Before we dive into the Navratri dishes that one must include in their fast menu, kindly indulge our compulsive need to write a preface! At the heel of autumn, come a plethora of festivals which become a gateway to winters and it all starts with the Navratri. The nine days of chrome coloured fiesta across India is celebrated in varying manners and with an equal variety of delicacies to add that festive feel to it.
The nine days of Navratri, with their varying stories and objectives have at their centre two key characters, Goddess Durga, in her nine forms and food, in all its forms! As the days advance one can begin witnessing stalls of Navratri special dishes line up in restaurants and sweet shops. Everyone has certainly come across at least one Navratri special thali in their life as an Indian. You know it!
So without any further ado, let us dive into the world of dishes for Navratri fast that you can order online from We The Chefs.
Sabudana Delicacies
If you are from the northern region, chances are your family believes in fasting, or at least attempting to “keep it kosher” per Indian traditions, of course. In that case, there are several delectable dishes for Navratri fast in north Indian cuisine that will not only ensure the vow of vegetarianism is kept, but also satisfy your taste buds. Sabudana Tikki, made of sago, boiled potatoes and some rich spices meshed together and fried in clear butter is one of the most delicious invention of someone who, years ago, must have decided that they cannot survive another day on fruits and milk! That’s our theory.
If you prefer to not indulge in fried food (we all know that one person) then saboodana khichdi is the healthier option. Same ingredients, different way of preparing it.
If you prefer sweets, then saboodana also makes for a brilliant pudding ingredient! Just remove potatoes and spices, add milk, dry fruits and sugar as per preference, cook long enough to thicken the milk and there you have it, a pudding is ready. Better still, you place your order and we prepare these Navratri vrat dishes for you.
Kuttu ki poori and aloo sabzzi
The one unapologetic indulgence in foods during fast is the kuttu ke atte ki poori and aloo ki sabzi, as it is colloquially called. The delicious dough of kuttu, not considered as grain, is the go to ingredient for making delicious pooris which can then be coupled either with a gravy rich boiled potato curry or tomato chutney, sometime both. Not to mention the ever delicious saboodana papad. This spread is what the fast thalis are made of! And we will be delighted to take the efforts off of your hands and let you indulge in other important tasks at hand, like what to order in sweet dishes! Just a suggestion!
Gujarati Thali
Coming on to the Western Coast, Gujrat is not only famous for its dandiya raas and dhoklas, but there are a variety of other delicacies that decorate the rich Gujarati Thali. Apart from their signature sweet and salty savouries, the thali in itself screams festivities. Adorned with specialties like kathiyavdi sabzi, khaman dhokla, bharela rigan batata nu shaak (yep, that’s a mouthful, literally!), kheer and puris, this one is not for the faint hearted. Delicious, rich with nutrients and a holistic meal. Most importantly, delivered to your door! While we do the cooking, you do the Dandia! How’s that for a plan?
South Indian
While observing the vegetarian diet, one can never rule out the South Indian cuisine. The dosai, sambaar, rasam and papad are just the tip of the ice berg in the sea of rich south Indian cuisine. The wonderful thing about south Indian cuisine is that one can easily have it during fasts while tweaking a few ingredients. For instance, rasam, sambhaar, paal payasam are some delicious alternatives to fried and boiled foods. Not to mention, healthy. Our chefs prepare some really delicious idlys and dahi vadas to go with a south Indian vrat thali. Consider checking them out.
Chef Rajeev’ Vrat Thali
If you are stuck between being abreast with the times and still keeping the traditions alive, then the specially curated Vrat Thali by our Chef Rajeev is a must try. This is one of a kind attempt to bring in the Mexican twist to an Indian festival. Made with all the vrat ingredients, this thali has two quesadillas, four DIY tacos along with tikkis for filling in the tacos, salsa and a dip. This sumptuous thali not only breaks the monotony of the same kind of food during vrat, but also adds a little bit of zing to your overall palette. We suggest you give it a try this Navratri.
So, consider our suggestions, try the Navratri dishes recipe for yourself and if you are not performing garba by the time the delectable spread has reached your table, are you even a foodie?