NavratriFood – Page 3 – The Secret Ingredient

Appetiser

Healthy Kachalu Aloo Chat | Yam Potato Chat

By anshu September 18, 2014

Chat is referred to a savoury tangy snack served usually as a street food in India. It can be a mix of fruits, spices, specially chat masala, lemon, tamarind and many other combinations. There are so many types of chats, probably every city will have its own specialty. This Kachalu Aloo Chat is a specialty from the ancient and historical city of Gaya.

Kachalu Aloo Chat is made with boiled potatoes and yam. You can even eat it during Navratras or fasting period. Since it is not fried you can eat it as a healthy snack. I made this for the first time and it was hit in my family. If you do not find kachalu or yam, you can substitute it with sweet potato. It will taste good with both root vegetables.

If you are fasting and are looking for more Navratri or Satvik recipes you should try : Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi, Makhane Ki Kheer, Vrat Wale Dahi-Paneer Kebabs. I am listing more recipes at the end of the page. In case you try any, give me a shout out on instagram or facebook.

Directions:

1.Wash Yam and Potatoes and put them ina pressure cooker for 15 minutes or 6-7 whistles or until they are soft.

2. In the meanwhile julienne ginger into thin sticks and dip them in lemon juice and refrigerate.

3. Peel the skin of potato and yam and dice them into cubes.

4. Slice a banana with the potatoes and yam.

5. In a small bowl mix tamarind pulp, Lemon juice, chat masala , salt, red chili powder and sugar.

6. Pour it over the cubed potatoes and banana. Fold the sauce with the potatoes so that all cubes are evenly coated with tamarind sauce.

7. Add Pomegranate Pearls to the bowl along with fresh chopped coriander leaves and minced green chilies.

Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with refrigerated ginger pickle. Serve at room temperature.

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Dinner

Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi | Barnyard Millet with Potato & Spices

By anshu September 11, 2014

This dish is made during Navratri or Navratras fasting. I remember fasting with my mother ever since I was a 9 year old girl. I fast all 8 days which means cereal grains, rice and many vegetables are abstained. The only food you can eat is fruits, all dairy products and mostly all root vegetables, with a few exception. Also many people take sendha namak instead of normal table salt. It varies from each person’s belief.

I love the days of fasting because it involves a lot of feasting. So many dishes are made which have a special significance. Swang ke chawal is not rice but belongs to millet family. It is know by various names like, Samvat, Sama, Vari, Varai, Samwa, Jhangora, Samo, Morio, Mario, Moraiaya, Bhagar & Kuthirai Vaali. This cereal is gluten free and is usually cultivated on marginal lands where rice doesn’t grow.

My mother makes this one pot khichdi which is delicious and filling. I wanted to share this recipe with you.

Directions:

1. Soak swang in water for 2 hours.

SwangKiKhichdi1

2. Boil potatoes and cut them in cubes. Keep aside.

3. In a pressure pan put some ghee and add cumin seeds.

4. Add finely grated ginger and green chilies. If you eat Kadhi Patta during Navratri you can add a sprig of that too.

5. Add chopped tomatoes and toss them till they become soft and gooey.

6. Add cubed boiled potatoes.

7. Add soaked swang to the pressure pan.

8. Add water.

9. Add pink salt and red chili powder.

10. Close the lid and let it cook for 5 whistles or 5 to 7 minutes after pressure builds up. Open lid and serve hot . Pour on top spoonful of ghee.

Other recipes for fasting you can try are: Healthy Kachalu Aloo Chat, Tangy Mint Potatoes, Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo, Vrat Wale Dahi-Paneer Kebabs, Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni, Tapioca Coconut Milk Pudding with Strawberry Preserve, Paneer Ki Kheer, Sabudana Kheer, Kaddu Ka Halwa, Sabudana Khichdi .

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[whohit]SwangKChawalKiKhichdi[/whohit]

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Dips

Anaar Aloo ka Raita | Pomegranate Potato in Spiced Yogurt

By anshu August 28, 2014

Pomegranate or Anaar is in season. The unusual combination of pomegranate and boiled fried potato with yogurt makes a delicious and hearty side dish with your meal. Its refreshing and full of flavour. I am sure once you taste it you will want it more and more. I tried it for the first time for a dinner party at our place. It was a huge success. The enchanting colors makes it even more inviting.

The beauty of this refreshing dish is that you can eat this even in Navratri Fasting. I pair it with my Barnyard Millet khichdi. Its simply delicious. if you are looking for other Fasting recipes you can try Healthy Kachalu Aloo Chat, Tangy Mint Potatoes, Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo, Vrat Wale Dahi-Paneer Kebabs, Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni. For this recipe follow the instructions below.

Directions:

1. Boil potatoes and peel their skin. Cut them in cubes and fry them with little oil in the pan.

2. Fry them till they get a slight golden colour. Remove them on a paper towel to absorb extra oil. Set aside to cool down.

3. In a bowl whisk some yogurt, so that no lumps remain and add little milk to give it a smooth liquid texture. Also milk will reduce the thickness of yogurt.

4. Add Salt, chat masala and red chili powder . Give them a gentle stir to combine.

5. Add little sugar and mix.

6. Add roasted cumin seeds powder.

7. Add pomegranate to the yogurt mix. Along with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

8. Now add cooled fried potatoes to yogurt.

Garnish with roasted cumin powder, red chili flakes or powder and coriander or mint. Serve as a side dish with Kathal Biryani or any of your favourite dishes.

Other recipes for fasting you can try are: Healthy Kachalu Aloo Chat, Tangy Mint Potatoes, Khajoor Til Ke Laddoo, Vrat Wale Dahi-Paneer Kebabs, Swang Ke Chawal Ka Halwa, Swang Ke Chawal Ki Phirni, Tapioca Coconut Milk Pudding with Strawberry Preserve, Paneer Ki Kheer, Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi, Kaddu Ka Halwa, Sabudana Khichdi .

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Breakfast

Sabudana Khichdi | Sago Khichdi | Tapioca Potato in Indian Spices

By anshu March 29, 2014

During Navratras one is tired of eating the same food again and again. I understand you are fasting and are required to eat a particular type of food, but what if you can make some interesting food using the same ingredients. Here is one recipe which is easy and delicious yet does not use any fancy ingredients. It uses Sabudana which is also known as ‘Tapioca‘ in many countries.This can also be made for breakfast even on non fasting days.

Directions:
1. Soak Tapioca in a bowl with water for a couple of hours till the tapioca balls become soft. Drain water and set aside. In the meanwhile boil potatoes and peel their skin. Cut them into cubes and set aside.

2. In a pan pour some oil and add cumin seeds along with few leaves of Kaddi Patta. When the cumin seeds start sputtering add raw Ground nuts and toast them for a couple of minutes.

3. Add grated ginger and gently mix and cook for a minute or so.

4. Now add boiled cubed potatoes and roast them in oil with cumin and other spices.

5. After potatoes have attained a golden colour and have become little crisp from outside add salt or sendha namak namak and red chili powder and mix it thoroughly.

6. Add pre-soaked tapioca to the potatoes and mix thoroughly.

7. Cover the tapioca potato mix with a lid or small plate tightly and let it cook on low flame for about five to seven minutes.

8. Open lid and check if the tapioca has become slightly gooey and become transparent in colour.

9. Garnish it with Green Coriander leaves.

10. Serve with plain yogurt and green pudina chutney.

If you looking for more Navratri or Vrat recipes you can checkout Makhaney ki Kheer, Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi, Gajar ka Halwa Rasgulla, Anaar Aloo ka Raita and Kachalu Aloo ki Chaat.

[yumprint-recipe id=’14’] [whohit]SabudanaKhichdi[/whohit]

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Dessert

Makhane Ki Kheer | Foxnut Milk Pudding | Phool Makhana Kheer

By anshu March 27, 2014

Navratras are approaching and this recipe is simply ideal for all those who wanna fast and also for those who wanna taste the Navratri food despite non fasting 😛 I know many such people in my family including my husband. I never tasted this kheer until my mother in law made it soon after I got married.

It tasted amazing and I learnt from my Mother in Law and now I am sharing it with you. For those who are unaware of Makhanas or Phool Makhanas, they are nothing but Lotus dried seeds also known as Foxnut. You can eat this during any vrat or any festivity.

Directions:
1. Put Makhanas in a bowl and soak them in water for couple of hours or so till they become soft and gooey.

2. Coarsely grind the soaked makhanas in a blender. You can also make a smooth paste if you prefer but I like it chunky. Set aside.

3. In a deep bottom pan add milk and give it a boil.

4. Add crushed cardamoms to the milk and boil for another 5 minutes on low flame . If you prefer you can even use powdered cardamoms.

5. Add coasrsely blended Makhanas to the milk and give it a stir. Boil for ten minutes till the kheer attains a thicker consistency.

6. Add a can of condensed milk or sugar as per your taste. Stir continuously.

7. Add Chopped Pistachios or dry fruit of your choice. and give it a mix.

8. Add few strands of saffron and mix.

9. Serve Hot and Enjoy.

Other traditional sweets you can enjoy during the festivity are: Pumpkin Halwa, Sooji Ka Halwa, Gajar Ka Halwa, Rasgulla, Attey Ka Halwa.

[yumprint-recipe id=’13’][whohit]MakhaneKiKheer[/whohit]

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