Here are some Quick and Nutritious Delicacies for Your Fasting Platter

It is those nine days of the year when your spiritualism, enthusiasm, and getting in line with the changes in your body- is at par. Navratri is one of the biggest festivals for the Hindus and is celebrated with great fervour across the country. The devotees choose to either observe the nine-day fast, or eliminate the consumption of garlic, onion, alcohol, and non-vegetarian, or just fast on the first day and the last day of the festival. In any case, the delicacies made for offering to the goddess in the households are worth relishing. So, if you are looking out for some healthy ideas to include in your diet, read on. 

• Buckwheat vegetable khichdi. 

Buckwheat is a super nutritious whole grain and can be considered as a superfood. Among the multiple health benefits that it has, buckwheat can improve your heart health, promote weight loss, and manage diabetes. It also provides you with abundant energy, protein, and fibre. 

Ingredients:

Roasted peanuts, ghee, cumin seeds, green chilli, ginger, potato, paneer, lemon juice, buckwheat groats, water, and sendha namak or rock salt. 

Process: 

• Soak the buckwheat and boil them. 
• In a pan, heat the ghee, add cumin, green chilli, ginger, and peanuts to it. 
• Add cubed potatoes, paneer and boiled buckwheat to it. Mix it well and let it be on the flame for about 5-10 minutes. 
• Add the rock salt, and some fresh coriander leaves to it and serve.

Sweet potato chaat. 

Tuber vegetables like sweet potato, provide energy to the body and aid in easy digestion. 

Ingredients:

Sweet potatoes, pomegranate seeds, sendha namak, cumin powder, fresh coriander, mint and coriander chutney, some oil. 

Process: 

• Boil the sweet potatoes and then dice them. On a baking tray, place the diced sweet potato and grease them with some oil. 
• Make mind and coriander chutney by adding some- mint, coriander, curd, green chillies, some lemon juice, and sendha namak. 
• Once the sweet potatoes are crispy and brown, toss them with the chutney, cumin powder, fresh coriander, and pomegranate seeds.

Rajgira ladoo.

Rajgira or amaranth seeds are rich in protein, fibre, antioxidants, iron, and also help in fighting inflammation in the body. 

Ingredients: 

Amaranth seeds-popped, jaggery, water, cardamom powder, ghee. 

Process: 

• Heat jaggery in a pan with water until it is completely immersed. 
• Switch off the flame when jaggery starts melting. 
• Strain this water to remove impurities. 
• Now put this strained jaggery water on low flame and let it cook until thick. 
• At this point add popped amaranth seeds and cardamom powder. 
• Start making ladoos while it is still hot by applying ghee on your palms. Enjoy it as a snack or with your meal.  

Sama rice and sago dhokla. 

Sama rice is high in protein, fibre, iron, and B-vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. On the other hand, sago is high in carbohydrates which keep you full for a longer period of time.

Ingredients: 

Sama rice and sago in 1:¼ ratio, yoghurt, water, oil, green chillies, cumin seeds, ghee for tempering, Eno fruit salt, and sendha namak. 

Process:

• Grind Sama rice and sago separately in a fine powder.
•  Take a bowl, put sama rice and sago powder, along with some yoghurt and water.
• Let it soak for 3-4 hours. 
• After this, add salt and oil. 
• In the last, add the fruit salt and empty the batter in a greased tray, and let it steam until done on a medium flame. 
• Once it’s cooked, spread the tempering made from heating ghee, cumin seeds, and green chillies.

Over to you.

Foods that you can consume in Navratri, are all easily digestible, boost strength, and immunity, and balance the hormones. Add these delicacies in your fasting days for Navratrian even healthy and flavorful Navratri.