Healthy Navratri Fasting Recipe – Quinoa Pulao | Protein-Rich

Quinoa Pulao for Navratri? Do we eat that during our fasts?

Quinoa is one food item that can be consumed during Navratri fasts (vrat). Quinoa is not a grain, legume, or pulse. It is a seed. So, just like we consume Samak Ke Chawal (little millet), Singhade Ka Aata (chestnut flour), and Kuttu Ka Aata (Buckwheat Flour), similarly we can consume quinoa too.

Indulge in this quick, easy, delicious quinoa pulao with veggies during Navratri. It is simple and light and it is perfect for lunch or dinner. Fasting can be fun and healthy at the same time.

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What is the Navratri Festival?

Navratri (also known as Navaratri or Navrate), is a joyous Hindu festival, celebrated over 9 to 10 days. The word “Navratri” is derived from the Sanskrit – Nav means nine and Ratri means night. This festival is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring (Chaitra Navratri) and once in the autumn (Sharad Navratri). Sharad Navratri falls during September or October and is widely celebrated all across India.

One of the significant aspects of Navratri is fasting (known as Vrat or Upvas), where devotees abstain from consuming certain foods, including grains, pulses, onions, garlic, alcohol, and non-vegetarian items. Instead, they opt for a diet of fruits, milk, nuts, and specific fasting-friendly dishes.

What food items are allowed (or not) in Navratri?

Two main food items are not consumed during the Navratri season – onion and garlic. They are considered Tamsik in nature and hence to be avoided. Consuming lentils, grains, and flour like whole wheat flour, besan (gram flour), or all-purpose flour, salt, and canned food is not allowed. Non-vegetarian food items including eggs are also not allowed. Devotees also prefer not to smoke or drink alcohol during these nine days.

You can consume dairy products like curd, milk, paneer, vegetables like potato, tomato, arbi, cucumber, carrot, bottle gourd, eggplant, etc. You can even consume coconut, nuts, and seeds. Spices like turmeric powder, red chili powder, cardamom, ajwain, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, etc. are also allowed.

Everybody has their own beliefs and follows their own rules. I recommend you adjust the recipes based on how you follow your fasting and celebrate Navratri.

Is Quinoa a grain or a seed?

Quinoa is a pseudo-grain or a seed and is a member of the spinach, chard, and beet family. It is often considered in a cereal grain group and cooked like rice or other grains. But it is a seed of the Chenopodium plant. This plant is also used for medicinal purposes and its leaves are consumed as a vegetable. But this ancient ingredient is grown for its seeds and to cook many recipes like soup, bread, pulao, salad, cutlets, etc.

What are the benefits of Quinoa?

Humans have been eating Quinoa for more than 7000 years. It is an ancient ingredient that has gained popularity in recent years. It is high in proteins and lots of other vitamins and minerals too. Quinoa is also rich in magnesium, zinc, and iron. Red and black quinoa have about twice the antioxidant power. (Source: https://nutritionfacts.org/)

We consume it regularly and make salads, pulao, cutlets, energy balls, and granola.

How to cook Quinoa?

To cook Quinoa, please follow the instructions mentioned below:

1. Rinse quinoa with some water.
2. Add quinoa (one part) and water (two parts) to a saucepan. Add some salt (or Sendha Namak for fasting) to taste.
3. Cook on high flame till it comes to a boil.
4. Once it starts boiling, simmer the flame, cover it, and let it cook till all the water is absorbed.
5. Once it is done, let it cool down and fluff using a fork. Using hot quinoa for recipes makes it mushy and sticky.

Make sure the quantity of water is double the quantity of quinoa. You will notice a change in texture once completely cooked. They become translucent and look like tiny pearls 🙂

Can we eat Quinoa during fasting?

Quinoa is a superfood that can be consumed during Navratri fasts (vrat). It is not a grain, legume, or pulse. It is a seed or a pseudo-cereal. So, just like we consume Samak Ke Chawal, Singhade Ka Aata (chestnut flour), and Kuttu Ka Aata (Buckwheat Flour), we can consume quinoa too while fasting.

Quinoa has never been marketed as a fasting ingredient. In the Indian market, we only know about some common food items like Samak, buckwheat flour, and chestnut flour. But if you want another healthy food to be included in your diet during the fasting season, give this a try. It is nutritious, and wholesome and keeps you energetic during fasting time.

Is this recipe vegan-friendly?

Yes. Of course.

This vegetable quinoa pulao recipe is vegan and plant-based. Generally, some ghee is added in pulao at the end for some extra flavor but I don’t add it.

This pulao tastes good with some curd on the side and if you are a vegan, you can use plant-based curd. I prefer coconut curd while fasting.

How to serve quinoa pulao?

You can serve this pulao with curd or you can even make raita that is suitable for fasting too. Try the recipe for beetroot raita and enjoy it with this pulao. Just replace salt with sendha namak.

More Navratri Fasting Recipes

1. Roasted Makhana
2. Makhana Kheer
3. Amaranth and Dates Energy Bars
4. Quinoa Cutlets
5. Kuttu Ka Cheela (Savory Buckwheat Pancakes)
6. Sabudana Khichdi

Now grab all the ingredients because you are ready to make this delicious meal for your Navratri fasting season. It is quick, easy, and tasty. Let’s enjoy this happy meal over lunch or dinner.

If you try this recipe, please share your reviews in the comment section below. Do share a photo on Instagram and tag us @thefearlesscooking. We love seeing your recreation of our recipes.

Happy Cooking 🙂

Love from us.

Richa & Jatin