Navratri fasting is a time when many people follow a simple diet and enjoy traditional vrat-friendly foods. From sabudana khichdi to samo rice and farali snacks, there are plenty of ways to prepare delicious meals while observing the fast.
The foods allowed during Navratri vary by family, region and fasting tradition. Here is a simple guide to commonly used ingredients and easy meal ideas for your vrat menu.
1. Sabudana: A Fasting Favourite
Sabudana, also known as tapioca pearls, is one of the most popular ingredients during Navratri. Its soft, chewy texture makes it ideal for preparing a variety of fasting dishes.
Popular dishes with sabudana:
- Sabudana Khichdi: Cooked with potatoes, peanuts, green chillies and sindhav salt.
- Sabudana Vada: Crispy patties made with soaked sabudana, mashed potatoes and crushed peanuts.
- Sabudana Kheer: A sweet preparation made with sabudana, milk, sugar and cardamom.
Sabudana is versatile and can be used for both savoury and sweet fasting recipes.
2. Samo or Moriyo: A Rice Alternative
Samo, also called moriyo or barnyard millet, is commonly used as a rice alternative during Navratri fasting. Its small grains cook into a soft, light texture, making it suitable for everyday vrat meals.
Popular dishes with samo:
- Samo Khichdi: A simple preparation with samo, potatoes, peanuts and sindhav salt.
- Moriyo Pulao: Cooked with fasting-friendly spices, potatoes and fresh coriander.
- Samo Dosa: A variation made using soaked and ground samo, depending on your fasting tradition.
Samo is an easy way to add variety to your fasting meals without relying on regular rice.
3. Sindhav Salt: Essential for Vrat Cooking
Sindhav salt, also known as sendha namak or rock salt, is commonly used instead of regular table salt during Navratri fasting.
It works well in savoury fasting dishes and can be used in:
- Sabudana khichdi and vada
- Samo khichdi and pulao
- Farali potato dishes
- Curd-based preparations
- Fasting snacks and chutneys
Always check your family’s fasting practices, as the use of different types of salt can vary.
4. Potatoes: A Versatile Fasting Ingredient
Potatoes are a popular ingredient during Navratri because they can be used in several simple preparations. They pair well with peanuts, cumin, green chillies and sindhav salt.
Easy fasting dishes include:
- Jeera Aloo
- Farali Aloo Tikki
- Aloo Sabzi
- Potato and peanut stir-fry
You can serve these dishes with vrat-friendly puris or enjoy them on their own.
5. Peanuts: A Crunchy Addition
Peanuts add crunch and flavour to many traditional fasting recipes. They are commonly roasted, crushed or ground and used in both snacks and main dishes.
You can add peanuts to sabudana khichdi, samo pulao and potato preparations. Crushed peanuts also work well in farali chutneys and snack mixtures.
6. Rajgira and Other Fasting Flours
Rajgira, also known as amaranth, is another commonly used ingredient during Navratri. Its flour can be used to prepare a variety of traditional fasting dishes.
Some popular options include:
- Rajgira Puri
- Rajgira Paratha
- Rajgira Sheera
- Rajgira Ladoo
Depending on your fasting tradition, kuttu and singhara flour may also be used for puris, rotis and other preparations.
7. Fruits, Milk and Dry Fruits
Fruits, milk and dry fruits are convenient options during Navratri. They can be eaten on their own or incorporated into simple meals and snacks.
Some easy choices include:
- Fresh fruits such as bananas, apples and pomegranates
- Milk and yoghurt
- Almonds, walnuts and cashews
- Makhana roasted with ghee and sindhav salt
- Fruit and yoghurt bowls
These ingredients can help add variety to your fasting menu without requiring elaborate preparation.
Tips for Planning Your Navratri Fasting Meals
- Keep ingredients ready: Stock up on sabudana, samo, rajgira flour, peanuts and sindhav salt before Navratri begins.
- Plan your meals: Prepare a simple menu to avoid repeating the same dishes every day.
- Soak ingredients in advance: Sabudana and samo may need soaking or rinsing, depending on the recipe.
- Use simple seasonings: Cumin, green chillies, ginger and fresh coriander can add flavour to many vrat dishes, where permitted.
- Stay hydrated: Drink sufficient water throughout the day, unless your fasting practice specifies otherwise.
Make Navratri Cooking Simpler with Bharat Masala
Navratri fasting offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy traditional Indian recipes, from sabudana khichdi and samo pulao to farali snacks and sweets. Keeping essential ingredients such as sabudana, samo, sindhav salt and fasting-friendly flours in your kitchen can make meal preparation easier.
Explore the range of ingredients available at Bharat Masala to prepare simple, flavourful meals throughout Navratri. Visit Bharat Masala to discover more products for your kitchen.
