Navratri festival is celebrated twice in a year with great devotion and fervour in all over India. First time it is celebrated as Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri in the month of March-April and second time as Sharad Navratri in the months of September-October. There are millions, like me who observe fast or special diet during Navratri, and people find it difficult with food choices during Navratri puja days. I have got a list of Navratri food recipes (or upvas recipes) for you to try out this Navratri. Since most people eat only once, you may as well call these recipe as Navratri dinner recipes.
Jump to
- What is Navratri?
- Sabudana Kheer
- Makhane Ke Kheer or Lotus / Foxnut seed Pudding – Navratri Recipe
- Sabudana Vada
- Roasted Makhana
- Aalo Ka Halwa
- Lauki Ki Kheer / Bottle Gourd Pudding
- Makhane – Lotus seeds Cutlet
- No Onion Garlic Potato Curry
- Kuttu Ka Dosa / Buckwheat flour Pancake:
- Rajgira Paneer Patty
- Gajar Burfi
- Paneer Potato Cutlet
- Kuttu Ke Poori
- Sabudana Khichdi
- Singhara Burfi
- Amaranth Paratha
What is Navratri?
It is that auspicious time of the year when many pray, observe fast and worship Goddess Durga. Durga Goddess has 108 names and 9 incarnations of Durga are worshiped in these 9 days (Navratri). Navratri, one of the biggest Hindu festivals is celebrated twice a year across india and abroad. Devotees worship the different avatars of Goddess Durga for nine days. All the 9 incarnations of Durga signifies distinct power. ‘Navratri’ refers to the nine pious nights during which Goddess Durga is worshiped and lot people observe fasts. During Navratris generally people give up non-vegetarian food while many others try reducing intake of onion and garlic from their meals.
According to Hindu calendar, Chaitra Navratri is celebrated in the month of Chaitra or Vasant, which is also the starting of the spring season. Second time it is celebrated in the Ashwin month with the name Sharad Navratri also known as Maha navratri.
Autumn Navratri also co-related to Dandia festival. Navratri festivities gives one a chance to get back to the roots and cleanse oneself, be it thoughts, or body . It is great way to detox and many observe fast by eating selective fasting food, or vrat or upvas food.
Get ready for the joy of the festival with some of my fasting recipes. These recipes are made from ingredients suitable to be consumed whilst on fast e.g. Sabudana / Sago, Water chestnut, Carrot, Paneer, Milk, etc.
Sabudana Kheer
A perfect dessert, why navratri food has to be boring? This sago pudding is one common Navratri recipe and uses commonly found “sabudana“.
Makhane Ke Kheer or Lotus / Foxnut seed Pudding – Navratri Recipe
Quick dessert recipe of super healthy makhana. Add dry fruits and make “dry fruit kheer”. Foxnuts are great source of energy and this kheer offers great taste as well as desired energy.
Sabudana Vada
Fasting or not, sabudana vada is a great snack item. Follow the recipe for making it during Navratri days.
Roasted Makhana
Fasting or not fasting! Roasted makhana are any day hit as snack. Super easy to make and great source of energy when fasting, what stops you from a nice crunch munch? Go make it in minutes, so easy!
Aalo Ka Halwa
Surely you won’t be able to say no to the great taste of this potato based dessert. No fancy ingredients required for this delicious aloo halwa, however, offers instant energy with carbs in it.
Lauki Ki Kheer / Bottle Gourd Pudding
Enjoy your fast with a lip smacking dessert made of simple ingredients (Bottle Groud and Milk). I have to confess that this lauki kheer is one of my favourite, I can have it any day, be it navrati or not, who cares?
Makhane – Lotus seeds Cutlet
Innovative recipe using healthy Makhane / Foxnut / Lotus seeds. If you bored of usual navratri recipe, try out this cutlets of makhana, a sure shot hit any day, at the same time, these cutlets are easy to make.
No Onion Garlic Potato Curry
Traditional recipe to make “aloo ke vrat wali sabzi” with minimal ingredients. Unbelievably quick and easy to make, with taste that will put best of spices to shame. Don’t go on my words, try yourself to check this! This is a recipe with minimal ingredients, and one to make while observing navratri fast.
Kuttu Ka Dosa / Buckwheat flour Pancake:
Who said dosa is for normal non-fasting days? Check out this amazing kuttu (buckwheat) dosa. Eat this yummy pancake / crepe / dosa in your meal packed with energy and taste, and do not forget to pair it with no onion garlic potato stuffing.
Rajgira Paneer Patty
Enjoy festivities with this great starter / snack made from Paneer. Paneer is a wonderful ingredient and suitable to have it in diet even on Navratri fasting days. This paneer patty with amaranth flour is simply fabulous in taste.
Gajar Burfi
Love gajar halwa? Have its modified Navratri friendly version with this gajar burfi. So bloody good in taste!
Paneer Potato Cutlet
Another firm favourite of mine, this paneer cutlet or tikki is delight on dinning table on any day, totally scrumptious in taste.
Kuttu Ke Poori
If you do not fancy kutti dosa, you can stick to more traditional kuttu poori. Check the recipe to see how to make this buckwheat flour poori easily at home, and pair with “vrat-friendly” aloo sabzi.
Sabudana Khichdi
The good old Sabudana / Sago Khichdi, will pack you with energy and taste, if you have not tried it yet, you should!
Singhara Burfi
Water Chestnut / Singhara can be used to make this soft, sweet and tasty dessert. I am a sucker of these singhara burfis, however Kapil does not like these much (he does not like sweets!), hence I make these less often. I will strongly recommend you to try our this water chestnut fudge.
Amaranth Paratha
One of my most loved recipe is this amaranth aka rajgira paratha. Beauty of this paratha is that you can have it when fasting or on a normal day, this paratha is suitable for anyone with gluten free needs.
