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Fasting recipes for Navratri: Baked potatoes and more!

Here are special recipes for you to enjoy during the nine days of Navratri revelry.

Navratri is a time to rejoice, but it doesn't have to be a time to starve. Enjoy this year's festivities with lip-smacking delicacies that are easy to make and serve. Go the whole hog and throw a Navratri Party with this three-course menu!

Baked Potato Italian Style

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 kg potatoes
• Pepper, oregano and rock salt (to taste)
• 3 tbsps lemon juice

Method:

• Wash the small potatoes thoroughly.
• Do not peel. With the skin on, make cuts as if slicing into four quarters but don't go all the way down; let the potato remain in one piece.
• In a baking dish, put the potatoes, pour olive oil and lemon juice on top. Sprinkle the seasoning.
• Bake at 35 degrees F for 50 minutes.
• Serve as a snack

Masala Arbi

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg taro root (arbi)
• Paste of 1-inch ginger and 2 green chillies
• A pinch of mango powder (amchur)
• Rock salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp each of carom seeds (ajwain), red chilly powder and coriander powder (dhania)

Method:

• Choose small pieces of the arbi. Peel and boil.
• Remove from water and chop each into four pieces.
• Heat oil in a wok and deep fry the cooled arbi till golden.
• In another pan, heat one tbsp oil, add ginger-chilly paste and fry for a few minutes.
• Add the arbi on a low fire and stir for a few minutes.
• Add seasoning, cook for two minutes and serve with Kuttu ki Puri.

Banana Barfi

Ingredients:

• 4 mashed bananas (ripe and large)
• 75 gms grated coconut
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tbsps ghee
• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts

Method:

• Heat a pan with the milk and cook the mashed banana in it till milk condenses and mixture becomes thick.
• While stirring, add ghee. Keep stirring till mixture turns brown and then add coconut, sugar and walnut.
• Stir to mix well. Remove from flame.
• Put butter paper on a dish and spread the mixture such that the thickness is half an inch.
• When cool, place in the fridge. When the barfi sets a little, cut it into various shapes like diamonds, squares and round.
• Enjoy!

Do you have any fasting recipes you'd like to share with us for Navratri? Send them in to getahead@rediff.co.in along with a photograph, if possible and we'll publish the best entries right here on rediff.com!