Foods to Liven up Fasting 

Keeping happy even while fasting 

Intro

In a country where all communities – Christians (Lent); Jains (Paryushan); Hindus (Shravan and Navratri); Muslims (Ramadan) et al – observe fasts of various types, understanding the variety of foods that can be consumed during fasts is of great help.

During fasts people abstain from consuming meat, grains, alcohol, onion, garlic etc. The general reason cited for this is religious and traditional beliefs. But there is also a scientific reason for the same. Ayurveda claims that these foods attract and absorb negative energies and hence should be avoided during a seasonal change as our bodies tend to have a low immunity threshold during that time.

Fasting is purportedly good for overall health as it allows the body a chance to detoxify itself besides providing rest to the digestive system. But the best part about fasting is that it gives one the golden opportunity to get back to the roots and deviate from the mundane meals. Thus ingredients like kuttu atta, singhara atta, fresh vegetables, milk, yogurt and makhanas are preferred as they are light on the stomach and can be digested easily; and pure and unprocessed rock salt or sendha namak replaces regular salt.

Fasting Food – Dos and Don’ts

While each religion has their own tenets for food which are allowed during fasts, Gujaratis generally have a standard list of items which can be consumed during fasts and vice versa. 

Foods to have during fasts 

• Fruits (barring tomatoes)
• Dairy products like milk, paneer, curd, unsalted butter, buttermilk and lassi
• Dry fruits including almond, cashew, pistachio, walnut, dry apricot, dates, fig, raisins et al
• Senda Namak
• Veggies like potato, sweet potato and yam
• Flours like kuttu, rajgira, samo and singhara
• Sabudana (sago/tapioca)

Foods to abstain from during fasts 

• Regular salt, epsom salt, rock salt and pink salts
• Brinjal and leafy vegetables - the former because Hindu scriptures consider it impure and the latter because of the bacteria and pests that they host especially during the monsoons
• Garlic and onions as they are considered to be taamsic food
• Meat (red and white) and eggs
• Alcohol
• Red chilli powder – which is replaced with green chilli to ring in the spice quotient
• Flours like rava, sattu, wheat, rice, besan, corn, bajra and jowl
• Chocolates as they generally have malt - consumption of which is not permitted during fasting

Food During Fasting …Some Delicious Options 

If the above list of dos and don’ts scares you then relax…you just need a few basic ingredients to prepare mouth-watering delicacies to add flavour to your fast! Foodism shares with you some popular food ideas for your fast –

Sabudana Khichdi

Replete with starch or carbohydrates, sago provides you with the much-needed energy boost while fasting. Ingredients like peanuts and mild spices add a yummy touch to this healthy, easy-to-cook and filling fast delicacy. 

Jeera Aloo Ki Sabzi

A Gujarati fast specialty made with humble ingredients like cumin, boiled potatoes, sendha namak and spices; this sabzi accompanied with puris made from kuttu or rajgira flour are a complete fasting meal

Sabudana Kheer 

Sago, sugar and milk brought to a boil is a mandate for those with a sweet tooth

Rajgira (Amaranth) Sheera

This winning combination of sugar, rajgira flour, dry fruits and ghee is a yummy must-have for the devout fasters and also for those who are not fasting!

Sabudana Vada

Sago and spices drenched in rajgira flour and fried are the best snack on a rainy fast day

Kuttu Dosa

Dosa-buffs can opt for a crisp dosa prepared from kuttu (buckwheat) flour with a potato filling and served with mint and coconut chutney

Farali Bhakarwadi

Another popular from the Gujarati pantry this fried and crunchy snack comprises of rajgira flour, coriander powder, sendha namak, grated coconut, peanuts, ginger paste, green chilli, boiled potatoes and sesame seeds 

Singhara Flour Samosa

Add a dash of spice to your tea time by preparing this triangular savoury snack made with ingredients like water chestnut flour, sendha namak and a filling of spiced chironji

Farali Makhana Cutlet

Makhana also known as fox nuts are light on the stomach and besides strengthening the body they are also thirst quenchers – so their cutlets come packed with a lot of health benefits

Low Fat Makhana Kheer

Whip up low fat kheer with makhana, nuts and all things healthy!

Banana Walnut Lassi

Blend yogurt, bananas, honey and walnuts for a peppy drink to keep you energized and full through the day 

Rajgira Puri

Rajgira (amaranth) is a power house of nutrients as it’s an excellent source of calcium, protein and amino acids and is rich in iron, magnesium and Vitamin A, B and C too. Puris made from this flour are the best thing to have with Jeera Aloo Ki Sabzi

Vratwale Chawal Ke Dhokla

This one is for those who can’t survive without their weekly dose of dhoklas … they can opt for its fasting variant prepared with steamed samwat ke chawal tempered with red chillies, cumin, ghee and curry leaves

Kebab-e-Kela

Spicy and melt-in-the-mouth banana kebabs flavoured with chillies and coriander are a must-have snack during fasts 

Farali Green Chutney

This delicious concoction prepared from coriander, green chillies, desiccated coconut, lemon juice, sugar and sendha namak is the perfect match for your crisp and crunchy sabudana vada, farali bhakarwadi, farali makhana cutlet etc.

Vratwale Paneer Rolls

A delicious snack concocted from grated paneer, potatoes, sendha namak and spices; when paired with mint or coriander chutney these are a runaway hit with your guests 

Farali Tandoori Platter

This one’s for those who can’t survive without their tandoor.  Simply marinate paneer, sabudana vada and boiled potato slices with two different seasonings and then roast it for a lavish in-house dining extravaganza on your fast

So hope the above suggestions for foods which are sans salt, onion and garlic are appetizing and healthy for your fasts? Go ahead and experiment preparing your customized versions of these dishes and do share the recipes on the Foodism Platform!