Baked Sabudana Vada
The classic Sabudana Vada is a fasting favourite, but it is traditionally deep-fried. To make it healthier, simply shape the vadas and bake them in a hot oven or use an air fryer. A light brushing of ghee is all you need to achieve a wonderfully crisp
exterior and a soft, chewy inside. This method not only cuts down on oil but also makes cleanup a breeze. The mixture of soaked sabudana, boiled potatoes, crushed peanuts, and mild spices like cumin and green chilli remains as flavourful as ever, offering a satisfying and permissible treat.
Pan-Seared Kuttu Aloo Tikki
Kuttu (buckwheat flour) is a staple during Navratri and Sawan fasting. Instead of deep-frying Kuttu ki Tikki, you can make perfectly delicious and crispy patties on a non-stick tawa. Mix boiled and mashed potatoes with kuttu atta, sendha namak (rock salt), and spices like chopped green chillies and coriander. Form the mixture into small, flat tikkis. Pan-sear them with a minimal amount of ghee until they are golden brown and crisp on both sides. This method gives you that desirable crunch without the excess oil, making it an ideal evening snack.
Roasted Makhana Chaat
Makhana, or fox nuts, are light, nutritious, and perfectly aligned with Sawan fasting rules. For a quick snack, forget frying and simply dry roast them in a pan until they are crisp. For a small batch, this takes only a few minutes. To turn them into a flavourful chaat, toss the roasted makhana with a sprinkle of sendha namak and black pepper. You can also add roasted peanuts, chopped tomatoes, and a squeeze of lemon juice for a more elaborate but still healthy snack. It's crunchy, savoury, and requires virtually no oil.
Steamed Farali Dhokla
Dhokla is known for being a healthy, steamed snack, and a 'farali' version is perfect for Sawan. Made from vrat-friendly flours like samak (barnyard millet) and a bit of sabudana, the batter is fermented and then steamed. This process uses no oil for the cooking itself. A final tempering of ghee, cumin seeds, and curry leaves is all that’s needed to add flavour. You can easily make a small tray in a steamer or even a pressure cooker, resulting in soft, fluffy dhoklas that are incredibly light on the stomach.
Sweet Potato Chaat
Sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of energy during a fast. They are naturally sweet and filling. To prepare a simple, low-oil snack, boil or roast small sweet potatoes until they are tender. Once cooled, peel and cut them into cubes. For a quick chaat, toss the cubes with sendha namak, roasted cumin powder, and a dash of lemon juice. For extra texture and freshness, you can add pomegranate seeds and chopped coriander leaves. This dish is entirely oil-free and can be prepared in just the quantity you need.
Fruit Chaat with a Twist
The simplest and most refreshing snack during any fast is a bowl of fresh fruit. To make it more interesting for Sawan, create a small bowl of mixed seasonal fruits like apples, bananas, and pomegranate. Instead of a heavy dressing, season it with a pinch of sendha namak and coarsely ground black pepper. This classic combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavours elevates the simple fruit bowl into a more satisfying chaat. It’s hydrating, packed with nutrients, and requires no cooking or oil whatsoever.
