Navratri 2023: The Chaitra Navratri fast ends on March 29 (Ashtami) with Ram Navami (March 30), the day when people perform Kumari Pujan and worship nine young girls or Kanjakas as incarnations of Goddess Durga. Wrapping up your fast. Many fast on all the days of Navratri, while others fast on the first and second days of the nine-day festival. During the nine-day fasting period, foods such as onion, garlic, wheat, rice, fish, meat, chicken, brinjal and mushroom are eaten in some parts of India, while food made from cucumber, carrot, spinach, pumpkin, potato, millet is eaten. And wheat is considered sattvic food. (Also Read: Navratri 2023: 7 Ways To Boost Energy Levels During Fasting)
During the Navratri fast, one should eat a nutrient-dense diet and stay well hydrated. From protein to fiber to probiotics, healthy ingredients can make fasting an easier and better experience.
Sushmita Executive Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bellandur, Bangalore suggests 4 easy recipes to prepare on the last day of Navratri fasting.
1. Vegetable Sago Khichdi with Cucumber Raita
Ingredients:
Sage – 1 cup
Vegetables (mixed potatoes, beans, carrots) – 1/2 cup
Chopped pepper – 1 table spoon
Cumin – 1 tsp
sea salt
Roasted almonds – ¼ cup
Lemon juice – 1/2 tsp
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
method:
– Wash the sago and soak it completely in warm water for 1.5 hours.
– Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and green chillies.
– Just add the chopped potatoes to fry them until golden. Now add beans and carrots, salt and cook until soft.
– Stir in the sago.
– Garnish with chopped coriander leaves mixed with lemon juice before serving.
– Serve hot. Top it with thick curd if needed.
Advantages
Sago is a good source of carbohydrates, has anti-aging properties and helps improve hemoglobin. Magnesium and potassium are abundant and help in blood pressure regulation, improve digestion.
2. Small Millet / Samai Vegetable Idli
Ingredients:
1 cup washed small millet
Wash ¼ cup urad dal
Half a teaspoon of soaked fenugreek seeds
½ cup of vegetables (grated carrots/beetroot/pre-soaked green peas)
Salt and oil as per taste
method:
Grind small millets, urad dal and fenugreek seeds separately and mix them in a large bowl.
Ferment overnight to achieve a soft fluffy texture.
Add salt to taste.
Steam the idlis in the pot for 15-20 minutes.
Coconut chutney without onion and garlic can be a perfect side dish for idli.
Advantages
Small millet helps in weight loss and is a good source of anti-oxidants. It also helps control diabetes, high blood pressure and keeps the intestines healthy.
3. Ragi porridge with milk
Material:6
Ragi flour – 2 tbsp
Milk – 250 ml
Jaggery – 2 tbsp
Cardamom Powder – As required
method
– Boil milk and add ragi flour. Make sure to stir while adding ragi to avoid any lumps.
– Let it boil for 2 minutes.
– Add jaggery and mix well.
-Once the ragi is cooked add cardamom powder and serve hot.
– Water can be added to thin the consistency.
Advantages
Ragi and milk are good sources of calcium and keep bones healthy. Ragi helps in weight loss and promotes lactation in mothers.
4. Shankapushpi or hibiscus tea
Material:
Shankpushpi flower – 1 fistful or red hibiscus flower – 4 to 5 nos
Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
Rock / Himalayan salt – 1 pinch
Honey – 1 tsp (optional)
method:
– Take your favorite flower and boil it in 200 ml water for few minutes.
-After the water turns a nice blue color, filter the tea into a cup.
– Add lemon and watch the color of the tea change to a beautiful pink.
– Can be served hot with addition of rock/himalayan salt and honey.
Advantages
Shankpushpi flower helps with insomnia, improves digestion, reduces stress and calms the mind, while hibiscus petals are good for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, aids in weight loss, both flowers are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
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