Special Recipes for Holy Navratra

       

        

       With blessings of Ma Durga, the holy days of Navratra have begun and will end on 2nd Oct,2014.Many of us observe fasting in this period and depend on phalahari meals.In this blog many recipes have been posted from time to time for such occasions,which are listed below:

• Lauki-ki-kheer
• Makhane ki kheer
• Aloo ki kadhi
• Sabudana ki khichadi 
• Potato fry

     I am sure these recipes will make anyone's fasting a worthwhile experience!

Navratra Special-Aloo ki Kadhi

Fasting is an act of religious faith.People observe it with commitment and deserve special respect.This blog endeavours to make their dinner somewhat tasty.Aloo Ki Kadhi is such a dish.However this dish can be used on other occasions too.

Ingredients

• Aloo [potato]  500 gm
• Curd   500 gm
• Ginger  1" piece
• Green chilli  4-5 pieces
• Green coriander leaves  1 small bunch
• Black pepper powder  1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder  1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida [hing]  2 pinch
• Cumin seeds [Jeera]  1/4 tsp
• Rock salt [sendha namak] to taste
• Pure ghee  2 tsp   
•        [Note:For other than fasting,normal salt and dry garam masala powder [1 tsp ]can be used.]

Serves 06 persons.

Preparation

Boil the potatoes in a pressure cooker.Drain water and peel off the potatoes.

• Mash partially the boiled potatoes into small pieces.
• Beat the curd.
• Chop the chili,ginger and green coriander leaves into fine pieces.

Method

• Heat oil in a pan and add hing & cumin seeds,Fry till cumin seeds turn dark brown,Add chilli and ginger pieces & fry slightly.
• Add mashed potato & turmeric powder,and fry till it turns light brownish.
• Add beaten curd, pepper powder and rock salt.
•   Cook on low flame till the mixture boils,and, curd & potato are mixed..Close the flame.
• Garnish with green coriander leaves.

Serve hot with puri or paratha made of Singhara or Kutu flour.

Navratri Special-Potato Fry

            During fasting,the potato fry can be used as a snack in the evening or with meal in dinner.

Ingredients:

• Potato [medium size]  500 gm
• Coriander Leaves  small bunch
• Green chilli  04 pieces
• Ginger  01 small piece
• Black pepper powder  1/4 tsp
• Rock salt [sendha namak] to taste
• Pure ghee  3 tbsp

Preparation:

• Clean the potato,boil in a pressure cooker for 2 whistles.Let the pressure release.Peel off the boiled potato.Then cut each into four pieces,or,two pieces if smaller potato.

•   Cut green chilli and ginger into small pieces.

Method:

• Take a heavy bottomed pan,heat it.Add pure ghee,heat it on high flame.
• Fry pieces of green chilli and ginger for a few seconds.
• Add pieces of potato,mix well.Fry for 2-3 minutes.Lower the flame.
• Add salt and pepper powder.Mix well.Cover with the lid.
• After 5-6 minutes,remove the lid and fry the potato on high flame.Keep on stirring and scratching the bottom of pan occasionally so that potato is not burnt.
• When the oil in the pan is totally dried and potato well fried,close the flame.
• Garnish with green coriander and serve hot.

  The yummy potato fry is ready to eat independently,or, with paratha or puri made of flour of singhara or kutu.

 

Navratra Special ---- Lauki Ki Kheer [Bottle Gourd Dessert]

The Holy Navratra has begun and will spread over a period of 9 days.People observe fasting partly or for the whole period.Such people depend on fruits as well as foods,desserts or vegetables, permissible for fasting.In previous posts i have given recipes like sweet dish  Makhane Ki Kheer and salty Sabudana Khichdi,which are ideal for fasting and nutritious too.Lauki ki Kheer [Bottle Gourd Dessert] is another such item.The loki is well known for its health benefits.

 Ingredients 

• Lauki [bottle gourd]  1/2 kg
• Milk  01 lit.
• Sugar  200 gm
• Cardamom powder  1/2 tsp 
• Almond  10 pieces 
• Pista [pistachios] 10 pieces
• Cashew nut  10 pieces
• Grated dry coconut  1/4 cup 
• Raisin  01 tbsp
• Pure ghee 01 tbsp

Serves 06 people.

Preparation

1.Wash the loki,peel off the lauki,cut into 3"-4" size,take out the seeds and grate it.

2.Squeeze it so that water is drained out totally.

2.Cut the almonds,cashewnut,& pista length wise into fine pieces.

Method

• Take half of milk in a heavy bottomed pan.Boil it till it becomes thick to almost further half.
  

• Take another pan.Heat ghee and add squeezed loki.Saute till it become completely dry & turns light pink.Add other half of milk.Cook on low flame till milk & lauki are mixed well.Add sugar,mix and saute again till mixture turns thick again.
• Add the thick milk of first pan to second pan.Mix well,then close the flame.
• Add part of dry fruits and cardamom powder.Mix.
• The lauki ki kheer is ready.Fridge it.

Garnish it with remaining dry fruits before serving cool.

 

Sabudana Khichadi [Fried Sago Mix]

Sabudana [Sago] Khichadi is a fast to cook, tasty and nutritious breakfast item liked by young or old alike.Even on occasions of fasting, it can be taken.

Ingredients:

• Sabudana [Sago] 250 gm
• Pea nuts 1cup
• Potato 3-4medium
• Cumin seeds 1/2tsp
• Black pepper 1/2tsp
• Ginger 1small pc
• Green chilli 4-5pcs
• Coriander leaves 1small bunch
• Lemon 1-2pcs
• Salt to taste {during fasting,use sendha namak [rock salt] }
• Refined oil  4tbsp

Serves: 4

 

Preparation:

• Wash sabudana 2-3 times and soak into 2 cup of water for at least 4-5 hours.
• Then drain water and keep the sabudana aside.Keep in mind that the same should be moist till its use.With the time it will increase in volume.This is to be ascertained that pearls of sabudana should be soft.
• Chop the green chilies finely into small pieces.
• Roast peanuts in a heavy bottom pan, continuously stirring so that the same is not burnt.Then peel off the skin.Grind the peanuts for broken or coarse small pieces.
• Boil the potatoes.Then mash coarsely.
• Grind pepper.
• Chop the coriander leaves finely.
• Grate ginger. 

 

Method:

• Heat refined oil in a deep fry pan on high flame and add cumin seeds.When it becomes red,add green chili,grated ginger and mashed potato.Mix and fry for 5-6 minutes.
• Add salt and ground peanuts.Mix well again.Keep on stirring for 2-3 minutes.Add soaked sabudana.Mix well and fry with continuous stirring till its pearls turn transparent.
• Add 1 tbsp lemon juice and ground black pepper.Mix well.
• Close the flame.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot.

 

Makhane Ki Kheer

इस ब्लॉग के पाठको को नवरात्र की शुभकामनाये 

The days of Fasting are going on during this Navratra. Many of the religious people opt for fasting during 8 or 9 days of this occasion. During scotching summer some sweet edibles,acceptable in fasting,eases the ritual.The makhane ki kheer is just up to occasion....sweet,yummy & quick to cooking without sweating !!!

     And the properties of makhana have it...rich in protein & calcium !! Wow...yummy....  

Ingredients:

• Makhana (lotus seeds)- 200 gm

• Milk [full cream]- 1ltr
• Sugar- 1 cup
• Poppy seeds [soaked in water]-  2 tbsp
• Ghee- 1 tbsp
• Green crushed cardamom  1/2 tsp
• Dry coconut grated  1/2 cup
• Raisin 10-15 pieces
• Charoli [ chironji]  2 tsp

For Garnishing:

• Pistachio [crushed]- 2 tsp

Method:

• Heat a deep pan,saute makhana in it for 2-3 minutes,then add 1/2 tbsp ghee.Again saute the same for 3 minutes till they are crisp.

• Remove the pan from fire and take makhana in the grinder.
• Crush the makhana very slightly.
• Saute grated coconut in pan on low heat for 1/2 minute and keep separately.
• Heat remaining ghee in the pan and add soaked poppy seeds.Saute for 1 minute.
• Now,add milk into pan and heat it, bring to boil on low flame until milk is reduced to 3/4th .Then add the crushed makhana. Simmer it for a few minutes till it becomes slightly thick.

• Add grated coconut,raisin and charoli and mix well.Cook for few minutes.
• Add sugar & cardamom and mix well.Cook again for 2 minutes till it becomes thick.

• Take it off flame, let it cool and keep in refrigerator.
• Garnish it with crushed pistachio before serving.
• Serve it cold....it tastes better and soothing...

Yummmmmmyyyyyyyy............