Navratri is a predominantly Hindu festival celebrated not just by Hindus, but also by several other communities across the globe. It is observed throughout nine days during which people from different cultures and communities spend time fasting, praying, and reflecting. A staunch vegetarian diet is often followed during this time, and people usually break their fasts with an array of Indian desserts & sweets. The last day of the festival is commemorated as Dussehra and is generally marked by a Dussehra recipe that is offered as prasad (holy offering during Indian festivals). Here are some sweet dishes for Navratri fast that you can easily prepare and consume during this festival.
Singhara Barfi (Water Chestnut Fudge):
Ingredients:
- 251 gm Singhara flour
- 202 gm khoya (milk solids)
- 103 gm sugar
- 54 gm ghee
- 255 ml water
- 2 tsp cardamom
Method:
- You first have to mix the khoya, singhara flour, and sugar together in a bowl, making sure that there are no lumps present.
- After that, you need to add some water to the dry mixture and start kneading the dough with your fingers.
- After about 15 minutes, the dough would have been kneaded properly and then, you need to transfer it into a pan and put it on medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- During this time, the mixture will thicken and form a smooth texture.
- After that, you need to take it off the heat and let it cool down.
- Once it is cooled to room temperature, you can take a knife and cut it into the shape of diamonds before serving the barfi pieces.
Sabudana Kheer (Tapioca Pudding):
Ingredients:
- 201 gm sabudana
- 2 liters milk
- 201 gm sugar
- 52 gm ghee
- 3 tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp saffron
Method:
- For this incredibly simple, but tasty Dussehra recipe, you have to allow the sabudana to soak in water either overnight or at least for five to six hours.
- Then, you need to pour the milk into a big saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- To the boiling milk, you need to add sugar and the sabudana.
- You need to wait for about 20 minutes while the concoction cooks, and achieves a thick consistency.
- Once it is thickened, you can add some saffron and cardamom powder and give everything a good mix.
- Before serving this dish, you should let it cool down and then garnish it with some chopped nuts.
Vrat Ka Halwa (Fasting Halwa):
Ingredients:
- 201 gm samak rice (barnyard millet)
- 202 gm granulated sugar
- 53 gm ghee
- 254 ml water
- 2 teaspoon cardamom
Method:
- For the first step of this dessert recipe, you need to cook the samak rice exactly the way you cook regular rice by washing the grain two times with water, filling up half a pressure cooker with water, adding the rice into it, and letting it cook in the pressure cooker for about half an hour or until it is fully cooked.
- Once the rice is made, you need to drain out the water and transfer it to a pan
- To the pan, you can add water, sugar and ghee.
- Putting this pan on medium heat, you need to keep stirring the mixture until it starts to become a little thick.
- At this step, you need to add some chopped nuts, chopped raisins, some more ghee, and a few strands of saffron into the mix. Please make sure to blend everything well.
- Once all the ingredients have been cooked and the consistency of the dessert is soft, you can take it off the heat and let it cool down a little bit before serving.
For all of these Indian desserts and sweets, you can either use regular dairy products like milk, or vegan products like coconut milk or almond milk. It is really important to add some dried fruits or chopped nuts to most of the recipes. This is because, since these desserts may be used for breaking your fast, it is advisable to include nutritious, filling ingredients in the recipes so that your body can derive the necessary nutritional deficit. These desserts are widely served across India as offerings to deities during Navratri, and you can easily prepare them during such ceremonies.