can be eaten during the Navratri fast.

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Want to Try Some Easy and Healthy Recipes for Navratri Fast this Time?

Navratri is an auspicious time for all Hindus in India. It is a festival that is celebrated throughout the country and also by Indians abroad. Observing fast for 9 days is an important element of the festival. Are you observing Navratri fast for the first time and don’t know what to cook? Are you short of time to prepare elaborate dishes during the fast? Are you looking for some recipes that are different from the ones that you usually prepare for Navratri fast? If your answer to anyone of these questions is a ‘yes’, then we suggest you read along. We have some solutions for you!

What is The Navratri Festival?

Before we jump to the recipes, it's important that we understand what the whole deal is. The term Navratri literally means, nine nights; thus, righteously describing the nine days of fast! Navratri is celebrated in honor of Goddess Durga and her victory over the demon, Mahishasura. Over the nine days of the festival Goddess Durga is worshipped in her nine different forms or avatars. Devotees indulge in holy rituals and poojas, during the day and participate in dance and music in the night. The festival symbolically signifies the value and importance of good deeds and values over evil.

Significance of Fasting During Navratri

Ideally, devotees fast during Navratri to please the Goddess Durga or Durga Maa, as affectionately known. They consider this as an auspicious occasion to embrace the blessings from the Goddess. However, there are other reasons too, why observing fast during this time is considered good.

Typically, the festival days of Navratri falls on the season subjected to environmental changes. You are more prone to illnesses during this season. Hence, abstaining from eating certain food items and sticking to only specific ones, basically gives the gut a break. This is a way to detox and cleanse the body. Moreover, it is believed to relieve the mind of stress and tension too. Fasting or abstinence from food is said to reaffirm the notion of belittling materialism and embracing spirituality.

Permissible Ingredients for Navratri Recipes

People observe fast during Navratri with great faith and commitment. It is seen that families have their indigenous way of fasting, which may vary slightly from one to another. Having said that, it is important to know that there are certain mandatory rules that have to be adhered while observing the Navratri fast. This ideally refers to the ingredients being used in the recipes prepared during the fast. We have compiled a list of the ingredients that can and cannot be used in any of the Navratri recipes for 9 days fast.

Flours and Grains

Scientifically speaking, certain grains and flours like rice and wheat take up more time for digestion and are heavy on the stomach. On the other hand, grains and flour like buckwheat (kuttu) and water chestnut (singhada) are very light on the gut. Especially when the body is low in immunity and prone to illnesses, it is prudent to stick to the lighter versions of food.

    Flours and grains to be avoided:

  • Rice flour, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, corn flour, chickpea flour and semolina.
  • Flours and grains allowed in Navratri recipes:

  • Sabudana (tapioca pearls), water chestnut flour(singhada), buckwheat flour(kuttu), amaranth(rajgira) and samak rice (barnyard millet).

Vegetables

Non-vegetarian products are totally given up during this time. As a result, people resort to different variants of vegetables in the recipes. However, there are certain restrictions on the usage of vegetables too. As per Ayurveda, vegetables that are tamasic are those that increases heat in the body, and hence are not good. Onions, garlic, shallots, mushrooms, eggplants and bhindi fall under this category. Sattvic vegetables are said to give energy to the body and keeps one hydrated. These vegetables should be consumed during the Navratri fast.

    Vegetables to be avoided:

  • Onions, garlic, shallots, mushrooms, eggplants and bhindi
  • Vegetables allowed in Navratri recipes:

  • potato, sweet potato, tomato, pumpkin, bottle gourd, raw banana, raw papaya, ginger, cucumber, yam and lemons.

Spices and Herbs

Spices in general are said to increase the heat in the body. As a result, most of the usual spices used in Indian cooking like turmeric, mustard seeds and such are avoided for Navratri recipes. Also, regular table salt is not used for the cooking. Instead, rock salt or sendha namak is used. This is because rock salt is considered to be purer and more unprocessed, compared to table salt. Apart from the allowed spices, some people may also use fresh coriander leaves, red chilli powder, dry mango powder (amchur) and chaat masala.

    Spices to be avoided:

  • Asafetida (hing), turmeric, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, garam masala, coriander powder
  • Spices allowed in Navratri recipes:

  • Cumin, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ajwain, black pepper, tamarind, nutmeg, kokum and dry pomegranate seeds.

Fruits

There are no restrictions on fruits during the Navratri fast. You can consume any kind and any quantity of fruits during this time. In fact, it is the best time to enjoy seasonal fruits like mangoes, watermelons and apples. You can eat them fresh and whole or can have them juiced. Alternatively, you can also make a fruit chaat or simply have them with some yogurt.

Milk Products

All dairy products made out of milk is permissible to be included in Navratri recipes. You can get a good dose of protein from these products. All milk alternatives like soy milk, coconut milk, cashew and almond milk are also allowed in recipes. You can opt to include paneer, cheese, buttermilk, yogurt or curd in your daily Navratri fasting diet.

9 Quick and Healthy Recipes for Navratri

Finally, it goes without saying that devotees have to steer-clear of egg, non-vegetarian food and alcohol during this festive season. These ingredients do not align with the fasting rituals and needs to be totally avoided at any cost.

Now that we are clear about the ingredients to use for cooking our Navratri special dishes, lets get ahead with the recipes.

You will see that we have compiled a list of quick and healthy recipes to try out. These recipes are:

  • Easy and can even be prepared by beginners at cooking.
  • Take very less time in prepping and cooking
  • Use healthier versions of the ingredients and hence, are very nutritious
  • Different from the traditional dishes cooked for Navratri
  • Involve no complicated steps in the cooking process.

Banana Walnut Lassi

Let’s start off with the easiest recipe that involves no cooking at all! This lassi is great to have in the morning to start off a Navratri day. This drink is loaded with nutrients and fiber and is very light on the digestive system; but keeps you full for sure!

    Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup yoghurt/ curd
  • 4 walnuts
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Ice (optional)

    Instructions:

  • Add all the ingredients (except ice) into a blender.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Add ice if needed.
  • Serve with chopped pieces of walnut and banana.

Paneer and Badam Milk Energy Drink

This paneer and badam milk are assured to give all the energy boost for the whole day while observing Navratri fast. This drink can be had as a midday snack or a meal in its whole, as it keeps you feeling full for a long time.

    Ingredients:

  • ½ cup grated paneer (cottage cheese)
  • ½ cup badam (almond)
  • 4 cup milk
  • ½ tsp cardamom powder
  • ½ cup sugar
  • Few strands of saffron
  • 12 almonds soaked, peeled and chopped (for garnishing)

    Instructions:

  • Make a paste out of the almonds by adding a little water. Keep this aside.
  • Now, boil the milk and add grated paneer to it.
  • Cook on medium heat till the mixture thickens.
  • To this, add the almond paste, sugar, cardamom powder and saffron.
  • Add the almonds for garnishing. Mix well and serve cool.

Pink Barfi - Navratri Special

This is an easy to make sweet that is rich in proteins and hence, is ideal for a Navratri fasting day! It is made from Khoya/Mawa which is a dairy product made from milk. Khoya is basically milk solid, left after evaporation of the water content from milk.

    Ingredients:

  • 500 gm khoya
  • 100 gm coconut powder (desiccated)
  • ½ cup sugar (powdered)
  • ½ tsp red food color

    Instructions:

  • Heat the khoya in a pan and stir continuously till you get a smooth dough.
  • Keep aside to cool. To this add the sugar, coconut powder and food color.
  • Mix well. Set in a tray and cut into diamond shaped pieces.

Sabudana Ladoo Recipe

Sabudana (tapioca pearls) are popularly used in recipes for Navratri fast. Here is a sweet ladoo from Sabudana.

    Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Sabudana
  • ¾ cup desiccated coconut
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 6 tbsp ghee
  • 9 cashews(chopped)
  • ½ tsp cardamom powder
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

    Instructions:

  • Dry Roast the Sabudana in a pan till the pearls turn crunchy and light brown.
  • Cool and grind into a fine powder.
  • Now, lightly roast the coconut powder and add the Sabudana powder to it.
  • Add sugar and mix well and keep aside.
  • To this mixture, add cashews fried in ghee.
  • Add cardamom and nutmeg powder. Combine well and shape into ladoos.

Samak Rice Dosa

Samak or farli dosa is rich in nutrients but low in calories. It is very easy to prepare and great to have on a Navratri day.

    Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Samak rice (barnyard millet)
  • ½ cup Sabudana
  • ½ cup thick curd
  • Rock salt (as per taste)
  • Oil

    Instructions:

  • Clean the Samak rice and Sabudana and soak in water for 4 hours.
  • Then, Blend to a smooth consistency by adding curd.
  • Add rock salt to this batter and start making dosas right away!

Navratri Tomato Soup

If you are also watching the calories in your diet while fasting for Navratri, then try this low fat Navratri recipe. Makhana (lotus seeds) added in the recipe gives a thick consistency to the soup

    Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe tomatoes
  • 1 carrot (optional)
  • 1 cup roasted makhanas
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional)
  • Rock salt and pepper to taste..

    Instructions:

  • Cook the tomatoes in the pressure cooker. Grind well.
  • Now, coarse grind the makhanas and mix water to make a paste.
  • Combine both the pastes and cook on medium heat.
  • Add salt, sugar and pepper as per taste.
  • Serve hot.

Navaratri Special Cheela

Cheelas are thicker versions of dosas. This potato- Sabudana cheela is perfect as a meal on a Navratri fasting day.

    Ingredients:

  • 4 medium potatoes (grated)
  • Rock salt (as required)
  • ½ tsp Black pepper
  • 2 green chilies
  • 3 tbsp Sabudana powder
  • Water (as needed)

    Instructions:

  • Combine all the ingredients.
  • Add water as required to bind well.
  • Heat a griddle and pour the batter onto it.
  • Flatten it and cook well on both the sides.
  • Add ghee to this cheela as needed.

Kala Chana Sundal Recipe

This south Indian Navratri recipe is both a snack as well as a whole meal in itself. Help yourself to this tasty dish and feel guilt free while fasting for Navratri. It is that healthy and nutritious!

    Ingredients:

  • ½ cup black chickpeas (kala Chana)
  • 2 cups water
  • For seasoning:
  • 1 tbsp ghee/ coconut oil
  • ¾ tsp urad dal
  • 1 green chilli
  • 1 dry red chilli
  • 2 tbsp fresh coconut (grated)
  • 10 curry leaves
  • Few drops of lemon juice (optional)
  • Rock salt (as required)

    Instructions:

  • Soak the kala Chana overnight.
  • Add the Chana, rock salt and water to the pressure cooker and cook till done.
  • Drain the kala Chana and keep aside.
  • Season all the ingredients (mentioned above) in ghee and add to the cooked kala Chana.

Easy Cake from Kuttu and Singada Flour

This is a fast (vrat) friendly cake made from Kuttu and singada flour instead of regular flour. It is easy to make and healthy too.

    Dry ingredients:

  • 1 cup Kuttu flour
  • ½ cup singada flour
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  • Baking powder 1 tsp
  • Baking soda ¼ tsp

  • Other ingredients:
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup jaggery powder
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 4-5 tsp curd
  • 100 ml milk
  • Vanilla essence (optional)
  • Dry fruits (as required)

    Instructions:

  • Sieve all the dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Grind banana, curd, jaggery powder and oil into a smooth paste.
  • Blend this with the dry ingredients in batches.
  • Add dry fruits and vanilla essence.
  • Bake in microwave for 5-7 mins.
Writer
Rubina Cheruvalath
Rubina is a free thinker and a dreamer. She believes that there is something to be learnt from everything. In spite of securing a technical education, Rubina chose to think beyond it and work in the management field. A proud mum of two boys, she aspires to explore the world with her family and create cherishable memories.
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Treat Yourself to these Super-Easy Navratri Fast Recipes in 2019

Navratri fasting is a common practice in many parts of India. Whilst having spiritual benefits, it has some scientific and biological benefits too. So, if you are also planning to fast this year, don't forget to try these delicious recipes at home.