Sincerely satvik – The Tribune

Banana avocado kebabs, sumak ki idli, vrat dosa to papaya halwa, the Navratri feast gets a little more special with Tricity chefs doling out lip-smacking delicacies.

While the city has rich thali culture, almost every other restaurants offering falahari options, a few daring ones have reshaped the vrat menu.

Executive Sous Chef Bhupinder at Ramada Plaza Whyndham, always on the lookout for innovative culinary delights, aims to elevate the festive dining experience during the Navratris. His menu offers refreshing change from the regular fare. With a focus on creating distinctive appetisers that align with the spiritual essence of the occasion, he has curated a delightful selection featuring Banana avocado kebabs and bheegi gujiya. The kebabs blend the earthy flavours of raw bananas with the creamy richness of avocado, making for a wholesome and satisfying bite. The bheegi gujiya, a creative twist on the traditional dish, is crafted solely from potatoes and contains no flour, making it ideal for those observing fasts. Together, these appetizers beautifully capture the spirit of Navratris,” says Chef Bhupinder.

The recent entry into tricity’s foodscape, Malleshwaram, has on offer sumak ki idli and Navratri dosa, which is prepared with kuttu ka atta. Available in three versions – plain, masala and paneer, just like other dosas, it is the perfect choice to curb the hungry outbursts.

While back in 2016, pizza giant Domino’s launched Navratri pizza combo that was without any onion, garlic or common salt. The crust was made with water chestnut (singhara) and white millet (samak) flour. Others experimented with Navratri tacos to gyozas back then. However, it’s back to good-old thali now.

Sumit Mehra, manager at Sago-26, shares, “When it comes to fasting, one has to be very sensitive as not to hurt sentiments. Yeast is needed to make pizzas and eggs for pastas. So, we are offering thalis that offer traditional fare. Navratri calls for a celebration of flavours, devotion and pure indulgence and our special Navratri thali, crafted with love, brings you a wholesome and satvik experience—just the way tradition intended.”

Kesar milk badam, sabudana alu tikki, coconut paneer curry, khatta meetha petha, tamatar alu rassa, samak ki khichadi, singhara kuttu ghee poori, sabudana papad, samak kheer and fruit platter – 10 delicacies come packed in Navratri meal at Jhumroo, Mohali. “Our food is prepared with lots of prayers and love, no wonder it’s being appreciated by our patrons,” says Chef Vikas Chawla.

Kaccche kele ke kofte at Hyatt Centric, ajwain aloo at Mercure Chandigarh, singhara fritters at Jullundhar Restaurant -22, most eateries have something or the other vrat items on the menu. All CITCO hotels and restaurants — Mountview, Parkview, Shivalikview and Chef Lakeview — have their versions of Navratri thalis. Now dipping in traditional flavours or going the extra mile, it’s up to you to turn fasting to feasting!