Ram Navami marks the ninth day of the Chaitra Navratri festival, and it is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama. As part of the festivities, special dishes are prepared at temples and homes. These food items are typical of the Spring season and the festival. If you have a sweet tooth and craving some delicious sweets this Ram Navami, try these five must-try desserts during this festival season.
1. Sooji Halwa: Kheer made using sooji or rawa or semolina is healthy, delicious and one of the most hankered-after sweets served during Ram Navami. To prepare this, toss the semolina with desi ghee before adding the milk and spruce it up with almonds, cashews and raisins for an awesome dessert. You can even sprinkle some saffron, if available, instead of dry fruits for an aromatic flavour.
2. Coconut Barfi: Simple yet delightful for the taste buds, coconut barfi is a must-try this Ram Navami. For enhanced taste, you can also use condensed milk and fresh coconut grated well in the mixer grinder. The method is quite easy too.
Add ghee in a pan and pour milk along with the grated coconut and saute it for a few minutes. Then, add the condensed milk and sugar if needed, considering the fact that condensed milk already has sugar. Add. some cardamom powder and stir the mixture until the moisture dries up and the ghee is released. Now, spread the mixture on a flat plan and with a spatula flatten it. Cut it in shapes of barfi or diamond and serve it hot and fresh. You may also like it cold by refrigerating it.
3. Rice Payesam Or Kheer: Payesam is considered auspicious for every occasion. So, this Ram Navami, prepare some delicious rice payesam using jaggery extracted from dates for a lip-smacking dessert served right after your meals.
4. Mango Phirni: This mango-flavoured phirni is sure to mesmerise your taste buds and make you ask for more. Phirni embraces a thickened pudding made of rice powder and milk. Add some mango pulp juice or readymade thickened pulp to the phirni and sprinkle some crushed almonds for that authentic restaurant-like phirni flavour. Refrigerate it for some time and serve it chilled.
5. Dates Halwa: Rich in iron, minerals and vitamins, dates are the perfect way to satiate your sweet tooth when you crave something sweet after your meal. So, how about trying dates halwa this Ram Navami? Just ensure that the dates are moist and if not, soak them for about an hour in water to retain the moisture. You may mix them in a mixer grinder or just add the dates while preparing the halwa in the pan and let them melt. Let the moisture of the milk soak into the dates and mix well. Once done, spread it out on a greased dish and cut out the pieces as per your taste.
This Spring festival, lay your hands on some of these unique sweets that can be easily prepared at home.
Satarupa B Kaur has been writing professionally for a decade. Always on the go, she loves to travel, read books and enjoy playtime with her toddler, as she explores new places and food.
