Janmashtami is a joyful festival filled with devotion, celebrations, and traditional food. For families observing Janmashtami vrat, cold-pressed groundnut oil ↗ can be used in suitable farali recipes when groundnut oil is permitted according to their fasting traditions. From crispy sabudana vada to delicious potato snacks, fasting food can be both simple and flavorful while adding variety to the festive menu.
Before planning your festive menu, remember that fasting rules can vary by family, region, and tradition. You can learn more about the significance and traditions of Janmashtami through Incredible India’s Janmashtami guide ↗.
When permitted according to your fasting tradition, cold-pressed groundnut oil can be used for preparing several farali snacks and dishes. Its natural nutty character works especially well with ingredients such as potatoes, peanuts, and sabudana.
Here are seven easy recipes to try this Janmashtami.
1. Sabudana Vada
Sabudana vada is a classic fasting snack known for its crisp exterior and soft centre. It makes a great option for breakfast or an evening Janmashtami snack.
Ingredients
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1 cup soaked sabudana
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2 medium boiled potatoes
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½ cup roasted crushed peanuts
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1–2 green chillies
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½ teaspoon cumin seeds
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Rock salt as permitted
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Fresh coriander
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Cold pressed groundnut oil for frying
Method
Drain the soaked sabudana thoroughly. Combine it with mashed potatoes, crushed peanuts, green chillies, cumin, coriander, and rock salt. Mix everything well and shape the mixture into small, flat vadas.
Heat the oil and fry the vadas until they become crisp and golden. Drain excess oil and serve warm with a vrat-friendly chutney.
For another preparation reference, you can explore this Sabudana Vada recipe guide ↗.
2. Farali Aloo Tikki
Aloo tikki is an easy recipe that requires only a few ingredients and can be prepared quickly during the festive season.
Ingredients
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3–4 boiled potatoes
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2 tablespoons roasted peanut powder
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1 green chilli
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½ teaspoon cumin powder
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Rock salt
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Fresh coriander
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Cold pressed groundnut oil
Method
Mash the boiled potatoes and add peanut powder, green chilli, cumin, coriander, and rock salt. Mix well and shape into small tikkis.
Heat a little oil in a pan and shallow-fry the tikkis over medium heat. Cook both sides until golden and crisp. Serve hot with a vrat-friendly chutney or curd, if permitted.
3. Kuttu Aloo
Kuttu flour and potatoes are commonly used in many fasting preparations. Kuttu aloo is a simple dish that can be served as part of a Janmashtami meal.
Ingredients
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3 boiled potatoes
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2 tablespoons kuttu flour
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½ teaspoon cumin seeds
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1 green chilli
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Rock salt
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Lemon juice
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Cold-pressed groundnut oil
Method
Cut the boiled potatoes into medium-sized pieces. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add the potatoes, green chilli, and rock salt.
Sprinkle kuttu flour over the potatoes and cook for a few minutes. Stir gently until the potatoes develop a light coating. Add lemon juice before serving.
4. Sabudana Tikki
If you enjoy sabudana but want an alternative to vada, sabudana tikki is worth trying. These small patties are crispy outside and soft inside.
Ingredients
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1 cup soaked sabudana
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1 boiled potato
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½ cup crushed roasted peanuts
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Green chilli
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Cumin powder
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Rock salt
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Cold-pressed groundnut oil
Method
Mix the sabudana, mashed potato, peanuts, chilli, cumin, and rock salt. Shape the mixture into small round patties.
Heat a little oil in a non-stick or heavy pan. Place the tikkis carefully and cook over medium heat. Flip them once the underside turns golden. Cook both sides until crisp.
5. Rajgira Pakora
Rajgira flour can be used to prepare crispy pakoras for a festive fasting menu. These are particularly enjoyable as an evening snack.
Ingredients
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1 cup rajgira flour
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2 boiled potatoes
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Green chilli
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Cumin seeds
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Rock salt
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Water as needed
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Cold-pressed groundnut oil
Method
Mash the potatoes and combine them with rajgira flour, cumin, green chilli, and rock salt. Add a small amount of water to make a thick mixture.
Heat the oil and carefully add small portions of the mixture. Fry until the pakoras are cooked and golden. Remove and drain excess oil before serving.
6. Farali Potato Chips
Homemade potato chips are a quick and crunchy option for Janmashtami gatherings. They require very few ingredients and can be prepared fresh.
Ingredients
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3–4 potatoes
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Rock salt
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Cumin powder
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Cold-pressed groundnut oil
Method
Slice the potatoes thinly and wash them thoroughly. Dry the slices completely using a clean kitchen towel.
Heat the oil and fry the potato slices in small batches until crisp. Drain them and season with rock salt and cumin powder according to your vrat preferences.
7. Peanut and Potato Chaat
For something lighter and refreshing, try a simple peanut and potato chaat. The combination of roasted peanuts, potatoes, lemon, and spices creates a flavorful fasting snack.
Ingredients
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2 boiled potatoes
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½ cup roasted peanuts
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1 green chilli
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Fresh coriander
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Lemon juice
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Rock salt
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Cumin powder
Method
Cut the boiled potatoes into small cubes. Add roasted peanuts, green chilli, coriander, rock salt, and cumin powder.
Mix everything gently and add fresh lemon juice just before serving. You can adjust the seasoning according to your taste and fasting tradition.
Tips for Preparing Farali Recipes
When preparing Janmashtami food, always check which ingredients are permitted under your particular fasting practice. Some families follow strict vrat rules, while others follow regional variations.
For recipes that involve frying or shallow-frying, maintain a suitable cooking temperature. Overheating the oil can cause food to brown too quickly, while insufficient heat may result in greasy snacks.
Using fresh ingredients and preparing food in small batches can also help maintain better texture and flavour. If groundnut oil is permitted during your vrat, you can use cold-pressed groundnut oil in suitable recipes such as sabudana vada, aloo tikki, and farali pakoras.
Make Your Janmashtami Feast Special
Janmashtami is a wonderful opportunity to bring family and friends together over traditional food and celebrations. These seven farali recipes are easy to prepare and offer a variety of flavours, from crispy snacks to satisfying potato dishes.
Whether you are preparing sabudana vada for breakfast, aloo tikki for an evening snack, or peanut and potato chaat for a light meal, these recipes can add variety to your festive menu.
For cooking oil requirements and product information, Shop Gulab ↗ can be contacted for assistance.
Contact us ↗ for product details and help with your cooking oil requirements.
Note: Vrat food rules differ across households and regions. Always confirm that each ingredient is permitted according to your personal fasting tradition.