Which chips can we eat in Navratri? Your essential guide

Adhering to dietary rules during Navratri can be challenging, especially when craving a crunchy snack. While many store-bought options are off-limits due to their ingredients, there are several delicious and safe homemade varieties. For those asking which chips can we eat in Navratri, the answer lies in understanding the permissible ingredients and traditional preparation methods.

Quick Summary

This guide covers the types of chips permissible during Navratri fasting, focusing on homemade options like potato, banana, and sabudana chips. Learn how to prepare them using rock salt and permissible oils, and understand which store-bought varieties are safe.

Key Points

• Homemade is Safest: Controlling ingredients like rock salt and oil at home ensures your chips are Navratri-friendly.

• Use Permitted Ingredients: Stick to potatoes, raw bananas, sabudana, or purple yam, and use rock salt (sendha namak).

• Cook with Right Oils: Use pure ghee or groundnut oil for frying, as common oils are often avoided during fasts.

• Explore Healthier Methods: For a lighter snack, bake or air-fry your chips instead of deep-frying.

• Read Labels Carefully: If buying store-bought, check labels for prohibited ingredients like regular salt or non-permitted spices.

• Avoid Regular Table Salt: Always use rock salt (sendha namak) for flavouring your fasting chips.

Permissible Chips for Navratri

When observing the Navratri fast, understanding which foods are 'falahari' or permissible is key to enjoying delicious snacks. For chips, this means steering clear of regular table salt, common grains, and certain spices. Instead, you can prepare crispy chips from several root vegetables and other ingredients using approved methods.

Homemade Potato Chips (Aloo Wafers)

Potato chips are a classic and can be easily adapted for Navratri. The key is to use rock salt (sendha namak) and to ensure no prohibited spices are added.

• Slice potatoes thinly and soak them in water to remove excess starch.
• Pat them dry completely before frying or baking.
• Fry in pure ghee or groundnut oil until golden and crispy.
• Season with sendha namak and black pepper powder.

Raw Banana Chips

Raw bananas are a popular fast-friendly fruit that can be turned into crunchy chips. They offer a slightly different flavour profile than potatoes and are a great alternative.

• Peel and thinly slice raw bananas.
• Fry the slices in oil until they are golden and crispy.
• Toss with rock salt and a pinch of black pepper while still warm.

Sabudana Chips (Tapioca Pearl Wafers)

Sabudana, or tapioca pearls, is a staple during Navratri. While often made into khichdi, it can also be used to make crispy, light chips or wafers.

• These are often made from boiled, flattened, and sun-dried sabudana, which is then fried until puffed up and crispy.
• Season with rock salt and cumin powder for a delicious flavour.

Purple Yam (Kand) Chips

Purple yam, or kand, is another root vegetable suitable for fasting. It has a slightly earthy flavour and makes for a unique, wholesome chip.

• Peel and thinly slice the kand.
• Deep-fry until crispy and golden brown.
• Sprinkle with rock salt and black pepper powder immediately after frying.

Store-Bought vs. Homemade: A Comparative Guide

Feature	Homemade Chips	Store-Bought Chips	Why It Matters for Navratri
Ingredients	You control every ingredient, ensuring only rock salt, permitted oils, and spices are used.	Often contain regular table salt, non-permitted spices, and preservatives.	Ingredient purity is essential for adhering to fasting rules.
Oil Used	Cooked in pure ghee or permissible oils like groundnut oil.	Typically use seed-based oils like sunflower oil, which are often avoided during fasts.	Type of oil is a significant consideration in many fasting traditions.
Freshness	Made to order, ensuring maximum freshness and flavour.	Can be stale or have a longer shelf life due to preservatives.	Freshly prepared food is preferred in sattvik traditions.
Customisation	You can adjust seasoning and spice levels to your preference.	Flavour profiles are fixed and may contain prohibited seasonings.	Allows for personal taste and ensures all spices are permitted.
Healthier Prep	Options for baking or air-frying to reduce oil.	Almost always deep-fried, often in non-permissible oils.	Healthier alternatives are possible, reducing lethargy associated with deep-fried items.

Healthier Cooking Methods and Alternatives

For a guilt-free snacking experience, consider alternatives to traditional deep-frying. Baking or air-frying these chips can drastically reduce oil content without sacrificing crunchiness.

How to Bake/Air-Fry Navratri Chips

1. Preparation: Follow the same preparation steps—thinly slice potatoes, bananas, or kand, then wash and pat them dry.
2. Seasoning: Toss the slices with a tablespoon of groundnut oil, rock salt, and a pinch of black pepper.
3. Baking: Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp.
4. Air-Frying: Place slices in the air-fryer basket. Air-fry at 180°C (350°F) for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.

What to Avoid in Chips During Navratri

To ensure your fast remains pure, be mindful of what to avoid. Always double-check ingredient lists on store-bought items.

• Regular Table Salt: Swap for rock salt (sendha namak).
• Common Grains: Avoid chips made with wheat flour, corn flour, or besan.
• Prohibited Spices: Stay away from chips containing asafoetida (hing), turmeric, or mustard seeds.
• Non-Permitted Oils: Be cautious of chips fried in oils like sunflower or mustard oil. Groundnut oil or pure ghee is preferred. Here is a recipe for homemade Farali Potato Wafers.
• Packaged Flavourings: Many branded snacks use flavourings and additives that are not sattvik. The safest bet is always to prepare at home.

A Safe and Delicious Snacking Experience

Enjoying a satisfying, crunchy snack is entirely possible during Navratri without compromising your fast. By opting for homemade chips using permitted ingredients like potatoes, raw bananas, sabudana, or kand and cooking with rock salt and pure oils, you can create a safe and delicious treat. For those who prefer a quicker option, searching for brands explicitly marketing 'Navratri' or 'falahari' snacks made with rock salt is a possibility, though homemade remains the purest choice. Embracing these simple, traditional methods ensures your fast is both spiritually and gastronomically fulfilling.

Homemade Navratri-Special Potato Chips Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes
• Oil for deep-frying (groundnut or pure ghee)
• Rock salt (sendha namak) to taste
• Black pepper powder (optional)

Instructions:

1. Peel and slice the potatoes very thinly using a slicer for uniform thickness.
2. Rinse the potato slices thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and ensures crispier chips.
3. Dry the slices completely by patting them down with a kitchen towel or paper towel. Excess moisture can cause splattering in hot oil.
4. Heat the oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. To test if the oil is ready, drop one slice; it should sizzle and rise immediately.
5. Fry the potato slices in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden brown and crispy.
6. Drain the fried chips on an absorbent paper towel to remove excess oil.
7. Season immediately while still hot by sprinkling rock salt and black pepper powder. Toss gently to coat.
8. Serve your delicious, fresh, and fast-friendly potato chips immediately or store in an airtight container once cooled.

By following this simple recipe, you can ensure a safe and traditional snacking experience throughout your Navratri fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we eat regular potato chips during Navratri?

No, regular potato chips are not recommended during Navratri fasting because they typically contain common table salt and non-permissible seasonings.

What kind of salt is used for chips during Navratri?

During Navratri, chips should be seasoned with rock salt, also known as sendha namak. Regular table salt is not permitted.

Are packaged chips allowed during Navratri?

Most packaged chips are not allowed as they contain regular salt, preservatives, and spices that are not permitted for fasting. It is safer to make them at home or purchase brands specifically marketed for Navratri.

Can I air-fry chips for Navratri?

Yes, air-frying is a healthier cooking method that is perfectly acceptable for Navratri chips. Just be sure to use permissible seasonings like rock salt.

Are banana chips suitable for Navratri fasting?

Yes, raw banana chips made with rock salt and fried in permissible oil like groundnut oil are a great option for Navratri.

What is `sabudana` and can it be made into chips for fasting?

Sabudana refers to tapioca pearls, a common ingredient during Navratri. It can be made into crispy chips or wafers and is a popular fast-friendly snack.

What oil should be used to fry Navratri chips?

For frying Navratri chips, pure ghee or groundnut oil are the most commonly used and accepted options. Other seed-based oils should typically be avoided.