Famous Food of Satna

Satna is a city, which is in the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh. It is the headquarters of the border district named after it, which touches Uttar Pradesh along the north. One can easily find the influences of the cuisines of close by states such as Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh on the food culture of Satna along with a hint of Bihari cuisine. Such a conglomeration of cuisines has evolved with time to give Satna a distinct cuisine of its own. The food of Satna is known not only for being very nutritious, but also for being very delicious.

  • Litti:-

Litti is a fast food that has a smoky and earthy flavour to it. Fried balls of wheat flour and gram flour are made and stuffed with a mixture called ‘Pitthi’ prepared with spices, ginger and green chilly. Litti is consumed at lunch or dinner. Litti is borrowed from Bihari cuisine and is quite popular in Satna.

  • Chokha:-

Chokha is a side dish to be eaten with Indian breads like Chapathis and rotis, but usually paired with Litti. It is a brinjal or eggplant based dish. Charred brinjal is cooked with mashed potatoes, chillies and spices along with bits of tomatoes. Onions and lime are usually added to enhance the taste and the feel of the dish.

  • Moth Dal Namkeen:-

Moth dal namkeen is a local favourite savoury. It is made from a mixture of healthy pulses and lentils, which are roasted or deep, fried. The chief ingredient is Moth dal or Dew beans. Moth Dal namkeen is particularly enjoyed during tea time and often served to guests.

  • Shikanjhi:-

Shikanjhi is a spiced up cold drink that is a popular in North and Central India and the people of Satna are quite fond of it. It is made from lemon pulp and water with the addition of sugar and salt. The spices that are added to this juice are pepper, ginger, mint and cumin powder.

  • Mango Pickle:-

The Mango Pickle of this region is so famous that an industry of pickle-making has been set up in Madhya Pradesh. The process of making spicy mango pickle is very simple. Raw mangoes are cut into small pieces and spiced up. The spices, which are commonly added, are red chilli powder, pepper and cumin powder. This mixture is bottled up in an air-tight container and used as necessary.

  • Dahi Bhalla:-

Dahi Bhalla is a sweet and sour street snack that is famous is Satna and North India as a whole. Dahi Bhalla consists of a deep fried lentil and pulse mixture, which is later marinated in curd or yoghurt and left to cool. The mixture is often spiced with cumin and charoli seeds. It is often served cold along with sweet tamarind sauce or chutney and sev on top. It is known to be a comfort food.

  • Phalhari Potato Chiwda:-

It is a light snack made from fried potato strips and groundnuts. It has a sweet taste with a dose of pungent flavour and served as a teatime snack. It is also used as energy food during times of long travel.

  • Chhola Burger:-

Chhola Burger is a relatively new invention and quite popular among the youth of this region. Chickpeas cooked in spicy gravy are stuffed between burger buns along with the additives and condiments of your choice. It is said to taste best when eaten with ketchup.

  • Badam Milk:-

Badam Milk is a perennial favourite drink in and around this region. Crushed almonds are mixed in milk along with sugar and a spoonful of ghee. It can be consumed in both hot and cold forms as wished.

Famous Food of Mathura

Mathura is a famous holy city situated in Western Uttar Pradesh. It is well-known for its temples and also for its food and delicacies, especially the sweets, which are prepared here. It is frequently referred to as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a revered Hindu deity. The inhabitants of this beautiful town are mostly vegetarian. Thus, the local cuisine is devoid of meats. However, milk and milk products are extensively used and consumed in large quantities, more so in the preparation of mithais like peda, rasmalai, malpua and many more. The taste of Mathura is said, best enjoyed on the streets, rather than sophisticated fine dine restaurants.

  • Mathura Peda:

Mathura is well-known for its signature sweet, the Peda. It is a sweet, which is as delicious as it is simple. Made from Milk, sugar powder, condensed milk and ghee, it is available throughout the year. It is highly popular among the locals and visitors.

  • Mathura Dubki wale Aloo:

The Dubki wale Aloo is a thin curry made from Potatoes. Although spicy and tangy in taste due to the addition of many local spices like black pepper, chilli, cardamom, cinnamon and mango powder, vegetables like onion and garlic are completely avoided. The curry is usually paired with pooris.

  • Ghewar:

Ghewar is a sweet dish of Rajasthani origin. It is not available throughout the year and is specially prepared only during the Raksha Bhandan festival, which celebrates the Brother-Sister relationship. It is made from flour and ghee and flavoured with cardamom and nuts like almonds and pistachios and deep fried in oil or ghee. Finally, soaked in sugar syrup and served hot.

  • Thandai:

Thandai is a drink that is served cold. It requires a large assortment of dry fruits and nuts. Milk is the main ingredient which gets flavoured and sugar is added to give it a sweet taste. The drink is well known for its taste texture and smell and is served on special occasions to guests. It is very popular during the summer season as a soothing drink.

  • Kachori Jalebi:

Kachori and Jalebi is the most common breakfast combination eaten at Mathura. Both are fried foods. Kachori is a stuffed savoury and may be served with potato curry and Jalebi is a sweet dish prepared in sugar syrup. This pairing is available in a very few places outside Mathura and best enjoyed in one of the numerous Kachori and Jalebi shops of Mathura.

  • Soan Papdi:

Another dessert that is popular among the sweet loving residents of Mathura. Soan papdi is a square shaped sweetmeat, which has a crispy, thin and flaky texture. It is very brittle and has a delicate taste, which melts in the mouth. Cardamom is also used and there are many variations of it, as well like Orange soan papdi, Coconut Soan papdi, chocolate soan papdi, etc.

  • Aloo Chaat:

Aloo chaat is tasty comfort food that is easily found in all corners of Mathura. There is no de facto recipe, with the only rule being the usage of potato as a base. Different combination of spices, sauces and chutneys are served at different places. The typical aloo chaat is made with onions, tomatoes and chilli powder and served with tamarind or mango chutney.

  • Ras Malai:

Ras malai is another sweet dish of Mathura. It consists of a creamy a ball of paneer that is soaked completely in clotted cream. Cardamom is used to flavour the clotted cream. Ras malai has a tender taste. It is said to be good roughage and helps in the digestive process. Ras malai bears a close resemblance to Rasagullas of Bengal in both taste and texture.

Famous Food of Ludhiana

Right in the heart of Punjab, Ludhiana is the biggest city in the state and also is a special place for those who come in search of great food. One can find the best of Punjabi style of cooking in Ludhiana that offers beautiful recipes for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The cuisine here is famous world over for Tandoori cooking. Experts say that the food culture of Ludhiana has been influenced by Mughlai style by large, but has undergone a lot of change in the hands of the local population. The staple diet of the region of course, is wheat, although rice may be cooked on special occasions.

Aloo Matar:-

This delectable curry is made chiefly out of two ingredients, namely potatoes and green peas. A few other added spices like cumin powder, ginger paste, chilli powder give this dish a mild flavour, which is both tangy and sour in the right amounts. It makes a great side dish with uncountable number of breads and rotis, rice and other foods.

Choley Bhature:-

A classical Punjabi dish that can be frequently encountered in most hotels of Ludhiana. It is a pairing of Choley, spicy chickpea gravy and Bhatura, large deep-fried flour bread. Choley can be prepared mildly spicy to very hot depending on the preference of the consumer. The serving options include a list of pickles, a few slices of onion and a piece of lime on the side.

  • Tandoori Chicken:-

It would be impossible to tell about Ludhianvi food and leave out Tandoori chicken. Tender chicken is marinated in a thick spicy mixture of ginger, garlic, lemon, curd, red chilli and then grilled to perfection or sometimes even broiled. It is served with onion rings and fresh green chutney.

  • Sarson da Saag-Makki di Roti:-

Sarson da Saag is a famous gravy like dish out of Punjab made from mustard leaves, spinach, onion, garlic and several spices in pure desi ghee. Traditionally, it is served with Makki di Roti, which is unleaved bread made from corn and topped off with a generous helping of butter.

  • Dal Makhani:-

Dal Makhani is a very commonly consumed food in Ludhiana and the region around it. The name translates to ‘Rich Lentil Gravy’. It differs from the usual preparations of dal with substituting Red lentil with Black lentils (urad dal) and red Rajma beans. It has a lengthy preparation process. It is a healthy as well as a versatile dish.

  • Dodha:-

Dodha also called as Dodha Burfi is a speciality sweet of the Ludhiana-Kot Kapura region. It is a rich dessert, which is loved by the residents and isn’t available outside this region. The recipe calls for boiled milk, sugar and exotic nuts like cashews and pistachios. The final product is a delicious brownish sweet that resembles fudge. It is frequently referred to as Indian Chocolate Fudge.

  • Lassi:-

Any meal in Ludhiana would be incomplete without Lassi. There are many variants of Lassi but prominently there are two kinds- Salted Lassi and Sweet Lassi. Lassi is consumed with almost every meal in the region. Lassi is said to be good for the gut.

  • Kadhi:-

Kadhi is a dish with both solid and liquid components. It is curd based gravy with vegetable pakoras marinated inside. It is eaten with steamed rice or rotis. Kadhi tastes pleasantly sour.

  • Rajma Masala:

Rajma Masala is gravy made from red kidney beans. It is frequently prepared for dinner in the region. It can be consumed with rotis or rice. It tends to be very spicy, but is also a protein rich and healthy food of the region liked by both old and young alike.

Famous Food of Jaipur

Jaipur, the pink city of India, is also the capital city of the state of Rajasthan. The cuisine here is based on authentic Rajasthani style, which is influenced by the brave warrior clans which inhabited the region, as well as indigenously available ingredients. The cuisine is dominated by vegetarian recipes and specialties, but there are a number of lip-smacking non vegetarian dishes, as well. The taste of the food ranges from sweet to moderately spicy compared to rest of India. Jaipur gives a lot of options for the hungry, who like to gorge on mouth-watering delights, which can rarely be seen in other places.

  • Dal, Bhati and Churma:-

Dal, Bhati and Churna is a selection of three separate dishes all combined to give a wholesome meal. It is one of the signature foods of Rajasthan and particularly Jaipur. Dal is a fine lentil curry or soup, whereas Bhati is fluffy, stuffed baked bread that is cooked atop burning charcoal. Churma is a sweet made from flour with jaggery or sugar. The platter comes at an affordable price in Jaipur.

  • Mirchi Vada:-

A very popular fried snack in Jaipur, Mirchi vada is a very short recipe. Large chillies which may or may not be filled with potatoes are dunked in a batter of flour, turmeric, salt and red chilli powder and deep fried in oil. A grab and go snack which is very inexpensive. Sometimes a salad of raw onions is served by the mirch vadas to enhance the taste.

  • Gatte ki Sabzi:-

Gatte ki Sabzi is a curd based curry, which has a mild yet enchanting taste. Gram flour dumplings are flavoured with dry spices and powders and later dunked in curd to make a curry. Preferably served with hot pooris or steamed rice. The curry pairs well with most Indian breads like roti, naan, chapathi and kulcha, as well.

  • Chicken Jaipuri:-

Not all dishes of Jaipur are vegetarian. Chicken Jaipuri is the specialty poultry dish of Jaipur. It is made with chicken, curry spices and milk cream, which give it an enjoyable thick texture and subtle taste. Enjoy with rice or any kind of rotis, naans or kulchas. Chicken Jaipuri makes a dinner a grand affair.

  • Lal Maans:-

The Jaipuri dish that is associated with royalty. Today, it is no longer restricted to places and can be found in most hotels in Jaipur. The name literally means ‘Red meat’. It is very hot and spicy to taste since it is made with dry red chillies and an abundance of garlic with different spices with a strong flavour. Traditionally, game meat like wild boar or deer, which were freshly hunted down was used in the preparation.

  • Chokha ni Kheer:-

Chokhna ki Kheer is a traditional dessert made in Jaipur, usually for festive occasions and celebrations. It is a rice pudding made with milk. Other ingredients used are green cardamoms for flavour and raisins, which are used as garnishing. It tastes best when served cold after the main course of the meal.

  • Aam ki Launji:

A wonderfully soothing dish made from raw mangoes to beat the intense Rajasthani heat. Mustard seeds, turmeric and red chillies are heated in oil and raw mango pieces are added to the mixture with a spoonful of sugar is sprinkled on it. This can be eaten alone or as a side dish. Aam ki Launji can be consumed either hot or cold, after being refrigerated.

  • Jhajhariya: –

Jhajhariya is a rich, sweet dish of Jaipur. Milk, ghee, corn and sugar are the most important ingredients. Apart from that raisins and nuts can be used to garnish the dish. Jhajhariya is, usually, made on festive occasions.

Famous Food of Agra

Agra is a major city of Uttar Pradesh situated on the banks of Yamuna River. It catches the attention of a lot of tourists as well as visitors from across the globe every year due to its cultural and architectural heritage. Two things that make Agra worth visit are its monuments of Mughal period like Taj Mahal and its cuisine. The cuisine of Agra has a great influence of Mughlai food known for its creamy, flavoured curries with abundance of spices, nuts and dried fruits. One can enjoy the best of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes when in Agra.

Some of the major dishes you must try when you visit Agra are as follows;

  • Pasanday –

Pasanday is a traditional dish that is prepared from mutton marinated and cooked in a curry full of spices, yoghurt, tomatoes, cream and different spices. Mutton is marinated for four to five hours in a mixture of ginger and garlic paste, chilli powder and other spices. After that, it is cooked in oil with onions, tomato puree and almonds. It can be served dry or with gravy by adding a little water.

  • Korma –

Korma is a meat dish that originated in India and is a main Mughal dish. The exotic aroma and flavour of korma comes from a mixture of various spices, yoghurt and cream. Usually, lamb and beef are used for making korma in Agra, but occasionally chicken is also used in some area. A vegetarian version of korma is also served in some areas of Agra Cantt called as Navratan korma, in which cottage cheese is used instead of meat along with nuts.

  • Nargisi Kofta –

Nargisi koftey is a vegetarian dish that is prepared from minced paneer and potato. Paneer and potato are mashed and blended properly, and then, spices are added to it. Small balls of the mixture are made and are dusted with gram flour. They are deep fried in oil or ghee and are served with sauce or chutney.

  • Butter Chicken –

Butter chicken is among the most famous meat delicacies of Agra. It was originated in Delhi and has made its popularity all over the country. The dish consists of chicken pieces cooked in thick gravy of aromatic spices and vegetables. It is, usually, tasted with rumali roti or tandoori roti.

  • Tandoori Chicken –

Tandoori chicken is a crispy and delicious meat dish made with chicken that is marinated in rich and tasty spices and then is roasted in a type of Indian oven called a tandoor.

  • Kachori –

Kachori is a major breakfast item of Agra Cantt. It is, basically, Indian fried flat bread stuffed with spicy filling of moong dal or potato. It is normally served with potato curry and raita. In some areas, it is also served as chaat. Some other versions of kachori are Raj kachori and khstaa kachori.

  • Petha –

When you talk about sweets, the world famous sweet of Agra is petha. Petha is a delicious sweet made from cubed pieces of ash gourd that are boiled and dipped in rich sugar syrup. When you take a bite of it, flood of sweet juices breaks free into your mouth. There are several variants of petha offered in Agra Cantt such as cocnut petha, Pan flavoured petha, angoori petha and several others.

  • Dalmoth –

Another speciality of Agra is the tasty snack made from moth beans or yellow gram and is known as Dalmoth. The Dalmoth in Agra is prepared from whole moth bean added with some strips of sev made of flour.

With so many delicacies to please and amaze you, you must visit the restaurants of Agra for the best eating experience.

Famous Foods of Nagpur

Nagpur is a major and third most populated city of the state of Maharashtra in India and is famous for its culture, cuisine and oranges. When it comes to food that could be enjoyed in Nagpur, the cuisine of Vidarbha region is called as Saoji cuisine or Varhadi cuisine. Saoji cuisine was the main food included in the culture of Savji community. The traditional food of Nagpur is popular for essence and richness of spices that are included in the food. These spices that are used in gravy of the cuisine of this region are cloves, cardamom, poppy seeds, black pepper, bay leaves, and ground seeds of coriander.

Below are given some of the most popular dishes that can be enjoyed in Nagpur;

  • Pohe – Pohe is a tasty snack that is made from flattened or puffed rice and is mainly served with tea or for breakfast. It has many variations such as Kanda Pohe, which are prepared with Pohe mixed with onions. Other variants include Batata (potato) Pohe, Dadpe pohe, etc. The dish is usually garnished with different ingredients such as coriander, grated coconut, sev or peanuts.
  • Pitla Bhakri – Pitla bhakri is a rural dish of Nagpur and is mainly popular among farmers and folk. It is a typical Maharashtrian dish. It is prepared from powdered Dal forming a pasty dish which is Pitla. Pitla is mainly served with a special bread made from either Jowar or Bajra flour and is called Bhakri.
  • Sabudana Khichdi – Sabudana is prepared from the latex of sago palm. Sabudana grains look like small balls of confetti and are the main ingredient for this dish. It is a major food item eaten by people of Nagpur in breakfast.
  • Stuffed Eggplant – Stuffed eggplant or Bharli Vangi is a popular traditional dish and is made from eggplants stuffed with a mixture of boiled and minced potatoes along with a lot of spices, coconuts and peanuts.
  • Sandage – Sandage is another traditional recipe that is popular in Nagpur. This authentic dish is made with Bengal gram as its major ingredient. It is made in summers and is left in the sun for drying. Once dried, sandage is cooked with vegetables and is served with chapattis. Another name for sandage is Mangodi. Sandage is very easy to preserve, hence once made, it can be used all year long.
  • Koshambir – Koshambir is a traditional dish and is a very important component of traditional thali. It is a must-prepared dish for any special or religious occasion. Koshmbir is, basically, a salad made from raw vegetables and fruits and is flavoured with butter and spices. It is very easy to make it and it takes very less time to prepare. There are many variations of Koshambir in different regions, but cucumber and grated coconut are two main ingredients of this delicious dish.
  • Spicy Chicken – Spicy chicken is a very popular dish among the people of the city who love Non-vegetarian food. The chicken is first steam cooked, and then, is marinated with very intense spices, and then, this marinated chicken is deep fired. The dish is so spicy that it may roll out some tears out of your eyes, but you will still love it and will try it again and again.
  • Zunka Bhakar – This is a type of pancake that is made from millet flour and split gram mixture and is a classic and authentic dish of Vidarbha region.

Apart from these, you will find many dishes as well as sweets prepared by using oranges. When you visit Nagpur, you must try all these delicacies to give your taste buds and your senses a nice treat.

Famous Food of Jodhpur

Jodhpur is a major and second largest city in the state of Rajasthan of western India. It is famous for its forts, blue painted houses and its cuisine. The cuisine of Jodhpur is very rich and many Indian dishes are known to be originated from this city. It is known for its spicy dishes, delicious sweets, and tasty and spicy snacks. Some of the famous dishes that you can enjoy in Jodhpur are given below.

Bajre Ki Khichdi –

Khichdi is a special Indian dish, which is healthy and very easy to digest. It is made from rice and lentils that are cooked together slowly on slow heat for a long time. In bajre ki khichdi, Bajra is an extra ingredient that is added to the recipe along with a lot of ghee and some spices. Some other ingredients that are added to it are fresh vegetable such as potato, cauliflower, green peas, etc.

Kalakand –

Kalakand is a popular Indian dessert that is also known as Mawa Mishri in Jodhpur. It is prepared from solidified milk along with cottage cheese. It has a tempting aroma and delightful taste. It is liked by people so much that it has a street named after it in Alwar where it was originated.

Dal-Bati Churma –

Dal Bati Churma is a special dish of Rajasthan, and it consists of three main servings namely Dal, which is made with lentils, Bati – which are wheat flour balls baked deeply in fire, and Churma – which is powdered and sweetened cereal. Dal is served with Bati and churma along with an abundance of ghee. It takes a long time to prepare this dish as the three servings are needed to be prepared separately and the wheat balls take a longer time to be baked properly. It is a major dish prepared in almost every occasion and functions.

Mawa ki Kachori –

Mawa ki kachori is a signature dish of Jodhpur and is made from Mawa that is stuffed in fried flat bread of refined flour. It was invented by Rawat Mishthan Bhandar, which is a famous sweet house inn Jodhpur.

Ghewar –

Ghewar is a famous Indian cake made with wheat flour, and then soaked in sugar syrup. There are several varieties of ghewar that are served in Jodhpur such as plain ghewar, mawa ghewar, paneer ghewar, etc. The demand for Ghewar is very high during the Teej festival, which marks the beginning of a series of festivals and celebrations.

Mirchi Bada –

Mirchi bada is a spicy snack made with chilli and potato stuffed in Besan batter and is deep fried. They are served hot along with tomato chutney, Pudina chutney and tamarind chutney.

Makhaniya Lassi –

Makahniya lassi is a tasty, healthy and refreshing drink that is made with yoghurt, sugar and a lot of butter. Spices like cardamom and saffron are added to it for additional flavour. It is also one of the dishes that originated from Jodhpur.

Pyaz Ki Kachori –

Pyaz ki kachori is also a signature dish that has its origin in Jodhpur and is the best for travellers, who like to experiment with different flavours. Pyaz ki kachori is a spicy and delicious dish that is made with kachori stuffed with onions and is served with sauce and chutney.

Doodh Laddoo –

Doodh laddoo is a special and exotic dessert of Jodhpur that is made from condensed milk along with butter and mawa. Addition of cardamom and saffron makes the taste of the dish even better. Jodhpur is a city of colours, and you can find many different colours of food in this city. Hence, you must try these magnificent dishes in restaurants of Jodhpur when you visit the city next time.

Famous Food of Bareilly – Uttar Pradesh

Bareilly is a beautiful city of the state of Uttar Pradesh of Northern India and is famous for its surma, kites and cuisine. There is a large population of food loving people living in the city. The cuisine of Bareilly has a great influence of Mughal cuisine and culture, hence there are many non-vegetarian dishes that are popular here. The delicacies ranging from Seekh kebab to tandoori chicken, Nahari, Paya are ready to delight the sense of the food lovers visiting this city.

Here are some famous and popular dishes that you can enjoy in this magnificent city.

Seekh Kebabs –

Seekh kebab is a speciality of Bareilly and is served in almost every restaurant that serves non-vegetarian food. Seekh kebabs are prepared with minced meat, which is primarily lamb and is mixed with herbs and aromatic spices and are grilled over a fire. Seekh kebabs have a speciality that as soon as you put them in your mouth, they will melt instantly and give you a taste that seems to be out of this world.

Nahari –

Nahari is another Mughal delicacy that was introduced to the city during Mughal period. It is a broth that is prepared from the bones of the goat that are cooked in a big pot on a slow pan for overnight. The dish has meat pieces along with very thick gravy and is served with khameeri roti and Rumali roti.

Aaloo ki Tikki –

Aaloo ki tikki is a street food that is loved by people of Bareilly. It is made with boiled patties of potatoes that are shallow fried and served with tomato sauce, pudina chutney and spicy chholey. Chhotelal Ki Tikki is the best place to enjoy the best of tikki in the city.

Pani Batashe –

Pani batashe is another name given to the famous Indian street food Gol gappa. These are tiny fried bread that are stuffed with boiled chickpeas or potatoes and are served with specially prepared water mixture containing a lot of spices and herbs making it spicy.

Chaat –

Chaat is another famous street food of Bareilly and is made by mixing a variety of fruits and boiled potatoes that are shallow fried. A lot of spices and lemon juice are added to it to make it tasty and spicy. Chaman ki chaat is a famous point where you can find city’s best chaat served.

Lassi –

Lassi is a refreshing and healthy Indian drink made with yoghurt and sugar along with spices for flavouring such as cardamom, saffron, kevda, etc. Deenanath ki lassi is considered to be the best place for enjoying a refreshing glass of lassi in the town.

Fast Food –

Apart from Indian dishes, you can also enjoy fast foods such as Burgers, pizzas, Manchurian, noodles that are served in the restaurants of Bareilly along with an Indian touch.

Revdi and Gajak –

Revri and Gajak are crispy and tasty sweets that are very popular in Bareilly and are prepared from sesame seeds and jaggery and are available in the months of winters.

Desserts –

Bareilly has a rich treasure of desserts and sweet dishes that are served in the restaurants of the city. The main sweet dishes and desserts include Jalebi & Rabri, Rasmalai, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, Milk Cake, chhena murgi and several flavours of ice cream, etc. Bikaneri is a major sweet house serving the best desserts and sweets in the town.

With such a rich culture and cuisine, Bareilly has something for everyone, and for the foodies, it has a plethora of things to experience. When you visit this city for the next time, you must try these delicacies for an unmatched eating experience.

Famous Food of Kolkata – West Bengal

Located at the eastern banks of river Hooghly, Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal. The city has a good taste for art, music and food, which make it an ideal place for foodies to explore the rich culture and cuisine of this magnificent city. Kolkata cuisine, basically, includes most of the Bengali dishes, especially the delightful and delicious sweet dishes. Food lovers are never disappointed by Kolkata. You will find vendors and hawkers that will serve you every Bengali dish from snacks to full rice meals. Here are a few of the dishes that you must try when you visit Kolkata.

Luchi – Luchi is, basically, flat bread, which is deep fried and is a major dish of Bengali and Assamese cuisine and is made from wheat flour.

Cholaar Dal – Cholaar dal is a delicious food item that is prepared for festive occasions such as Durga Pooja. It includes lentils that are steam cooked along with Bengal gram. It contains a lot of spices, ghee and coconut.

Kochuri – Kochuri is, basically fried Indian bread that is stuffed with filling of peas. It is served with boiled potato curry called as Alurdum.

Telebhaja – Telebhaja is a teatime snack that is made from Brinjal slices that are dipped in a batter of gram flour and are deep fried. If you come to Kolkata and you do not taste telebhaja, you have missed something very much enjoyable.

Cutlet – Cutlets are tasty snacks that are made from minced meat of fish, chicken, beef or mutton dipped in batter and deep fried and make good teatime snack. Apart from these dishes, the sweet dishes of Kolkata are world famous for their taste and ecstasy. Some of the major sweet dishes that you can find here are as follows.

Rasgulla – It is a very famous and a delightful syrup dish popular in India and Mauritius. It is made from Chhena, which is Indian version of cottage cheese along with semolina. The balls are made from the dough, and then, they are cooked on a very slow flame. After cooking, they are soaked for a long time in sugar syrup. They are served chilled for the best taste.

Sandesh – Sandesh is another exotic Bengali sweet dish that is made from milk and sugar. It is made from cottage cheese or chhena by tossing it on low heat along with sugar. After it is cooked, it is shaped into small balls and they are ready to be served. Several recipes of sandesh state need for curd and paneer instead of milk. The balls of sandesh are also garnished with dry fruits, and then, the essence of fruits is added to them.

Misti Doi – Misti doi is specially prepared and fermented yoghurt and is made from sugar and milk along with a lot of dry fruits, saffron and some additional ingredients for flavours.

Langcha – Langcha is also called as sweetmeat of Bengal. It is made from cottage cheese, khoya and several different flours of various grains. It is fried and has an oval shape dipped in lots of sugar syrup.

Kulfi- Kulfi is a sweet food item that is served in most of the places in India and has been one of the favourites of people of Kolkata. It is an Indian version of ice cream made from khoya and dry fruits anFamous Food Kolkatad is served with Lachha or vermicelli noodles.

The street foods like puchka, Jhalmuri, churmur, kathi roll, ghugni, shingra, etc. are also a real delight and one must try them when in Kolkata. With such a large variety of food items, Kolkata is really a paradise for food lovers and travellers.

10 Delicious Andhra Dishes You Must Try

A cuisine that is too spicy with loads of varieties is that of Andhra Pradesh. If you ever think that only dosa, idly and smabhar is what you can get in South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh, take a look at this list.

Pesarattu:

If still dosas come to your mind, find this unique variety of dosa that belongs to Andhra Pradesh. Unlike usual dosas, green dal replaces rice and urad dal. The green lentils are soaked overnight and ground into batter with chillies and ginger. Make usual dosas after you add salt and garnish with chopped onions. Eat hot pesarattu with coconut or ginger chutney.

Image Source –  Flickr @ Sanjay Borra

Kanda Bachali Kura:

Kura is curry and by Kanda and Bachali it means ‘yam’ and ‘spinach.’ All you need to do is cut yam into cubes, wash and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile let the mustard seeds split in a pan, then add clean and cut Malabar leaves and let it cook without water in medium flame and add tamarind pulp. After 10 minutes, add boiled yam, salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder and mix well. A delicious curry is ready.

Hyderabadi Biriyani:

Even if you have not been to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, this is a frequently heard dish. This favourite dish of Hyderabad Nizams has the flavours of diverse cultures, and you can never find this Dum Biriyani tasting lesser than heart’s content. Sliced chicken is marinated with salt, turmeric and lemon juice overnight. Add usual spices to the oil and add rice and cook for 3 minutes. This is where variation begins. Spread rice in a flat vessel and place chicken and again layer of rice. Make a few layers, add some saffron, cook in a pan for 10 minutes at high flame, and then 10 minutes at low flame. Switch the flames for thrice. Take off the cover and mix the biriyani, you cannot resist.

Image Source –  Flickr @ raghavendra patlolla

Gongura:

Gongura and the people of Andhra Pradesh are inseparable. Cook gongura, split pigeon peas, and green chillies in a cooker. Ensure that you can mash the dal. Add salt, and then let cumin seeds split in and add the dal and gongura mixture. Take with rotis or even with rice.

Natu Kodi Kura:

Marinate chicken with chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder for 2 hours before cooking. Heat oil in a pan and let cumin seeds splutter; add chopped onion and sauté till brown. Now add chicken and cook till it is done almost. Sauté to remove water and till chicken turns brown. Add freshly crushed pepper powder, vinegar and garam masala. This village chicken gravy is satiating.

Royyala Vepudu:

Addicted to prawn? Then you can never stop eating Andhra Prawn Fry. Peel the prawns; let them cook with turmeric powder, green chilli powder, and ginger garlic paste at a low flame. Then sauté oil, green chillies, ginger paste in a pan with oil one by one. Add the prawns; wait till the water evaporates to add cumin powder, red chilli powder, and coriander powder. At last, add garam masala, corn flour and sesame seeds.

Punugulu:

Too heavy with these dishes? Here is a snack that is simple to make and yet lip-smacking. Mix dosa batter and idly batter with rice flour of 2 tsp, chopped onion, green chillies and curry leaves. Add a little salt, and then deep fry. Pakoras like snack ready to be served with tea.

Image Source –  Flickr @ Neelima Perni

Puliogara:

There are different variations to cook. But the ingredients are same like tamarind, rice, channa dal, red chillies, coriander seeds and hing. The secret lies in the gravy made with tamarind pulp and other stuffs. Mix with rice and you would be spellbound by the taste.

Chandrakanthalu:

This dish would leave you drooling for sure. Made with moong dal ground after soaking for a few hours, an equal amount of sugar is added to the paste. This mixture is cooked at a medium flame till it turns thick. Pour in a greased plate and cut into small pieces. Then deep fry this mouth-watering dish.

Gongurapachadi:

If you have ever tasted this once, then it is no surprise you love to know its recipe. Take gongura leaves, wash and dry with towel. Fry in a little oil to take water out, let it cool and grind it. Roast coriander seeds and fenugreek seeds, make a powder of these. Add this to gongurapachadi, and temper mustard, asafoetida, red chillies and garlic. Pour this in the pachadi. Eat with steaming hot rice and get lost in the taste.

Image Source –  Flickr @ Bujji

10 amazing foods of Andhra Pradesh you should never miss are listed above. Try them and have a treat!