Best Navratri Food

Navratri is a festival of commitment, but not only for the fast but also to those nice unique healthy food. For nine days, people abstain from grains and some spices and heavy foods and eat mainly sattvic or pure food to purify not just the body but the soul as well. If you’re in Delhi during Navratri, you would find a lot of places that have special Navratri thalis for the tradition, with a load of dishes prepared with ingredients unique to the fasting days.

Highlights

-Sattvic food, pure and simple, is consumed during Navratri

-Some of the widely used ingredients are buckwheat, water chestnut flour and barnyard millet

-Avoid using onions, garlic, and other grains used

-Choose to eat light, easy to digest, and nutritious foods

## Ingredients

1. Buckwheat Flour (Kuttu Ka Atta): Made chapatis, puris, and pakoras ready to be consumed.

2. Water Chestnut Flour (Singhare Ka Atta): Eaten as pancakes, rotis, and even in desserts.

3. Barnyard Millet (Samak Rice): Option for rice during fasting

4. Potatoes (Aloo): Seriously consumed in large amount in curries, snacks, and more.

5. Pumpkin (Kaddu): Majorly used for the curry

6. Rock Salt (Sendha Namak): This is the only permissible salt that can be used on Navratri

7. MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCT-based: PANIR, curd, and other milky sweets

## Navratri Thali (Special Fasting Platter)

A Navratri Thali is the traditional platter served through the nine days, comprising foods that are allowed to be cooked during the fasting days, which are wholesome and delicious.

## Traditional Items of Thali:

1. Sabudana Khichdi: A light dish made from sago pearls, peanuts, and potatoes.

2. Kuttu Ki Poori: Fried buckwheat bread

3. Aloo Tamatar Curry: A simple, flavor-rich potato and tomato curry

4. Samak Rice: A dish prepared like rice, which goes well with curries.

5. Paneer Bhurji: Crumbly paneer sautéed with tomatoes and mild spices.

6. Fruit Salad: Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, and pomegranates

7. Sabudana Vada: Deep-fried sago patties with potatoes and peanuts

8. Makhana Kheer: A delicious dessert made from fox nuts simmered in milk.

## Best places for Navratri food in Delhi

1. Sattvik, Select Citywalk: Known for its sattvic (pure) food, Sattvik serves an excellent Navratri Thali.

2.Gulati Restaurant, Pandara Road: This traditional restaurant gives a delicious and wholesome Navratri special thali.

3.Haldiram’s: Haldiram’s has different types of fasting food, including Navratri Thali.

4.Bikanervala: Bikanervala is already famous for the variety of Indian snacks, and the joint serves different Navratri special recipes.

5.Sagar Ratna: This South Indian restaurant also serves special fasting food in the Navratri season too.

## Healthy Food Options for Navratri

1. Sabudana Khichdi – Light dish rich in carbs and easily digestible.

2.Samak Rice with Curd: Very simple yet filling dish which is rich in fibre.

3.Kuttu  Atta Cheela: Savoury pancake prepared from buckwheat flour high in proteins and totally gluten-free.

4.Fruit Chaat: Nutritious and refreshing made with seasonal fruits.

5.Makhana Snacks: Roasted makhana, a healthy low-calorie snack

6.Coconut Water: A natural drink and is a rich source of electrolytes. Have it to keep yourselves hydrated

## Unique Navratri dishes

1. Aloo Tikki with Curd: Potato patties served with a side of chilled yogurt.

2. Vrat Ke Dhokla: Fermented, steamed cake from buckwheat flour.

3. Pumpkin Halwa: Ripe pumpkin mixed with milk.

4. Kuttu Ka Dosa: South Indian version with buckwheat flour.

 

READ ALSO: 3 days Group Camping in the forest of Manila Uttarakhand

READ ALSO : The Ultimate Guide to PS5 Pro: Features, Games, and What to Expect in 2024

## FAQ

1. Why do people not eat certain food items during Navratri?

The fasting period demands a sattvic diet, which purifies the body and mind. To ensure that the meals are light and pure, all staples like grains, onions, garlic, and regular salt are strictly avoided during fasting.

2. Is dairy allowed in Navratri?

Yes, dairy products like milk, paneer, and curd can be consumed during fasting.

3. Which oil is used with Navratri food?

Only ghee and cold-pressed oils are used with Navratri food.

Only ghee or peanut oil is used, no other vegetable oils which are assumed heavy for fasting.

4. Is rock salt the only salt that’s used in Navratri?

Yes. Rock salt (sendha namak) is preferred because it’s purely obtained and can be used for fasting purposes.

5. Are all fruits allowed during fasting?

Yes. All fruits are allowed, people consume fruits mostly during Navratri time.

6. Can I drink tea or coffee during Navratri?

Yes you can, during your fasting period you can indulge into tea or coffee but it’s advisable to avoid extra processed sugar added in them. Herbal teas also available which is a healthier option.

7. Is it safe to take sweets during Navratri?

Yes, you can have sweets made from fasting allowed ingredients, such as kheer prepared with makhana (fox nuts), singhare ka halwa (water chestnut flour), or barfi prepared with paneer or coconut. Ensure no grains or regular sugar is used.

8. Nuts and dry fruits in Navratri?

Yes, nuts and dry fruits. Almonds, cashews, and raisins are some of the dry fruits that can be consumed on fasting days as they are full of nutrients and do not leave you drained.

10. Honey can eat in  Navratri fasts?

Yes, you can use honey as your sweetener during the fasting period since it is a natural source and is gluten-free as long as it is not mixed with grain or other products that are to be avoided during fasting.

11. Can restaurant food be taken on Navratri?

Yes, quite a few restaurants, particularly in Delhi, have made Navratri-special thalis that follow all the rules of fasting. Just ensure that the food is prepared using permissible ingredients.

12. Do I need to fast on all nine days of Navratri?

Well, no, you do not. The fasting has to be done only for the first and last day, or even only for the two as most people do. All of this varies with personal beliefs and comfort.

13. Can I have canned fruit juices during Navratri?

Actually, one could avoid tinned juices as they contain added preservatives and sugars. Freshly extracted fruit juices would be a much better idea.

14. What can I have if I am diabetic and fasting during Navratri?

If you have diabetes, note items like buckwheat, amaranth, and fibrous vegetables. Get checked by a doctor so that he/she can tell you whether the diet is safe for consumption while fasting or not.

15. Can I use general cooking oil on Navratri ?

You may consume ghee, peanut oil or coconut oil during these days of fasting. You must never consume oils like mustard or sunflower oil.

16. What are the top mistakes which people tend to make during Navratri fast?

The most common mistakes are junk and highly processed fried foods, which negate the whole idea behind fasting, overeating, or even too much sugar use. Better energization and health upkeep should focus on light, nutrient-dense meals.

## BEST NAVRATRI FOOD IN DELHI

-Delhi gives an opportunity to taste its rich varieties of fasting food delicacies in Navratri specials. Here are the briefings:

-Gulati Restaurant: The special one at Gulati Restaurant over 40 delicacies, including Sabudana Tikki and Kuttu Ki Puri, is available for approx. ₹879 plus tax.

-Punjab Grill: Punjab Grill has offered a special Navratri Thali for Khoya Paneer Makhana and Dudh Halwa at ₹999 plus tax.

-Cafe Delhi Heights: Their thali comes with Sabudana Khichdi and Makhani Paneer. Desserts are the likes of Phalahari Kheer

-Yeti – The Himalayan Kitchen: Their thali has Kuttu Ke Atte Ki Poori and Sama Ki Kheer for ₹655 to ₹1,499 plus taxes.

-Dana Choga: Its Navratri Thali is complete with Singhare ki Poori and Kesari Coconut Laddoo for ₹425.

-These places offer deep variety in fasting-optioned offerings, increasing the merriment in Delhi on its festivities.

## How do the Navratri thalis at Ghoomar Traditional Thali Restaurants differ from others

-The Navratri thalis at Ghoomar Traditional Thali Restaurant run along other lines altogether:

-Authentic Flavors of Rajasthan: Ghoomar focuses more on traditional Rajasthani food because it brings out a unique blend of the regional food that reflects authentic Rajasthani culture, making it unique from other similar generic foods that can be found elsewhere.

-Handcrafted Dishes: A focus on chef-driven, handcrafted dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients; thus, the menu changes fairly regularly, keeping it fresh and authentic.

-The menu at Ghoomar is extensive and is designed to cater to the fasting needs mainly on buckwheat and tapioca in all preparations, yet carrying on traditional Rajasthani flavors.

-Ambience and Experience: Ghoomar is that type of dining experience which brings a food-orientated immersion along with a traditionally rich feel for the Navratri festival.

-All of these combine to form a unique experience for the customers who come to celebrate Navratri with authentic, delicious food.

## What makes Ghoomar’s Navratri thali unique compared to other restaurants

Why Ghoomar’s Navratri thali stands apart from any other restaurant:

-Authentic Rajasthani Cuisine: Ghoomar is famous for traditional Rajasthani flavors offering an exceptional dining experience that local dishes are not as common in other thalis.

-Handcrafted Dishes: This restaurant focuses on only chef-driven, handcrafted meals with fresh seasonal ingredients to provide authenticity in every dish.

-Diverse Offerings: Ghoomar’s thali is a wide variety of fasting-friendly dishes prepared especially for the Navratri celebration. This particular variety represents the unique preparations done for the day and reflects the cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

-Cultural ambiance: It combines food with a cultural ambiance and gives people a total enjoyment of the Navratri festival.

This makes it a unique experience among several Navratri thalis available at Delhi.

##Conclusion

Unlike fasting wherein we abstain from some foods and totally rely on others, Navratri encourages us to enjoy distinct flavors of a variety of dishes prepared using fasting-friendly ingredients. Whether you are sitting at home or in Delhi, there is a whole gamut of delicious and healthy dishes to satiate your palate on these nine days. A wholesome meal satisfying your palate and traditional fasting norms is served in the Navratri Thali. The right food at appropriate times will ensure staying healthy and energized, thus making Navratri a refreshed time for body and soul.