Marianne Martinez
Navratri is a significant Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. During Navratri, many Hindus fast for nine days to please the Goddess Durga and seek her blessings. While fasting, people can consume milk and dairy products, including paneer or cottage cheese. However, some people choose to make their paneer at home instead of buying it from the market. This is because store-bought paneer may be made with common salt, which is not allowed during Navratri fasting. Instead, rock salt or sendha namak is used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can paneer be eaten during Navratri fast? | Yes |
| Types of paneer | Homemade paneer, store-bought paneer |
| Spices that can be used with paneer | Cumin seeds, green chillies, ginger paste, black pepper, sendha namak, red chilli powder, coriander leaves |
| Foods to avoid during Navratri fast | Wheat, rice, onion, garlic, common salt, refined flour, corn flour, chickpea flour, semolina, pearl millet, garam masala, coriander powder |
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What You'll Learn
Homemade paneer is preferred during Navratri
Navratri is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. It is celebrated over nine to ten days, twice a year, once in the spring (Chaitra Navratri) and once in the autumn (Sharad Navratri). During Navratri, Hindu devotees observe fasting for nine days to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga.
Fasting is a crucial component of Navratri, and devotees avoid eating grains, pulses, onions, garlic, alcohol, and non-vegetarian items. Vrat, or fasting food, varies from region to region and community to community. For instance, some North Indians do not eat salt foods, only sweets, while some Gujrati regions only eat fruits and milk.
Paneer, or cottage cheese, is allowed during the Navratri fast as it is a dairy product. It is a great ingredient to add to fasting recipes as it is rich in protein, easy to digest, and easy to cook. It can be eaten raw, sautéed, or added to recipes. However, some people argue that eating heavy foods like paneer gravy defeats the purpose of fasting.
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Paneer is allowed during Navratri fasting
Navratri is a significant festival in the Hindu religion that celebrates the victory of good over evil and the Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. During Navratri, Hindu devotees keep a fast for nine days to seek blessings from the Goddess. While fasting, devotees are allowed to eat certain foods, including fruits, vegetables, and milk and dairy products.
Paneer, or cottage cheese, is allowed during Navratri fasting as it is a milk or dairy product. Other milk items that are commonly consumed during the fasting season include milk, yogurt, fresh cream, butter, malai, and khoya/mawa. Some people also make paneer at home using lemon juice or curd for curdling the milk, and use it to make Kalakand and Paneer kheer.
There are several recipes that use paneer and are suitable for Navratri fasting. One recipe involves adding ghee to a pan with cumin seeds, green chillies, and potatoes, and then frying the potatoes. Then, you can add diced paneer cubes, fresh coriander leaves, ginger paste, black pepper, and sendha namak. Another recipe involves making a batter with hung curd, green chillies, coriander, and sending namak, and then making pancakes with ghee and adding paneer cubes.
It is important to note that there are certain variations in the Navratri fast, with some people only taking water, some eating fruits, and some eating one meal a day. Additionally, certain spices and vegetables are allowed during Navratri fasting, while others are avoided.
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Paneer recipes for Navratri
Navratri is a significant Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil and the goddess Durga and her nine avatars. Devotees observe a 9-day fast during the festival, and paneer is a great ingredient to add to fasting recipes as it is rich in protein, easy to digest, and easy to cook.
Falahari Paneer Makhane Gulgulle
This recipe is a close rendition of the classic Indian street food recipe, Ram ladoo, which is made with moong dal (yellow lentils) and served hot topped with daikon radish. For Navratri, lentils are swapped out for foxnuts, potatoes, and paneer (Indian cottage cheese).
To make the Falahari Paneer Makhane Gulgulle, start by dry-roasting the raw makhane. Maintain the heat on a medium-low flame and keep stirring occasionally until they are nicely toasted and light brown. Once done, take the makhane off the flame and allow them to cool. Transfer the cooled makhane to a food processor and pulse until the mixture is fine and powdery. Next, combine the powdered makhane with paneer, potatoes, flour, spices, and green chillies. Knead the mixture until well blended, adding 1-2 tablespoons of warm water to form a soft dough. Grease your hands and shape the mixture into evenly-sized balls. Grease an appe pan and cook the paneer makhane balls until crispy. Assemble the balls in a serving bowl, topping them with shredded cucumbers, chutney, and vrat ka chaat masala, and serve immediately.
Paneer Makhni
This recipe is perfect for Navratri fasting as it contains no onion, no garlic, and no heavy milk cream. To make the gravy, add red chili powder and turmeric powder to tomato puree to give it a nice color. For a creamy texture, make a paste of nuts and seeds instead of using butter and heavy milk cream. Cook this on a low flame. The gravy will thicken as it cools down. Once the gravy has thickened, add paneer cubes, sugar, and amchoor powder. Mix well and cook for around 5 minutes. Once done, switch off the flame and add ghee. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve with rice or chapatti.
Vrat Wale Aloo
Boil and peel two potatoes. Take a pan and add ghee, cumin seeds, green chillies, and the potatoes, frying until cooked. Add diced paneer cubes, fresh coriander leaves, ginger paste, black pepper, and sendha namak to taste.
Samvat Rice Pulao
Take a bowl and add 1 cup of hung curd, 1 cup of low-fat cream, and ¼ cup of powdered sugar/honey. Whisk the mixture. Then, add chopped mixed fruits and pomegranate seeds and enjoy chilled. Next, take a pan and add ghee and 1 cup of cashews. Roast the cashews, then add 2 cups of chopped tomatoes, green chillies, and cumin seeds. Cook the masala and add the cashews. Turn off the heat and add the mixture to a blender to make a thick blend. Cook this blend and add fresh cream along with paneer cubes. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy with samvat rice pulao.
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Spices and vegetables to eat with paneer during Navratri
During Navratri, a Hindu festival, devotees may fast for nine days to celebrate the victory of good over evil and to seek blessings from Goddess Durga. Those fasting abstain from grains, pulses, and certain other foods. However, milk and dairy products are allowed, and paneer, or cottage cheese, is a popular choice.
Spices
- Cumin or cumin powder
- Black pepper powder
- Green cardamom
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Ajwain
- Black peppercorns
- Dry pomegranate seeds
- Kokum
- Tamarind
- Nutmeg
- Fresh coriander leaves
- Red chilli powder
- Dry mango powder
- Chaat masala
Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Arbi (colocasia roots)
- Kachalu
- Suran or yam
- Lemons
- Raw or semi-ripe pumpkin
- Raw pumpkin
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Bottle gourd (lauki)
- Cucumber
- Carrots
- Bananas (especially raw)
- Samvat rice pulao with a side of ghee-roasted potatoes, cumin seeds, green chillies, and paneer cubes seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Parathas with paneer, potatoes, flour, spices, and green chillies cooked in ghee or oil.
- Vrat wale aloo—a modern twist on a traditional recipe, made with a batter of soaked sago, hung curd, green chillies, coriander, and sendha namak (rock salt), served with ghee-fried potatoes and paneer.
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Other dairy products to eat during Navratri
Navratri is a significant festival in the Hindu religion that celebrates the victory of good over evil. During Navratri, Hindu devotees keep a fast for nine days to seek blessings from Goddess Durga. While fasting, people can eat fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Milk and dairy products like curd, paneer or cottage cheese, white butter, ghee, malai, and preparations with milk and khoya are consumed during Navratri fasting. Here are some other dairy products that can be consumed during the Navratri fast:
Yogurt
Yogurt, also known as curd, is a popular dairy product consumed during Navratri fasting. It is a good source of protein and calcium and can be used in various recipes or eaten plain.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is another dairy product that is allowed during the Navratri fast. It is a refreshing drink that can help keep you hydrated during the fasting period.
Fresh Cream
Fresh cream is commonly consumed during the Navratri fasting season. It is often used in sweet dishes or added to coffee or tea.
Butter
Butter, specifically white butter, is another dairy product that can be consumed during Navratri fasting. It is used in cooking or as a spread.
Malai
Malai, which is similar to clotted cream, is also consumed during Navratri fasting. It is a rich and creamy dairy product that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
Khoya/Mawa
Khoya, also known as Mawa, is a dairy product made by evaporating milk. It is a key ingredient in many Indian sweets and desserts, which can be enjoyed during Navratri fasting.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, paneer or cottage cheese is allowed to be eaten during the Navratri fast.
Vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, arbi, yam, raw banana, bottle gourd, cucumber, carrots, and spinach can be eaten during the Navratri fast.
Milk and dairy products such as curd, paneer, cottage cheese, white butter, ghee, malai, and khoya are commonly consumed during the Navratri fast.
Some recipes that include paneer and can be eaten during the Navratri fast are sabudana paneer thalipeeth, paneer kheer, and samvat rice pulao with paneer cubes.
All fast foods, canned food, and foods prepared with onion or garlic should be avoided during the Navratri fast.
