Feast on fasting: Gastronomic guide to Mumbai’s Navratri Farali Thali

Navratri festivity is in the spotlight. Mumbaikars are offering prayers to Goddesses and coordinating garba and dandiya steps. The highlight feature of this pious period is the Navratri vrat thali which embodies the essence of fasting during the nine-day festival. It is a devout culinary tradition where individuals abstain from consuming grains, certain vegetables and non-vegetarian foods.

The primary focus of Navratri vrat thali is to use ingredients like water chestnut flour, amaranth and tapioca to create flavorful and wholesome dishes. To scour the most satisfying thali indulgence, Midday reached out to the chefs at popular restaurants across Mumbai, who are crafting unique dishes for Navratri vrat thalis.

Here is a roundup of Mumbai's drool-worthy Navratri Farali Thalis:

Navratri Special Vrat Thali
The Vrat Thali is a harmonious blend of nutrition and flavour for the devout and food connoisseurs alike. This culinary delight is a wholesome celebration of the festival's essence, prepared using Sendha Namak (rock salt). This thali is a lavish meal of nutrition and taste in one. It features an array of satvik dishes, each prepared with great care, using the finest ingredients.

Among the delectable offerings are a healthy fruit salad, savoury farsan, tasteful vegetarian subzis and fresh puris or Thali Peth made using Rajgira or Kuttu Atta. Crispy papads, Rajgira rice and Kadhi add to the delightful spread. A comforting serving of dal, refreshing fruit curd, and Khopra chutney are also included, alongside pulao and farali chivda. The Thali reaches its sweet crescendo with divine sweets like fruit shrikhand and halwa.

This drool-worthy plate of delicacies includes Farali Pattice, Kuttu Ke Pakode, Kaccha Kela Nu Shak, Paneer Tomato, Jeera Aloo, Samo Rice, or Ratalu Nu Kis, as well as Sabudana Papad, Potato Papad, Kela Chips, Tomato Saar, and more. The delicious menu is served on a rotational basis, ensuring that each visit is a delectable surprise.

When: October 15 to 23, 2023
Where: Khandani Rajdhani - Across all Mumbai outlets
Price: Rs. 625 + taxes

Also Read: Ratalu to Roesti: Mumbai chefs share gluten-free Navratri fasting recipes

Divine Delights of Navratri
This Navratri Thali is replete with a variety of snacks and main course dishes that are curated for fasting preferences. The thali boasts an assortment of flavours, ensuring that you do not miss out on the rich culinary traditions of Navratri.

Indulge in a myriad of flavours including Roasted Makhana, Banana Chips, Jackfruit Chips, Sabudana Khichdi, Sabudana Vada, Sabudana Thalipeeth, Kuttu Paratha and an array of other delectable dishes. Complete your vrat with desserts like Badam Halwa, Makhana Kheer, Seasonal Fresh Cut Fruit and much more.

Whether you choose to enjoy the Navratri Thali for lunch or dinner, you will find an optimum balance of taste, tradition and nutrition in diverse meals. The culinary team offers a savoury experience endowed with rich heritage and festive spirit of the occasion.

When: October 15 to 23, 2023
Where: The Westin Garden City, Goregaon
Time: Lunch - 12.00 PM to 3.30 PM | Dinner - 7.30 PM to 11.00 PM
Price: Rs. 2100 + taxes

Also Read: Navratri 2023: Flaunt your Garba moves in style with these outfit ideas

Potato Roesti and Rataloo Skins
Navratri is a time for fasting, reflection, and paying homage to the divine. It is also a season that brings with it an array of delectable dishes that are not only delicious but also adherent to the fasting rules. If you're a vegetarian and eager to celebrate Navratri with a mouthwatering twist, head over to the enchanting restaurant and bar, 'Millo,' nestled in the heart of Kamala Mills offering Roesti and Rataloo.

Potato Roesti is a Swiss culinary delight that showcases the simple yet extraordinary appeal of grated potatoes, expertly pan-fried to create a crispy, golden-brown exterior, while maintaining a tender and flavourful core. This dish embodies the essence of comfort food, offering a harmonious blend of earthy, starchy goodness with a touch of buttery richness.

On the other hand, Rataloo Skins, a popular Indian snack, highlights the versatility of potatoes by presenting them as crispy, seasoned potato skin strips. These savoury, bite-sized treats feature a delightful crunch and are often seasoned with a medley of spices. It serves as a nostalgic snack for those who appreciate the familiar, satisfying taste of potatoes in a new and tantalising form.

When: October 15 to 23, 2023
Where: Millo, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel
Price: Rs. 550 onwards

Durgotsav Bhoj
Playing on the true essence of serving classical and traditional recipes by giving it a modern touch, Chef Jagdish Naidu and Miss Anasuya Banerji have curated an exclusive Bengali food experience called 'Durgotsav Bhoj.' Diners can indulge in a diverse range of appetisers, including Machher chop, Kochuri and Shukno Aloor Dam, Fish fry and more as a part of the meal to celebrate Durga Puja.

The main course features authentic dishes such as Bhanpa lish, Machher Kalia, Chingri Phookopi and Jhuri Aloo Bhaja. Conclude your meal with the sweet indulgence of Bengali specialties like Mishti Doi and Nolen Gurer Rasogulla.

When: October 15 to 23, 2023
Where: Ishaara at Palladium, Lower Parel and Phoenix Market City, Kurla
Time: Lunch - 12.00 PM to 3.00 PM | Dinner - 7.00 PM to 11.00 PM
Price: Rs. 1000 onwards

Rasotsav Upwas Thali
Start your Navratrotsav culinary journey with our Farali Dosa, a delightful blend of sanwa millet and rajgira flour, fermented overnight to make crispy. Served with tantalising peanut curd chutney, it's a subtle way to begin your fasting day. You can then choose to sweeten your festivities with Shakkarkand Ka Halwa, made from boiled and mashed sweet potatoes, saffron-infused milk and a dash of ghee.

No Vratotsav is complete without a comforting bowl of Sabudana Kheer. This creamy delicacy combines sago pearls with saffron, cardamom, and a medley of nuts in a sweet milk base, delivering a truly divine experience. For the main course, savour the delectable Rajgira Paneer Paratha, a nourishing flatbread made with amaranth flour and stuffed with a mixture of fresh paneer, green chilies and aromatic spices. This paratha pairs perfectly with green chutney and fresh curd.

Finally, conclude your Rasotsav Upvas Thali journey with Upvaas Thalipeeth, a flavourful and nutritious flatbread made from rajgira flour, grated potatoes and roasted peanuts. It's served with a side of zesty green chutney, making it a delightful way to wrap up your fasting feast! Vratotsav is all about celebrating the beauty of colours and flavours during Navratra.

Where: Rasotsav, Andheri West
Time: Lunch - 12.00 PM to 3.30 PM | Dinner - 7.00 PM to 11.30 PM
Price: Rs. 1000 onwards

Navratra Utsav at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
The enchanting festival of Navratri, celebrated with fervour and devotion, has just received a delectable upgrade at San:Qi, located in the dynamic Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. From October 15th to October 23rd, this luxurious dining destination is offering a specially curated Navratri Thali, promising patrons an unforgettable culinary journey steeped in tradition and taste. At San:Qi, the Navratri Thali isn't just a meal; it's a tribute to the rich culinary heritage of India and an exclusive dining experience that brings together the purity of tradition and the innovation of modern gastronomy. The menu is a tribute to Navratri's timeless specialties, including the ever-popular sabudana khichdi and the crispy kuttu ki poori. Dessert aficionados will be pleased to find lacha fruit rabdi, a sweet delight that ends your meal on a memorable note.

When: October 15 to 23, 2023
Time: Lunch - 12.00 PM to 3.00 PM | Dinner - 7.00 PM to 11.00 PM
Venue: San:Qi, Four Seasons Hotel