Observe Karwa Chauth Fast A Healthy, Happy Way!

Tomorrow is Karwa Chauth. A day when Hindu wives, fast for their husbands’ long life. In the past, only wives kept fast as it was the trend then. But as time is progressing, more and more husbands are supporting their wives by fasting on this day, with the same reason with which their wives fast for them. But few women still follow the trend of the past.

Just as fasting is important, so is your health. So, this year, plan your Sargi thali in such a way that it gives you the adequate energy that you require to keep yourself going throughout the day. Your thali should be a balanced combination of :

1) 1-2 savoury dishes like sabudana khichdi, upma

2) A bowl of fruits.

3) Dry fruits

3) Anything made with milk, like custard, Chia seed pudding, seviyan Kheer, oatmeal kheer or if you can find soot pheni at any sweets shop.

4) Along with these, you may also include the traditional mathri too.

By planning your thali in the above manner; you will be able to manage your energy levels, enjoy the festival and also not fall sick later on. Remember immediately after breaking your fast in the evening not to eat too many, fried or spicy dishes and also avoid drinking tea and coffee which have caffeine in them.

Doing this, may make you feel nauseated, have an upset stomach with gastric irritability and even bloated. All this happens, because the stomach was in rest mode while fasting for a long duration after the morning Sargi.

Instead, to celebrate the festival make those dishes which are not overly fried and, if you crave to drink something, then you may drink anything like coconut water, buttermilk, flavoured water or just water.

Seviyan Kheer

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Ingredients :

2 tablespoons Ghee

10-12 cashew nuts

2 tablespoons raisins

4 cups of full cream milk

1 cup seviyaan

4 tablespoons white sugar or jaggery

4-5 green cardamoms (crushed)

Method :

1) In a heavy bottom pan, heat the ghee

2) Once it has heated, add the cashew nuts and fry them until golden brown.

3) After the cashews have turned golden brown, strain them to a plate.

4) Now in the remaining ghee add the raisins and fry them until they swell and double in size.

5) Remove them immediately from the ghee and keep aside.

6) In the same pan, add the seviyan and roast till golden brown. Keep stirring continuously.

7) After the seviyan have turned golden brown, pour in the milk and mix well.

8) Let this boil, on a low to medium flame and keep stirring in between, so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Let this boil for at least 2 mins.

9) After 2 mins, add the sugar or jaggery and mix well.

10) Along with the sugar, add the crushed cardamom, fried raisins and cashew nuts. Mix well.

11) Let it boil for another 2-3 mins

12) After 2- 3 mins turn off the flame.

13) Seviyan kheer is ready to be served.

14) You can serve the kheer warm or even cold.

Tip :You may add milk later too, if the kheer becomes too thick.

-- Sapna Chaudhary