25 Easy and Quick Navratri recipes

Navratri stands as a deeply significant and eagerly awaited festival within Hindu tradition, celebrated over 9 nights and 10 days. It is a time of fasting for many, where devotees cook Navrati dishes without ingredients like onions or garlic.

Despite these dietary restrictions, the fasting period doesn't compromise on flavor. An array of scrumptious Navratri dishes can be prepared, adhering to these limitations. If you're observing the Navratri fast in 2024 Chaitra Navratri ( 9th April – 17th April) and seeking to infuse variety and taste and nutrition into your Navratri meals, here are 25 quick yet nutrient-rich recipes to enrich your fasting days.

1. Sabudana Khichdi

A quintessential fasting dish, Sabudana Khichdi is celebrated for its lightness and energy-boosting qualities. Tapioca pearls, when mingled with potatoes and spices, create a satisfying meal that's both digestible and delightful.

Ingredients: Sabudana (tapioca pearls), potato, groundnut, ghee, green chillies.

Method: Soak sabudana until soft. Sauté diced potatoes and green chillies in ghee, add soaked sabudana and groundnuts. Cook until translucent. Serve with spiced buttermilk.

2. Pumpkin Curry (Kaddu ki Sabji)

This Pumpkin Curry is a wonderful blend of sweet and spicy flavors, offering a nutritious and savory option for your fasting days. Its creamy texture pairs perfectly with the crispiness of puris made from fasting-friendly flours.

Ingredients: Pumpkin, cumin, red chilli powder, oil.

Method: Cube and sauté pumpkin with spices in oil. Add water, pressure cook. Mash into puree, season to taste. Serve with Rajgira or Kuttu puris.

3. Arbi Curry

Arbi Curry brings the earthiness of taro roots to your table, coated in a tangy and spicy tomato-based sauce. It's a fulfilling dish that complements the lightness of fasting meals with its rich texture and flavor.

Ingredients: Taro (arbi), red chilli powder, turmeric, cumin, tomato paste, green chillies, ginger.

Method: Boil and cube arbi. Cook with spices and tomato paste. Serve with puris or parathas.

4. Kadhi with Sama Rice

Combining the comforting tang of yogurt-based Kadhi with the wholesomeness of Sama rice, this duo is a fasting favorite that doesn't compromise on taste or satisfaction, proving to be a hearty substitute for traditional rice dishes.

Ingredients: Yogurt, turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, green chillies, Sama rice.

Method: Prepare kadhi by simmering yogurt with spices. Serve with cooked Sama rice as a rice substitute.

5. Sabudana Vada

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Sabudana Vada is a snack that doubles as a feast for the taste buds. These tapioca pearl patties are a delightful mix of textures and flavors, perfect for an evening snack or a light meal.

Ingredients: Sabudana, potato, peanuts, herbs.

Method: Mix soaked sabudana with mashed potato, crushed peanuts, and herbs. Form into patties and deep fry until golden. Serve with chutney or ketchup.

6. Kuttu Ka Paratha

Kuttu Ka Paratha is a nutritious and filling bread option made from buckwheat flour, known for its health benefits and fasting appropriateness. It's versatile enough to pair with any side dish, adding a touch of tradition to your meals.

Ingredients: Kuttu (buckwheat) flour.

Method: Make dough with Kuttu flour, water, and a pinch of salt. Roll into parathas and cook on a hot griddle. Serve with yogurt or chutney.

7. Aloo Paneer Kofta

A festive and flavorsome treat, Aloo Paneer Kofta are delectable balls of paneer and potato, deep-fried to golden perfection. They bring a luxurious element to the fasting table, combining indulgence with fasting compliance.

Ingredients: Paneer, boiled potatoes, Amarnath or Buckwheat flour, spices.

Method: Mix grated paneer, mashed potatoes, flour, and spices. Form into balls and deep-fry until crispy.

8. Banana Kebab

Banana Kebabs are an innovative fasting snack, transforming the humble banana into a savory delight. Infused with spices and pan-fried, these kebabs are a testament to the versatility of fasting ingredients.

Ingredients: Bananas, green chillies, coriander, rock salt, ginger, buckwheat flour, lemon juice, ghee.

Method: Steam and mash bananas. Mix with spices, flour, and lemon juice. Form kebabs and pan-fry in ghee.

9. Sama Rice Kheer

A sweet and soothing end to your fasting meals, Sama Rice Kheer is a millet-based dessert that's as nutritious as it is delicious. Infused with cardamom and saffron, it's a divine treat that respects fasting rules while satisfying sweet cravings.

Ingredients: Sama rice, sugar, cardamom, saffron, dry fruits.

Method: Cook Sama rice in milk with sugar, cardamom, and saffron. Garnish with dry fruits. Serve warm or chilled.

These recipes are designed to bring variety and flavor to your Navratri fasting, blending traditional tastes with nutritional benefits.

Quick Navratri Recipes

10. Singhara Atta Cheela

A nutritious crepe made with water chestnut flour, perfect for breakfast. Mix Singhara atta with water, green chillies, and coriander. Cook on a hot griddle until golden brown. Serve with yogurt or chutney.

11. Vrat wale Aloo

A simple yet flavorful potato dish seasoned with cumin, green chillies, and fresh coriander, ideal for any meal. Boil potatoes, then sauté with spices and herbs in ghee. Enjoy with kutti ki roti or as a side.

12. Makhana Kheer

A creamy dessert made from fox nuts, this kheer is a delicious end to fasting meals. Simmer makhana in milk with sugar and cardamom until thickened. Garnish with nuts and serve warm or chilled. 

13. Rajgira Paratha

Made from amaranth flour, these parathas are rich in nutrients and gluten-free. Mix rajgira atta with mashed potatoes, form dough, and roll out parathas. Cook with ghee until crispy. Serve with curry or yogurt.

14. Shakarkandi Chaat (Sweet Potato Chaat)

A tangy and spicy chaat made with boiled sweet potatoes, tamarind chutney, and spices. Toss diced sweet potatoes with chaat masala, lemon juice, and herbs. Serve chilled with a sprinkle of sev.

15. Vrat ki Kadhi

A fasting-friendly version of the classic kadhi, made without besan. Whip yogurt with water, add singhara atta for thickening, and temper with cumin and chillies. Serve with sama rice or parathas.

16. Paneer Tikka

Marinated paneer cubes grilled to perfection, this dish adds a protein punch to your fasting menu. Marinate paneer in yogurt mixed with fasting-friendly spices, then grill until charred. Serve with mint chutney.

17. Coconut Ladoo

Sweet coconut balls, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings during fasting. Mix grated coconut with condensed milk, cook until thickened, form into balls, and roll in coconut shavings.

18. Kuttu ki Pakori

Crispy fritters made from buckwheat flour, ideal for snacking. Make a batter with kuttu atta, sliced potatoes, and spices. Deep fry until golden. Serve with yogurt or chutney.

19. Fruit Salad with Honey and Lime

A refreshing and healthy fruit mix, dressed with honey and lime juice. Combine your choice of fruits, drizzle with honey and lime juice, and toss gently. Chill before serving.

20. Dry Fruit Milkshake

A nourishing and filling drink made with mixed dry fruits, milk, and sugar. Blend soaked dry fruits with milk and a hint of cardamom until smooth. Serve chilled for an energy boost.

21. Sabudana Thalipeeth

A savory pancake made with soaked sabudana, potatoes, and spices, cooked until crisp. Mix ingredients to form a dough, flatten to form thalipeeth, and cook on a hot griddle with ghee.

22. Cucumber Raita

A cooling side dish made with grated cucumber, yogurt, and minimal spices, perfect to accompany any meal. Mix grated cucumber with whipped yogurt, season with rock salt, and garnish with mint.

23. Jeera Aloo

A classic potato dish flavored with cumin and spices, making for a comforting fasting meal. Sauté boiled potatoes with roasted cumin, green chillies, and coriander. Serve hot as a side dish.

24. Samak Rice Pulao

A wholesome pulao made with Samak rice, a permissible grain during fasting. Cook Samak rice with potatoes, peanuts, and spices in a pressure cooker. Serve with yogurt or raita.

25. Amaranth Soup

A warm and comforting soup made from amaranth leaves and flavored with ginger and pepper. Cook amaranth leaves with ginger, blend until smooth, and season. Serve hot for a soothing fasting meal.

Whether you are fasting this Navratri or not do not forget to make these Navratri recipes to have a fulfilling yet nutritious and healthy Navratri