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| Image source -Wikimedia Commons |
5 Delicious and Nutritious Navratri Recipes to Try During the Festival
Navratri, the nine-day long festival celebrated across India, is a time of joy, devotion, and fasting. It is celebrated twice a year with great zeal and enthusiasm. During this time, people observe fasts, worship the goddess Durga, and indulge in a variety of traditional delicacies. The festival is not just about worship and rituals; it also involves the preparation of delicious food that is made using special ingredients and cooking techniques.
In this article, we will explore some of the most popular Navratri recipes that you can try during the festival. These recipes are not only delicious but also easy to make at home.
1. Sabudana Khichdi
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| Image source - Flickr |
Sabudana khichdi is a popular Indian dish made from soaked sabudana (tapioca pearls), peanuts, and potatoes. Here's a recipe to make sabudana khichdi:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 1 medium-sized potato, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
- 2-3 green chillies, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon ghee or oil
- Salt, to taste
- Sugar, to taste
- Lemon juice, to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnishing
Instructions:
1. Soak the sabudana in water for at least 3-4 hours or overnight until they become soft and fluffy.
2. Drain the water and spread the soaked sabudana on a plate to dry out excess moisture for around 30 minutes.
3. In a pan, heat ghee/oil and add mustard and cumin seeds. Let them splutter.
4. Add chopped green chillies and sauté for a minute.
5. Add cubed potatoes and cook till they become soft and tender.
6. Add the roasted peanuts and mix well.
7. Add the soaked and dried sabudana to the pan and mix gently.
8. Add salt and sugar according to your taste.
9. Cook for around 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, till the sabudana pearls turn translucent.
10. Finally, add lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves and mix well.
11. Serve hot and enjoy the delicious sabudana khichdi!
Note: If the sabudana khichdi is too dry, you can add a little water to adjust the consistency. You can also add grated coconut or curry leaves to enhance the flavour.
2. Kuttu Ka Dosa
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| Image source - Dreamstime.com |
Kuttu ka dosa is a popular dish in India, especially during the fasting season. It is made using buckwheat flour and is a healthy and delicious option for those who are fasting. Here's how you can make Kuttu ka dosa:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta)
- 1/4 cup grated potatoes
- 1/4 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 cup chopped spinach
- 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp chopped green chillies
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
- Oil for cooking
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the buckwheat flour, grated potatoes, grated carrots, chopped spinach, chopped coriander leaves, cumin seeds, grated ginger, chopped green chillies, and salt to taste.
2. Mix well and slowly add water to make a smooth batter. The consistency of the batter should be similar to that of a pancake batter.
3. Let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes to allow the buckwheat flour to absorb the water.
4. Heat a non-stick tawa or griddle over medium-high heat.
5. Pour a ladleful of the batter onto the tawa and spread it out evenly to make a thin dosa.
6. Drizzle some oil around the edges of the dosa and let it cook for 2-3 minutes until the edges start to crisp up and turn golden brown.
7. Flip the dosa and cook the other side for another minute or so until it's cooked through.
8. Remove the dosa from the tawa and serve hot with any chutney or yogurt of your choice.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy Kuttu ka dosa!
3. Singhare Atte Ki Puri
It is made using water chestnut flour and is a healthy and delicious option for those who are fasting. Here's how you can make Singhare atte ki puri:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta)
- 2 boiled and mashed potatoes
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp chopped green chillies
- Salt to taste
- Water as needed
- Oil for frying
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, add the water chestnut flour, boiled and mashed potatoes, cumin seeds, grated ginger, chopped green chillies, and salt to taste.
2. Mix well and slowly add water to make a smooth dough. The dough should not be too soft or too hard.
3. Let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes to allow the water chestnut flour to absorb the water.
4. Heat oil in a kadhai or deep frying pan over medium-high heat.
5. Divide the dough into small equal-sized balls.
6. Roll each ball into a small round shape.
6. Gently slide the puri into the hot oil and fry until it turns golden brown on both sides.
7. Remove the puri from the oil and place it on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
8. Repeat the process with the remaining dough balls.
9. Serve the puris hot with any chutney or yogurt of your choice.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy Singhare atte ki puri!
4. Samak Rice Pulao
It is made using Samak rice (also known as Barnyard Millet) and is a healthy and delicious option for those who are fasting. Here's how you can make Samak Rice Pulao:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Samak rice
- 1/4 cup chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup green peas
- 1/4 cup chopped potatoes
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- 1/2 tsp chopped green chillies
- 2-3 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups of water
- Oil for cooking
Instructions:
1. Rinse the Samak rice in water and soak for 20-30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add cumin seeds, cloves, bay leaf and sauté until fragrant.
4. Add grated ginger, chopped green chillies and sauté for a few seconds.
5. Add chopped vegetables (carrots, peas, and potatoes) and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
6. Drain the Samak rice and add it to the pan.
7. Mix everything well and sauté for a few minutes.
8. Add water and salt to taste and mix well.
9. Bring the mixture to a boil.
10. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and let the pulao cook for 15-20 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the Samak rice is cooked through.
11. Fluff the pulao with a fork and serve hot with any chutney or yogurt of your choice.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy Samak Rice Pulao!
5. Lauki Ka Halwa
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| Image source - Wikimedia Commons |
Lauki ka halwa is a popular dessert in India made with grated bottle gourd, milk, sugar, and nuts. Here's how you can make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized bottle gourd (lauki/dudhi), grated
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3-4 tbsp ghee
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- A handful of chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
- A few strands of saffron (optional)
1. Peel and grate the bottle gourd and squeeze out the excess water.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of ghee in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add the grated bottle gourd and sauté for 5-7 minutes until it is soft and cooked.
4. Add the milk and saffron strands (if using) to the pan and mix well.
5. Cook the mixture on low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the milk has reduced and the mixture has thickened.
6. Add the sugar, cardamom powder, and chopped nuts to the pan and mix well.
7. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has thickened further.
8. Add another tablespoon of ghee to the pan and mix well.
9. Turn off the heat and let the halwa rest for a few minutes.
10. Serve the lauki ka halwa hot or cold, garnished with more chopped nuts if desired.
Enjoy your delicious lauki ka halwa!
Conclusion
Navratri is a time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, and what better way to celebrate than by indulging in some delicious Navratri recipes. These dishes are not only tasty but also healthy and nutritious. By trying out these recipes, you can add some variety to your Navratri fasting menu and enjoy the festival with your family and friends. So, get your pots and pans ready and start cooking!