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During a navratri fast, or for that matter any fast, there’s never a debate on fruits - whether it is permitted or about the way it can be eaten. It is “allowed’ any way, you want to have it. So here’s our favourite vrat ingredient in never-seen-before glam avatars. 9 fruity recipes that are totally international in appeal and yet fit the desi vrat sentiment perfectly.

Grilled Fruits with Ginger Honey Dressing

Pineapple and pear slices charred on a grill pan and served with a warm ginger, honey and red chilli dressing. Little did we think that something so funky and simple can be perfect food for a navratri fast. Top with some fresh mint just before serving for that added dimension of flavour.

Fruity Coconut Sorbet

Martini glasses filled with shaved ice – topped with sweetened coconut milk and a mélange of colorful fresh fruits. Sweet and tangy flavours blend together perfectly in this dessert recipe - most recommended when you need tore fresh and regain energy after a round of dandiyaras!

Lavender flower power

Who says vrat ka khana cannot be exotic? Just one ingredient can pep up an ordinary bowl of fruits into something striking and in this recipe that ingredient is lavender flowers. Just a handful of these dress up simple fruits like peaches, bananas, apples, oranges and melons into a beautiful aromatic dessert, looking straight out of a five star hotel kitchen!

Spiced Strawberries

This one is as delicious as it is simple and fuss free to make. Strawberries soaked in chilli spiced orange juice and poured into shot glasses filled with hung yogurt. The delicious mix of spice, sweet and tangy in this recipe will surprise your taste buds and make them dance in joy!

Papaya Halwa

Just the rich colour and aroma of this halwa is enough to make anyone want to break a fast! Completely vrat approved ingredients – papaya, sugar, cardamom powder, khoya and almond powder cooked into this yummy fresh fruit halwa in just about 30 minutes from start to finish. 

Fruity Sevaiyan

In this recipe good old sevaiyan gets a healthy addition of fresh and dried fruits. A bed of juicy canned fresh fruits topped with strands of sweet soft vermicelli, sprinkled with crunchy nuts and fragrant cardamom powder. It energizes you and makes your taste buds extremely happy – what more can you ask for?

Double apple Barfi

This recipe is one of the best items to keep for prashad. Grated apple and custard apple pulp cooked with khoya, sugar, condensed milk and cardamom – set into trays and topped with dry fruit slivers. Store bough mithai cannot match the joy you get when you bite into this delicious fruit of your labour, quite literally!

Fruity South Style Sadham

Cooked rice tempered with ghee, urad dal, curry leaves and fresh green chillies, mixed with fresh cream, scraped coconut, honey and delicious fresh fruits. This delicious dish has got to be served chilled with a crunchy topping of fried cashewnuts. Sweet with a hint of spicy – it makes a filling meal that turns a fast into a feast. If you don’t eat rice – use samo instead.

Smoked Watermelon Salsa

Diced watermelon mixed with cucumber, jalapenos, fresh mint and coriander, olive oil and lemon juice make a delicious fruity salsa, but since we promised you glamorous vrat ka khaana, we went ahead and smoked it with the flavour of charcoal. One simple trick lifts the dish several notches. Definitely a must try!

Check out the other delicious fasting friendly recipes we have on Sanjeevkapoor.com to add more fun options to your navratri food.

Happy Navratri

Happy fasting!

Happy cooking!