​7 high-protein foods to keep you energised during Navratri fasting

Fasting days can be gentle on the spirit but tough on the body. Without lentils, meat or eggs, protein often slips away, leaving energy levels flat. Yet the vrat kitchen has its own quiet heroes; ingredients that nourish deeply while staying within the rules. Cooked with a little imagination, they keep the stomach steady and the body light. Here are seven foods to lean on this Navratri, each bringing strength to the body while keeping faith with tradition.

Samak, the millet that often stands in for rice, is light but surprisingly rich in protein. Pair it with curd and you have a meal that cools the stomach while keeping you full. To make it, rinse and cook samak in water until fluffy, then season with cumin in ghee and serve with chilled curd. The combination feels homely, yet it carries enough strength to last through long hours of fasting.

Water chestnut flour turns delicate when spread thin on a tawa, but don’t mistake it for insubstantial. It hides a good dose of protein, making cheelas both nourishing and easy on digestion. To make it, whisk singhara flour with water and grated ginger, cook into golden pancakes and pair with mint chutney. Crisp at the edges, soft inside, they fuel the day without heaviness.

Rajgira, or amaranth, is a grain that carries almost as much folklore as nutrition. High in protein and minerals, it shows up during fasting as puffed seeds bound into laddoos. To make them, take roasted rajgira, stir with molten jaggery and roll into warm balls. They store well, taste festive, and slip protein into the sweetest corner of the plate. Rajgira is a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and B-complex.

Makhana, those airy lotus seeds, are light to crunch but strong in nutrition. Roasted, they make a snack; simmered in milk, they transform into kheer. To make it, toast makhanas in ghee, crush them lightly and cook in milk with cardamom. The pudding comes out creamy, protein-rich and gentle - it's pure indulgence with purpose.

Peanuts carry the kind of protein that keeps hunger quiet. When tossed into a chaat, they add crunch and spice without feeling oily. To make it, mix roasted peanuts with cubes of sweet potato or cucumber, season with rock salt, lemon juice and coriander. It’s quick, sharp and perfectly timed for an afternoon slump.

For those who include dairy, paneer is the simplest protein fix. Shaped into patties with grated potato, it becomes a main dish in itself. If you’d rather skip paneer, boiled arbi works just as well - mash it with singhara flour and spices, pan-fry until crisp and golden. Both versions bring substance to the fasting plate without straying from the rules.

Almonds carry protein and good fats, and when blended into milk, they become a drink that revives. To make it, soak almonds overnight, blend with chilled milk, a dash of cardamom and a drizzle of honey. You can also add saffron strands or rose water for a fragrant twist that elevates both flavor and nutritional richness naturally. Smooth and cooling, it works as both breakfast and dessert, carrying enough power to keep the fast light but steady.