The Sabudana Upgrade: Crispy Vadas
Sabudana khichdi is a fasting staple, but tapioca pearls are far more versatile. For a delightful change, try making crispy sabudana vadas. These deep-fried fritters, made from soaked sabudana, mashed potatoes, roasted peanuts, and mild spices like green
chillies and cumin, offer a satisfying crunch. They are filling, provide a great energy boost, and pair wonderfully with a simple vrat-friendly chutney made from mint or coconut. This snack transforms a familiar ingredient into a treat you'll look forward to.
Creative Crepes: Singhara Atta Cheela
Vrat-friendly flours like singhara atta (water chestnut flour) are a blessing during Shravan. Instead of the usual puris, use it to make savoury pancakes or cheelas. Mix the flour with water to create a smooth batter, season with sendha namak (rock salt) and black pepper, and add finely chopped green chillies or grated ginger. You can even stir in grated bottle gourd (lauki) for extra nutrition and softness. Cooked on a lightly greased pan, these cheelas are light, healthy, and a fantastic alternative to deep-fried food.
A Tangy Twist: Sweet Potato Chaat
Potatoes are common during fasts, but their cousin, the sweet potato, offers a different flavour profile and sustained energy. For a quick and flavourful meal, prepare a sweet potato chaat. Boil or roast sweet potatoes until tender, then chop them into cubes. Toss them with roasted peanuts for crunch, a squeeze of lemon juice for tang, and a sprinkle of rock salt and roasted cumin powder. This dish is a perfect balance of sweet, savoury, and tangy, making it a refreshing and wholesome option.
The Comfort Bowl: Samak Rice Pulao
If you miss rice during your fast, samak rice (barnyard millet) is an excellent substitute. This vrat-friendly grain can be used to make a fragrant and filling pulao. Sauté cumin seeds in ghee, add chopped vrat-friendly vegetables like potatoes and bottle gourd, and then stir in the washed samak rice. Cook it with water, season with rock salt and black pepper, and you have a wholesome one-pot meal that feels just as comforting as regular pulao. It’s light on the stomach yet satisfying.
Cool & Creamy: Vrat-Friendly Dahi Vade
Dahi Vade is a festive favourite that can be adapted for fasting days. Instead of using lentils, the 'vadas' are made from a batter of mashed potatoes or vrat flours like rajgira (amaranth) or singhara atta. These soft dumplings are fried until golden, briefly soaked, and then served in chilled, lightly sweetened curd. A garnish of roasted cumin powder and a touch of red chilli powder adds the final flourish. It is a refreshing and indulgent dish that feels like a celebration.
A Decadent Dessert: Makhana Kheer
No meal feels complete without dessert, and fasting days are no exception. Makhana (fox nuts) kheer is a rich and creamy pudding that’s simple to make. Lightly roast the makhana in ghee until they are crisp, then simmer them in milk until it thickens. Sweeten with sugar or jaggery and flavour it with cardamom powder and a few strands of saffron. Garnished with sliced almonds and pistachios, this kheer is a luxurious and nourishing way to end your fasting meal.
