Finally, the most awaited festival of the year has come! 

I am sure you are excited about it.

The Navratri celebration has finally begun. For all of you who do not know what the Navratri festival is about, it is a festival for worshiping the Hindu goddess Durga. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to one of the nine Devis, which translates to “nine nights.” 

In India, we celebrate every festival with joy and lots of food. The role of food in these celebrations goes beyond mere sustenance, as it symbolizes unity, fun, and the essence of each festival. Navratri is a time for indulging in delicious sweets. But you wonder, is it possible to do that while observing a vegan diet? 

Yes, totally!

In this blog, we bring three delightful Navratri Indian vegan special recipes for this festive season that will add flavor and joy to your Navratri celebrations. 

3 Lip-Smacking Navratri Vegan Recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth during this festive season:

 A. Cashew Kheer:

Image Credits: Saffron Trail

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Basmati rice
• 4 cups coconut milk
• 1/2 cup cashews, soaked
• 1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
• Chopped pistachios and almonds for garnish

Instructions:

• Cook the basmati rice until it’s mushy and tender.

• Make a smooth paste by blending the soaked cashews with a bit of coconut milk.

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan (  cooked rice, coconut milk, cashew paste, and sugar) and simmer the mixture on low heat until it thickens. 

• You can also add saffron threads and cardamom powder to amplify the taste of the kheer. 

• Lastly, add chopped almonds and pistachios as a garnish and serve the creamy Cashew Kheer.

B.Coconut Ladoo

Image Credits: Freepik

• 2 cups of desiccated coconut
• 1 cup condensed coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios)
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (for greasing)

Instructions:

• Dry-roast the desiccated coconut in a non-stick skillet over low heat until it acquires a pale golden color. Get rid of the heat.

•  Combine the toasted coconut with cardamom powder and condensed coconut milk. Mix thoroughly.

• When the mixture is slightly cool, use your hands to form it into a little ladoos.

• Sprinkle chopped nuts on top of each ladoo.

• Once the Coconut Ladoos have cooled, store them in an airtight container.

C. Vegan Kaju Katli (Cashew Fudge)

Image credits: Times Food

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• A few saffron strands (optional)

Instructions:

• Bend the raw cashews until they are a fine powder.

• Combine sugar and water in a pan. Once a drop of syrup forms a thread between your fingertips (a one-string consistency). Cook it over medium heat.

• Add cashew and cardamom powder to the syrup. Mix thoroughly, then simmer over low heat while stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the pan’s sides.

• Remove the heat and give it a minute or two to cool.

• Roll out the ingredients with a rolling pin into a thin layer between two pieces of parchment paper.

• Cut the mixture that has been rolled out into diamond or square-shaped pieces.

• If desired, add a thread of saffron to the top of each piece.

• Store vegan kaju katli once they have thoroughly cooled.

Conclusion

Navratri is not just a festival; it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in spirituality and indulge in the richness of tradition, the joy of togetherness, and the delectable flavors that make Navratri truly special. 

Whether it’s the coconut ladoo, the comforting coconut and cashew kheer, or the kaju katli, these sweets will let you celebrate the essence of this festive season while staying true to a vegan diet.

Check out the Vegan Mall website to purchase all the ingredients to make your Navratri dishes more special.