Fasting for Navratri? Try this exotic nutritious snack

Many people observe fast during Navratri. The observance is not only an offering to the Goddess Durga with its religious/ spiritual significance, it is also backed by science as a healthy way to detoxify the body.

Here’s the recipe for Vegetable Crystal Dumpling shared by Chef Choong Chew Loon, Royal China, New Delhi that you can make during the Navratri.

Ingredients (Makes 24 Dumplings)

Filling

• 8 fresh mushrooms chopped finely
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 cloves, crushed
• 50 g normal chives, chopped finely
• 50 g spring onions, chopped finely
• 100 g Chinese water spinach
• 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 Tbsp corn flour
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water chestnuts, chopped finely

Crystal dumpling dough

• 200 g wheat starch (or wheaten corn flour)
• 1 teaspoon corn flour
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• Oil

Method

Filling:

• Heat oil in a frying pan over high heat and add ginger, a pinch of salt and white pepper. Cook this for 30 seconds.
• Add the chives, spring onions and spinach and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the chopped mushrooms and water chestnuts and stir all together.
• Combine the stock, oyster sauce, corn flour, soy sauce and rice wine, and add to the spinach mixture. Cook for 1 minute and wait for it to cool down.

Wrapping:

• Combine the wheat starch and corn flour. Mix well and add boiling water, slowly bringing the mixture together with your hands.
• Knead with lightly oiled hands until the dough forms a smooth ball.
• Roll out a walnut-sized piece of dough. Use a cookie cutter to make a perfect circle.
• Place 1 Tbsp of the filling in the centre of your circle, fold the circle over and crimp the sides together in a circular shape.
• You may need to wet the dumplings some water to make it stick nicely.
• Put the dumplings in a parchment or baking paper-lined bamboo steamer, leaving a gap between each dumpling.
• Steam for 7-8 minutes (covered).
• Take them out as soon as they become translucent.
• Serve with chilli sauce or soy sauce.