Sharad Navratri has finally begun and Maa Durga has blessed us with her Divine presence. Navratri or 'the nine nights' is an Indian festival dedicated to the worship of the 9 forms of the Hindu Deity, Goddess Durga. It is traditionally the time to fast and to pray. It is a time to purify our souls and cleanse our system and to rejuvenate. Most devotees observe fasting on all 9 days by following a restricted diet to detoxify the body. Eating the same type of fasting food (vrat ka khana) for 9 days can be monotonous and may not be a balanced diet. Food has to be chosen wisely to reap maximum benefits from fasting. Today I have come up with 9 different healthy, delicious and nutritious Navratri Fasting Platter ideas along with recipes, which are quick and easy to make, easy to digest and will keep you energized and hydrated without adding unwanted calories during the fasting period.
Durga Pooja is celebrated twice every year - Vasant Navratri which comes in Chaitra month (March-April) during Spring season and Sharad Navratri which comes in Ashwin month (September- October) during the Fall season with full faith and devotion. This year Sharad Navratri began on 17th October and will end on 25th October following Dushera which is also another important festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil.
- Fresh fruits preferably seasonal whole fruits and dry fruits.
- Milk and milk products - Milk, Curd, Ghee, Butter, Buttermilk, Paneer (Indian cottage Cheese), Khoya/Mava.
- Barnyard Millet/Samak Chawal / Samo/ Vrat ke Chawal/ Bhagar
- Sago / Sabudana
- Water Chestnut / Singhara
- Buck wheat / Kuttu
- Amaranthus / Rajgira
- Groundnuts/ Peanuts/ Mungphali/ Shengdana
- Sesame Seeds/ Til
- Foxnut/Lotus Seeds/ Makhana
- Vegetables like pumpkin (kadu), potato, sweet potato, colocasia (arabi), bottle gourd (lauki), cucumber, green chilies, coriander, mint.
- Sendha Namak (rock salt)
- Sugar, jaggery
- Spices like cumin seeds, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg.
My 9 Navratri Fasting Platters :
I observe fast on all 9 days and have only 2 meals a day. One meal with just milk and fruits and dry fruits (no-salt meal) and the second meal with salt - a balanced falahari diet. I try to refrain from eating ready made chips and chivda or the deep fried food as much as possible. Let's have a look at all the nine platters one by one. I had posted some of this platters on my Instagram handle last year, but without recipes. These were the meals i consumed during my last year Navratri fasting. This year, i am glad, i could blog all the 9 platters. I have provided the recipe link for all the recipes that are already on the blog and provided a written recipe for the rest which are not yet on the blog.
- My #Day1 Navratri Fasting Platter has in clock-wise order Barnyard Millet Upma / Sama Chawal Upma , Cucumber, Sabudana papad , Aloo Rassa ( A simple boiled potato gravy) and Shrikhand (Yogurt based dessert where hung curd is whisked with powdered sugar and flavored with cardamom and topped with saffron and pistachio.
- Aloo Rassa - This satvik aloo curry is very delicious and a breeze to make if you have boiled potatoes ready at hand.
- 2 medium sized boiled potatoes
- 1-2 green chilies
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 1 tomato (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- Rock salt to taste
- Fresh coriander for garnishing.
- Heat ghee and add cumin seeds to it.
- Once the seeds crackle, add the minced ginger and green chilies followed by tomato puree, if using and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 1/2 cup water, rock salt and turmeric if using. Add mashed boiled potatoes to it and allow the curry to boil and then simmer until it gets the desired consistency.
- Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and serve.
2. #Day2 Navratri fasting Platter: The platter has in clock-wise order Sabudana Khichdi (spicy sago stir-fry from Maharashtrian Cuisine), Doodhichi Koshambir/ Lauki Raita (bottle gourd in yogurt), Nariyal Burfi (fresh coconut fudge), Raw banana chips and Pomegranate seeds.
- To make the Baryard millet dosa, grind the soaked sago(sabudana) with soaked barnyard millet in the ratio of 1:2 with ginger, cumin seeds and green chilies. Add rock salt (sendha namak) to taste and buttermilk and pulse again to get a batter of a consistency a dosa batter consistency, we use to make the regular dosa. Add a ladle full of the batter over a heated ghee-greased pan and spread the batter in circular outward movement to make a thin dosa.
- To make the jeera aloo, simply heat little ghee or oil in a pan and add cumin seeds to it. Once the seeds crackle, add finely chopped green chilies and grated ginger. Add the peeled and chopped potatoes and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes. Season with rock salt and cover cook without adding water on low flame until the potatoes are cooked well.
- To make the Sabudana thalipeeth, i have added grated bottle gourd, finely chopped green chilies and coriander to the soaked sago with rock salt and mixed well. Add a little water chestnut flour or boiled and mashed potato if you feel the dough is not binding properly. Now take a portion and spread it out on a greased work surface and delicately transfer it to a heated skillet. Cook the thalipeeth from both sides until crisp.
- To make the fruit cream, i simpley whisked the milk cream with little sweetened reduced milk and added chopped fruits to it.
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This is one off a kind post .. appreciate the way you have balanced the nutrients as well as taste factor while planning the menu . No one will say to fasting if they are served such divine balanced prasad...bhooke pet bhajan nahi hota aur aise kha kar dil se bhajan hoga :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are right Priya, fasting if done thoughtfully can benefit both body and soul. I am glad you liked it.
DeleteWow Poonam, such a huge collection of fasting recipes. I've got to try so many of them. I usually only fast on the 8th day of Navratri. If hubby is fasting too then his preferred choice for meal is sama khichdi and aloo rasa or rasawaru shaak as we call it.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am glad you liked it. Do give some of them a try.
DeleteTotally love your traditional platters, and these are no exception. I am in awe of how you have come up with a complete hearty fasting platter for every day of Navratri. Brilliant post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words Priya. Glad that you liked it.
DeleteI am always in awe of your dedication Poonam. Such a beautiful blog platter with balanced nutrition. Each platter looks irresistible. Beautifully presented.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. I am glad you liked the fasting platters.
DeleteWow Poonam this is one awesome collection. I have to try them all :D I appreciate that you have not taken the easy way out but tried to balance the meals.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I am sure you will love all these fasting platters. Happy cooking !
DeleteWow Poonam.. what an apt post for the theme and the Navratri time. such a versatile collection.. love each one platter here..so healthy and nutritious.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Swaty. I am glad that you liked these fasting platters .
DeleteAwesome Poonam !! love these traditional spreads for each day of navratra. Brilliant compilation...
ReplyDeleteThanks Sasmita.
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