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Navratri is one of the most important Hindu festivals that is celebrated in India and around the world. Every year for nine days, people indulge themselves in praying to the divine goddess, singing bhajans, dancing, and fasting rigorously. During Navratri fasts, one is allowed to eat only a specific type of food and not anything that they can eat regularly.
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There are so many Navratri recipes made from buckwheat flour, dairy products, vegetables, and fruits that one can try making at home. Although there are a lot of recipes that require one to devote lots of time and effort, at the same time, one can also make snacks and dishes that are easy to make as well. Here is a list of some Navratri recipes that can be easily made at home, as they require almost minimum to no cooking.
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* Vegetable Salad
One of the easiest things that one can make during Navratri that is also healthy and fulfilling is a vegetable salad. This is the perfect time to try different types of green vegetables and incorporate them into one's diet. Vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, bell peppers, onions, capsicum, and baby tomatoes can be mixed to make a delicious salad.
One can also incorporate a source of protein like paneer to make the salad more fulfilling. For the dressing, one can simply add some sendha namak. If one wants to make it more delicious, then making some very friendly green chutney is also a great idea.
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* Banana-Walnut Lassi
As Chaitra Navratri falls in the summer, it is very obvious to keep hydrating oneself from time to time. Drinking the delicious banana-walnut lassi is a great idea to fulfil one's cravings and, at the same time, give your body the needed nourishment. Banana-walnut lassi is very easy to make, as all you have to do is put some curd, water, bananas, and walnuts in a mixer. For a sweet touch, you can simply add some honey and blend everything together. The banana walnut lassi has the goodness of curd, the vitamins and minerals of bananas and the deliciousness of walnuts.
* Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana khichdi is a one-pot meal that gets prepared in 15 to 20 minutes. To make this khichadi, one has to simply take some soaked sabudana and mix it with peanuts, vegetables and a little bit of vegetable oil. Everything has to be tossed properly until the sabudana gets properly cooked. Sabudana is a very healthy source of carbohydrates and can provide a great deal of nutrition to the body during the fasting season. This khichadi is also very lightly seasoned, so it doesn't put a lot of stress on the stomach for digestion.
* Makhana Ladoo
Makhana ladoo is a mouthwatering Navratri special dessert that is made by combining different types of nuts, roasted makhanas and khoya. One has to simply chop nuts and dry fruits like almonds, cashews, and pistachios and dry roast them along with makhanas without using any oil or gheee. Now all these dry fruits and nuts have to be combined with khoya and shaped into small balls. Instead of adding sugar, one can simply add some jaggery powder to keep the ladoos healthy and tasty. These ladoos are not just delicious but are also a great source of nutrition for the body, especially when one is fasting.
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* Sabudana Bhel
Sabudana Bhel is a flavourful concoction of soaked sabudana, green chillies, tomatoes, coriander leaves, chaat masala, and sendha namak. This snack has the perfect amount of carbohydrates and fibre that are needed by the body. Also, adding different types of vegetables not only adds a nice crunch but also increases the nutritional profile of the dish. This dish is going to keep one healthy and fulfilled for a long time. One can have this bheel with some curd on the side.
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* Fruit Salad
Making some fruit salad from fresh seasonal fruits that are available in the market is a safe option, as one can never really go wrong with it. A great way to elevate the taste of fruit salad is by adding some cream to the salad. The cream gives a very nice texture to the fruits, and one doesn't have to add any source of sweetness as fruits like bananas, strawberries, mangoes, and other fruits that are available in summer are naturally sweet.
