Moongphali Kadhi

Peanuts ground to a powder are used as a substitute for besan.

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanuts(without skin)-ground to a fine powder

1 1/2cup curd

3 cup water

3/4 tsp salt

1 green chilli & 1/2" piece ginger - crushed together to a paste

2-3 tbsp ghee or oil

3/4tsp jeera

8-10 curry leaves

2-3 whole red chillies(optional)

Method:

1. Mix curd, water, salt, chilli-ginger paste & peanut powder. Beat well.

2. Heat ghee/oil. Reduce heat. Add Jeera. When jeera turns brown, add whole red chilli & curry leaves. Fry for a few seconds.

3. Add curd mixture and keep stirring till it boils. Simmer for 4-5 mints on low heat. Serve hot.

Baked Sweet Potato with Carrots

Slice sweet potatoes and Half boil them. Place them in a baking dish with sliced carrots. Toss these with Olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary and Bake it in a 350'F oven until brown.

Garnish with some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Enjoy this salad warm.

Things you can eat while fasting

Vegetables :

1. Potatoes

2. Petha/Bhopla/ Pumpkin

3. Kachaalu

4. Shakarkandi

5. Arbi

6. Suran/Jimikand/ Yam

7. Bande/Rataloue/Kand

8. Singhara

9. Raw Banana

10. Raw Papaya

11. Fresh Coriander

12. Curry patta

13. Cucumber

14. Lemon & lemon juice

15. Fresh Green chillies

16. Ginger

17. Carrots

18. Reddish

Spices:

1. Jeera

2. Black pepper

3. Black Salt

4. Rock Salt

5. Chotti ellaichi

6. Laung

7. Saboot kali mirch

Navratri Time..

You know this is the time of the year, I feel very energized n festive. And, trust me it's easy to be fasting when you have mom cooking for you. I remember we'd always start the fasts with full enthusiasm, all determined to stay focused and restrict our diet to fruits n milk. The first few days would go easy and towards the end we'd crave salt or something spicy to curb our cravings.

I still enjoy fasting for Navratri but do feel challenged when it comes to what to cook.

Challenge 1: I personally don't enjoy eating potato wafers or feasting on french fries so I'd like to have different options to stay engaged and motivated all along.

Challenge 2: Indian grocery stores in manila only have Vrat ke chawal and Sabudana so I had to be a bit creative.

I went through several websites and blogs but eventually felt the need of compiling my research at one place so it can be useful for others.