Chaitra Navratri 2024 will begin on 9 April and ends on 17 April 2024. Also the Sharad Navratri begins on 3 October and ends on 12 October 2024. Literally translating to ‘nine nights’ (nava + ratri), Navratri is observed to honor Goddess Durga or Ambe Maa, and is one of the most cherished Hindu festivals. In this post, I have shared a signature collection of Navratri Recipes. The list features both the most popular Navratri Fast Recipes or Vrat Recipes as well as lesser known or unusual ones too.
There are many ways this pious festival is celebrated throughout the vast expanse of the Indian subcontinent. There’s a unique way dedicated to each region. There are also 4 types of Navratri, resulting from the seasonal variations. Sharada Navratri that falls after monsoon is the most important and grand one.
About Navratri Festival
Navratri is one of the most celebrated festivals at my home as well. As a devi bhakt myself, I not only spend these 9 days and nights offering my prayers in the worship of Maa Durga, but also observe the ritual of fasting. And it is not just during these 9 days, for me, not a single day goes without remembering the Mother Goddess.
Navratri festival is celebrated with the same joy, enthusiasm and adoration all over India. Although, people belonging to different parts of the country have their own special way of paying homage to the divine powers of Goddess Durga.
Another important feature of Navratri festival are the fasts or vrats that comes along. The Navratri Recipes that I have shared in this post are definitely a must try. If fasting, this complied list of Navratri Fast Recipes will be of great help to you.
People in North and West India religiously keep these fasts, whereas festivities of Durga Puja may not necessarily mean fasting for the people of Bengal and other parts of Eastern India.
The same goes for South Indians, who may not strictly observe fasting. But definitely prepare food without the addition of onion and garlic during this time. People in South India also worship deities and make sundals or sweets to offer as prasadam. Golu, a lovely display of deities’ idols, dolls and animal figures is set up in many homes during Navratri festival.
Navratri Festival in India
From North to South and East to West, here’s how Navratri festival is celebrated pan India:
- West Bengal, Orissa, Assam: The most popular festival, Durga Puja (celebrating victory of Durga over demon Mahishasura) officially begins on the 6th day of Navratri and is observed with full fervour in the last 4 days in these regions. Glittering pandals, dhunuchi naach by the dhakis and delicious bhog are some of the common sightings during these days. Shindur khaila by married women on the day of idol immersion marks the end.
- Maharashtra: Navratri signifies ‘new beginnings’ for Maharashtrians. So, this is the time when property is purchased and business deals are made. Married women apply haldi and kumkum on the foreheads of their female friends in a ceremony called ‘saumangalyam’ and gift them betel nuts, betel leaves and coconut.
- Gujarat: Devotees worship Maa Ambe and fast for these 9 days. Evenings are marked by an aarti with a garbi (an earthen pot with diyas signifying source of life), following which traditional dance forms like dandiya and garba are performed by men and women.
- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar: Fasting for first 7 days with jagrans or singing religious songs every night. Fasts are broken on the 8th or 9th day in a ceremony called ‘kanjika’ where 9 young girls (representing Goddess Durga’s 9 forms) and a boy (representing Bhairav God) are worshipped. They are honoured with gifts, food – halwa, chana, puri and money.
- Himachal Pradesh: Here, the 10th day as ‘Kullu Dussehra’ marks the beginning of the celebration, when the festival ends in other states. This day signifies the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Nati (a form of dance), food and music mark the festivities.
- Karnataka: Known as ‘nadahabba,’ Navratri in Karnataka till today is celebrated in the same way it used to be, back in 1610 in the Vijayanagara dynasty. The final day is marked by rituals that include procession of elephants on streets, fairs and exhibitions all over the state.
- Tamil Nadu: Goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Laxmi are worshipped during these 9 days. Evenings are reserved for friends and family with exchange of gifts. The exciting ritual is that of Bomma Golu/Bommai Kolu – a temporary staircase of 9 stairs representing 9 nights which is decorated with dolls/idols of goddesses, that are passed on from generation to generation!
- Andhra Pradesh: Here, the 9 days are celebrated as ‘Bathukamma Panduga,’ dedicated to Maa Gauri, the goddess of womanhood. Women adorning new sarees and jewellery make a flower stack with seasonal flowers and perform a puja. This stack is then immersed on the last day.
- Kerala: Navratri in Kerala is dedicated to education and new beginnings. Books and musical instruments are placed in front of Maa Saraswati during the last 3 days and are worshipped.
About Navratri Fasting
In India, fasting rules varies from community to community. It is always better to check with your family members and elders before deciding the menu. If you plan to keep fast during Navratri festival, then do check this list of Navratri Fasting Food and Rules.
Here, I have shared some basic and some Navratri Special Recipes that are usually consumed during this festival. These Navratri Fast Recipes are usually quick and easy to make.
Even if you feel that some of the recipes have long procedures, you just have to follow them properly which makes the making of the dish quite simple. As onions, garlic and many other spices and herbs are not allowed during these fasting days, you really don’t have to get yourself to chopping and prepping these.
Keeping all these things in mind, I will also repeat once again that you must skip or alter the ingredients according the traditions followed in your own family. Most of the Navratri Fast Recipes in this curation are without onion and garlic, but some may have cereal flours.
In such cases, you can substitute cornflour or gram flour with special vrat flours like water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta), buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta), arrowroot flour or potato starch. Also, remember to use edible rock salt (sendha namak) in recipes where I have not added it.
More on Navratri Fasting
Navratri Recipes, especially the Navratri Fast Recipes are not only quick to prepare, but also easy to digest. Hence, this festival is a good time to purify or detoxify your body and mind, and get connected to Durga Maa and your inner conscience, through the route of divinity.
A thing particular to North India is that people in that side of the country only consume certain ingredients comprising of flours and grains during these 9 days of fasting. These are:
- Flours and grains: Kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour), rajgira atta (amaranth flour) and rajgira (amaranth grains), sama ke chawal ka atta (barnyard millet flour) and vrat ke chawal (barnyard millet), singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour) and arrowroot flour
- Sabudana (sago)
- Peanuts
- Nuts and dry fruits
- Rock salt (sendha namak)
- Spice and herbs may vary. Some that are generally used are black pepper, green chilies and ginger.
My list of Navratri Recipes or Navratri Fast Recipes has North Indian as well as South Indian recipes in it. It is divided course wise with the mention of flours, cereals or grains as well. I am sure that with this list, you can easily prep and plan your fasting menu for the Navratri festival season.
Navratri Recipes
Listed below are 104 of my top Navratri Fast Recipes, ranging from meals that can be served for lunch or dinner to snacks and sweets. Some of these snacks can also be made for breakfast. Do eat light if possible and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. If possible, also include fruits or fruit juices in your fasting diet.
Lunch & Dinner
I have categorized the lunch and dinner meals into various breads or grain-based dishes as well as curries, gravies and sides. The breads’ list consists both of flatbreads and fried breads.
Grains & Breads
Moderate
25 minutes mins
Sabudana Khichdi is a delicious preparation of tapioca pearls (sago) made with potatoes, peanuts, a few spices and usually had during Hindu fasting days like Navratri, Ekadashi, Mahashivratri. It is also a gluten-free recipe. Make the best non-sticky Sabudana ki Khichdi with my recipe.
1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Samvat rice khichdi recipe – savory porridge made with barnyard millet and potatoes.
Moderate
30 minutes mins
Buckwheat Khichdi is easy to prepare khichdi with buckwheat groats (kuttu), potatoes and peanuts for Navratri fasting. Wholesome super food.
Moderate
45 minutes mins
Samak Rice Pulao is a simple, healthy and tasty pulao made during Hindu fasting days like Navratri and Ekadashi. Also known as samak/sama/samvat/samo/bhagar and Barnyard Millet in English, this is a popular ingredient used in dishes that are made during the religious fasting days in India.
Moderate
8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Sabudana thalipeeth are crisp and soft pancakes made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, ground peanuts and spices. They are also called as Upvasache Thalipeeth in Marathi language and can also be referred to as Sabudana roti.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Rajgira roti or rajgira paratha is a healthy gluten-free flatbread made with rajgira atta or amaranth flour for Hindu fasting days.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Kuttu ki roti or paratha are gluten free flatbreads made with buckwheat flour and mashed potatoes. These healthy flatbreads are usually made during the Navratri fasting period in India.
Difficult
50 minutes mins
Singhare ki poori is a delicious Indian fry made with water chestnut flour, mashed potatoes, edible rock salt and a few spices.
30 minutes mins
Kuttu ke atte ki puri are crisp and tasty Indian fry bread made with buckwheat flour for religious fasting or vrat.
Moderate
50 minutes mins
Rajgira Poori or Amaranth Poori are deep fried puffy breads made from amaranth flour, boiled mashed potatoes and edible rock salt. It also happens to be naturally gluten-free and vegan. Amaranth flour or seeds are usually eaten during the Hindu fasting or vrat season in India.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Easy and quick to prepare rajgira kadhi for Navratri fasting or upwas.
Moderate
35 minutes mins
Arbi Curry or Arbi Masala is a light North Indian style curry made with colocasia or taro roots in a base of pureed tomatoes, spices and herbs.
Moderate
35 minutes mins
Kaddu ki Sabji is an easy and delicious vegan pumpkin recipe made with yellow pumpkin, spices and herbs. This is a North Indian style satvik recipe made without onions and garlic.
Moderate
30 minutes mins
Aloo ki Sabji or Aloo Tamatar Ki Sabji is an easy to make lightly spiced gravy featuring potatoes, tomatoes, a few spices and herbs. A satvik recipe made without onion and garlic.
Moderate
1 hour hr
Crispy, perfectly spiced and tasty Arbi Recipe made with Taro Roots (also called Arbi and Ghuiya in Hindi), a few spices and herbs. This Arbi Sabji is an easy way you can have a variation in your everyday meals.
Moderate
32 minutes mins
This arbi fry also called as Seppankizhangu Fry in Tamill language is a dry preparation of colocasia or taro roots with spices and herbs.
Breakfast or Snacks
Here I have listed recipes that you can make for breakfast or snacks. Some of them are fried. For healthier versions, use an appe (paniyaram) pan to make these or air-fry or bake these.
Moderate
5 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Sabudana Vada is a popular savory deep fried snack made during Hindu fasting days, featuring tapioca pearls (sago), potatoes, peanuts and herbs. They are naturally gluten-free and vegan. This fool proof sabudana vada recipe gives you a super delicious crispy vada with a soft and light interior.
Easy
5 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Sabudana tikki also known as sabudana cutlet are pan-fried thin patties made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes and spices. These crispy patties make for a delicious snack that will get over in no time.
Moderate
9 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Sama Chawal Idli or Vrat Ki Idli is a unique variation to the South Indian Idli. These are made without the regular rice and lentils, but with Sama also known as Barnyard Millet in English. Thus, a perfect choice of dish for your vrats or fasts and even on regular days. A vegan, gluten free and quite a nutritious recipe.
Easy
10 minutes mins
Roasted Makhana is a healthy snack that is made with slow roasting/toasting phool makhana or foxnuts with spices and seasonings.
Moderate
8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
These Sabudana pakora made for fasting or vrat are crisp, golden fritters made from tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes and roasted crushed peanuts.
Moderate
30 minutes mins
This Nylon sabudana chivda is a crispy and tasty fasting snack made from nylon sabudana and dry fruits for the Navratri fasts.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Sweet Potato Chaat referred to as Shakarkandi Chaat is an easy chaat snack made with sweet potatoes and a few ground spice powders. This recipe requires just about 5 ingredients and can be made quickly with steamed or boiled sweet potato. Ideal for Navratri or any other Hindu religious fasts.
40 minutes mins
These are easy and simple homemade tasty banana chips made from raw unripe bananas.
Moderate
30 minutes mins
Kele ka Kofta are crispy, spiced pan fried patties made with raw green unripe bananas or plantains, spices, herbs and a binding flour. A special snack that you can make during the Navratri fasting period or on any other regular day.
Moderate
30 minutes mins
Perfectly salted French Fries that are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Make these homemade french fries or finger chips recipe easily with a few techniques and customize it with your favorite herbs and spices or toppings.
Moderate
1 hour hr
Farali pattice is an easy snack of crispy and tasty patties made with potatoes and stuffed with a sweet filling of coconut, nuts and raisins. This dish is from the Gujarati cuisine that is made during fast or upvas.
Moderate
25 minutes mins
Aloo tuk is a popular Sindhi snack of crispy, fried and spiced potato slices. The potato slices are double fried to make them extra crispy. This dish makes for a good tea time snack or a side dish with your favorite North Indian meal.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Light, crisp, and perfect for snacking, these oven baked Potato Chips (a.k.a. Potato Wafers) are a healthier alternative to the deep-fried version. This potato chips recipe is simple to make at home and doesn't require any specialty equipment!
Chutney & Raita
These chutneys and raitas not only act as the perfect accompaniment with the main course or snacks, but also suffice as topping or dipping sauces. Listed below are such Navratri Fast Recipes.
Chutneys
Easy
21 minutes mins
Date-Tamarind Chutney recipe for chaat snacks. Thus sweet tangy gooey chutney made with tamarind, dates and jaggery goes well with Indian chaat snacks.
Raitas
Easy
5 minutes mins
Cucumber raita is a popular savory Indian raita dip made with cucumber, spices, herbs and curd (yogurt). This simple, refreshing, cooling cucumber raita recipe comes together in 5 minutes.
Easy
20 minutes mins
Beetroot Raita is a colorful, vibrant raita or yogurt dip made with healthy beets, onions, bell pepper, carrots, spices and curd (yogurt). It pairs nicely with most Indian meals.
Sweets & Desserts
Can an Indian meal be ever complete without a sweet? Not really. So, in this section, you will find some easy-peasy sweets and desserts that can be made during Navratri festival, and can also be offered to Goddess Durga. This list is categorized into kheer, halwa, ladoo and fruit-based recipes.
Kheer Recipes
Moderate
35 minutes mins
Sabudana Kheer is a sweet, creamy pudding made with tapioca pearls or sago pearls (called sabudana in Hindi), milk, sugar, nuts and flavored with cardamom & saffron. Sabudana Kheer is also a popular pick as fasting food during the Hindu Navratri festival. It is simple and easy to make, and tastes absolutely delicious.
Moderate
35 minutes mins
Makhane ki kheer is a sweet dessert pudding made with Makhana (foxnuts), milk, ghee, sugar and dry fruits. This is an easy and popular sweet that is often made during Hindu fasting days.
20 minutes mins
Rajgira kheer is a simple easy dessert pudding made with amaranth grains. Navratri recipe.
Easy
25 minutes mins
Paneer kheer recipe is a quick and easy Indian cottage cheese kheer for the festive season. Ready in less than 25 minutes.
30 minutes mins
Delicious kheer made with bottle gourd or opo squash.
Moderate
50 minutes mins
Badam kheer or almond payasam is a delicious creamy kheer made with blanched almond paste, milk and saffron.
Halwa Recipes
Moderate
1 hour hr
Lauki Halwa is also called Dudhi Halwa. It is a rich Indian sweet made with bottle gourd (opo squash), milk, sugar and ghee. The method of making lauki halwa is similar to making gajar halwa. Making lauki halwa is easy but takes some time. This is a slow cooked halwa and what you get after minutes of slow cooking is super deliciousness.
Moderate
45 minutes mins
Apple halwa recipe made with apples, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Apple halwa is a delicious halwa that is easy to make. This apple halwa does not use sooji (rava), milk, khoya or milk powder. Just apples, sugar (optional) and ghee. Flavorings and nuts of your choice can be added to the halwa.
Moderate
50 minutes mins
Papaya Halwa is a Indian sweet or dessert made with papaya. This Papaya Sweet is prepared by slow-cooking semi-ripe papaya, sugar and almond powder in oil. With hints of lovely cardamom, it makes for tasty dessert to end your meals with.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Pumpkin Halwa is called Kaddu Ka Halwa in Hindi. Subtly flavored, this halwa variant made with pumpkin along with cardamom, melon seeds and nuts – is quite easy to prepare and makes for a delightful dessert as well.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Kashi Halwa also called Dumroot Halwa is a unique, tasty and rich halwa made from ash gourd or white pumpkin, sugar, nuts, ghee, raisins and flavored with saffron.
Moderate
40 minutes mins
Sweet Potato Halwa also called Shakarkandi ka Halwa in Hindi is a delicious Indian sweet made with boiled and mashed sweet potatoes and scented with cardamom, saffron.
Ladoo Recipes
Moderate
10 minutes mins
Here’s a Badam Laddu recipe that is quick, easy, tasty and made with almonds, jaggery and raisins. Make this delish Almond Ladoo the next time when you have a bag full of almonds. Use it for making these ladoos with minimal ingredients.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
Easy
15 minutes mins
Narkel Naru is a traditional sweet ladoo made with jaggery and coconut from the Bengali cuisine. These rustic ladoo can be sweetened with date palm jaggery or regular sugarcane jaggery or sugar.
Moderate
20 minutes mins
Easy Dry Fruit Laddu Recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. This Dry Fruit Ladoo recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
Fruit Desserts
Easy
30 minutes mins
This Delhi style tasty fruit chaat is spiced, savory, sweet and tangy. Fruit chaat is made of a mix of fresh seasonal fruits and tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes tossed with chaat masala, cumin powder, chilli powder and black salt.
Easy
15 minutes mins
This easy summer Fruit Salad With Ice Cream is a mix of various fruits and nuts served with dollops of vanilla ice cream. Really an easy and delicious dessert recipe.
Beverages
All fruits can be consumed during fasting in Navratri festival. So, use any fruit or a combination of fruits to prepare juices, smoothies or shakes. Milk and milk products can also be considered as Navratri Recipes.
Easy
10 minutes mins
Lassi is a cooling, refreshing, probiotic drink perfect for the warm summer months made essentially with curd or yogurt, fragrant spices and sugar or salt. Popular in Punjab and North India, there are many variations of this sweet lassi recipe. Find three easy, energizing and flavorful lassi recipe variations.
Easy
35 minutes mins
Healthy, refreshing, and energy-boosting, this dry fruit milkshake recipe is the perfect beverage to give you a quick boost throughout the day! It includes dried fruits, nuts, and plant-based milk making it a great gluten-free and vegan option.
Easy
10 minutes mins
This banana milkshake recipe includes sweet bananas and coconut milk for a rich and creamy consistency that everyone (especially kids) will love. Plus we add a bit of vanilla and cinnamon for an extra delicious drink.
Easy
10 minutes mins
A sweet and refreshing strawberry shake is the perfect drink for summer. Here I share with you two different but equally delicious ways to make my favorite strawberry milkshake recipe – a classic shake prepared with milk, and a plant-based vegan version made with almond milk.
Easy
15 minutes mins
Apple Milkshake is a quick and easy beverage that can be made for breakfast or as quick snack. This Apple Shake recipe is made with almond milk and can easily be made with any other plant based milk.
Easy
10 minutes mins
Bright and refreshing mango smoothies are easy to make as a healthy breakfast or sweet snack. Here I share with you 5 unique mango smoothie recipes. There are versions with yogurt, oats, additional fresh fruits, and even almonds – give them all a try and discover your favorite and healthy mango smoothie recipe.
Easy
20 minutes mins
Refreshing, healthy and cooling Watermelon Juice to quench your thirst on a hot summery day. Learn to make three different versions of this healthy, all natural drink recipe.
Easy
15 minutes mins
Sweet, refreshing, and free of any artificial ingredients, this Fruit Punch recipe is a favorite with kids and adults alike. Learn how to make Fruit Punch Mocktail drink at home in just 15 minutes with this simple, versatile, and delicious recipe!
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Sweet, citrusy, and refreshing, my recipe for Mosambi Juice (also known as Sweet Lime Juice) is a delicious way to beat the summer heat. With a fruity flavor and a sweet taste, this delightful Indian beverage is one you simply must try next time.
Easy
20 minutes mins
Refreshing, healthy and cooling Watermelon Juice to quench your thirst on a hot summery day. Learn to make three different versions of this healthy, all natural drink recipe.
Easy
10 minutes mins
If you love the idea of making your own homemade juices but don’t have a juicer, this is a post for you! Here I’ll show you how to make healthy apple juice in a blender. As an added bonus, I’ve included two easy recipes – simple, everyday classic apple juice and a vibrant, tangy pomegranate apple juice.
Easy
15 minutes mins
Bright and sweet orange juice is delicious to enjoy on its own for a healthy beverage, or include in your favorite drink recipes. I share making this fresh orange juice in a blender which is so easy.
Easy
20 minutes mins
The bright and flavorful Blueberry Juice is deliciously refreshing, full of nutrients and made with just 4 basic ingredients.
Easy
15 minutes mins
Grape Juice recipe made with just a few ingredients and in a blender. This Grape Juice recipe gets done in a jiffy if you have rinsed and prepped the grapes.
Easy
15 minutes mins
This easy recipe for making Musk Melon Juice (a.k.a. Cantaloupe Juice) for a sweet, refreshing warm-weather beverage that you're sure to love.
Easy
10 minutes mins
Refreshing and energizing pear juice recipe to beat the summer heat.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
This pineapple juice is a refreshing juice made from fresh pineapple and flavored with black salt and roasted cumin powder. This recipe shows you how to make pineapple juice in a blender.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Sweet, tart and vibrantly refreshing, my homemade fresh Pomegranate Juice recipe will change your life for the better this summer. Also known as Anar Juice, this healthy beverage is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants to help restore your body after a day in the sun.
Easy
10 minutes mins
Mint Juice or Pudina Juice is a healthy and refreshing drink for summers made from fresh mint leaves and lemon.
South Indian Navratri Recipes
When compared to North Indian Navratri Fast Recipes, fasting food that is made in South India is quite different. Usually all grains, vegetables and cereals are used to make it. But they still don’t have any onion or garlic in them.
Listed below are some no onion, no garlic recipes which are popular during Navratri festival in southern parts of India. However, a crucial point to remember here is, you should not consider these as true vrat or fasting recipes. Avoid making these if you want to observe a North Indian style of fast.
Moderate
9 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Idli recipe with lots of tips and suggestions so that you can make soft and fluffy idli easily. This idli recipe post also details the method of making idli batter. It is a popular Indian breakfast which is filling as well as nutritious.
Moderate
9 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
This is a plain dosa or sada dosa recipe which is a famous breakfast or snack both in India as well as outside India. Dosa is basically a healthy crepe made from ground rice and lentil batter which has been fermented.
Moderate
9 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Kotte kadubu are super soft aromatic idlis made in jackfruit leaves cup. In Konkani language, these idlis are known as hittu or khotte. Steaming in jackfruit leaves give the idlis the flavor and aroma of the jackfruit leaves.
Moderate
15 minutes mins
Coconut chutney is a side dish that is served with idli, dosa, vada and pongal. This coconut chutney recipe is an easy and simple recipe versatile enough to go with any Indian snack.
Moderate
50 minutes mins
Udupi Sambar is a spiced, slightly sweet and tangy sambar made with pigeon pea lentils, mixed vegetables, tamarind and freshly ground udupi sambar masala paste.
Easy
25 minutes mins
Lemon Rice also referred to as Chitranna or Nimmakaya Pulihora is a crunchy, flavorful and tangy rice dish that is easy to make and tastes so good. Fresh lemon juice, fried nuts, fragrant herbs and spices combine perfectly to give this steamed rice an amazing spicy, tangy and nutty flavor.
Moderate
1 hour hr
Paal Payasam is a simple South Indian variant of a slow cooked rice pudding made with only 4 ingredients. This recipe is of a typical Tamil style Rice Payasam that is creamy and delicious.
Easy
20 minutes mins
This creamy seviyan kheer is a North Indian sweet made with wheat vermicelli, milk, sugar, dry fruits and flavored with spices. This incredibly easy recipe of semiya kheer comes together in 20 minutes and makes for an excellent dessert or sweet.
Moderate
12 minutes mins
Maladu or Maa Laddu (Pottukadalai Ladoo) is quick South Indian recipe of ladoo made from roasted gram or roasted chana dal flour. Maladu is made with just 3 main ingredients – roasted gram flour, ghee and sugar.
Sundal Recipes
South Indian sundals are dry preparations made with a variety of legumes, lentils or pulses like moong beans, Bengal gram, black eyed beans, peanuts, sweet corn, etc.
Both common during Navratri as well as Ganesh Chaturthi. Each type of sundal is more or less prepared in the same way. They might just have some minor variations in the recipes.
Moderate
35 minutes mins
Sundal is a stir-fried dish made with different types of lentils, legumes even grains from the cuisine of Tamil Nadu. This Channa Sundal has white chickpeas, spices and a good dose of freshly grated coconut. This dish is vegan and quite healthy too.
Moderate
1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Chana Dal Sundal is tempered and sautéed dry dish made with cooked chana dal, few spices, herbs and fresh coconut. Chana Dal Sundal is also called as Kadalai Paruppu Sundal where 'Kadalai Paruppu' is the Tamil word for Chana Dal.
Moderate
8 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Rajma sundal is a South Indian recipe of a no onion no garlic sautéed kidney beans with spices and coconut.
Moderate
8 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Black Channa Sundal also known as Kondakadalai Sundal is a South Indian recipe of a sautéed dry dish made with black chickpeas, herbs, spices and coconut.
Moderate
20 minutes mins
This Sweet Corn Sundal has steamed sweet corn kernels that are tempered with a handful of spices and finished with a generous sprinkle of fresh coconut. Easy, gets cooked quickly, tasty and vegan as well.
This Navratri Recipes post from the archives was first published on October 2013. It has been updated and republished on March 2023.
Can i use salt in the fast its my first experence
Navjit, don’t use regular salt. in fasting we use rock salt (sendha namak)
hii…i live in hostel..nd i dnt have any facility…cn i make my navratri…plz inform
i am not sure about what facilities you have. just remember devi maa and chant her mantras.
Please give me the recipes for diwali . I thought I saw it on your blog a few days back but I cannot find them now. Also giving the measures please give them in cups only. Thanks
the diwali recipes are already shared on the website.
Never Dear
Gram is also a kind of grain food like a wheat so you dont take.
Hope you understand. Please take your elder opinion too.
i know. but from the comment i was not sure what the reader meant by gram, thats why i asked.
Dear Amit,
I didnt find anything from eastern India , bengal , bihar , jharkhand , orrissa , assam , manipur , arunachal …
Bt we are also in India & some of the best cusine receipw comes frm here .
As Durga Puja is going on & being best bengali festival & kolkata being a v strong fud hub , I request you – pls share diff veg receipes from this side of india , whch are v famous .
Some are – Shukto.,Labra, chacchari ,lau tarkari, begun basanti, besar , mug mohar, aloo posto, potler dolma, echor er malaikari , jhinge posto, sim er jhal…
Bori jhal .
Pls try to include …
Regds Aditi
aditi, in the navratri recipes, i have not included the recipes from all the indian states that you have mentioned. the reason being that only some flours and fruits/veggies are permitted during navratri. but i will add all the no onion no garlic recipes from these states in this list or try to create another post for these recipes. i have a few bengali and bihari/jharkand recipes posted. but yes i have not been able to add recipes from orissa, assam, manipur & arunachal pradesh. but i am going to add the recipes from these states gradually.
also thanks for the bengali recipes you have suggested. i have taken a note of them. will try to cover the vegetarian ones. in fact i had made a note of some bengali recipes before navratri that i had planned to prepare during durga pooja. just two days back i added aloo posto recipe and today i will post sweet potato jamuns.
can we eat gram during navratri??
can we have lemon juice in navratri??
you can have lemon juice. what do you mean by “gram”?
CAN WE DRINK THE COLD DRINK DURING NAVRATRI FAST ????
by cold drink, if you mean soft drinks like coke or pepsi etc, then these drinks are not had while fasting.
No gram… gram means chana I guess ..
Date mentioned is horribly wrong.. 8th April to 16 Oct.. Lolz.. Silly coding mistake.
thanks sunil for pointing this out. we have corrected the date.
Great recipe
thankyou mandeep 🙂
Dassana ji,kya mai orange bhi kha sakta hu fast me?and thanks for giving such a valuable Information
thanks. you can include oranges in your food.
आपकी हर 1 चीज़ बहुत लज़ीज़ है पर बहुत से सामानों में अपने नमक की उपयोगिता भी बताई है।
कृपया उसका हल बताये
i did not understand your question. kripaya aap dobara se likh sakte hain. lagta hain kuch galti hui hain prashna main.
I have a question. I’m trying to fast but am confused as to the parameters. Currently I am having one meal of potatoes at night and drink milk and have cheese during the day. Can I also have fruit during the day or is that not okay? Or is it either or. If anyonehas any insight it would be greatly appreciated. Ty!!
you can have fruits during the day.
Is custard used in navratri fasting ?
if the custard is made with arrowroot flour then it can be used.
Is soya bean oil used in navratr vrat recipes?
chhavi, its not used.
really very very yummy….!
thanks aastha
really good
Very gud recipes and easy to understand and make tried aabudana kichdi came out well thanks
thanks for the feedback latha.
What recepies! Mouth watering.
thanks gauri