Each time you hear of ‘Dhokla’, ‘Khakra’ or ‘Jalebi’, doesn't your mouth water and leave you craving for all food items that are Gujarati? One of the most loved culinary delights of India, Gujarati food is synonymous with celebration. This coastal state holds the key to a wide variety of delicious food items that come majorly from North Gujarat, South Gujarat, Kathiawad and Kutch. The food in all these regions is prepared in accordance with the climatic conditions of their originating regions. Since Gujarat’s major population follows Jainism and Vaishnavism, you can get to taste a lot of vegetarian dishes. Gujarati food is generously wrapped up in spices and easily a favourite cuisine for many people across the world.
Why you must try Gujarati cuisine?
If you haven’t tried Gujarati cuisine yet, here’s why this should become your next goal:
1. Gujarati food allows you to relish an extensive range of eatables—whether it is the pickles, the chutneys, the farsans, the vegetables or the sweets.
2. Gujarati dishes are very high in protein as they are made using a lot of vegetables, cereals and lentils.
3. One of the best ways to learn about any place, its culture or traditions is through its food. Your gateway to discover more about Gujarat is through its scrumptious dishes.
1. The Delectable Gujarati Thali
You haven’t eaten a thali if it is not a Gujarati thali. This is the one platter in which you can enjoy Gujarat’s famous food, all at once. Here are the dishes you will get to enjoy on this heavenly platter:
· Farsan: Dhokla, Khandavi, Mirchi Pakoda, Khakra
· Chutney: Garlic Chutney, Peanut Chutney, Green Chutney, Tamarind Chutney
· Sweet: Shrikhand, Aamras, Dhoodh Pak
· Shaak (Either a curry or dry dish): A green vegetable
· Kathol: Dry Peas, Beans or Chickpeas
· Daal: Chana Daal or Tuar Daal
· Breads: Rotli, Thepla, Phulka, Puris
· Khichdi with a dollop of desi ghee
· Papad and buttermilk
There can be variations in this in terms of the number of items. The flavours can also differ depending on the region.
2. The Ubiquitous Snack— Thepla
‘Thepla’ travels around the world more than people do. Count yourself among the odd ones out if you haven’t spotted a Gujarati carrying theplas. It is an essential that is taken on every journey, be it a picnic or a foreign trip. Thepla is primarily made of gram flour, whole wheat flour, fenugreek leaves (fresh or dried), herbs, chillies, yoghurt, and a pinch of sugar. It can be enjoyed at any hour of the day – for breakfast, brunch, as a snack, for lunch or dinner. There are plenty of varieties in thepla in which ‘methi’ can be replaced with spinach or amaranth as well.
Relish this Gujarati dish with a steaming cup of masala chai, or with yoghurt, ‘chundo’ or pickle.
3. The Global Breakfast—Khaman
It wouldn’t be surprising to call Khaman Dhokla the world-famous breakfast. This steamed and spongy yellow snack is made up of a batter of chickpeas flour, lentils, turmeric, baking soda and salt. It is garnished with a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander and chillies. This is yet another snack that is prepared in a variety of other ways such as Masala Khaman, Nylon Khaman, Ameri Khaman. Did you know that Khaman Dhokla is customarily eaten on a green leaf? However, a popular way of serving it at Farsan or sweet shops is in small pieces of newspapers.
A must on the Gujarati food menu, Khaman Dhokla is served with chillies, green chutney. Enjoy it either with a warm ‘Gujarati Kadhi’ or a piping hot cup of tea.
4. The Mushy Snack—Khandavi
You will easily find Khandavi at any place that serves Gujarati breakfast or snacks. This beautiful looking snack is made with chickpeas flour cooked in buttermilk and seasoned with tempered mustard seeds, grated coconut, coriander and curry leaves. This melt-in-the-mouth dish surely requires some skill to get its batter perfect, with regards to consistency. Khandavi is also a favourite snack in Maharashtra where it is called ‘suralichya wada’. It has two more other names in Gujarat, Dahivadi or Patuli. It is a great choice for a healthy food item that is very light on the stomach.
Enjoy Khandavi with green chutney.
5. The Flavourful Muthiya
The Gujarati dishes name is derived from the way it is prepared ‘with the action of gripping hands’. In Central Gujarat, it is called ‘Vaataa’. Besides this, it is also named ‘Velaniya’. Muthiya is made with besan or chickpeas flour, bottle gourd, and generous use of a variety of spices. This healthy mixture is rolled up vertically and prepared in steam. Later, it is seasoned with tempered sesame seeds and finely chopped coriander. Muthiya is also made using fenugreek leaves, spinach, amaranth, etc. If you want to opt for a healthy snack, this one is filled with all the nutrition.
Savour Muthiya with mint-coriander chutney accompanied with tea.
6. The Classic Undhiyu
One of the most loved winter food, this Gujrati dishes name is derived from ‘undhu’ which means inverted in Gujarati. An interesting fact about this dish is that traditionally, it is made in an inverted style in earthen pots. This classic dish is made with the local fresh produce available in winter. It has plenty of healthy ingredients that include green peas, yam, potatoes, eggplant, beans, bananas, muthiyas, coconut, spices. It is slow-cooked in buttermilk. This wholesome dish has lots of fresh vegetables used in it. The Gujarati food menu is incomplete without it.
Undhiyu is traditionally served with ‘puris’ and ‘aamras’ or ‘shrikhand’.
7. The Steamy Dhokla
This is different from ‘Khaman Dhokla’. Traditionally also known as the ‘Khatta Dhokla’, it is made with a combination of rice flour and gram flour. In terms of its preparation, this is also prepared in steam and is very fluffy, tangy and spicy. Apart from the two varieties of flours, the ingredients required for it include sour curd, chilli, and baking soda. Yet another healthy choice of option, this is among one of the easiest Gujarati recipes. You can either eat it for breakfast or a snack.
Enjoy this steamed dish with green chutney or tamarind chutney.
8. The Sinful Shrikhand
The cuisine of Gujarat is all about great taste and Shrikhand is one such dessert that is at its peak. This thick, creamy hung curd is flavoured with saffron and cardamom powder. While this is the most basic version of Shrikhand, there are lots of delicious varieties that it is made in. It has a beautiful golden yellow colour to it and is a dessert that completes any Gujarati meal. ‘Mango Shrikhand' is also one of the popular adaptations after the plain one. It is best enjoyed cold.
You can enjoy it with hot and crispy puris.
9. The Addictive Fafda-Jalebi
If there is one relationship in the Gujarati cuisine that is unbreakable, it is the pair of ‘Fafda-Jalebi’, that you will always witness together. Fafda is made up of chickpeas flour while jalebi is made of flour and sugar which is deep-fried in ghee. A bite of the crunchy and spicy Fafda along with the sweetness of crisp Jalebi is heavenly. Wherever you travel in Gujarat, you will find this snack in every nook and corner of the state. It is an extremely popular street food dish and clearly among the top favourites.
Enjoy this Gujarat famous food with a fried chilly and some dry papaya chutney.
Other Tasty and Famous Gujarati Food
If you search for ‘Gujrat famous food’, you will probably be left surprised by the number of dishes you come across. Here are a few other tasty and famous Gujarati food that you can try:
10. Gujarati Kadhi
One of the classics, a Gujarati thali is incomplete without this typically white kadhi. Made with sour curd, gram flour and spices, this Gujarati dish is sweetened with sugar or jaggery.
11. Dabeli
This tangy snack is popular street food in Gujarat. It is a potato filling enveloped with spices, and other ingredients between two bread buns and eaten with tamarind chutney.
12. Dal Dhokli
Dal Dhokli is made with whole wheat dumplings simmered in tur dal, kokum, peanuts, garlic and turmeric. Enjoy it hot.
13. Patra
This healthy snack is made of Colocasia leaves, wrapped in besan and tempered with sesame seeds.
14. Mohanthaal
This traditional dessert is made with besan, sugar, saffron, cardamom and nuts. You are sure to love its gooey texture and taste.
15. Aamras
Also called ‘Keri nu ras’, it is made with mango pulp and flavoured with saffron and cardamom. A staple of Gujarat, this delicious dessert is served with pooris.
Conclusion
Gujarati food is nothing short of a gastronomic gateway. Eating Gujarati food is like opening a treasure of a variety of flavours. The combination of sweet, spicy, tangy and sour that can be found in a single dish to a range of them is what makes it exciting. Besides, most of the food is easy to prepare and high on the health quotient. If you want to treat your taste buds, Gujarati cuisine is the perfect choice for it.
FAQ
1. Is Gujarati food healthy or unhealthy?
Well, most of the Gujarati food is healthy such as khandavi, dhokla, muthiya, dal dhokli. The use of lentils, chickpeas flour, vegetables makes it very nutritious.
2. Which are the most popular snacks from Gujarat?
Dhokla, Khandavi, Thepla, Patra, Fafda-Jalebi are some of the popularly eaten snacks of Gujarat.