Maharashtrian Food: A delicious platter

Maharastrian Food has a lot to offer. Right from its irrestible pav-bhaji to its mind blogging poha, it is an amazing experience. Maharastrian cuisine is classified into two styles:

1. Konkan: Konkan from the coastal region, influences from Goan, Saraswat, and Gaud and Malvani regions.

2. Varadi: Varadi cuisine belongs to the Vidarbha region.

Spices like Goda masala, Kokum, Tamarind and Coconut are important ingredients in this cuisine.

1. Pav Bhaji

Maharashtrian food is incomplete without Pav Bhaji. Fresh and thick slices of bread, smothered with a delicious mix of spiced vegetables. This lip smacking dish has won the hearts of every Indian.

2. Vada Pav

Vada Pav can simply be called an Indian version of a burger. A delicious, spicy, deep-fried patty made of potatoes is squeezed between a thick slice of bread, similar to a burger bun. Between the vada (patty) and pav (bread), a mix of spices and salt is sprinkled along with a fried, salted green chili. It’s an all-day snack and is extremely popular among Maharashtrians.

3. Puran Poli

The delectable food item is a sweet version of the loving paratha. The stuffing is made from jaggery (gur), yellow gram dal (chana dal), plain flour, cardamom powder and ghee (clarified butter). It is a popular dish in festive occasions.

4. King of Street Food — Misal Pav

If Jethalal Gada from the famous Indian show “Tarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashma” loves anything else other than Jalebi Phapda, it is Misal Pav. One of the most famous Maharashtrian dishes which is deemed the king of this state’s street food. It is made of Misal which is a spicy curry made of moth beans and Pav which is an Indian bread roll. The dish is garnished with different types of Indian munchies like farsan, sev, aloo laccha, to name some.

5.An Evening Companion — Pudachi Vadi

From the western parts of Maharashtra comes the yummiest evening snack that can reignite you after a tiring day. Pudachi Vadi is made from a mixture of dried desiccated coconut, coriander leaves, chilli powder, and other Indian spices. This mixture is filled into an outer coating of gram flour which is then deep-fried. This dish is best served with a hot cup of masala chai as a sumptuous evening snack.

6. Savior from the Blazing Heat — Keri Aamti

One of the popular Maharashtrian dishes to beat the scorching heat of summer is Keri Aamti or Kairichi Aamti. It is a combination of sweet and spicy thick gravy which is made from raw mangoes and authentic Indian spices that is served with steamed white rice. When the fragrance of the spices combines with the tangy flavor of raw mangoes, the taste you experience is divine.

7. What inspired Momos — Modak

Another traditional dish of Maharashtra and the favourite of Lord Ganesh, Modak is a sweet dish that is savoured by everyone in the state. The authentic Modak is made from grated coconut mixed with jaggery which is then filled into an outer shell made from rice flour mixed with a little bit of maida. During Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations, you can find Modak in different flavours like chocolate, pista, and kesar, to name some.

8. A Healthy Snack — Kothimbir Vada

If Jethalal loves Misal Pav, Gokuldham society’s ‘ekkameva’ secretary Mr Aatmaram Tukaram Bhide loves all the Maharashtrian dishes. But, his favourite one is Kothimbir Vada! One of the tastiest Maharashtrian foods, this snack is made by mixing coriander leaves with besan and water along with some Indian spices and then steaming it to get a cake-like structure. It is cut into square pieces and finally served with some spicy chilly and mint chutney.

9. The All-rounder — Thalipeeth

A multi-grain pancake, this famous Maharashtrian dish is also savoured in the regions of North Karnataka. Thalipeeth is made from a special type of flour called ‘bhajanee’ which comprises of roasted grains viz. rice, wheat, bajra, and jowar and legumes like chana and urad. The dough is mixed with chopped onion, coriander leaves, and other vegetables and spices to enhance the taste even more.

10. A Spicy Dose — Bombil

As they say, always save the best for last. Bombil or Bombay Duck is hands down one of the best Maharashtrian foods that you can ever have. Before you come to the conclusion that it is a duck dish, let’s agree to disagree! It is rather a fish. Though it gives a pungent smell while being cooked, the flavour after that — svadista! Spicy in taste, it tantalizes your taste buds like nothing else.

If you are reading this, you’d be wondering — “Who creates a list of Maharashtrian dishes and doesn’t include Vada Pav?!” Well, it is so staple a dish that we all have, at one point or another, savoured it.

Besides this assorted list of Maharashtrian dishes, you will come across a lot of other dishes and drinks like Sol Kadhi, Tambda Rasa, Bharli Vahge, and many such lip-smacking delicacies. So, the next time you take a Maharashtra tour package, make sure you add ‘going on a Maharashtrian food trail’ to the things you plan to do during the trip.