India, being the land of unity in diversity, has a history of palatable cuisines. Moreover, each state of India has something special in terms of food. Simply put, India is a paradise for foodies who would love to explore epicurean delight.
Here we have created a list of 11 must-eat foods from 11 states of India. Though the list is not exhaustive, you can refer to them for your next epicurean journey.
Misal Pav from the state of Maharashtra
Misal Pav is one of the popular Maharashtrian street foods. It is a curry of sprouts combined with tomatoes, onions, and farsan and garnished with coriander leaves and tangy lemon juice. It’s often served with soft pav. The main ingredient for the sprouted curry is moth bean sprouts.
There are no hard and fast rules for its consumption. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Misal Pav is coined from two words where misal stands for "Sprouts curry," and "Pav” stands for Indian dinner rolls. In Marathi, misal means mixture.
Makki di roti and sarson da saag from the state of Punjab
Hailing from the state of Punjab, Makki di roti and sarso da saag is a classic combination. This food is loved by all — young and old. It’s a winter savory, but you can enjoy this healthy food all year round. It's highly nutritious and a favorite dish of Punjabis.
The combination of Sarson leaves, Bathua leaves, and spinach makes it delicious as well as healthy. The Sarson da saag recipe is made mild-spicy for flavour and taste. It tastes terrific when combined with lassi or traditional sweets like kheer or phirni. So when you visit Punjab, don't forget to get lost in the flavours of this signature food.
Khaman Dhokla from the state of Gujarat
Gujaratis can never get bored of dhokla! The famous dish from Gujarat is a delight to your stomach. The taste of this particular snack is savored in every part of India. It is prepared from a fermented chickpea batter.
Preparing this recipe is very simple. All you need is to take chickpea flour to make a batter of it; add eno or citric acid and baking soda. Then, steam it using a steamer.
All the ingredients are mixed in a specific ratio to prepare perfect dhokla. It’s usually enjoyed with green chilli or chatni, depending on one's choice.
Litti Chokha from the state of Bihar
Another delight in our list includes litti chokha hailing from Bihar. It’s a complete meal that is famous in Bihar and Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of India. The dish includes wheat flour dough balls stuffed with sattu (gram flour) with lots of spices and herbs.
The earthy flavor that it gets comes from baking it over a wooden/coal oven. It looks similar to Rajasthani baati, but its texture, taste, and preparation methods differ. You can eat it with potato, brinjal chokha, chatni, or other accompaniments.
Fish curry from the state of Goa
Goa is known for its mesmerizing, sun-kissed beaches, azure sea, and delicious cuisines. Among its many dishes, Goan fish curry holds a significant place. This warm, tangy, and spicy fish curry packs a punch of coastal flavours that transfers you to the world of taste.
Enjoy it with any Indian bread or combine it with basmati rice; it will taste incredible either way. This curry is ideal for lunch, dinner, or any time of the day you think is the best.
Tunde Kebabs from the state of Uttar Pradesh
The land of UP, aka Uttar Pradesh, is famous for its 'tehzeeb’ and delicious ‘kebabs.’ Tundey kebab of UP is renowned for its melt-in-mouth texture. The moment you have a bite, it melts in your mouth, leaving behind a great taste.
It comprises minced meat combined with 16 spices. You can enjoy this savory kebab with rumali roti or naan or include it in any combination of your choice.
Dhooska from the state of Jharkhand
Another must-eat item on our list is dhooska from the state of Jharkhand. This traditional deep-fried snack is famous all around. You can easily pair it with any side dish like veg or non-veg curry and relish it.
It is prepared from rice, white urad dal, and chana dal soaked overnight and turned into a batter. It’s not just a snack but a hearty meal due to the use of ingredients like rice. Though the traditional form includes spices like cumin seeds and salt per taste, you can try other spices of your choice.
Thukpa from the state of Arunachal Pradesh
Thukpa is a comforting food that originated in Tibet. The word ‘Thukpa' means soup or stew having noodles. The boiled noodle is filtered and combined with egg, meat, and vegetables for a hearty meal. It is used by the people of Arunachal Pradesh regularly. So if you're in this northern state, don’t forget to indulge in this staple.
Bisi Bele Bath from the state of Karnataka
It’s a flavourful, tangy, and spicy meal combining the goodness of lentils, rice, and vegetables. The recipe features an aromatic spice powder — Bisi bele bath, hence the name Bisi bele bath. It packs a punch of protein, carbs, and other nutrients. It’s a staple in every Karnataka household. So, next time you visit Karnataka, don’t forget to relish the hot lentil rice dish — Bisi bele bath.
Chenna Poda from the state of Odisha
Hailing from Odisha, chenna poda or paneer cake is a delicious dessert. The main ingredient of this dessert is chenna or fresh paneer. As it is baked, some people call it paneer cake as well.
It is believed that chenna poda is the favourite sweet of Lord Jagannath, hence. Hence, it is pretty famous on special occasions like Durga Puja, Diwali, and more.
Kosha Mangsho from the state of West Bengal
It's a lip-smacking mutton curry prepared using garlicky gravy, spices, and mustard oil. Kosha means bhuna, so the mutton pieces are cooked in gravy for longer to get a dark brown and flavourful texture. You can relish kosha mangsho with parotha or rice as per your preference.
Conclusion
Now you see, Indian states have some appetizing flavours in terms of food. So make sure you taste all the dishes mentioned above to treat your taste buds.
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