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Indian Cuisine
Indian Cuisine
India consists of 28 states and seven union territories. However, that is not what sets it apart from
the other countries of the world. India is a nation that is so vibrant and diverse and every state
exhibits a different culture, tradition, a way of life, language and cuisine.
So, whether you are spending a few days up north in Kashmir or vacationing down south to
Kerala, you will witness striking dissimilarities in the kind of foods people savor. This is what
makes India one of the much-loved countries by gourmet foodies the world over. To give you a
better insight into the food scene of the nation, below is a listing of a few Indian states and their
special dishes, so that when you are in the country next, you can focus on trying out the best local
cuisines!
1. Punjab
Makke ki roti and Dhokla Vada Pav
sarson da saag.
This northern state is especially popular for its amazing local cuisine that is relished throughout the
country. Try the makke ki roti and sarson da saag, which is a popular combination of a Punjabi
flat-bread and gravy made of mustard leaves and spices. Also, the popular chhola-bhatura, rajma-
chawal, amritsari machhli (fish) and lassi (sweetened buttermilk) find their roots in this region.
2. Gujarat
Traditional Gujarati food is adored for its distinctive flavor that maintains an interesting balance
between spices and sweetness. Try the dhokla, which is a well-known snack or breakfast item that
is both healthy and delicious. Other popular delicacies include the thepla (flat-bread made of fresh
fenugreek leaves and flour), khandvi, dhansak and Gujarati kadhi.
3. Maharashtra
Maharashtrian cuisine covers a range of dishes that go from being too mild to very zesty.
Throughout the state, you can find amazing restaurants serving typical local food. The most
cherished is the vada pav, which is a potato fritter stuffed between bread buns, served with
piquant chutney and green chilies. Other prominent dishes from this region include, pav-bhaji,
shrikhand, thalipeeth, puran poli and modak.
People don’t know enough about the typical cuisine of Bihar even though it is excessively rich in
taste and austere in the way it is prepared. The most admired delicacy of the state is litti and
chokha, which consists of roasted wheat balls stuffed with a special filling and mashed potatoes
with distinct flavors. Also worth trying are the sattu parathas, jhal murhi, khaja and tilkut.
This state is not only illustrious because of its vast deserts, beautiful palaces, and vibrant history—
it is also famed for the scrumptious indigenous cuisine. The region presents a variety of delicacies
when it comes to food. One of the most appetizing dishes is daal-baati, which consists of hard
balls made of wheat flour and additives fried in ghee, and a special daal made of different types of
pulses. It is usually served with churma, a sweet dish prepared by crushing baatis and adding
ghee and sugar. Also try the pyaaz kachori, malai ghewar, gatte ki sabzi and kalakand.
Bengal is just the right state for those who have a sweet tooth or those who love fish. That might
be a strange combination—and yet in India, you will find famous Bengali sweets and Bengali
restaurants serving the traditional cuisine in almost every city you visit. One popular dish is the doi
machh, which is Bengali fish curry with rice. Other well-known delicacies include the sandesh,
daab jhingri (a special mustard prawn curry), rasgulla and mishti doi.
7. Sikkim Phagshapa
The cuisine of this state is influenced by the northeastern part of India and Nepal along with a high
Nepalese population. One of the must-try delicacies in Sikkim is the phagshapa, made of strips of
dried pork fat cooked with turnips, radishes, and chilies. Also, momos, thukpa, gundruk and sael
roti are quite popular in this region.
This is the state that has given the world one of its most savored dishes: biryani. Andhra Pradesh
deserves a visit, especially for the authentic Hyderabadi biryani. Biryani is made of layered rice
which is cooked with any type of meat, chicken or a combination of vegetables. Other popular food
options in the state to take in are mirchi salan, ghongura pickle and korikoora.
The taste of India cannot be complete without a mention of the dosa and idli. This state is the
origin of the most famous South Indian cuisine that is eaten around the world. There are a variety
of dosas available around the region—but the most popular is the masala dosa, in which a
fermented crepe made of rice batter is filled with potatoes and served with sambhar and coconut
chutney. Also, one must try the idlis, appam, rasam, chettinad chicken and pongal when in this
state.