5 creative dishes to add to your traditional Navratri thali this year

Add a unique touch to your traditional Navratri thali this year with these chef-suggested ideas

• Navratri thali can be made creative with vrat-friendly foods
• Chef Kush Koli suggests five unique dishes for Navratri
• Buckwheat, sweet potato, and sago used in festive recipes

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Navratri is one of the biggest Hindu festivals, celebrated twice a year, during which different incarnations of Maa Durga are worshipped by devotees. During these nine days, a strict Satvik diet is followed, prohibiting the use of grains, onions, garlic, and non-vegetarian foods in cooking.

While this may seem restrictive, there’s still ample scope for experimentation, especially for those who love to cook. Traditional foods, such as sabudana, buckwheat flour (kuttu), and fruits, can be used creatively to curate a Navratri thali that is sure to please the taste buds of your loved ones.

Chef Kush Koli at Lore, Radisson hotel, MG Road, shared with Moneycontrol five dishes that will add a unique touch to your traditional plate this year.

Also read | Navratri fasting foods: Make these smart swaps to eat healthy, stay away from hidden calories

Anarkali Ghewar Chaat

Adding a chaat to your thaali is the best way to add a ‘hatke’ touch. Chef Koli said, “Ghewar is made out of buckwheat flour, which is vrat-compliant.” Fry sweet potato until it turns crispy and use it as a base, then top it with saunth chutney (tamarind chutney) and mint chutney. Add a bit of rock salt and whisk the sweet curd until it turns into foam. This snack gives a unique spin to the traditional chaat.

Ambiya ki nihari

While you may have heard of the traditional lamb nihari, you can add something totally different to your Navratri thali by making ambiya ki nihari, which uses raw mangoes. Their sourness gives a delicious, tangy touch to the curry, made using vrat-friendly ingredients. The sweet-and-sour dish can be enjoyed alone or with fasting fruits, puris, or rotis.

Thalipeeth

Generally made in Maharashtra with multigrain flour, the vrat-friendly version of thalipeeth uses a mix of buckwheat and water chestnut flour along with some green chillies and chopped coriander. It is a delicious version that can be enjoyed with chutneys, curd, or even aloo sabzi.

Also read | 7 high protein dishes that will keep you full and energetic during Navratri fasting

Qasar-e-pukhtan

Chef Koli shared that it is a vegetarian dish from Lahore that can add a flavourful touch to your Navratri thali. It is made using pumpkin sauce, a little bit of curd, and cottage cheese. You can do away with onions and garlic and make this one to please your taste buds. Also, it is an excellent choice for those who love their protein fix.

Sago pudding

To add a sweet touch to your thali, the chef recommended adding sago pudding. For this, use vrat-friendly ingredients like coconut milk, sabudana, coconut pulp, mango puree, sugar, and Rooh Afza. This one’s creamy, flavourful, and an instant delight.