As the day of karwa chauth fast approaches for women to observe fasting, the tradition of sargi is rooted deeply as believed to strengthen the connection between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. What is essentially a host of dishes decorated in a thali, meant to be consumed as a precursor to a long day of no food or water, consists of foods that are nutritious as well as filling - as a way to sustain the austere practice. Using Usha’s OTG, replicating traditional recipes with a modern twist involves tweaking the classics slightly, as a way to accommodate and feed multiple women - but with lesser effort than usual. To make the pre-dawn meal feel special, prepping ahead of time does not always have to involve a hectic run through in the kitchen or piling on empty calories to feel satiated.
Sheet Pan Besan Cheela
Instead of pouring endless rounds of these gluten-free savoury pancakes that are protein-rich, simply transfer the batter to a baking tray and top up with vegetables, paneer or cheese. Rich in fibre as well as flavour-forward, a sheet pan serves the purpose of readying multiple portions which can then be sliced and arranged neatly in a sargi thali, as opposed to waiting for single cheelas to cook at their own pace on a stove top. Serve alongside a spicy green chutney or sweet-sour tomato chutney for added pizzazz.
Baked Kachori
Instead of deep-frying the spice filled kachoris, baking the flaky breakfast pastries results in an even browning as well as allows for batch preparation in an effortless manner. Create bite-sized versions of the large kachoris and brush them with ghee before placing them in the OTG so that some can also be saved for later, and make it to the post-fasting meal. Top up the crispy, flaked morsels with whisked yoghurt, pomegranate arils and chutneys of choice.
Meethi Mathri
The savoury tea time snack gets a sweet spin in the form of the jaggery-infused mathri. The crisp fritters which have a shortcrust pastry-like resemblance are best eaten when still warm - making them the ideal contender to be baked instead of fried. Enrich the mathris with chopped pistachios or almonds for added texture, or simply soak unflavoured mathris in a sugar syrup once baked and ready to eat. If made ahead of time, the mathris can also be placed in a low setting of the oven to remain at the right temperature before serving.
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Sabudana Wada
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Whether you choose to shape them into pucks or flatten them into patties, sabudana wadas - much like regular wadas or bondas - are healthier when baked. The tapioca pearl fritters are a carb-forward option, meant to keep fasting women feel satiated for longer, as well as remain a fasting-friendly option. Serve the crunchy wadas with freshly ground coconut chutney, green chutney or a dry peanut chutney, as accompaniments. For a probiotic friendly option, pair them with yoghurt and fruit to make a complete sargi-special thali.
Kesar Feni
Instead of sauteeing the noodle-like strands of feni in a pan with ghee, simply lay them on a baking sheet and drizzle the ghee on top. Bake it in the oven until they’re browned perfectly and crisped enough to be combined with saffron-flavoured milk. The delicious dessert is a delightful combination of different crunchy textures - ranging from the feni to chopped dry fruits and milk. Serve it at the end of the sargi meal as a way to conclude the tradition on a sweet note.