Jeera Aloo Recipe for Vrat/Fasting/Upvas

The festival of Navratri is around. This is one festival along with Diwali which is celebrated with lot of rigor and gusto in almost every part of India. On each of the 9 days a different form of Shakti is worshiped.

Many observe a seven days fast during Navratri, by following a specific diet and usually end their fast on Ashtami or Navmi (the eighth or ninth day of the festival). For next few days, I will be posting some fasting recipes and sweets which you can make during Navratri.

One of the simplest of all is Jeera aloo.

Jeera aloo is a very quick and easy to make fasting recipe. It is made by sautéing boiled potatoes with cumin and green chilies. Most of the fasting recipes are quick, as many spices and herbs are not allowed during fasting days.

So fasting food is not only quicker to prepare but it is also easy to digest. A good time to purify body-mind and get connected to your devine nature.

Serve Jeera aloo with rajgire ka paratha or singhare ke atte ki puri and some raita or plain curd as an accompaniment.

Step by step Jeera Aloo recipe:

Boil 3 to 4 medium potatoes in a pressure cooker or steamer till they are tender and cooked completely.

Peel and chop them. Here I have crumbled them into bite size pieces.

In a pan or wok, heat 1 tbsp of ghee or oil. On low flame, add 1½ tsp of cumin seeds and allow them to splutter and change their color. Then add 1 or 2 chopped green chilies, saute for a minute.

Next add the chopped potatoes. Stir well well. 

Add rock salt as required. Let it cook on medium heat for 2 minutes.

Add 1 tsp black pepper and 1 tsp mango powder(amchur) and mix.

[Some families use dry mango powder during fasting and some don’t. You can also use ½ tsp of lemon juice or dry pomegranate seeds powder (anardana powder) instead of dry mango powder. Check this post on Navratri fasting rules.]

Now cook for 2-3 minutes so the potato gets a nice golden color. Stir once or twice. Add chopped fresh coriander and mix. [Some families don’t add coriander leaves during Navratri fasting. If you don’t eat then skip adding coriander.]

Serve hot.

If you are looking for more fasting recipes then do check sabudana vada, Alooraita, sabudana kheer and dahi aloo sabji for vrat.

Below is the printable version of the recipe.

Jeera Aloo for Vrat/Fasting:

Jeera Aloo recipe Prep time Cook time Total  10 min  10 min  20 min Jeera aloo- sautéed boiled potatoes with cumin and green chilies. AUTHOR: Monali RECIPE TYPE: Side CUISINE: North Indian SERVES: 3 INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup=237 ml) 250 gm or 3 to 4 medium sized potato /Aloo 2 tbsp. Cooking oil/Ghee 1½ tsp Cumin seeds/Jerra 1 tsp pepper powder/kali mirch 1 tsp Dry mango powder/Amchur 2 tbsp. Fresh coriander, chopped Rock salt to taste  DIRECTION Peel and slice boiled potatoes in medium thick slices or cubes. Heat oil or ghee in a pan and add cumin seeds/Jeera. When cumin start crackling, add chopped green chilies. Cook till cumin become golden in color. Now add chopped potatoes and salt. Mix gently. Let it cook on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add pepper powder and mango powder and mix. Now cook for 2-3 minutes. So the potatoes gets a nice golden color. Stir once or twice. Add chopped fresh coriander and serve. NOTES You can adjust the amount of black pepper powder as per your taste. Some families use dry mango powder during fasting and some don’t. You can also use ½ tsp of lemon juice or dry pomegranate seeds powder (anardana powder) instead of dry mango powder. Check this post on Navratri fasting rules. Some families don’t add coriander leaves during Navratri fasting. If you don’t eat then skip adding coriander.  SERVING SUGGESTION Serve Jeera Aloo with Singhare ki puri and some plain curd.