Karwa Chauth is a unique Indian festival that is majorly associated with women of North India. This is a fasting day, which is essentially observed by married women, for the well-being, good health and longevity of their husbands. There are various parts of this festival, amongst which, food also plays a significant role. At the end of the day, women break their vrat or fast. Here, I have shared a collection of popular Karwa Chauth Recipes. Also, the Puja Vidhi (procedure) and rituals like Sargi, Baya, Group Pooja, Song and how to break the Karwa Chauth fast.
Karwa Chauth is on November 1, 2023. I am sharing this recipes list, so that it is easier for you to decide your menu in advance. Ensure not to add onions and garlic in any recipe you prepare during the fasting of Karwa Chauth.
What is Karwa Chauth
The word โkarwaโ is equivalent to the Hindi term โdiya,โ which means โa small earthen lampโ or โa pitcher or pot.โ โChauthโ means โfourth.โ Since, this festival falls on the 4th day after the full moon in the Kartik month, it is named as Karwa Chauth.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Karwa Chauth is a special day of fasting or vrat observed by women in North India for the health, well-being, prosperity and long life of their husbands.
After the Karwa Chauth rituals and puja are over during the day, the women wait for the moon to come up. It is customary of this day that the sky is cloudy. Thus, the moon is often visible late.
Once the long wait is over, the women finally get to see the moon through a sieve and offer water to the moon while seeking its blessings.
Post this, the wives are first given a sip of water and then a morsel of food, usually a Mathri by their husbands. To know more about this procedure, donโt forget to read the sections below.
Once all these rituals and procedures are completed, there is more food that women, their husbands and the their families feast on together.
These dishes are typically made keeping in mind the nature of the festival, that is fast-friendly and also are nutritious and filling at the same time.
You can refer to my compilation of Karwa Chauth Recipes on this post to get an idea about the same and plan your menu for that day, accordingly.
Karwa Chauth Festival
The day begins at the break of the dawn and in my family, we usually have Gobi Paratha, Aloo Paratha with Raita and a sweet dish like Sooji Halwa, Vermicelli Kheer or pheni. Sometimes we have some chaat dishes too. If not Paratha, then we have Aloo Gobi with phulka.
All these delicious dishes are consumed before sunrise or better to say, when the stars are still there in the sky. I also have tea and then lots of water too because the whole day goes in the Karwa Chauth fasting, without eating anything or even drinking water.
At home, we usually have a dinner meal of Chole Masala or Rajma, Dal Makhani or mah ki dal with rice or roti and some vegetable side dish. This is how we celebrate this festival at our home.
With my signature compilation of Karwa Chauth Recipes on this post, even you can plan your Karwa Chauth menu in advance.
So that, your entire day goes smooth and hassle free, and you are able to focus on the vrat and rituals’ part with ease. You can even make any Chutney a day before. Also, mathri can be made a day or two before.
Karwa Chauth Vrat Vidhi
The below mentioned rules or procedure are followed at my house for Karwa Chauth vrat or fasting. These may vary from family to family. If in doubt, kindly consult the elders or your pandit to be able to follow the rules according to your family.
- Karwa Chauth vrat can also be kept by unmarried girls, if the engagement ceremony is already done.
- Onion and garlic are strictly not consumed throughout the day, even after breaking the fasts. So, all the Karwa Chauth Recipes that I also have mentioned here need to be prepared sans any garlic or onion in them.
- For this day, women dress up in their best clothes. Some also wear the dress they wore on their wedding day. Mostly red, orange, golden or bright colored clothes, sari or ghagra-choli is worn. White or black colored clothes are avoided as these colors are not considered auspicious for this occasion.
- Women are not supposed to do perform any household work on this day. Instead, they apply henna or mehndi on their hands, dress up and get ready with make-up.
What is Sargi
Mostly done in Punjabi families, Sargi is given by the mother-in-law which includes mathri, coconut (must), fruits like banana, apple, etc. and sweets or as per your wish. Usually, dish made from pheni and milk is also a part of the sargi.
- Money is also given by the mother-in-law one day in advance, so that the daughter-in-law can purchase cosmetics or shringar items like bangles, bindi, mehendi, lipstick, hair band, chunri, clothes etc. If the mother-in-law is not staying together, then she can send/transfer the money.
- On the morning of Karwa Chauth, before consuming sargi, the daughter-in-law touches 7 items, that she has decided to donate or offer to the religious priestess (panditani) after the pooja in the evening. These 7 items usually are mehendi, fruits, almonds or cashews (nuts and dry fruits), mathri, coconut and money.
- While having sargi, the dish made with pheni and milk or sweets is consumed first. It is to start the day on a sweet, positive note. After this, coconut is eaten and then the main course meal. The coconut is usually broken by the husband. Since after the sun rises, it is not allowed to eat food or drink water, women must consume a lot of water that would suffice them for the entire day.
- Before eating sargi, women put bindi and take the red color chunri on their head. Head bath is taken one day before the Karwa Chauth vrat, in the evening to have a clean head (โsuchaโ in Punjabi language).
- The daughter-in-law also offer clothes and nuts like almonds or cashews to her in laws after the vrat is over, before a meal of traditional Karwa Chauth Recipes is consumed to end the day.
Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi
Before you head to the list of Karwa Chauth Recipes, hereโs some scoop on the puja vidhi of this day. Some people worship Bhagwan Shiva and Parvati Maa in the morning. In our home, we only worship Goddess Parvati in the form of Gauri Maa in the group puja which takes place in the evening around 4.00 PM or 5.00 PM.
Before the sunset, all ladies from the locality gather in one place for the group puja. In their thali (plates), they carry sweets, mathri, fruits, sari and clothes. These items are called as โbaya.โ It is brought from the money the daughter-in-law receives from her mother or father.
Apart from baya items, there are other things in the thali like mustard oil, sindur, surma and all the 7 items which have been kept for the religious priestess.
A glass (or kalash) of water is also brought, which gets offered to the moon in the night. This water has rice grains and sugar added to it. A mauli or red string is tied around the lotta.
All the ladies sit around Gauri Mata with their items and worship her. The ladies also offer surma, lipstick, sindur to the goddess. It is like doing her shringar.
One elderly lady or panditani recites the Karwa Chauth katha or story and the thali containing the baya is rotated 7 times. While rotating the thali, a traditional song is also sung.
Karwa Chauth Ka Gana (Song)
- For first six rotation or feri the song is โveero kudiye karwara, sarv suhagan karwara, aye katti naya teri naa, kumbh chrakhra feri naa, aar pair payeen naa, ruthda maniyen naa, suthra jagayeen naa, ve veero kuriye karwara, ve sarv suhagan karwaraโ
- After every rotation, once the thali comes back, then it is first kissed and then kept it along with kalash (or glass) containing water.
- And for the 7แตสฐ thali rotation the song is โveero kudiye karwara, sarv suhagan karwara, aye katti naya teri nee, kumbh chrakhra feri bhee, aar pair payeen bhee, ruthda maniyen bhee, suthra jagayeen bhee, ve veero kuriye karwara, ve sarv suhagan karwaraโ
- The Gauri Maa puja is to pray for the well being and long life of your husband.
- You can offer the 7 items (which you have touched in the morning before eating sargi) to the panditani or religious lady in this puja after hearing the Karwa Chauth katha.
- In some families, after the group pooja is completed, one is allowed to drink a cup of tea or cold drink (but not both). This is usually a modern-day alteration to make the procedure of fasting little easier. As per rules, whatever beverage is chosen on the first Karwa Chauth is the one that you must consume during all vrats on this day, for the rest of life.
- Baya items which are worshipped (Mansana) with the help of panditani or priestess is later given to the mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Breaking The Fast
When the moon is visible, then we take a thali, where we place one diya made with wheat flour (atta). In this diya, we pour mustard oil placing a cotton wick inside which is lit. Some mathris are also kept in this thali. The water from the evening puja of Gauri Maa is also taken in a small kalash pot .
Then, the red color chunri is taken on the head. Slippers/sandals are removed from the feet. One wooden stick or piece is kept below the feet. The lit diya is placed in a sieve and the woman then sees the moon indirectly from the sieve.
At our home, we repeat the following lines 3 to 4 times while seeing the moon indirectly via the sieve โ โhaath khari phair chari main suhagan argh den khari,โ which means, โmy hands are spread, I am standing with a wooden stick below my feet and I am a married woman standing here to offer water to you.โ
After repeating these lines, the diya is thrown backwards. Then, the moon is seen directly and all the water is poured downwards in the direction of the moon. With this, 5 to 6 mathri pieces are also thrown towards the direction of the moon. The entire water from the kalash is emptied. You canโt drink this water.
Then, the husband is seen through the sieve. Many women also touch the feet of their husbands at this stage and internally pray for their well-being. After this, to break the vrat, the husband offers water and mathri to the wife. With this, all can sit for the dinner meal, for which you can refer to my list of Karwa Chauth Recipes here.
Dos and Don’ts
Few activities to be avoided during fasting on this day are:
- Donโt weave or stitch any cloth.
- Do not use scissors and needles.
- One must not go to the fields.
- Donโt wake up any person who is sleeping.
- Avoid pleasing anyone with whom you have or had a conflict.
Karwa Chauth Recipes
I have shared Karwa Chauth Recipes that you can make for dinner (after breaking your vrat) and the recipes that are included in the sargi. The dishes that make up the sargi platter are consumed before beginning with the fast.
Sargi is the meal which is had before dawn and before taking-up the vrat. In this section, you will find breakfast dishes that can be made easily. I have also added some sweet recipes.
You can prep some of the dishes a day before and refrigerate them. The sweets can also be made a day before and refrigerated.
Note that some of the recipes listed below have onion and garlic in them as I did not make them on the occasion of Karwa Chauth but on some regular days.
So, when using them as Karwa Chauth Recipes, just skip the onion and garlic from them. You can add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) in the dishes to mimic the flavors of onion and garlic.
For more such recipes, you can check this collection of No Onion No Garlic Recipes too.
Sargi Recipes
Sargi is the meal which is had before dawn and before taking up the karwa chauth fast. In this section you will find the breakfast dishes that can be made easily.
I have also added some sweets recipes. You can prep some of the dishes a day before and refrigerate them. The sweets can also be made a day before and refrigerated.
Aloo Gajar Matar ki Sabji is an easy Punjabi style dry preparation made with potatoes, carrots and peas. The recipe is made without onion, garlic and has minimal spices. Pairs nicely with roti or paratha and can be packed in lunch box.
Aloo Gobi is a flavorful, comforting North Indian dish made with potatoes, cauliflower, onions, herbs, and spices. It can be prepared as a dry stir-fry or as a curry, with the curried version being more popular. This particular Aloo Gobi recipe is a rich, creamy restaurant-style version, cooked in a luscious makhani style sauce. The sauce is made with butter, onions, tomatoes, cashews, spices, herbs, and a touch of cream for a smooth, velvety texture.
Jeera Aloo is a classic North Indian side dish made with boiled potato cubes sautรฉed in oil or ghee with cumin, ground spices, herbs and lemon juice. The recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan and gets ready inย less than thirty minutesย from start to finish. It is best paired with roti, chapati, paratha or poori.
This Gajar Matar Sabji is a delicious North Indian Punjabi style dry preparation of sautรฉed carrots and fresh green peas with few spices and herbs. Best served with some roti, phulka or paratha for a comforting, healthy and satisfying meal.
Cauliflower Paratha, also known as Gobi Paratha, is an unleavened whole wheat flatbread stuffed with a spiced grated cauliflower filling. This popular Punjabi dish is often prepared for breakfast and is also served in restaurants and dhabas. This recipe follows an authentic homestyle method traditionally used in Punjabi households.
Aloo Paratha is a popular Punjabi breakfast made with unleavened whole wheat flatbread stuffed with a spiced, tangy mashed potato filling. The stuffed paratha is rolled out and cooked on a tawa or skillet/griddle with oil or ghee until crisp and golden. It is best served with yogurt, butter, or mango or lemon pickle. This aloo ka paratha is made using my tried and tested family recipe.
Paneer Paratha is a North Indian stuffed flatbread made with whole wheat flour dough and a spiced grated paneer (Indian cottage cheese) filling. It is one of the most loved paratha varieties from Punjab and is commonly made for breakfast.
Thepla are popular flatbreads from Gujarati cuisine made with an unleavened dough of whole grain flours, yogurt, spices, and herbs. They can be prepared plain or with added vegetables or greens like fenugreek leaves (methi). This Methi Thepla recipe uses fresh fenugreek leaves along with whole wheat flour, gram flour, and millet flours.
Dahi Puri, also known as Dahi Batata Puri or Dahi Sev Puri, is a popular Mumbai chaat snack. Crispy round puris are filled with boiled potatoes, chutneys, and yogurt, then topped with sev and coriander leaves. It has a mix of crispy, savory, tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Sev puri is a popular Mumbai street food chaat made with crispy flat puris. The puris are topped with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, chutneys, sev, herbs, and ground spices. This chaat has a balance of spicy, sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. Sev puri is assembled just before serving to keep the puris crisp.
Aloo Tikki is a popular North Indian street food made with spiced mashed potatoes shaped into patties and shallow fried until crisp. These potato patties can be made plain or stuffed with green peas, chana dal, or paneer.
Papdi Chaat is a popular North Indian street food snack made with crisp papdi layered with boiled potatoes, cooked chickpeas, yogurt, chutneys, and ground spices. It has a mix of crunchy and creamy textures with sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.
Aloo chana chaat is a spicy, tangy, sweet chaat made with boiled potatoes, white chickpeas, onion, tomatoes, herbs and spices.
Sabudana Vadaย is a popular savory deep fried snack made during Hindu fasting days, featuring tapioca pearls (sago), potatoes, peanuts and herbs. They are naturally gluten-free and vegan. This fail-proof Maharashtrian style Sabudana Vada recipe gives you a super delicious crispy vada with a soft and light interior.
Vegetable Cutletย are crisp, savory, tender patties made with a mix of hearty veggies, savory spices, fresh herbs and crispy breadcrumbs. Cutlet is a popular snack in Indian cuisine.
Farali pattice is an easy snack of crispy and tasty patties made with potatoes and stuffed with a sweet filling of coconut, nuts and raisins. This dishย is from the Gujarati cuisine that is made during fast or upvas.
Green Chutney or Hari Chatni, is a spicy Indian condiment prepared with coriander leaves, ginger, green chillies, spices, and seasonings. It is commonly used in chaat dishes such as aloo chaat, dahi vada, sev puri, samosa chaat, and ragda patties. The chutney is also served with Indian snacks like pakoda, samosa, vada, and kachori.
Tamarind Chutney, also known as Imli Chutney, is a sweet and tangy condiment from North Indian cuisine. It is made by simmering tamarind pulp with jaggery, dried ginger powder, and spices until smooth. Because dried ginger is used, this chutney is also called Saunth Chutney and is commonly served with chaat and fried snacks.
Sweets & Desserts
Suji Ka Halwaย (also calledย Sheera) is a classic Indian semolina pudding made with roasted suji (rava/semolina), ghee, sugar, and cardamom, garnished with nuts. This melt-in-the-mouth North Indian sweet is my familyโs heirloom recipe; made for decades during festivals, poojas, and special occasions. Quick to prepare and easily scalable, this halwa is perfect as prasad or a comforting dessert any time.
Meethi Seviyanย recipe is a unique sweet dish made with whole wheat vermicelli, ghee, milk, sugar, nuts and raisins. It is a dry variation, which is also popular as a traditional sweet. You can enhance its richness by adding more nuts and dry fruits.
Gulgule (singular Gulgula) are crispy, fluffy, soft, fried Indian doughnuts made with whole wheat flour, banana, sugar or jaggery and fennel seeds. It is a special and unique sweet from the North Indian cuisine and is also referred to as pua, pooda, or puda in Punjabi.
Seviyan Kheer, also known as Vermicelli Kheer, is a creamy North Indian sweet made with wheat vermicelli, milk, sugar, nuts, and dry fruits, flavored with cardamom. This easy dessert comes together in about 20 minutes and can be served warm or chilled.
Rice Kheer is a popular as well as a traditional North Indian sweet dish made by slow cooking basmati rice in milk that is sweetened with sugar and flavored with nuts, cardamom and saffron; resulting in a creamy, fragrant, and indulgent Indian rice pudding often enjoyed during festivals and celebrations. Kheer recipe is also easy to make and is usually prepared in one pan or using a one pot method.
Besan Ladoo, also known as Besan Ke Laddu, is a popular North Indian sweet made with gram flour (besan), ghee and powdered sugar. The besan is slow-roasted in ghee until golden and aromatic, then mixed with sugar and shaped into round laddus. These rich and melt-in-the-mouth sweets are commonly prepared during festive occasions.
An easy peasy method to makeย Rava Laddu for Diwali or any festival. This Rava Ladooย also known as Suji ke Laddu are sweet balls made with ravaย (sooji or semolina), coconut, powdered sugar, dry fruits, nuts and ghee.
Make coconut ladoo with three recipes. The first one is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, milkmaid and cardamom powder. The second recipe has 2 ingredients – desiccated coconut and condensed milk. The third recipe is made with desiccated coconut and sugar.
Gajar Ka Halwa is a classic North Indian sweet made by slow-cooking grated carrots in milk, ghee, and sugar, flavored with cardamom and garnished with nuts. My family recipe follows the traditional method and is slow-cooked for rich flavor. This card features the classic version, with three more methods โ milkmaid, khoya, and Instant Pot shared in the post.
This rich Peda recipe is a delightfully sweet fudge-like confection made with khoya (dried milk solids), sugar, nuts and fragrant spices. Make this simple and quick Doodh Peda recipe (also called Milk Peda) for any festival or celebrations.
These wheat ladoo make for a good sweet snack for kids as well as for the whole family. Easy and quick to prepare delicious ladoo made with whole wheat flour, sugar and ghee.
Phirni is a classic North Indian rice pudding made by slow-cooking ground rice with milk and sugar.ย It is flavored with saffron and cardamom and garnished with nuts. This creamy dessert is commonly prepared during festive occasions and special celebrations.
Easy Dry Fruit Laddu Recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. This Dry Fruit Ladoo recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
Apple halwa recipe made with apples, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Apple halwa is a deliciousย halwa that is easy to make. This apple halwa does not use sooji (rava), milk, khoya or milk powder. Just apples, sugar (optional) and ghee. Flavorings and nuts of your choice can be added to the halwa.ย
Badam kheer or almond payasam is a delicious creamy kheer made with blanched almond paste, milk and saffron.
Sheer Khurma (also known as Sheer Khorma) is a rich, creamy, traditional sweet made with wheat vermicelli, milk, dates, nuts, dry fruits, sugar and ghee. It is made during Ramadan and also on the festive occasion of Eid al-Fitr in the South Asian countries of India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan. 'Sheer' means milk and 'Khurma' refers to dates in Persian language.
Dinner
Included in this section, is food that you can have after breaking the fast. I have listed mostly Punjabi recipes and the ones which we make in our family.
You will also find some starters and appetizers in this section. You can serve the dal or the curries with roti or steamed rice. Pulao can be served with raita or a side salad.
Lentils & Beans
This Dal Makhani recipe is a restaurant style version with subtle smoky flavors and creaminess of the lentils. Dal Makhani is one of the most popular lentil recipes from the North Indian Punjabi cuisine made withย whole urad dal (black gram), kidney beans (rajma) and simmered with butter, cream, fragrant spices, creating a luscious, smoky-flavored delicacy best enjoyed with roti, paratha or rice.
This Rajma recipe is a Punjabi-style curry made with kidney beans cooked in a spiced onion-tomato gravy with herbs and finished with cream. This restaurant-style rajma masala pairs well with steamed rice, naan, roti, or paratha.
This Punjabi Chole Masala is an authentic dish inspired by North Indian street food. It is made with onions, tomatoes, freshly ground spices and herbs. The curry has bold and spicy flavors similar to the chole served on the streets of Delhi and Punjab. This Chole recipe follows a traditional Punjabi method.
This Chana Dal is a Punjabi-style recipe made with Bengal gram lentils (hulled and split black chickpeas) cooked with onions, tomatoes, herbs, spices, and seasonings. It is best served with Indian flatbreads like roti, phulka, or paratha. This dal curry also pairs well with steamed rice.
This restaurant style Dal Tadka recipe is of a smooth and creamy dal made with pigeon pea lentils (tur dal), onions, tomatoes, herbs and tempered with spices like cumin, garlic, red chillies, asafoetida and red chilli powder. The dhungar method gives this lentil preparation a smoky flavor. It is best served with steamed basmati rice or relished with roti or paratha.
This Dal Fry recipe is made with arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) cooked until soft and then combined with a sautรฉed base of onions, tomatoes, herbs and spices. You can use only arhar dal or combine it with masoor dal for variation. The dal is simmered until smooth and creamy with the masala. I share both the stovetop and Instant Pot methods to make this recipe.
Amritsari Chole is a delicious variation of the Indian chickpea curry from the city of Amritsar. This recipe of Amritsari Chole is vegan and gluten-free.
This Dal Amritsari is simple and tasty lentil curry from the Punjabi cuisine made with whole black gram and split black chickpea (chana dal).
Black gram dal or kali dal or maa ki dal is a popular and delicious Punjabi lentil dish made withย sabut urad dal, onions, tomatoes, herbs and spices.
Pindi chana is a delicious and super easy chickpea dish made in Punjabi style with chole masala powder. It is made without onions and tomatoes and thus a dry dish.
Curries
Paneer Butter Masala is a popular North Indian curry made with soft paneer cubes cooked in a creamy tomato-cashew gravy with butter, cream, and spices. This rich and lightly sweet curry is commonly served with roti, naan, paratha, or steamed rice.
Palak Paneer is a smooth and creamy North Indian dish made with paneer cooked in a fresh spinach gravy. This easy Palak Paneer recipe uses fresh spinach leaves, paneer, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, herbs and spices. The gravy has a mild flavor with a natural green color from the spinach. It is one of the most popular vegetarian paneer dishes served with roti or rice.
Shahi Paneer is a Mughlai restaurant-style paneer curry made in a creamy white gravy of onions, nuts, melon seeds, yogurt, cream and fragrant spices. This recipe does not use tomatoes and has a mildly spiced, rich flavor. Serve hot with naan, roti or jeera rice.
This Veg Kurma recipe is a delicious South Indian curry featuring a mix of vegetables cooked in a creamy gravy made from yogurt, cashews, edible seeds, coconut and enriched with a bevy of fragrant spices. This warming, mildly spiced and complexly flavored dish is commonly paired with poori, dosa, parotta or steamed rice, making it a comforting and versatile meal.
This Veg Kadai recipe gives you a restaurant-style kadai vegetable gravy made with mixed vegetables, onions, tomatoes and capsicum. The freshly ground kadai masala adds a bold and authentic flavor. A little cream is added for balance, making the gravy slightly rich without being heavy. You can easily make this dish in a kadai, wok or regular pan at home.
Matar Paneer is a classic Punjabi dish consisting of soft paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cubes and green peas (matar) simmered in a rich, spiced tomato-onion gravy, flavored with aromatic spices and herbs, creating a flavorful and hearty vegetarian curry best enjoyed with naan, roti, paratha or rice. This is our family recipe of a flavorful and simple home-style Mutter Paneer. I have also shared making Matar Paneer in the Instant Pot and in a pan or pot on the stovetop.
Navratan Korma is a rich and mildly sweet Indian curry made with nine key ingredients. It includes assorted vegetables, nuts and dry fruits cooked in a creamy gravy. The dish is flavored with aromatic spices and a few herbs for balance. This classic vegetarian korma is often served with naan, roti or rice.
Aloo Matar (also spelled Aloo Mutter) is an evergreen North Indian Punjabi curry made with potatoes and green peas cooked in an onion tomato masala base. The gravy is light and uses everyday spices like cumin, turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala. Serve it with roti, paratha or steamed rice.
Pav Bhaji is a Mumbai street food made with a spiced mashed vegetable curry served with butter-toasted pav buns. It is garnished with chopped onions, lemon wedges, and fresh coriander. This recipe follows the traditional stovetop method used for making street-style pav bhaji at home.
Methi Matar Malai is a North Indian curry prepared with fenugreek leaves (methi), green peas and a creamy onion-cashew base. The gravy is mildly spiced and slightly sweet, which balances the natural bitterness of the methi. Cream is added for a smooth and rich texture. Serve this curry hot with naan, roti or steamed rice.
Punjabi Aloo Puri recipe is a traditional dish featuring a mildly spiced, tangy potato curry served with soft and crispy puri. The aloo sabzi pairs perfectly with freshly fried puffed bread, making it ideal for breakfast or lunch.
Rice
Jeera Rice (Restaurant Style)
Give a makeover to the simple steamed rice by adding cumin (jeera) and some fragrant spices. This restaurant style Jeera Rice recipe is mildly spiced, fragrant and tastes too good.
Veg Pulao or Pulav (also called Pilaf) is an easy vegetarian one-pot rice dish made with basmati rice, mixed vegetables, whole spices, and herbs. You can use vegetables like peas, potatoes, and green beans. This simple pulao is flavorful and works well as a complete meal.
This Moong Dal Khichdi recipe is made with rice, split yellow moong dal, ghee and mild spices for a simple and comforting meal. The texture is soft and slightly mushy, making it easy to digest and suitable for all ages. You can adjust the consistency from thick to slightly loose based on your preference. The recipe includes pressure cooker, Instant Pot and stovetop pan methods.
Peas Pulao is made by cooking basmati rice with green peas, onions, herbs and whole spices. The rice turns fragrant and lightly spiced. This recipe can be made in a stovetop pressure cooker, pan or Instant Pot. Serve hot as a main dish or side.
Kashmiri Pulao recipe is a delicious variant of rice pulao or pilaf from the Kashmiri cuisine made with nuts, dried fruits, saffron and fresh fruits. It is aromatic, mild and faintly sweet in taste.
Lemon Rice, also known as Chitranna or Nimmakaya Pulihora, is a South Indian rice dish made with cooked rice, lemon juice, nuts, herbs, and spices. The tempering and the lemon juice adds a nice tang as well as crunch, making it a simple and flavorful rice dish.
This is a fragrant and lightly spiced paneer pulao made with freshly ground pulao masala which really brings in a lot of flavor and aroma in the recipe.ย
This is a mild, flavorful mushroom pulao made with white button mushrooms, basmati rice, thick coconut milk, aromatics and herbs. It makes for an easy and quick lunch or dinner.
Rajma Pulao is a fragrant and spiced Kidney Beans Pilaf made with cooked kidney beans, basmati rice, onions, herbs and spices in a stovetop pressure cooker. The dried kidney beans are soaked for 8 to 9 hours in water and later pressure cooked until softened and tender. The boiled kidney beans are further cooked with a flavorful mix of various spices, herbs, onions and basmati rice to make this delicious pilaf.
Indian Breads
Roti or Phulka or Chapati is an everyday staple Indian flatbread that is made in nearly every part of India. This roti or chapati recipe of an unleavened flatbread is made with basic ingredients โ whole wheat flour, ghee, salt and water.
Paratha is a traditional Indian flatbread made with whole wheat flour, water, and salt. The unleavened dough is rolled, folded, and cooked on a hot tawa to create soft, flaky layers. Paratha is lightly roasted with oil or ghee until golden and crisp. It is commonly served with curries, dals, curd, or pickles.
Naan is a light, soft Indian flatbread made with all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, oil, and water, and leavened with either yeast or a mixture of yogurt and baking powder. It is cooked in a tandoor or on a hot griddle or tawa (skillet). This slightly chewy bread pairs well with rich curries, dals, and kababs.
Poori or Puri is a traditional Indian fried unleavened bread made with whole wheat flour, salt, and water. The dough is rolled into small discs and deep fried. Poori puffs up while frying and turns crisp on the outside. It has a soft texture inside when made correctly.
Kulcha is a popular North Indian flatbread with a soft and fluffy texture.ย It is made from a leavened dough of all-purpose flour, yogurt, leavening agents, oil, salt and sugar. This flatbread can be cooked in a tandoor or on a tawa or skillet. Serve kulcha hot with spicy chole masala or chickpea curry.
This simply delicious, soft, chewy Tandoori Roti is one of my favorite Indian flatbread of all time. I share two different methods to make this yummy Butter Roti without tandoor.
Rumali Roti is one of the unleavened Indian breads that is made traditionally in the Awadhi, Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisines. Roomali roti are thin soft rotis and can be folded like a handkerchief. Hence the name Rumali or Roomali roti. The word 'rumal' means handkerchief in Hindi language.
Snacks, Starters & Soups
Hara Bhara Kabab is made with spinach, green peas, potatoes, herbs, and spices. The mixture is shaped into patties and shallow-fried until golden and crisp. Serve hot with mint chutney as a snack or party starter.
Paneer Tikka recipe is a popular restaurant-style Indian appetizer made with cubes of paneer marinated in a spiced yogurt mixture. The marinated paneer is skewered with vegetables and grilled until lightly charred and flavorful. This recipe can be made easily at home in an oven, on a stovetop skillet/tawa, or on a grill. Paneer tikka is a dry dish and is best served hot with mint chutney and lemon wedges.
Chilli Paneer is a popular Indo-Chinese dish made with batter-coated, crisp fried paneer cubes tossed in a spicy, tangy sauce with spring onions, bell peppers, garlic, ginger, green chillies and soy sauce. This recipe features a semi-dry consistency similar to the restaurant-style version.
Tandoori Aloo also called Tandoori Aloo Tikka is a flavorful appetizer or starter snack of marinated, spiced potatoes that are usually grilled in a Tandoor – a clay oven. My recipe of Tandoori Aloo is easily adaptable to grill in an oven or pan-fry in a skillet or frying pan.
Khaman Dhokla is a soft and fluffy Gujarati snack made with gram flour, lemon juice, ginger, green chillies, and spices. The batter is leavened instantly using fruit salt or baking soda and then steamed until light and airy. It is commonly served as a breakfast dish or snack with green chutney.
Easy to prepare Indian style, tasty recipe of crispy Cheese Balls made with potatoes, gram flour and cheese. This popular snack is vegetarian and gluten free, making it the perfect appetizer to share.
Spicy, crispy, vegan Gobi 65 is a fried cauliflower appetizer or snack that everyone will love. Crunchy and savory cauliflower 65 is perfect to serve with tomato ketchup, red chili sauce, chutneys, or your favorite condiment to dip.
This arbi fry also called as Seppankizhangu Fry in Tamill language is a dry preparation of colocasia or taro roots with spices and herbs.
Sweet Potato Chaat referred to as Shakarkandi Chaat is an easy chaat snack made with sweet potatoes and a few ground spice powders. This recipe requires just about 5 ingredients and can be made quickly with steamed or boiled sweet potato. Ideal for Navratri or any other Hindu religious fasts.
Kala Chana Chaat is a tangy and tasty snack made from cooked black chickpeas mixed with onions, green chilies, tomatoes, ground spices, black salt, lemon juice and coriander leaves. This recipe is supremely easy to make. Just prep up the ingredients and mix everything together in a bowl.
Aloo chaat is fried crisp potatoes tossed in spicy and sweet chutneys, a few ground spice powders and then topped with curd, pomegranate arils and sev. It is a popular street food snack.
This restaurant-style Tomato Soup is made with fresh tomatoes, onions, herbs and cream for a smooth texture. The flavor is mildly tangy with natural sweetness from ripe tomatoes. The soup is cooked from scratch using simple ingredients and aromatics. Serve hot as a starter or light meal with bread or croutons.
This rich, creamy and deliciousย mushroom soupย recipe is wonderfully satisfying to enjoy any time of the year. Itโs a hearty soup prepared in just one pot, and is perfect to make even on a busy weeknight in only 30 minutes.
Spinach soup is a healthy soup made with fresh spinach and basic ingredients. This Palak Soup recipe is easy to make and does not require cream or thickener. It is light, nourishing, and suitable for everyday meals. The soup is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
A delicious Carrot Soup recipe that is creamy, thick and flavorful. This easy one-pot recipe is vegan, and is easy to customize to your tastes. You'll want to make again and again.
A Carrot Ginger Soup that is made with 8 ingredients and in just 30 minutes. An easily adaptable recipe that is a perfect option for any busy weeknight. Light, bright, healthy and filled with vegetable goodness.
This Karwa Chauth Recipes and Karwa Chauth Puja Vidhi post from the archives was first published in October 2011. It has been updated and republished in October 2023.
Dear Mam….
This is my first Karwachawth. i m working women so i m far away from my in-laws & husband. even in our community Karwachawth fast has not kept but i wanted to do for my husband’s health, wealth & long life. i have some queries can you please resolve that on urgently.
1. I m alone where i m working right now. noone is performing Karwachawth pooja. how can i perform thali rotating ritual without anybody with me.
2. My mother in low can’t send sergi but before few days when i visit to my home, she gave me dry fruits. i used that as a sergi & make sevaiya also. is that ok ?
Hi Mitali, Wish you a Happy Karwa Chauth Festival. You can do a small pooja in your home temple worshipping the Divine Mother with a thali having lit diya (lamp), some red flowers, incense and sweets. There is no need to perform the thali rotating ritual. Yes, you can use those dry fruits, but do tell your mother-in-law to tell you on phone that you can use the dry fruits as sargi. Your mother-in-law can also send some money to you (online in your bank etc) which you can use to buy the sargi items. That is what my mother-in-law does as she does not stay with us. I hope this is helpful.
Hi wish you a very happy Karwachawth. Wanted to know if I can use knife on karwachawth if I have to cook food as it’s mentioned somewhere not to use pointed items.
Regards
Priyanka
Thanks Priyanka. Wish you too a happy Karwa Chauth festival. Yes, you can use the knife for chopping veggies or herbs etc. I do cook breakfast and lunch and then the dinner for the rest of the family. So I do have to chop herbs and veggies. Just do not use needle or scissors for cutting and stitching any cloth.
Dear Dassana,
Here’s wishing you a very Happy Karwa Chauth 2018!
Regards,
Neeti
thanks neeti. wish you too a happy karwa chauth 2018.
Dear Dassana,
Here’s wishing you a very happy Karwa Chauth 2017. Have browsed through your guidelines this year too so that I can follow all the rituals correctly. Thanks a lot!
????
Regards,
Neeti
welcome neeti and wish you too a great and happy karwa chauth 2017.
Be blessed and have a Karvachauth which only bring tons of love n affection in your relationship!
thanks a lot tanu ๐
Dear Dassana,
Greetings!
Since getting inspired with your detailed post last year, I’ve started fasting on Karwa Chauth! (even though this festival is not celebrated in my community) ?
Now, I just wanted to ask about the karwa used in the pooja. You’ve mentioned that it’s the earthen lamp, but on the internet it’s shown and mentioned as the lota from which we offer arghya to the moon. I’m confused! Please help! Where and how exactly do you use it? What do you do with it once the rituals are completed?
Looking forward to your prompt reply and guidance…Have a wonderful Karwa Chauth on the 19th! ?
thats nice to know. wish you a happy karwa chauth festival.
karwa means earthern diya as well as the pitcher or pot from which arghya is offered to the moon. i use only the diya made from the atta dough. this atta diya i keep it in my terrace garden and let it organically decompose. and the pitcher or lota, i use it for karwa chauth or any pooja occasions. i keep the pitcher separately. i will change this part about the karwa in the post.
Hi Dassana,
Thanks a lot! Loved your idea of using the atta diya in the garden! So, if I use a mitti ka karwa (pitcher), it should be okay to immerse it in water (like other biodegradable Nirmalyam items) after offering arghya, and use a fresh one next year. Right? And if I get a metal karwa, I can reuse it every year. Hope I’m right in understanding the nuances of these rituals…
welcome neeti. i think you can use the mitti ka karwa next year too. there is no need to immerse in water. just keep it aside or you can use it for some other pooja rituals. i also have mitti ka pitcher, but i have always used metal one right from the beginning, so have stuck to that. metal based pot can be reused.
Is it really important to hv sargi ? My mil is far away from me n can’t send anything like this. And my mom never had sargi.m really confused.It’s my third karwachauth after mrg n I didn’t had sargi but my neighbors r saying it’s a important ritual.pls help.
And one more thing I love ur recipes..ur all recipes r awesome.
thanks radhika. its just a matter of faith. if the mother in law is not staying with you then she can send/transfer the money online or deposit in your account. with that money you can buy the sargi stuff yourself.
Hi , loved your recipes . I just wanted to know whether A southindianmarried women can perform karwachauth rituvals bcz we worship maa gouri/parvathi for sowbagyam socan i perform it
yes a south indian woman can do karwa chauth rituals. any hindu married woman can follow the karwa chauth rituals.
The procedure will be same ryt
yes same.
I am a south Indian. I really love the karwa chauth festival. I didnt knew of the rituals. It is really a very awesome day where every women can go for it . I m so glad that after having known about it i feel i too will do it for my loving hubby. Thank you dear for such a message given
thanks veena.
Thankyou so much smfor the lovely post..I was wondering how to follow allt he rituals…Thank you so mucn…I really like your dishes too….u have made my vrat easy…
glad to know this harleen thankyou so much and you are welcome ๐
I want to know the lota water to be given to moon. Then which water to drink after breaking fast. Bcz i see in movies that lady drnk water frm Lota. And wn to fill the utensils for drinking water. At a tym or before. And one more think i see the lota use in 4-5 pm pooja, Ladies empty it on sun after pooja. I hope u understand. Then which water on Moon. I have 2 lota. One of mud and another is steel one(decorated)
poonam, offer all water to moon god. your husband will make you drink fresh water. back home we don’t offer water to sun god, so can’t say about that. it might be done in some other community. use any lota. fill the water when you go for evening pooja.
I am fasting today for my fiance but i accidentally drank water. I have no idea what to do know. is it OK for me to continue or if there is anything I can do to fix it.
Please help ๐
as per vrat rules you cannot do it. but if its happened, its happened. let be.
Really it is a auspicious
I love my partner a lot but we still not engaged officially/legally.
I hope we will soon so for him I want to keep fast I.e.”KARWA CHAUTH”.
Thanks for fruitful information.
welcome.
Nice explamation for the vrat vidhi. Thanks a lot. Thanks for the recipe. we generally make Mal pua (or Pua) ,Punjabi Kadi, Puri & Dahi vada in karwa chauth
thanks pratibha.
Amazing..
wow an awesome article with all the necessary information. Receipes are tempting…a good post for people who are far away from home and does not have the required information…..i have sent the same to my friend who was looking for such an articles…it fulfilled all sections…
thanks.
That’s beautiful! I’ve been observing Karwa Chauth fast since my marriage, and we often break in dinner with Rajma Chawal. This one looks tempting!
Wow,
All your recipes look wonderful!
It was nice to learn more about karwa chauth, learning something every day. Looks wonderful and inviting Dassana. I am off checking out your makhani dal.
do try the dal makhani. this one is different and it is mil’s recipe.
You have got great collection of mouthwatering recipes.
Every dish looks delicious! Such a nice spread.
wowza.. now i just want to make and eat chaat till diwali! i miss good chaat
Hey Happy Karwa Chauth Dassana, it’s so much fun eating and fasting both on this day :)!
hey Dassana good to know ur camera is working..now we will get many diwali recipes to try.. m waiting for them ..meanwhile i have bookmarked my share of karwa chauth recipes..thanks for helping us on every occasion..
thanks suhani. finally will be able to post some diwali recipes…. what a relief for me ๐
have great karwa chauth suhani ๐
yummy and mind blowing receipes. thanks a lot for this receipes
thanks lakshmi for all your wonderful comments.
Yummy I am not married but I don’t mind to eat all these goodies
Happy Karva Chauth Wishes….