Cooking classes in city dish out innovative fasting specials

THANE: The first thing that comes to one’s mind during a festival is mouthwatering food and sweets. But during Navratri, many fast during the nine days. So, sweetmeats and lip-smacking delicacies are out of their list. However, many cooking classes in the city have started teaching innovative sweets and delicacies.
From dry-fruit rich pies to banana franky and sugar-free barfis and mocktails, these cooking classes have loads to offer.
“I was flooded with such requests a few weeks before Navratri. I already have taken four batches of ten people each. While most of my students were women, I have quite a few men as well who have taken up these classes. From sweets like my fast-special rattalu kheer to a variety of mocktails and date prune shakes, each dish has been a favourite for many,” said Priti Doke, who runs a cooking class at Kharkar Alley.
Many chefs, like Doke, have been coming up with a variety of dishes to meet the growing demand. “As people usually eat fruits during this season, a lot of my dishes include fruits like banana, kiwis and apples. Be it the green granny pie which is basically green apple and kiwi stuffing in a rajgira atta base, or the banana franky which has coconut, jaggery, banana and dry fruit stuffing , each dish is packed with flavor and energy,” said Pranoti Borse who runs a class at Ram Maruti Road.
Janhavi Jadhav, a resident of Devdayanagar, said, ‘‘ Unlike other festivals, we fast during the nine days of Navratri. So, we usually eat dry fruits, fruits or food made out of rajgira. We miss out on the sweets and other festive delicacies. This year I joined a cookery class where I learnt to perpare a number of interesting food. Finally, I can relish all these delicacies even though I am fasting.’’