It won’t be wrong to see that irrespective of your choice you will find something in this diverse cuisine. A peculiarity of this cuisine is the use of fresh and locally sourced ingredients from seafood to spices. This cuisine includes Street Food curries and sidings to desserts that deserve to be tasted at least once in life.
If you are keen on having Maharashtrian cuisine, we have mentioned the Top 6 Most Popular foods to try in Maharashtra:
1. Bharli Vangi
There is extensive use of Vegetables and Spices in Maharashtra’s Food. One example of that is Bharli Vangi, which is a delight for Eggplant lovers. It’s a traditional recipe where small eggplants are cooked in a spice-filled gravy base.
The gravy is made from coconut, sesame seeds, peanuts, onions, tomatoes, and spices. It happens to be a Vegan preparation that can be eaten with Chapatis or Parathas. This dish has a mild to spicy taste depending on the preparation that is common in households across the state.
2. Puran Poli
Puran Poli is a kind of sweet flatbread that is a popular preparation during festivals. Its bread is made up of a blend of pulses, roasted chana dal, and jaggery for sweetness. The name Puran stands for sweet mix of days. While Poli means bread that is made from flour.
It’s commonly served during the occasions of Gudhi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Holi. The sidings with Puran Poli depend on personal preferences. Some enjoy it with sweet preparations like Basundi or Aamras. Otherwise, it can be enjoyed with Kadhi or Aamti.
3. Pav Bhaji
A unique feature of Maharashtra’s cuisine is that it includes a lot of street food dishes. One of them is Pav Bhaji. It’s a Bhaji or Vegetable Curry with Spices served with Soft Pav.
It has an interesting history. The dish originated when the textile mill workers wanted to have a quick and tasty meal, Pav Bhaji came into existence. It is a fast lunchtime dish that has now gained countrywide fame. You will find it on the menu at High-End Restaurants as well as street carts on every other street in Maharashtra.
The thick Gravy is made from a variety of Veggies like potatoes, onions, carrots, chilies, peas, capsicum, and tomatoes that are commonly available from any vegetable vendor.
4. Misal Pav
Misal Pav is a dish that originated in the Western Maharashtra. This popular dish is a kind of spicy curry made with a variety of lentils cooked in the gravy of garlic, onion, and tomatoes. It’s commonly served with a Pav that gives it this name.
Although many locals prefer to have it during the Day, you can eat it at any time of the day. In each part of Maharashtra, you will find a new version of the dish. The level of spices and kinds of lentils used differ from place to place.
It is topped with lemon slices, Farsan, or Sev for some crisps, and with fresh chopped onions.
5. Amti Dal
If you are looking for an authentic yet daily preparation dish, then Amti Dal can be your choice. Dal or lentils are a common element in the daily diet of Indians. So, this Amti Dal is Maharashtra’s take on dal.
It is made from pigeon Pea lentils or Arhar or Toor dal. These Dals are cooked and sauteed usually without Onions or Garlic, unlike other Dals.
It has a slightly sour and sweet taste that delights the taste buds. There is a sour taste from tamarind or kokum. Alongside, there is a light tone with Jaggery making it a perfect dal to have with roti, rice, etc.
6. Sol Kadhi
After a flavourful and falling Maharashtrian meal, Sol Kadhi is an ideal appetizer. It is a tart digestive drink that can be made in a quick time of 10 minutes. Its main ingredient is Kokum. So, it’s alternatively known as Kokum Kadhi.
The drink is made with Coconut Milk of Fresh coconut. It’s mixed with Kokum, a pinch of Salt, with some chilli-garlic paste for a unique taste. Also, these ingredients give it a probiotic content that makes it good for digestion.
Moreover, it detoxifies the digestive tract helping you digest the wonderful dishes from the list above. Sol Kadhi has a bright purple-pink color from kokum.
Summing Up,
India has a wholesome treasure of different Cuisines and Maharashtra is one of the gems in it. It treats you with renowned dishes like Pav Bhaji, Misal Pav, Amti Dali, Bharli Vangi, and much more. The main ingredients of these dishes are locally available ingredients like Kokum, Vegetables, or spices that offer you a fresh and delicious meal.
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