Navratri is a festival of delicious food, dance, and devotion. Contrary to popular belief, Navratri thalis can be inventive, vibrant, and filling. The focus in 2025 will be on gluten-free and vegan fasting recipes, demonstrating that festive vrat meals can be both contemporary and traditional.

These 10 vegan and gluten-free Navratri recipes will keep your nine nights full of flavour, health, and celebration, from millet-based dishes to vegetable curries and sattvik snacks.

1. Samak Rice Idli (Barnyard Millet Idli)

Samak rice idli is a wholesome, light, and perfectly fluffy idli made with barnyard millet instead of rice. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and ideal for Navratri fasting.

Ingredients for Samak Rice Idli:

• 1 cup samak rice (barnyard millet)
• ½ cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
• ½ cup grated carrot (optional, fasting-friendly vegetable)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp rock salt (sendha namak)
• 1 tsp fruit salt or baking soda

Method for Samak Rice Idli:

1. Soak samak rice and sabudana separately for 3–4 hours.
2. Grind them into a smooth batter with a little water.
3. Add salt, lemon juice, and fruit salt. Mix well.
4. Pour into idli moulds and steam for 10–12 minutes.
5. Serve hot with coconut chutney.
6. Pro Tip for Samak Rice Idli: For a softer texture, allow the batter to ferment for 6–8 hours, just like traditional idli.

2. Kuttu Dosa with Coconut Chutney

Kuttu dosa is a crispy buckwheat dosa, perfect when paired with vegan coconut chutney.

Ingredients for Kuttu Dosa:

• 1 cup kuttu atta (buckwheat flour)
• ½ cup boiled mashed potatoes
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• Rock salt to taste
• Oil for cooking

For Coconut Chutney:

• 1 cup grated coconut
• 2 tbsp roasted peanuts
• 1 green chilli
• Rock salt to taste

Method for Kuttu Dosa:

1. Mix kuttu atta, mashed potatoes, chilli, and salt with water to form a thin batter.
2. Heat a tawa and spread a ladle of batter thinly.
3. Cook until crisp on both sides.
4. Grind coconut, peanuts, chilli, and salt into chutney.
5. Serve the dosa hot with chutney.
6. Pro Tip for Kuttu Dosa: Use a non-stick pan or well-seasoned iron tawa to prevent sticking.

3. Pumpkin Curry (Kaddu ki Sabzi – Vegan Version)

Pumpkin curry or kaddu ki sabzi is a North Indian Navratri classic, naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Curry:

• 2 cups diced pumpkin
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• ½ tsp turmeric (optional, fasting-friendly)
• 1 tsp rock salt
• ½ tsp amchur (dry mango powder)

Method for Pumpkin Curry:

1. Heat oil, add cumin seeds and green chilli.
2. Add diced pumpkin and cook covered until soft.
3. Season with salt and amchur.
4. Mash slightly for a creamy texture.
5. Pro Tip for Pumpkin Curry: Add a little jaggery for a sweet-spicy balance.

4. Lauki Soup (Bottle Gourd Soup)

Lauki soup is light, soothing, and perfect for vrat. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and a great detox dish.

Ingredients for Lauki Soup:

• 2 cups diced bottle gourd (lauki)
• 1 tomato (optional)
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 1 tsp rock salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method for Lauki Soup:

1. Boil lauki and tomato with ginger until soft.
2. Blend into a smooth puree.
3. Reheat, add salt, and finish with lemon juice.
4. Serve warm.
5. Pro Tip for Lauki Soup: Add fresh coriander leaves just before serving for aroma.

5. Arbi Fry (Crispy Colocasia)

Arbi fry is a crunchy stir-fry of colocasia, perfect as a side dish during Navratri.

Ingredients for Arbi Fry:

• 10 arbi (Colocasia), boiled and peeled
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp rock salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Method for Arbi Fry:

1. Slice boiled arbi into discs.
2. Heat oil, add cumin, then arbi slices.
3. Toss with salt and pepper until golden crisp.
4. Pro Tip for Arbi Fry: Shallow-fry in minimal oil instead of deep frying to keep it light.

6. Singhare ki Poori (Water Chestnut Flour Poori)

Singhare ki poori is a traditional vrat bread made with water chestnut flour, fried until puffed and golden.

Ingredients for Singhare ki Poori:

• 1 cup singhara atta (water chestnut flour)
• 1 boiled potato, mashed
• Rock salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Method for Singhare ki Poori:

1. Mix flour, mashed potato, and salt into a soft dough.
2. Roll into small pooris.
3. Deep fry until puffed.
4. Serve hot with pumpkin curry.
5. Pro Tip for Singhare ki Poori: Add a little arrowroot flour for extra crispiness.

7. Green Banana Stir-Fry (Kacche Kele ki Sabzi)

Green banana stir-fry is a hearty, vegan, and gluten-free side dish.

Ingredients for Green Banana Stir-Fry:

• 2 raw bananas, boiled and diced
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp rock salt
• ½ tsp chilli powder (if allowed)

Method for Green Banana Stir-Fry:

1. Heat oil, add cumin seeds.
2. Add diced bananas and toss with salt and chilli powder.
3. Cook until golden crisp.
4. Pro Tip for Green Banana Stir-Fry: A squeeze of lemon at the end lifts the flavours.

8. Vrat-Friendly Vegetable Stew (Mixed Veg Stew)

A Navratri vegetable stew with coconut milk is light yet satisfying.

Ingredients for Vegetable Stew:

• 1 cup carrots, beans, bottle gourd (fasting-friendly vegetables)
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tsp cumin
• Rock salt to taste
• Curry leaves (optional)

Method for Vegetable Stew:

1. Boil vegetables until tender.
2. In another pan, heat oil, add cumin and curry leaves.
3. Add vegetables and coconut milk.
4. Simmer gently and serve hot.
5. Pro Tip for Vegetable Stew: Do not boil coconut milk for long—add it at the end to retain creaminess.

9. Shakarkandi Tikki (Sweet Potato Patties)

Shakarkandi tikki is a delicious vegan tikki made with mashed sweet potatoes.

Ingredients for Shakarkandi Tikki:

• 2 sweet potatoes, boiled and mashed
• 2 tbsp roasted peanut powder
• 1 tsp rock salt
• 1 green chilli, chopped
• Oil for shallow frying

Method for Shakarkandi Tikki:

1. Mix all ingredients into a soft mixture.
2. Shape into tikkis.
3. Shallow fry until crisp.
4. Pro Tip for Shakarkandi Tikki: Add arrowroot powder for binding if the mixture feels loose.

10. Fruit Chaat with Rock Salt Dressing

Fruit chaat is the simplest yet most refreshing Navratri recipe.

Ingredients for Fruit Chaat:

• 1 cup diced apples, bananas, papaya, and pomegranate
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp rock salt
• ½ tsp black pepper

Method for Fruit Chaat:

1. Toss fruits with lemon juice, rock salt, and pepper.
2. Chill before serving.
3. Pro Tip for Fruit Chaat: Add soaked dates and figs for natural sweetness.

2025 Navratri fasting doesn't have to mean sacrificing flavour. You can celebrate nine nights of devotion with healthy, sattvik, and creative dishes by using these vegan and gluten-free Navratri recipes. Every recipe, from fruit chaat to samak rice idli, strikes a balance between custom and contemporary health.

So this Navratri, let your kitchen be a temple of flavours—simple, pure, and festive. Download Foodism now and share your version of vegan and gluten-free fasting recipes with our vibrant food community.