Fasting and Feasting in true Maharashtrian style

Fasting and Feasting may seem contradictory, but not to a true blue Pathare Prabhu. The logic is simple – you can abstain from food groups but you don’t have to eat boring. Can’t argue with that, can you?

There is a Marathi saying which goes ‘Ekaadashi, duppat khaashi’. Loosely translated, it means that on the Ekadashi day (which is traditionally a day of fasting) you end up eating twice as much.

So what is it that gets us all excited about denying ourselves?

Try these for a start. These are made on the days when you are required to abstain from grains.

First up is Varyacha rava (also called Bhagar), made from sawa millet (seeds of a wild grass).

Fasting food : Variche tandul or bhagar

Ingredients:

1/2 cup variche tandul (aka samo seeds or sawa millet)

1 tablespoon ghee

1 small potato, peeled and cubed

1 small green chilli

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

2 tablespoons peanuts, roasted and crushed

salt to taste

1 tablespoon grated coconut (optional)

Method:

1. Wash the variche tandul and keep aside.
2. In a pan, heat the ghee and add the cumin seeds and the chopped green chilli. When they crackle, add the tandul and the potatoes and saute for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup water and salt. Stir, cover and cook till done. This can take about 5-7 minutes for this quantity.
4. Top with peanuts and coconut.
5. Serve hot.

Note: This is usually served with a small bowl of lightly sweetened yoghurt.

Here are some other fasting foods that we feast on.

Sabudana vade

Konefal ani chatni (Purple yam with green coconut chutney)

Duppat khashi, indeed. It’s quite apt considering the variety of delicious foods to choose from.

This post is part of the A-to-Z Challenge and I’m blogging all through April on the theme ‘Befores and Afters’. #AtoZchallenge