Navratri 2025: Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Shares Healthy Recipes

Navratri fasts are almost towards the end, and if you’re bored of having the same-old sabudana khichdi, this is just the right place for you. With the maximum utilisation of vrat-friendly ingredients like makhana, kuttu ka atta, sabudana, samak chawal, etc, you must surely be a pro at prepping your lunch and dinner. However, when it comes to satisfying the mid-day cravings, the mind usually goes for fast-friendly aloo chips. 

Since the deep-fried chips are not a healthy option, you’ll need some easy, yet nutritious options for the evening. And who’s better than the celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to give you some step-by-step recipes? In collaboration with Sugar Free Green by Zydus Wellness, here are some chef-special recipes for this Navratri.

Bel Mojito 

Ingredients:

  • 8-12 tbsps wood apple (bel) pulp
  • 4 lemons
  • Sweeteners as required
  • 40-48 fresh mint leaves
  • Pink salt to taste
  • 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
  • Ice cubes as required
  • Drinking soda as required
  • Lemon slices for garnish

Method:

  1. Cut each lemon into eight pieces and transfer to a glass.
  2. Add wood apple pulp, sweeteners, mint leaves, pink salt, roasted cumin powder and muddle with a muddler.
  3. Add ice cubes and soda, and mix well.
  4. Serve chilled, garnished with lemon slices.

Lauki Ke Laddoo

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups coarsely grated bottle gourd (lauki)
  • 5 tbsps ghee + for greasing
  • 2 tbsps edible gum resin (gond)
  • ¼ cup grated mawa
  • 4 tbsps sugar powder
  • ¼ cup coarsely crushed mixed nuts (almonds, cashew nuts and pistachios)
  • 3 tbsps melon seeds (magaz)
  • ¼ cup desiccated coconut
  • ¾ tsp green cardamom powder
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
  • Gold varq for garnish
  • Pistachio powder for garnish

Method:

  1. Heat 2 tbsps ghee in a nonstick pan, add edible gum resin and sauté till they puff up. Transfer to a plate. 
  2. Heat the remaining ghee in the same pan, add bottle gourd and sauté for 6-8 minutes or till the mixture becomes dry. 
  3. Add mawa, continuously mix and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add powdered sugar and continue to cook until it melts completely and the mixture thickens. 
  4. Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool slightly. 
  5. Coarsely crush the puffed edible gum resin, add the bottle gourd mixture, mixed nuts, melon seeds, desiccated coconut, green cardamom powder, and nutmeg powder and mix till well combined.
  6. Grease your palm with ghee, take small portions of the mixture and shape each portion into a ball. 
  7. Arrange it on a serving plate, garnish it with gold varq and pistachio powder. Serve.