Popular 9 dishes you can savour during the Navratri days!
It’s the auspicious time of the year when Goddess Durga is celebrated with all the cheer for nine consecutive days. Navratri is one of the most awaited festivals as it brings a never-ending food-ride along with dandiya, puja, and bhog.
A large part of northern, western, and central India fasts for the 9 days. Whereas in the eastern part, in areas like West Bengal and Guwahati, it’s massively celebrated with Dhunuchi dance, pujo pandals and so much more. These 9 days are considered sacred throughout the nation are celebrated in different ways in every part of India, In Tamil Nadu, they have the tradition to keep Gollu for 9 days whereas, in Gujarat, Dandiya Raas and Garba is the highlight, on the other hand, in Kolkata, huge Durga maa idols and massive pujo takes the limelight.
Apart from the different ways it is celebrated in, one important aspect remains constant—food! Different parts of the nation, different celebrations with different delicacies. Here we have a special Navratri fasting food list with nine of the most popular food preparations savoured during the Navratri.
- Sabudana
Khichdi
Subadana is one of the most loved and popular food items during Navratri. Rich with starch, it acts as a quick energy booster to the devotees who fast during the 9 days. Being one of the most relished Vrat food items, both in southern India and Northern, it is savoured in different ways. People spruce it up with peanuts, fresh coriander, and mild spices and make a khichdi which is the most popular preparation.
Kheer
Apart from the wholesome khichdi, people often prepare Sbudanna Kheer, tikka, bhel and even vada to be savoured with chutneys. Although, Sabudana kheer comes second to khichdi. Flavoured with a pinch of cardamom and saffron, and topping it up with nuts—it’s an absolute treat for the taste-buds. Quick preparation is what makes it so popular amongst the devotees.
Sabudana Papad is another hit in the realm of sabudana delicacies. Made with sabudana and rock salt, it acts as a perfect accompanist for Navratri dishes such as pulow. Mother’s Recipe brings you the authentic taste of sabudana in a ready to fry papad to savoured anytime and anywhere. Perfect to fight the hunger or entertain guests at home, sabudana papad is certain to add the taste of love in your Navratri celebration.
- Kuttu ke Atta ku puri
Here’s another winner in the special menu of Navratri. Since during the 9 propitious days people avoid eating grains, meat, onion, and garlic, they turn towards basic recipes which are also known as ‘sattvik’ food. Instead of regular salt, they use sendha namak, which means rock salt, in the preparation.
Thus, in the preparation of Aalu Puri, they make the Aalu gravy using the basic mild spices and sendha namak. For the poori, the usual wheat flour is not used. Instead, Kuttu ka aata which is a buckwheat flour is used for the preparation of puri. Since it doesn’t come from grain, it is considered pure for the Pooja and qualifies under the fast ingredients.
- Roasted Makhana
Makhana, a common name for fox nuts, has gained itself a top position on the menu list of Navratri popular foods. Just like sabudana, they are also prepared in multiple ways. One can either prepare Makahan kheer, or even make Makhane ki sabzi, but the most popular version is when they are roasted and rubbed with some rock salt and pepper.
It is relished by the people who fast and is also given as Prasad. Being one of the most popular snacks during the Navratri Pooja, people savour it between their Dandiya breaks as well.
- Arbi pepper or sookhi Arbi
Colocasia, or Arbi, is a versatile vegetable. You can have numerous preparations using Arbi. It is usually savoured with puri as a gravy or relished like a snack where it is deep-fried and paired with multiple dips. A little bit of pepper garnishing elevates the flavoursome experience altogether.
- Singhare ke ate ka halwa
Water chestnut flour, popularly known as Singhare ka atta is another Navratri special food items that is popularly used during the festive days. Apart from making hot-hot puris, it is also widely used to make a dessert. Sugar, ghee, and atta are all you need to prepare this lip-smacking halwa.
- Potato Panneer Kofta
This soft texture koftas with a crispy exterior are a big hit amongst the Navratri vrat food items. Instead of corn flour, people mix the paneer with water chestnut flour (singhare ka ata) or buckwheat flour (kuttu ka aata) and a mixture of mild spices. Deep-fried in oil, they are one of the most popular side dish or snack items savoured in Gujarat during Navratri season. It is also considered as the farali which means food for the Vrat i.e., fast.
- Pumpkin Halwa
In the range of sweet delicacies, Pumpkin has garnered numerous favourable votes! It is also one of the main bhog during the Navratri and a popular item on the Navratri vrat food list. The Kashi Halwa is simple to cook and is perfect for those who are craving for something tasty yet fulfilling during their fasting. It is also called a superfood for devotes as it loaded with nutrition and acts as an energy booster to those who are fasting.
- Potato Papad
For the devotees who can’t stay away from potato and yet can’t switch to aalu poori every next day, potato papad is a big saviour. The perfect potato papad from Mother’s Recipe guarantees you the homely taste that grandma used to make and a health-some flavour with no preservatives and additives. Add the potato papad to your Navratri vrat food list and treat your taste-buds.
- Sweet potato Chaat
Don’t be misguided with the word chaat. One of the easiest to prepare and excessively quick to be wiped off from the plate is the delightful sweet potato chaat. Also, it is one of the most popular things we can eat during Navratri fast. Boil the sweet potatoes and top it up with pepper and rock salt and there you go—the chaat is ready to be savoured and consumed till the last bite. It is also one of the popular snack items kept as a refreshment for people during the Dandiya raas that is played over the night during all the 9 auspicious days.