During religious fasting in India, one abstains from regular meals. Fruits are popularly eaten either by themselves, as juice or fruit chaats (cut fruits spiced with lemon juice, salt, red chilli powder, sugar). Local and seasonal fruits like Papaya, Apples, Pears, Bananas, Pomegranate are eaten during the Navratri fasting.

Ever since my childhood, I’ve looked forward to the festival of Navratri. As a child I was not aware of the significance of the festival. It was the delicious food prepared by my mother during the festival that was the main appeal. Till date I don’t know why its called fasting. Most dishes are deep fried. Other dishes which include fruit, sabudana and vegetables are tasteful and full of flavour. The dishes I prepare today are mostly what my mother cooks. A few dishes I have learnt from neighbours and the extended family.

In my family we eat the ‘falhar’ or fasting food for the first seven days. On ‘Ahstmi’ or the eighth day, we do the pooja and have Sooji Halwa, Kale Chane and Puris for ‘parsad’.

To make a fruit chaat, you need to dice your fruits, spice it up with salt and chilli powder and give it a sweet and sour flavour by adding sugar and lemon juice.

Fruit Chaat

Spiced Fruit Medley

Ingredients ~

250 gms combination of fruits of your choice
100 gms cucumber
50 gms boiled potatoes
1 lemon, juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp powdered sugar
chilli powder, optional

Method ~

1. Peel and dice all the fruits, cucumber and potatoes evenly.
2. Add the salt, sugar, lemon juice and chilli powder if using, to the diced fruits. Mix well. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

~ Add the sugar and salt just before eating. If added too early, the fruits leave their juices and soften up. If you like the chaat to be syrupy then by all means add the sugar and salt an hour in advance.

For more recipes of dishes cooked in my family during the Navratri festival, please read my post, Navratri Vrat Thali.

Most of the recipes are simple and quick to cook, yet are delicious.