Mindful Cooking this Maha Shivratri: Modern Takes on Traditional Fasting Recipes – News18

Last Updated:February 23, 2025, 08:59 IST

These fasting-friendly recipes combine tradition with modern cooking techniques, making them both convenient and delicious for Maha Shivratri celebrations.

Maha Shivratri is a time for spiritual reflection and mindful eating. These modern takes on traditional fasting recipes preserve authentic flavors while utilizing contemporary cooking methods for convenience.

Raw Banana Potato Cutlet by Roopa Nabar, Chef – TTK Prestige

A crispy, air-fried fasting snack made with raw bananas, potatoes, and aromatic spices.

Ingredients:

• 3 medium raw bananas (boiled, peeled, mashed)
• 2 medium potatoes (boiled, peeled, grated)
• 1 tsp dried mango powder
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup arrowroot or sago powder
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• Oil for brushing

Method:

1. Mix bananas, potatoes, and spices. Shape into tikkis.
2. Coat with arrowroot/sago powder.
3. Preheat air fryer to 200°C, air fry for 4 minutes per side, brushing with oil.
4. Serve hot.

Kuttu Ki Puri recipe by Khandani Rajdhani

Crispy puris made with buckwheat flour and mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 240g kuttu atta
• 125g mashed potatoes
• 1 tsp rock salt
• Water (to knead)
• Ghee (for frying)

Method:

1. Knead atta, potatoes, and salt into stiff dough. Rest for 30 minutes.
2. Roll into small puris.
3. Deep fry in hot ghee until golden and crisp.

Sabudana Khichdi recipe by Khandani Rajdhani

A light, nutty fasting dish made with soaked sabudana and peanuts.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups sabudana (soaked)
• 1/4 cup peanuts (roasted, ground)
• 1 medium potato (cubed)
• 3 tbsp ghee
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 4-5 green chilies (chopped)
• 1-2 sprigs curry leaves
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp grated coconut
• Chopped coriander leaves

Method:

1. Heat ghee, add cumin, chilies, and curry leaves.
2. Add potatoes, cook until soft.
3. Stir in sabudana, coconut, peanuts, and salt.
4. Cook for 4-5 minutes, add lemon juice, garnish with coriander.

Makhana Phirni by Roopa Nabar, Chef – TTK Prestige

A creamy, cardamom-scented dessert with roasted fox nuts.

Ingredients:

• 750 ml milk
• 2 cups roasted makhana (fox nuts), ground
• 1/4 cup each almonds & cashews (soaked, ground to paste)
• Few saffron strands (soaked)
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Almond & pistachio flakes (for garnish)

Method:

1. Boil milk, add sugar, stir until dissolved.
2. Add ground makhana and nut paste, stir continuously.
3. Cook for 3-4 minutes, add saffron.
4. Pour into clay cups, garnish, refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.

Rajgira Thepla recipe by Roopa Nabar, Chef – TTK Prestige

Light, flavorful flatbreads made with Rajgira flour, spiced with ginger and green chili.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rajgira atta
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 green chili (chopped)
• 2 boiled potatoes (grated)
• 2 tbsp yogurt
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• Salt & oil

Method:

1. Mix ingredients into a soft dough, rest for 10 minutes.
2. Preheat air fryer to 200°C.
3. Roll into theplas, air fry for 3 minutes per side, brushing with oil.
4. Serve warm.

Farali Pattice recipe by Khandani Rajdhani

Crispy, stuffed potato dumplings with a coconut-nut filling.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 boiled potatoes (grated)
• 1 tbsp arrowroot powder (+ extra for coating)
• Rock salt to taste
• 1/4 cup grated coconut
• 1 tbsp each chopped cashews & peanuts
• 1/2 tbsp raisins
• 1/2 tsp ginger-green chili paste
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
• Oil (for frying)

Method:

1. Mix coconut, nuts, raisins, and spices for stuffing.
2. Knead potatoes, arrowroot, and salt.
3. Shape into pattice, fill with stuffing, coat in arrowroot.
4. Deep fry until golden and crisp.

Fruit Shrikhand recipe by Khandani Rajdhani

A rich, creamy yogurt-based dessert infused with saffron and nuts.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh yogurt (hung for 4-5 hours)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• Few saffron strands (soaked in warm milk)
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
• 4-5 each of chopped cashews, almonds, and pistachios

Method:

1. Mix hung curd with sugar and saffron milk.
2. Stir gently until smooth.
3. Fold in cardamom and nuts. Chill before serving.

These fasting-friendly recipes combine tradition with modern cooking techniques, making them both convenient and delicious for Maha Shivratri celebrations.