Down the lanes of Mahrashtra …
Beaches and mountains, caves and temples, forests and
cities - Maharashtra is abundantly blessed with natural wealth and cultural
heritage. Food proves to be an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural
heritage, and no visit to the state can be considered complete without sampling
a variety of its specialties.
We bow down to the almost inexhaustible variety of street foods that the local and exotic kitchens offer in Marathi lanes:
We bow down to the almost inexhaustible variety of street foods that the local and exotic kitchens offer in Marathi lanes:
1.
Vada Pav
2. Thalipeeth
Thalipeeth is a savoury,
three-flour Indian version of pancakes, mildly hot
in spiciness. The dough is often mixed with cumin, turmeric, onion, chilies,
and sometimes tomatoes or sugar and is best served with butter, yogurt
or curd. Subtle and understated, Thalipeeth is worth-a-drool. Many people share
the fond childhood memories of taking thalipeeth
to school in their tiffin.
3. Puranpoli
Break a
sweet bread! This Maharashtrian bread is a sweet delight for your taste buds.
Gram flour parcels are stuffed with a sweet mixture of dal, infused with
jaggery
and saffron.
Traditionally
made during festivals, this is the most filling sweet from Maharashtra.
4. Misal Pav
Misal is a must-have and must-make. Cooked
potatoes in a melange of hot masalas, teamed with bread create a
perfect, wholesome Maharashtrian meal. Every lane of the state has its own
misal place serving the regional specialty.
5. Sol Kadhi
Sol Kadhi is a summer favourite in the Konkan belt. The word ‘sol’
stands for kokum and ‘kadhi’ means curry. Sol Kadhi is a summer
blend of coconut milk and kokum. Often consumed chilled as an aperitif before
your meal, it is also made into a coastal curry to be poured over fluffy white
steamed rice and it is sometimes drunk after the meal at room temperature. If on a trip to West India, Sol Kadhi is a classic worth unravelling!
6. Pav Bhaji
Mumbai’s next best street food,
this recipe is sure to make your mouth water. The heart throb of Marathi
cuisine, Bhaji is spiced mashed mixed vegetables cooked on a
griddle and served with pav lightly toasted in butter, chopped onions and lemon
wedges.
7. Modak
An inseparable part of Ganesh
Chaturthi, Modak are Bappa’s favourite for a reason. If you don’t know why,
then you should definitely taste some! Rice flour shells
filled with a succulent mixture of jaggery and coconut, Modak cannot be ignored
even by the diet conscious!
8. Shrikhand
Why worry
about weight when you can dive in scoops of Shrikhand! A dessert where plain yogurt
is transformed into a melt-in-the-mouth delicacy, Shrikhand is a combination of
yogurt with fruits and sugar and nuts.
Maharashtrian food is an exciting play of desi masalas, uses some of the most basic items and is all about the local style of cooking. Every meal takes you on a journey of exploration and there is as much to meet your taste buds as there is for your eyes to feast on!
Gayatri Thakral
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