Navratri is celebrated throughout India for nine days, filled with devotion, colours, and food generously prepared for fasting. The vrat ingredients appear nutritious and ambidextrous: samak rice, kuttu flour, and makhana. But here is an important truth—after a day or two, many are left wondering: What do we do with leftovers?

Instead of reheating the same dishes, switch things up to something unexpectedly exciting and delicious. Navratri fasting ingredients are just waiting to shine in other ways, and with a little creativity, keep your leftovers interesting in brand-new recipes that feel festive from start to finish.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through 10 recipes for Navratri leftovers—all vegan, gluten-free, and vrat-friendly—so you never waste a thing while making new memories—and exciting plates—out of the old.

1. Leftover Sama Rice Dhokla

Ingredients for Leftover Sama Rice Dhokla:

• 2 cups leftover samak rice
• 2 tbsp singhara atta
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp rock salt
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Enoo fruit salt

Method for Leftover Sama Rice Dhokla:

1. Mash leftover samak rice.
2. Mix in singhara atta, chilli, ginger, salt, and lemon juice.
3. Add eno fruit salt before steaming.
4. Pour into a greased thali and steam for 15 minutes.
5. Cut the Leftover Sama Rice Dhokla into squares.
6. Pro Tip: Serve Leftover Sama Rice Dhokla with coconut chutney.

2. Leftover Kuttu Pakoras

Ingredients for Leftover Kuttu Pakoras:

• 1 cup leftover kuttu batter or dough
• 1 boiled potato, mashed
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• 1 tbsp coriander
• Oil for shallow frying

Method for Leftover Kuttu Pakoras:

1. Mix leftover kuttu batter with potato, chilli, and coriander.
2. Drop spoonfuls into hot oil and fry.
3. Fry until golden. Serve Leftover Kuttu Pakoras hot.
4. Pro Tip: Add extra kuttu flour if the batter is runny for crispy Leftover Kuttu Pakoras.

3. Leftover Makhana Kheer Tarts

Ingredients for Leftover Makhana Kheer Tarts:

• 1 cup leftover makhana kheer
• 1 cup powdered nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• 4 dates, blended into a paste
• 1 tsp coconut oil

Method for Leftover Makhana Kheer Tarts:

1. Make a tart crust with nuts, dates, and coconut oil.
2. Press into tart moulds and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Fill with leftover makhana kheer. Serve Leftover Makhana Kheer Tarts.
4. Pro Tip: Chill Leftover Makhana Kheer Tarts before serving.

4. Leftover Sweet Potato Flatbread (Shakarkandi Paratha)

Ingredients for Leftover Shakarkandi Paratha:

• 1 cup boiled leftover sweet potatoes, mashed
• ½ cup rajgira atta
• Rock salt, to taste
• Oil for roasting

Method for Leftover Shakarkandi Paratha:

1. Mix mashed sweet potatoes with rajgira flour and salt to make dough.
2. Roll into flatbreads.
3. Roast on a tawa until golden. Serve Leftover Shakarkandi Paratha hot.
4. Pro Tip: Pair Leftover Shakarkandi Paratha with cucumber peanut raita.

5. Leftover Rajgira Chikki Granola

Ingredients for Leftover Rajgira Chikki Granola:

• 1 cup crushed leftover rajgira chikki
• ½ cup roasted makhana
• ¼ cup dry fruits (almonds, cashews, raisins)
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder

Method for Leftover Rajgira Chikki Granola:

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
2. Store in an airtight jar. Use Leftover Rajgira Chikki Granola as breakfast or a snack.
3. Pro Tip: Warm the chikki before mixing for better texture in Leftover Rajgira Chikki Granola.

6. Leftover Aloo Vrat Sandwich

Ingredients for Leftover Aloo Vrat Sandwich:

• 1 cup leftover potato sabzi
• 4 slices gluten-free bread or buckwheat pancakes
• Rock salt, to taste

Method for Leftover Aloo Vrat Sandwich:

1. Spread leftover potato sabzi on bread or pancakes.
2. Toast lightly. Serve Leftover Aloo Vrat Sandwich hot.
3. Pro Tip: Use kuttu or rajgira cheelas as wrap alternatives for Leftover Aloo Vrat Sandwich.

7. Leftover Singhare ke Cheela Rolls

Ingredients for Leftover Singhare ke Cheela Rolls:

• Leftover singhara cheelas
• Juliennes of cucumber, carrot, boiled potato
• Rock salt, lemon juice

Method for Leftover Singhare ke Cheela Rolls:

1. Place vegetables on leftover cheela.
2. Roll tightly. Serve Leftover Singhare ke Cheela Rolls.
3. Pro Tip: Fill Leftover Singhare ke Cheela Rolls with leftover fruit chaat for a sweet-salty twist.

8. Leftover Lauki Appe

Ingredients for Leftover Lauki Appe:

• 1 cup leftover lauki sabzi (mashed)
• ½ cup samak rice flour
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• Oil for greasing

Method for Leftover Lauki Appe:

1. Mix lauki sabzi with samak flour and chilli to form a batter.
2. Spoon into a greased appe pan.
3. Cook until golden. Serve the Leftover Lauki Appe hot.
4. Pro Tip: Serve Leftover Lauki Appe with coconut chutney.

9. Leftover Sabudana Thalipeeth

Ingredients for Leftover Sabudana Thalipeeth:

• 2 cups leftover sabudana khichdi
• 1 boiled potato, mashed
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• Rock salt, to taste

Method for Leftover Sabudana Thalipeeth:

1. Mix sabudana khichdi with potato and spices.
2. Flatten into discs.
3. Roast on tawa until crisp. Serve Leftover Sabudana Thalipeeth hot.
4. Pro Tip: Add crushed peanuts for crunch in Leftover Sabudana Thalipeeth.

10. Leftover Fruit Lassi (Vegan)

Ingredients for Leftover Fruit Lassi:

• 1 cup leftover fruits (apple, banana, papaya, pomegranate)
• 1 cup coconut or almond yoghurt
• 1 tsp jaggery or honey (optional)

Method for Leftover Fruit Lassi:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
2. Chill. Serve Leftover Fruit Lassi.
3. Pro Tip: Add a pinch of cardamom for flavour in Leftover Fruit Lassi.

Navratri is a celebration of devotion, mindful eating, and sustainability. These are some of the leftover recipes for Navratri days to make sure that fasting meals get a second life instead of being thrown away. From Sama Rice Dhokla to Makhana Kheer Tarts and Sabudana Thalipeeth, all must keep your leftovers turning into something new, exciting, and vrat-friendly.

This Navratri, instead of just celebrating tradition, celebrate your creativity in the kitchen! Download Foodism today and know more such creative recipes from like-minded homechefs.