The glorious history and cultural heritage of Maharashtra have always attracted everyone. This land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is famous for its traditions, the hospitality of its people, and its natural beauty. One special thing that I particularly love here is the delicious cuisine. Such diversity in food is rarely seen elsewhere. Every dish has its own unique flavor, and enjoying these dishes, prepared with health in mind, is a delight.
The numerous delectable varieties of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are enough to satisfy everyone. Whether you are a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian, whether you like spicy food or sweet, Maharashtrian cuisine caters to all kinds of dietary preferences.
Based on my experiences living in Maharashtra, I am writing to provide information about some special dishes, which are listed below-
➥Jhunka Bhakar
This is my favorite Maharashtrian cuisine. ‘Jhunka’ is a very delicious vegetable dish made from gram flour batter. It is prepared using garlic, green chilies, and hot spices. Jhunka is a mildly spiced and very tasty vegetable dish. It is usually served with Bhakar. ‘Bhakar’ is a type of bread made from sorghum and millet. Consuming it during winter is also good for health.
I had Jhunka Bhakar at Pune’s Sinhagad Fort, where local women cook and serve it on traditional stoves. If you are traveling in Maharashtra during the monsoon, you must try it. Whenever I go on a monsoon trek, this dish is my favorite.
➥ Paav Bhaji
We are all familiar with ‘Paav Bhaji’. Paav Bhaji is a famous street food of Maharashtra and is generally liked by everyone. This dish is also very popular in North India. ‘Bhaji’ is a type of vegetable dish primarily made from potatoes, peas, tomatoes, and any other vegetables of your choice. All these vegetables are mashed on a griddle and cooked in butter. It contains many spices that enhance its flavor.
It is served garnished with green coriander, lemon, and butter. This bhaji tastes great when eaten with soft paav roasted in butter. In regions of western Maharashtra like Kolhapur, Sangli, etc., it is made spicier. If you haven’t tried Paav Bhaji yet, don’t delay and use YouTube to make it at home.
➥ Vada Paav
Just as samosas or kachoris can be found at every corner in North India, ‘Vada Paav’ is the lifeline street food of Maharashtra. It is prepared very quickly. Vada is a type of potato fritter that is placed between a paav (bread roll) along with tangy and sweet chutney. Vada Paav tastes amazing when eaten with fried green chilies. And if you have a cup of hot tea with it, it’s perfect. The popularity of Vada Paav among the working people in Mumbai’s local trains is remarkable. If you ever come to Maharashtra, don’t forget to try this street food.
➥ Puran Poli
‘Puran Poli’ is a famous traditional dish of Maharashtra, typically made on special occasions like Diwali or Ganesh Chaturthi. It is a type of sweet flatbread. To make it, a mixture of chana dal, jaggery, sugar, cardamom, milk, ghee, etc., is prepared. This mixture is stuffed into dough to make the flatbread. Ghee is also used while making the flatbread. Puran Poli can be enjoyed with milk or a vegetable dish of your choice.
➥ Misal Pav
‘Misal Pav’ is a very delicious dish from Maharashtra. It takes very little time to prepare, but its taste is amazing. To make Misal, a spicy mixture is prepared by cooking various types of sprouted lentils, onions, red chilies, and spices. Misal is garnished with farsan (a type of savory snack), finely chopped onions, green coriander, and lemon, and is served with soft pav roasted in butter. You can enjoy it for breakfast in the morning or as a snack in the evening. If you like spicy and tangy food, Misal Pav is an excellent choice for you.
➥ Modak
‘Modak’ is a prominent sweet from Maharashtra, traditionally made in every household during Ganesh Chaturthi. It looks quite similar to momos, and the preparation method is also similar to that of momos. A mixture is made by cooking jaggery, khoya, coconut, cashews, raisins, cardamom, ghee, saffron, and nutmeg. This mixture is filled into rice flour dough and shaped into small, round, pleated dumplings. The Modaks are then steamed. The taste of Modak is truly exquisite.
➥ Basundi
‘Basundi’ is a sweet delight similar to the North Indian dessert ‘Rabri’, and it is a boon for those with a sweet tooth. Various dry fruits, saffron, sugar, and other ingredients are added to milk and simmered on low heat until the milk thickens. Basundi is chilled in the refrigerator and served garnished with pistachios and almonds. Besides Maharashtra, Basundi is also made in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
➥ Bhelpuri
‘Bhelpuri’ is a famous street food not only in Mumbai but throughout Maharashtra. This quick-to-make snack is now enjoyed all over India. Made from puffed rice, boiled potatoes, sev, tomatoes, onions, and tangy-sweet chutneys, Bhelpuri is a favorite among many. In Mumbai, you will find Bhelpuri vendors in almost every street. It doesn’t take much time to prepare, nor does it require extensive preparation. Bhelpuri is also perfect for those on a diet and is an excellent option to satisfy light hunger. Be sure to make and enjoy it at home.
➥ Srikhand
‘Srikhand’ is a prominent dessert from Maharashtra. It is made from strained yogurt (dahi) and sugar. To prepare it, yogurt is tied in a cloth and hung to drain out all the whey completely. The thick yogurt left behind is mixed with sugar and sometimes includes dried fruits. Srikhand is chilled in the refrigerator before serving. There are many popular variations of Srikhand, such as ‘Aamrakhand’, which is made with mango.
➥ Solkadhi
‘Solkadhi’ is a very popular beverage made in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. This light pink, tangy-sweet drink is made from fresh coconut and kokum fruit. It also includes a blend of special spices. Typically, Solkadhi is served with meals as it aids in digestion. If you are planning to visit the Konkan region of Maharashtra, be sure to taste Solkadhi for its unique flavor.
➥ Tambada & Pandhara Rassa or Gravy
‘Tambada Rassa or Gravy’ from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, is a spicy red gravy primarily made with mutton, onions, spices, red chilies, and oil. Its taste and aroma are exceptionally delicious. Tambada Gravy is typically served with dry mutton or dry chicken.
‘Pandhara Rassa or Gravy’ is a very tasty white gravy. It is made with chicken, whole spices, onions, garlic, ginger, cashews, coconut, among other ingredients. I like it very much. In western Maharashtra, it is prepared in almost all non-vegetarian restaurants as well as homes. It is good to drink it like soup before eating. Although Tambada and Pandhara Gravy are primarily non-vegetarian dishes, their vegetarian versions are also very tasty. Eating Tambada and Pandhara Gravy during lunch and dinner not only satisfies the stomach but also pleases the mind. If you ever come to Kolhapur, be sure to taste it.
➥ Chicken Malvani
Malvan, a famous taluka in the coastal district of Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, is known for its unique cuisine. Chicken Malvani is a popular dish made with chicken, coconut gravy, Malvani spices, and red chilies. Its taste is distinctly different and special. Due to the special Malvani spices and red chilies, Chicken Malvani has a red color which looks very appealing. This dish from Malvan is now available throughout Maharashtra. If you want to experience a unique taste, Malvani cuisine is a good option.
➥ Surmai/King Fish & Pomfret Fish
Due to Maharashtra’s extensive coastline along the Arabian Sea, seafood here is highly delicious. Especially, two types of sea fish, ‘Surmai Fish’ (also known as ‘King Fish’) and ‘Pomfret Fish’, are very famous for their taste. These fishes, particularly fried on a griddle with semolina and spices in the Malvan region, are very tasty. They are also prepared in gravies, enhancing their flavors. If you are traveling along the coastal regions of Maharashtra, don’t forget to taste these fresh and delicious fishes.
Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject & Interaction with local public.
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