Navratri Vrat Thali | Navratri October 2024 | Prepare a special vrat thali for Navratri in about 30 minutes. This thali features nine different fasting-friendly dishes that are simple to make and comforting to eat during the nine days of Navratri fasting. Below are easy recipes and ideas to assemble a beautiful, balanced Navratri vrat thali.
Navratri 2024: During the nine days of Navratri, many households prepare a variety of dishes that are permitted during fasts (upvas). Many people eat only one main meal a day during Navratri and avoid non-vegetarian food. When you have just one plate for the day, serving a variety of dishes makes the meal satisfying and special. This thali consists of nine fasting-friendly items that are tasty, nourishing, and quick to prepare.
- Sabudana: Khichdi, vadas, or paratha
- Kuttu: Roti or poori
- Singhara: Atta puris
- Rajgira: Paratha
- Dahi: Aloo sabji (potato curry)
- Kheer: Made with buckwheat or amaranth
- Fruit: Salad, bananas, apples, or pomegranates
- Dry fruits and nuts: Almonds, cashews, or raisins
- Other: Yogurt, coconut chutney, or pomegranate raita
Divine Navratri Vrat Thali: Sabudana Khichdi Recipe for Fasting Bliss
Ingredients:
1 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2–3 green chilies, finely chopped
8–10 curry leaves
2 tablespoons ghee or neutral oil
Salt to taste (sendha namak for fasting)
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Method:
Soak the sabudana in just enough water to cover it for 4–6 hours, then drain thoroughly so the pearls are separate and not mushy. Heat ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds, chopped green chilies, and curry leaves. Add diced potatoes and sauté until cooked through. Add the drained sabudana, crushed peanuts, and salt. Cook on medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring gently, until the sabudana turns translucent. Finish with sugar (if using), lemon juice, and chopped coriander. Serve hot with plain yogurt or a cooling chutney.
Finish the Khichdi
When cooked, fluff the khichdi gently to keep the pearls separate. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve immediately for the best texture.
Sabudana Vada Recipe | Navratri 2024
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
- 2–3 green chilies, chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- Salt to taste (sendha namak for fasting)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Ghee or oil for frying
How to make it: Soak sabudana for 4–6 hours and drain well. Mix soaked sabudana with mashed potatoes, crushed peanuts, chopped green chilies, cumin, coriander, and salt. Form small patties or balls, flatten slightly, and deep-fry in hot ghee or oil until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels and serve hot. These vadas are crunchy outside and soft inside, ideal as a snack or as part of the thali.
Sabudana Paratha Recipe | Navratri 2024
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
- 1–2 green chilies, chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- Salt to taste (sendha namak for fasting)
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- Ghee or oil for roasting
How to make it: Soak sabudana for 4–6 hours and drain. Combine the drained sabudana with mashed potatoes, crushed peanuts, chopped chilies, cumin, coriander, and salt. Knead gently to form a soft dough, adding a little ghee if needed. Shape into small balls, roll or pat gently into parathas, and cook on a hot tava with ghee until golden on both sides. Serve warm with yogurt or coconut chutney.
Kuttu: Roti or Poori | Navratri Vrat Thali Recipe 2024
Kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour) is widely used during fasts like Navratri and Shivratri and is commonly called vrat ka atta or upvas ka khana. It is gluten-free and makes excellent rotis or pooris for fasting days. Kuttu rotis or pooris pair well with potato-based curries, yogurt, and chutneys.
Ingredients for Kuttu ki Puri
- 240 g kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour)
- 125 g potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed
- 1 tsp sendha namak (rock salt)
- Water as needed to knead
- Ghee or oil for deep frying
- Extra dry flour for dusting
Mix mashed potatoes with kuttu flour and salt, adding just enough water to form a firm dough. Roll into small discs and deep-fry in ghee or oil until puffed and golden for puris. For rotis, roll thin and roast on a hot tava with a little ghee until cooked. Serve with a simple potato-tomato curry or curd-based condiments.
Must-have Navratri Food (Upvas ka Khana) in your special Navratri vrat thali:
Sama rice puri
Potato-tomato vegetable (upvas style)
Shahi-style paneer made with vrat-friendly ingredients
Radish bhujia or stir-fried radish
Fresh fruit salad
Rice pudding made with buckwheat or amaranth
Dahi vada (made with fasting-appropriate ingredients)
Fasting need not mean bland or repetitive meals. With a little planning, you can enjoy a thali full of varied textures and flavors—crispy vadas, soft khichdi, flaky parathas, and cooling yogurt or raita. Include seasonal fruits and a mix of nuts for energy, and keep portions balanced so your single meal feels nourishing and complete.
Chef demonstrations and video recipes can be helpful if you prefer visual guidance. If you enjoy cooking, consider learning more through hands-on classes or structured courses to expand your repertoire of vrat-friendly dishes and cooking skills.