One of the biggest traditions of Navratri celebrations is to observe a fast for nine days. People follow a stringent nine-day diet, abstaining from onions, garlic, and meat. While most individuals refrain from eating altogether during other fasts, some foods are permitted during Navratri. Here are some sweets that you can eat while you're fasting.
Vratwali Kheer
Indian celebrations and kheer go hand in hand. No festival is complete without a bowl full of kheer, with sprinkled almonds and other dry fruits. It rejoices with the festivities with its sweetness. This particular kheer is cooked with ingredients you're allowed to eat during fast, including parsai, a rice-like substance, milk, and sugar.
The ingredients required to make Vratwali Kheer
- 1 Litre Milk, full cream
- 1/4 cup Samwat / parsai ke chawal (washed)
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 10-12 Kishmish (raisins)
- 4 small Elaichi (green cardamoms)
- 10-12 Almonds (shredded)
Recipe-
- Bring milk and rice to a boil in a large pan.
- Simmer over low heat, occasionally stirring, until the milk has thickened and the rice is done. (Requires roughly 25 minutes).
- Add sugar, kishmish, and elaichi after cooking.
- Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes once the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Transfer to a serving plate and add the almonds as a garnish.
- Serve warm or cold.
Aloo ka Halwa
Aloo ka halwa is a unique vrat treat that is incredibly well-liked in Northern households. This fasting season, you could try making aloo ka halwa, which is made with mashed potatoes, milk, and sugar.
Ingredients required to make Aloo ka Halwa
- Three large potatoes, boiled
- 1 Tbsp ghee
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 Tbsp cashews chopped & lightly roasted
- 1/4 Tbsp almonds flaked or chopped
- A pinch of cardamom powder
- 1/2 Tbsp raisins
Recipe-
- Boil the potatoes and peel off the skin. Once done, mash it with your hands.
- In a pan, pour some ghee and let it heat. Then add the mashed potatoes and let them roast for 1-2 minutes.
- Add milk, sugar and raisins to the potatoes and mix them well.
- Cook for another 8-10 minutes and stir frequently.
- Add cardamom and stir.
- Garnish with flaked almonds & cashews. Serve hot.
Makhana Kheer
One vrat superfood you should add to your pantry right away is makhana or fox nut. The milk-soaked makhanas in a filling and fragrant kheer are ideal for those unexpected cravings.
Ingredients required to make Makhana Kheer
Popped lotus seeds
- 1/2 cup cashew nuts
- 2 tsp ghee
- Rock salt
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 3 cups milk
- Sugar (as per taste)
- dry fruits, chopped
Recipe-
- Roast the seeds and some cashew nuts on a pan with a bit of ghee and season with rock salt.
- As soon as it cools, take 3/4th of the mixture and grind it in a blender with some cardamom.
- In a separate deep pan, boil 2-3 cups of milk.
- Add sugar, followed by the ground makhana mixture, and stir well.
- Add the remaining roasted makhana and cashew.
- Continue stirring until it thickens.
Apple Rabdi
Apples, almonds, and pistachios add to the richness of this rich, creamy, nutty rabdi. The flavorful dessert also contains cardamom essence, upping the dish's level of scrumptiousness.
Ingredients required to make Apple Rabdi
- 3 Medium Apples
- 1 litre Milk
- 4 tbsp Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Green cardamoms
- 8-10 Almonds (blanched), sliced
- 8-10 Pistachios (blanched), sliced
Recipe
- Pour milk into a broad vessel and bring it to a boil. Steam till decreased to half the initial quantity.
- Add sugar and cook on low heat, stirring constantly.
- Peel and grate two apples. Add the grated apples to condensed milk and mix.
- Cook for three to four minutes. Add cardamom powder, almonds and pistachios.
- Run into a serving dish. Thinly slice the remaining apple. Place the slices all around the dish. Serve hot or cold.