Navratri is almost here, and it’s time to look up some delicious Navratri Special Recipes to feast on. Navratri is a Hindu festival that honors the 9 forms of the Divine Mother, Shakti. During this time, people observe fast and avoid certain foods. As the festival coincides with a change of season, this helps prevent diseases, as our immunity will be poor at this time.
Foods that are easy to digest can be eaten. Vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, etc. Kuttu atta, makhanas, singhara atta, etc., are commonly used in the recipes for Navratri.
Here are some Navratri Naivedyam recipes that you can try at home:
1. Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana Khichdi is easy to make and very tasty. Here is the method of preparation:
· Wash a cup of sabudana and soak it overnight in one and a half cups of water.
· Dice a potato (remove the skin) and boil it in salted water.
· Make a puree of a big tomato and a green chili.
· Roast a few peanuts and keep them aside.
· Heat a pan and pour some ghee in it. Let it heat up.
· Add a teaspoon of mustard seeds and some curry leaves.
· Pour the tomato and chilli puree into the pan. Let it cook for a minute.
· Add salt and a teaspoon of garam masala.
· Once cooked, add some peanuts and boiled potatoes.
· Add the soaked sabudana and mix well.
· Cook for a minute. Switch off the flame and cover the pan with a lid.
2. Kuttu Ka Dosa
Kuttu is one of the best ingredients for Navratri recipes. One can make many items with it. Kuttu ka Dosa is a delicious recipe that you must try.
· Mash 2 tbsp Arbi in a bowl. Add 5 tbsp Kuttu ka atta with salt to taste.
· Add some water to the above, and make a thick paste.
· Add 1/2 tsp ajwain, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp ginger, and 1 tsp green chilies to the batter.
· Stir the batter until it has a smooth and flowing consistency. Add more water if necessary.
· Make dosas with the batter.
· Spicy aloo paste can be added to the dosa if you wish.
Banana Walnut Lassi
Banana Walnut Lassi is very easy to make. Moreover, it is a very energizing and nourishing drink.
· Add 1 cup low-fat yogurt, 1/2 banana, 3-4 walnuts, 1 tsp seed mix, and 1-2 tsp honey in a blender.
· Blend everything to make a thick smoothie. Add some water to adjust the consistency according to your needs.
Kebab-e-Kela
Kebab-e-Kela makes for a perfect starter to begin your Navratri vrat.
· Steam 250-gram raw bananas (diced), 1-inch ginger, and 1 black cardamom seed (badi elaichi) until the bananas become soft.
· Mash the boiled bananas. Add 1/4 cup kuttu ka atta, 2 tsp white rock salt (sendha namak), 2 tsp coriander seed powder, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1 green chili, and 2 tbsp chopped coriander.
· Knead everything into a dough and make small balls.
· Dust the balls with some kuttu ka atta and shallow fry them in a pan using ghee.
Makhana Kheer
This is a sweet dish, and the kids will sure love it. Makhana (foxnuts/lotus seeds) form an excellent fasting food. Makhana is very nutritious and light on the stomach.
· Roast 1 cup of Makhana (lotus seeds) and 10-12 cashews in 2-3 tbsp of ghee till they are crunchy.
· Heat 2 cups of milk in a thick-bottomed pan and let it come to a boil.
· Keep ⅓ cup of Makhana aside and grind the rest.
· Add around 3.5 to 4 tbsp of sugar to the milk.
· Add kesar and elaichi powder to the milk.
· Add the ground Makhana as well as the whole ones to the milk.
· Let it simmer. Turn off the heat when it reaches the desired consistency.
Aloo Ke Pakode
This, too, makes for a great starter.
· Chop a few potatoes.
· Add rock salt to taste and some chopped green chillies.
· Add kuttu ka atta and coat all the potatoes in it.
· Fry them and serve hot.
Paneer Rolls
Paneer lovers are going to relish this recipe. The recipe is quite simple, only the flavors are complex.
· Mix 2 boiled potatoes, 2 cups mashed paneer, 1 chopped green chili, 1/2 tsp chopped ginger, 1 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, 7-8 raisins, 1 tsp sendha namak, 1 tsp cardamom powder, a pinch of nutmeg, and 2 tsp chopped coriander leaves.
· Mix everything into a soft dough and create small rolls.
· Fry the rolls until they turn golden brown. Serve hot.
Roasted Makhana
Roasted Makhana makes for a delicious snack. Makhana is rich in protein, calcium, carbohydrates, iron, phosphorous, thiamine, and zinc. They have a neutral flavor, and you can spice it as you wish.
Heat 3 tsp oil/ghee in a pan.
Add 3 cups of makhana and roast for 10-12 minutes, till they become crisp.
Add ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp chili powder, and rock salt to taste. Mix well. Switch off the flame.
Add 1 tsp chaat masala. Mix again.
Serve hot.
You can also store the roasted makhana in an airtight container once they cool down.
Have fun this Navratri and enjoy these delicious Navratri recipes as you keep fast for the Goddess’ blessings.
