Navratri Chocolate Kheer Recipe: How To Make A Fasting-Friendly Dessert With Vrat Friendly Ingredients

The Navratri festival holds immense significance, symbolizing devotion, discipline, and the victory of good over evil. The nine days are dedicated to the nine avatars of Maa Durga, each day celebrated with a unique theme. The first day, devoted to Maa Shailputri, symbolizes purity and strength. The principal treat, sabudana kheer or samak rice kheer, reflects this purity and simplicity. Each day has its own principal treat, but kheer remains a common prasad offering, deeply rooted in tradition and symbolism.

kheer is a principal treat which is eaten at the beginning of the feast. Often desserts are made to eat at the end of the feast, but in Indian traditional treats made especially for such auspicious occasions, it is a tradition to eat desserts before starting with the main course. The reason behind this is deeply rooted in Ayurveda which states that eating something sweet first activates the digestive fire or Agni. This prepares the stomach to receive heavier foods, and creates a sense of satisfaction and positivity. This practice of eating sweets before the main course aids in digestion and also teaches that life’s beginning should start with something sweet.

During these auspicious days, people often prepare Kheer as an offering. Mastering kheer is therefore the first hurdle you need to cross to make a perfect navratri feast. Kheer is made with both samak rice and rajgira. There are many other versions of kheer, but for Navratri, it is considered the classic option. To top things off, this recipe introduces chocolate. Follow the recipe to make a chocolatey pudding kheer for the festival.

Navratri Chocolate Kheer Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup samak rice (barnyard millet) or rajgira seeds (amaranth)
• 3 cups full-fat milk
• 2–3 tbsp vrat-friendly sugar
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2–3 tbsp dark chocolate
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• 5–6 almonds and cashews (soaked & chopped)
• 5–6 dates or raisins
• A pinch of sendha namak

Method:

Step 1: Soak Samak Rice

Start off by preparing the base of the kheer. Wash and soak samak rice in water for about 15 to 20 minutes. Since samak rice is somewhat hard, it takes a considerable amount of time to cook when not soaked. Soaking helps in softening grains, reduces cooking time, and gives kheer a creamier, pudding-like texture.

Step 2: Boil Milk

Boil milk in a saucepan, and once it bubbles, add the oaked samak rice to it. Cook it on a low flame until the rice becomes tender and soft. The texture will become thick and creamy as you cook.

Step 3: Sweeten It

Once the rice is cooked, add mishri, jaggery powder, dates puree, and stir everything well until evenly dissolved. If you are adding jaggery, make sure to add it after turning off the heat. Cooking jaggery may cause milk to curdle.

Step 4: Make It Chocolatey

Now it is time to mix in chocolate. Take a small bowl and combine cocoa powder with 2 tablespoons of warm milk. Turn it into a smooth chocolate paste and add to the kheer. It is also okay to add the cocoa powder directly to the kheer, but mixing it with some milk first helps in distributing the cocoa powder well throughout the kheer and helps in avoiding lumps. After that, stir in grated dark chocolate for a deeper flavor and let it melt into the mixture.

Step 5: Flavor & Garnish

Once all the ingredients are in, it is finally time to flavor the kheer pudding. Add cardamom powder, chopped nuts, and a few raisins then mix it well until evenly distributed. Simmer the kheer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors meld together.

Step 6: Serve

Serve the kheer warm or chilled with the garnish of almond slivers and a drizzle of melted chocolate. You can be creative in the way you want to present the kheer. For a modern look, you can layer it in transparent cups with dry fruits and cookie crumbs to create a parfait. For fruity accents, you can add strawberries and slices of apple, mango, and banana. With the fun presentation, even a normal kheer would be extremely appetizing.

Fasting-Friendly Tips:

1. Replace rice with rajgira or sabudana if you prefer. Sabudana will make a hearty kheer and you can enjoy the sweetness with satisfaction.
2. Always check chocolate labels for hidden emulsifiers or additives that may not be vrat-compliant. Some chocolates use ingredients that may break vrat; therefore, make sure to use chocoingredientslate that uses organic ingredients.
3. Use natural sweeteners like dates puree or mishri for a sattvik touch. Using sugar may make the recipe unhealthy.