11 Most Amazing Delicacies of India!

We Indian’s are food lover, here is a blog post written by Megha Bhola on 11 Most Amazing Delicacies of India. Do read this post which also features a Bonus Delicacy as well, and please share your opinion about it.

DIVIDED BY CULTURES, UNITED BY FOOD!

India is a beautiful pot of custom, cultures, traditions, food, and values. India is a beautiful country in the Asian sub-continent that consists of 29 states and 7 union territories. Each state in India has its own way to surprise everybody out. Different states offer unique delicacies that you will find nowhere else. Each state has a special and unique delicacy to offer. Every state has its own cuisine, own delicacy and its own specialty and its own special street food. Street food is the best source of happiness in India.

Ironically, today we see people running behind the modern fast food chains opening at a fast pace but are forgetting the age-old delicious Indian savories. Trust me, no big fast food chain can offer you the happiness that an Indian vendor can offer you. Also, Indian mothers cook some of the best dishes in the world.

11 Most Amazing Delicacies of India!

India is endowed with such climate and resources, that we are abundant in growing plethora of varieties of food. We grow some of the best-quality food, and cook even better! Everyone must come to India once and taste the awesome food that we make. As, it will be next to impossible for someone to taste each and every dish, we must know the most prominent and popular dishes of which India is known worldwide. Let us have a look at some of the delicious, authentic and special delicacies of India. Come, let us explore and here you go!

A CUP OF CHAI

Tea lovers, raise your hands! The only soothing thing in winters that can relax you, and at the same time, is too easy to prepare is our very own- Tea! Oh my god, the phrase “ Bhaiya, Ek chai please”, gives me Goosebumps every time because my stomach starts asking for it whenever I see it, smell it and just think of it.

Only a tea lover can understand the effect of a hot cup of tea on a beautiful foggy winter morning or evening on their mind and body.

Priced too low- too low to handle, but taste? Too much to relish! Tea is not just a beverage, It is passion contained in a cup!

An aromatic beverage prepared by pouring boiling water over tea leaves, it can send happiness to all your body organs at the very same time. Originated in Southwest China, where it was used as a medicinal drink, it is the most consumed drink in India, after water. Tea is generally divided into categories based on how it is prepared and processed. Different types of tea that are produced are stated below-

• White: wilted and unoxidized;
• Yellow: unwilted and unoxidized but allowed to yellow;
• Green: unwilted and unoxidized;
• Oolong: wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized;
• Black: wilted, sometimes crushed, and fully oxidized
• Post-fermented: green tea that has been allowed to ferment

Anyone who wishes to taste the best tea in the world, must visit Darjeeling once in his lifetime. All hail for the happy beverage!

DAL BAATI CHOORMA

Dal Baati Choorma is an Indian delicacy that was originated in Rajasthan. It comprises of dal(pulses) and hard wheat rolls. The Dal is prepared using toor dal, chana dal, moong dal, moth dal, or urad dal. The pulses are cooked together after being soaked in water for a few hours.

Baati is hard to eat and is made up of wheat flour commonly known as ATTA in India. Wheat flour is kneaded with a little bit of salt, curd, and water. Tennis sized balls are heated in an oven and are then greased with ghee when golden brown and are then served with dal and chutney of different kinds.

It was first popular in the streets of Rajasthan only but now it has spread over to many states and even to the streets of Delhi.

CHHOLE BHATURE

In the common households of India, the general notion is-If it’s a Sunday, it is a Chhole Bhature day.

Found at every 20 steps in India, Chhole Bhature is one of the best delicacies of India, one could relish.

Coming from the state of Punjab, this dish is a combination of Chana Masala(cooked and fried white gram peas) and Bhatura(fried bread made from fermented Maida flour).

It is often eaten in the breakfast and is usually accompanied by Lassi( beaten sweet curd).

Often titled as the best street food of India, it tastes best when accompanied with Onions and Pickles (Mirchi ka Achaar, and Gajar ka Achar).

DOSA

Dosa is a crispy pancake made from fermented batter and has a stuffing of onions or potatoes usually. Traditionally, it is served with hot Sambhar (mix of different vegetables), and white coconut chutney.

Although Dosa’s exact birthplace is South India, it is heavily popular in North India as well. North Indian Dosa is somewhat different from the South Indian one, but the essence remains the same. Dosa has been evolved into many different varieties. Some of them include the most famous Masala Dosa, Paneer Dosa, Paper Dosa, and more. It is high in carbohydrates and contains no saturated sugars and fats. It is also a good source of protein.

VADA PAV

Found at a distance of every 100 meters in Mumbai, Vada Pav is the favorite breakfast of every Mumbaikar. It will not be an exaggeration to say that it defines Mumbai more than The Gateway of India! There is an inseparable relationship between Mumbaikars and Vada Pav. It is definitely the heart of Mumbai.

But now it is the darling of the masses of many other places other than Mumbai also. It has spread to many states and their streets. Vada Pav and Chai is a heavenly combination.

Alternatively spelled as Wada Pao or Vada Pao, it consists of deep-fried potato ball kept in a fried or a non-fried bun with lots of chilly. It is one of the cheapest street foods and is served with spicy chutneys made from green and red chillies.

Vada Pav resembles a normal burger that is why it also is known as BOMBAY BURGER OR INDIAN BURGER. Not even Burger King or Mc Donald’s or any other burger chain can master this tasty and lip-smacking Indian burger. It is the best energy booster.

To celebrate the snack’s indispensability, World Vada Pav Day is celebrated on August 23 every year.

It is not just a snack, it is a feeling!

Pani Puri

Gol Gappas is another spicy dish from the streets of North India, heavily popular among the Indian ladies. It is a crispy hollow ball made of wheat (Atta golgappa and sooji gol gappa) filled with potatoes and chickpeas, topped with spicy chutney and filled with green or red water.

Indian ladies love eating Gol Gappas to such an extent, that they can’t go without eating them for more than 4-5 days. Indian women and girls are almost synonyms to Gol Gappas.

An amazing fact about the dish is that it is called by different names in the different parts of the country. For example-in the northern part, it is called Gol Gappas, whereas, in Maharashtra, it is called Pani Puri. Some other names of it include- Puuchkaa, Gup Chup, Water Balls, Padaka, Paani Ke Batashe, Phulki etc. The age-old Pani Puri or Gol Gappas has now undergone many variations but it is the best on the streets till now. Raj kachori or Dahi Puri is one version of the same served without water.

JALEBI WITH RABRI

You’re not a true Indian if you recall your childhood, and not find yourself eating Jalebis in the mornings! Some hot, crispy and sweet jalebis, is the craving of every Indian heart.

Jalebi is a popular sweet dish from India, made by deep frying maida or flour batter in circular kind-of shapes, then soaked in sugar syrup(called chaashni) and then taken out. It can be served hot or cold.

Jalebis can be found out the sweet dish corner of every wedding ceremony in India. Every morning, a large number of people can be seen at the confectionary shops, coming to buy Jalebis. It is one of the most wanted sweet dishes of India which must contain the perfect amount of chaashni. Jalebis and a cup of tea are the best savories for an evening. It makes a monotonous and sad evening a full experience.It is also widely eaten with curd or Rabri. Rabri-jalebi together is considered an elite combination and is a common way of treating guests.

MAKKI DI ROTI AND SARSO DA SAAG

Makki ki roti and saag is the winter delicacy.

The Pride of Punjab, originated in Punjab, Makki Ki Roti and Sarso Da Saag is the heart and soul of the state. The Royal and Indian taste of this dish has also spread all across India and even abroad. Eaten in winters, Punjabis cannot go any winter without eating their favourite dish. It is missed in summers. This dish is not a dish, it’s a home to all the Punjabis out there.

The Saag is prepared from the Mustard greens, while the Roti is basically Unleavened Cornbread.

Makki ki roti can be topped with ghee or butter to make it even tastier. Also, it can be accompanied with tea on a foggy winter morning, for the perfect start to the day. Nothing can beat the winter chill like this dish.

Chikki

The delicious Chikki is the favorite sweet after every meal of the Indians. Chikki is the favorite sweet in winters of 99% of the Indians. It is often referred to as Indian chocolate bar that is made from peanuts, sugar, and gurh (jaggery). It gives a tough competition to even the fanciest of the chocolate bars invented till now.

Chikki adds value to the beautiful winters and is a delicious winter snack. If you start eating chikki, you can never stop after eating just one bite. It goes on and on like forever and you stop only when it is finished and you want it more.

PAKORAS

The English name of pakoras is ‘fritters’ but saying pakoras is the best feeling in itself. Indian kids can always be seen saying “Pakore banao mummy aaj to baarish aa rahi hai” in pleasant rainy weather.

Pakoras are basically raw vegetables dipped in gram flour and then fried. No Indian vegetable is unworthy of making Pakoras. Indian mothers can make Pakoras of any vegetable and also Bread Pakoras. Some vegetables that are commonly used in making Pakoras are Onions, Cauliflower, Brinjal, potatoes, and more.

Best served with Chai, Pakoras are a perfect start or end to any day. A plate of full of pakoras with a cup of hot tea can lift almost anyone’s mood instantly. Indians have a thing for eating Pakoras in rainy weather, and no other snack or meal can beat that.

It is also popular as a street food, but homemade Pakoras are the best. Indians mothers make the most magical Pakoras in the whole world!

DHOKLA AND KHAANDVI

A popular dish from the state of Gujarat, Dhokla is a savory snack of both Maharashtrian and Gujarati cuisine. Dhokla and khandvi is a delicious savory snack made from gram flour and yogurt, decorated with black mustard and green chilly.

Khandvi, also known as Dahivadi, Patuli or Suralichi Vadi, is incomplete without coconut spread on it.

Both of these dishes have great nutritional value and are a very light snack. Preparing the perfect Dhokla and Khandvi at home can be difficult if you are not Gujrati as it requires a great amount of effort and expertise. But, the local markets have numerable shops from which you can buy mouth-watering Dhokla and Khandvis.

They are often served with red chutney, green chutney or garlic chutney but tastes best with sweet red chutney.

Bonus Delicacy: Thekua

The most mouth-watering and yummy sweet dish of North India is popularly known as Thekua. It is normally made of Atta or Wheat Floor, or Maida, or Suji along with Sugar, Jaggery, and deep friend in Ghee or Refined Oil.

Thekua’s are commonly known as the Prasad of the famous Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja is one of the most popular festivals of North India. If you too want to taste Thekua then the best place to grab it is www.thekua.in

So, the next time you are on a trip to any of the states in India, do look out for these famous delicacies of India, instead of the modern fast food chains of KFC, Domino’s, and American burgers.

As already said, India is a place to relish the best foods. Come and explore and satisfy your soul!