Hing for Fasting Days: Upwas Recipes Without Onion or Garlic

How does hing enhance the flavor of fasting recipes without onion and garlic?

Short Answer: Hing adds a rich, umami-like depth to fasting recipes, making up for the lack of onion and garlic.

Long Answer:

1. Hing or asafoetida has a naturally pungent aroma that mimics the savory profile of garlic and onion.
2. It intensifies the flavor of spices and ingredients, balancing bland fasting-friendly vegetables like potato and sago.
3. Even a pinch can uplift the aroma of a dish, creating a satisfying meal without breaking fasting rules.
4. Hing enhances tempering (tadka) in ghee or oil, creating an aromatic base for dishes.
5. Its sulfur compounds replicate the depth of garlic in traditional Indian cooking, especially useful during upwas.

Are there any digestive benefits of using hing in upwas (fasting) meals?

Short Answer: Yes, hing supports digestion during fasting by reducing bloating, gas, and constipation.

Long Answer:

1. Hing is well-known in Ayurveda for its carminative properties, helping reduce gas and indigestion.
2. It stimulates digestive enzymes, ensuring smoother digestion especially when meals lack fiber or variety.
3. During fasting, people often eat starch-rich foods like sabudana or potatoes; hing helps digest these better.
4. Hing soothes the gut and may relieve stomach cramps caused by irregular fasting routines.
5. It improves appetite and nutrient absorption, making it ideal for those with weak digestion during upwas.

What are some easy upwas recipes that use hing as a key ingredient?

Short Answer: Sabudana Khichdi, Samak Rice Pulao, and Vrat Aloo Sabzi are popular fasting dishes that use hing for enhanced flavor.

Long Answer:

1. Sabudana Khichdi:
   • Soak sabudana and cook with cumin, green chillies, crushed peanuts, and a pinch of hing.
   • Tempering hing in ghee adds depth and a garlicky aroma without using garlic.
2. Samak Rice Pulao:
   • Made from barnyard millet (samak rice), this dish includes boiled potatoes, cumin, ginger, and hing.
   • Hing enhances the earthiness of the millet and spices.
3. Vrat Aloo Sabzi:
   • Boiled potatoes sautéed in ghee with green chillies, cumin seeds, and a pinch of hing.
   • Perfect with kuttu (buckwheat) puri or rajgira rotis.
4. Rajgira Thalipeeth:
   • Flatbreads made from amaranth flour, with mashed potato and spices like cumin and hing.
5. Sweet Potato Chaat:
   • Boiled sweet potatoes tossed with lemon juice, rock salt, and a dash of hing for tangy aroma.

Can hing be used as a substitute for garlic in traditional fasting dishes?

Short Answer: Yes, hing can effectively replace garlic in upwas dishes by offering similar flavor depth and aroma.

Long Answer:

1. Hing shares similar sulfur compounds found in garlic, offering a comparable umami and pungent taste.
2. When added during tempering, hing mimics the base flavor that garlic typically provides.
3. It works well in chutneys, curries, and dry sabzis where garlic is usually avoided during fasting.
4. Hing powder can be dissolved in warm water and added to yogurt-based dips or kadhi as a garlic alternative.
5. This substitution helps maintain traditional taste without compromising fasting guidelines.

Which fasting-friendly spices pair well with hing to create flavorful meals?

Short Answer: Cumin, black pepper, green chillies, ginger, and rock salt pair well with hing during fasting.

Long Answer:

1. Cumin Seeds (Jeera):
   • Works well with hing in tempering for khichdi, pulao, and sabzi.
2. Black Pepper:
   • Offers heat and enhances digestive benefits alongside hing.
3. Green Chillies:
   • Adds spice without overpowering hing’s aroma, ideal for upwas dishes.
4. Dry Ginger Powder (Sonth):
   • Pairs with hing in vrat kadhi and sabzi for warmth and flavor.
5. Sendha Namak (Rock Salt):
   • Essential during fasting, it enhances the taste of hing-based dishes naturally.

Spices that Pair Well with Hing – Quick Table

Conclusion

Hing is an essential ingredient for fasting days. It not only enhances flavor in the absence of onion and garlic but also supports digestion, especially during restrictive diets. With the right spices and recipes, hing can transform your upwas meals into tasty, wholesome, and health-supporting dishes.