Easy Recipe for Navratri

Aloo Pulao

India is a land of festivals and festivals are incomplete without mouth watering dishes. Navratri is one of the festivals celebrated with a variety of dishes. As some people keep fast on this nine days festival, there are specific recipes which are made only with the ingredients used in the fast. Aloo is one such ingredient which is commonly used in the recipes for Navratri fasts. Below we have given special recipe for aloo pulao, which you can prepare during Navratri fasts. It is very easy to make and delicious to taste.

Aloo Pulao Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup Samwat Rice (also known as Parsai ke chaawal)
• 2 tbsp. Ghee
• 1 tsp. Cumin Seeds
• 2 Cloves
• A tiny piece of Cinnamon
• 2 green Cardamoms
• 1 large Potato (diced in small pieces)
• 2 tsp. Rock Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Red Chili Powder
• 3 cup Water
• Green Coriander to garnish

 

 

 

 

Aloo Raita

Navratri is a festival that comprises of nine-days continuous fasting, so you need to take special care of your diet. You should include milk and milk products in your diet during the fasts. Curd is one of the best milk products you can have during this time. It is also believed that food is incomplete without curd. You can make various kinds of raitas with curd, such as boondi raita, vegetable raita, pineapple raita, and so on. But, since on Navratri, most of the people keep fast, we have given the recipe of aloo raita, which you can use while preparing Navratri food fro fasting.

Aloo Raita Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 Potatoes (boiled & chopped)
• 2 cups Curd
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Red Chili
• Rock Salt, to taste
• 1tsp Oil

 

 

 

 

Method of preparation

• Beat the curd till it turns smooth 
• Add chopped potatoes and mix it well 
• Heat the oil and add cumin seeds, pepper, and red chili and stir it for a moment 
• Add it to potato curd mixture 
• Sprinkle rock salt to taste
• Keep it in refrigerator and serve along with the meal 

Dal Stuffed Poori

In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during Navratri that lasts for all the nine days of the festival. The festival of Navratri culminates in Navami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga, are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered food, including poori, channa and Halwa. Below, we have given the method of preparing dal stuffed poori, which you can make on Navami.

Dal Stuffed Poori Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup Wheat flour
• 1/2 cup Black Gram Dal (urad dal)
• 2 Red Chilies
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 2 Cardamoms
• 2 Cloves
• 1/2" piece Cinnamon
• 1/5 cup Water
• Oil to fry
• Salt To taste 

Method

• Rub 1 tsp oil into the wheat flour
• Add 1/2 tsp salt to the wheat flour
• Make soft dough using small amounts of water
• Set aside the dough for 25 minutes, covered with a wet cloth
• Soak black gram dal for atleast one hour and grind to make a paste
• Add very little water if required to make a paste
• Grind together red chilies, cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon and keep aside.
• Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a fry pan
• Add the dal paste and the mixed masalas, stirring constantly till the dal is fried and the water is absorbed leaving it dry
• Knead and divide the dough into 10 small balls
• Make a cup with each ball and fill with the prepared dal mixture
• Seal by extending the dough over the filling
• Flatten and roll it as a roti, approx. 3" in diameter
• Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown
• Drain and serve hot