Top 10 Gujarati Food Dishes

Indian Cuisine is one of the most talked about cuisines worldwide. Even today Indians are acknowledged for the discovery of all the spices. After Punjabi and South Indian Food, Gujarati food is the most popular culinary style in India.

Gujarati food is all about the eating habits of people of western India basically Gujarat. A typical Gujarati thali would consist of Farsan(steamed or fried snack), Roti (flat bread), Sabzi/Shaak ( Combination of Veggies and spices) and Rice. The flavors are basically a beautiful amalgamation of Sweet , Sour and Spicy tastes. The flavor is also based on the person who is cooking it and to which region of Gujarat he belongs to. Each and every region namely North Gujarat, Kachchh, Kathiawad and South Gujarat have their own unique touch and recipe style in Gujarati food.

To enlist the top 10 Gujarati cuisines is a bit tough job, but if we go by the popularity then the list would be :

1. Undhiyu

   

   A mixed vegetable dish comprising of root vegetables, raw banana, eggplant and muthiya (fenugreek fritters) and spices. It is traditionally slowly cooked in Earthen pots and that too underground. Undhiyu along with Puri and Jalebi is the most ideal combination for Uttarayan ( Makar Sankranti) for all Gujaratis.

2. Handvo

   

   It is a steamed savoury cake made of dal, rice and bottle gourd. Its finished with a tempering of mustard, sesame seeds, asofoetida and peanuts.

3. Surti Locho

   

   This also another very popular South Gujarat street food specialty of surat city made of mixture of coarsely ground lentils and flat rice which is steamed and served with lemon juice, chutney , onion and sev(gram flour noodles).

4. Khandvi

   

   It is an evening time snack which is rolled and cut into bite sized pieces and just melts into your mouth. It is primarily gram flour and youghurt that is slow cooked. It is then flattened into a surface so that rolls can be made out of it. It is usually garnished with fresh coconut and coriander leaves.

5. Khaman

   

   It is a steamed item made from ground gram flour and served with fried chillies. It is soft and fluffy with mildly tangy sweet and sour taste.

6. Dhokla

   

   This is also a steamed snack comprising of fermented dal and rice mixture and tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Today many versions of dhokla are available in the market be it the Sandwich dhokla or Khatta(sour) dhokla. All the versions are relished by everyone.

7. Thepla (Dhebra)

   

   It’s a methi (fenugreek) paratha combined with garlic, sesame seeds and spices It is the best breakfast an ideal Gujarati would wish for with a cup of Ginger tea. Every Non – Resident Gujarati swears to carry a packet of it while returning back, as these can be stored for long durations.

8. Muthiya

   

   It can be said as the Indian version of sausage as this is purely vegetarian. It is basically fenugreek leaves, chick pea flour and whole wheat flour combined together which is either steamed or fried. Nowadays it is also baked. It’s a perfect snack for kids lunch box along with some tomato ketchup.

9. Fafda

   

   Fafda is a street food of Gujarat . These are basically long strips made from a   dough of gram flour and spices. It tastes best with Kadhi ( thick gravy made of gram flour and yoghurt) , fried green chillies and raw papaya chutney.

10. Khichu

    

    This is one of the healthiest and easy to make snack . It is a combination of rice flour and spices which is cooked in boiling water and served with a tinge of oil and red chilli powder.

Other famous Gujarati food items include:

• Bajri no Rotlo
• Makai no Rotlo
• Bhakri
• Phulka rotli
• Juvar no Rotlo
• Puran Poli (Also known as Vedmi)
• Pooda
• Khichdi
• Bataka nu Shaak Curry)
• Bataka Sukhi Bhaji (Dry Potato Curry)
• Bharela Bhinda (Stuffed dry Okra)
• Bharela Karela (Stuffed dry Bitter Melon)
• Bhinda nu Shaak (Dry Okra Curry)
• Vatana Bataka nu Shaak (Potato and Peas Curry)
• Chola nu Shaak (Black eyed peas Curry)
• Dhana capsicum nu Shaak (Dry Coriander, capsicum and chickpea flour curry)
• Dudhi Bataka nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd and Potato Curry)
• Dudhi Chana Ni Daal nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd and Split Black Chickpea Curry)
• Dudhi Ganthia nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd)
• Dudhi Mag ni Dal nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd and Mung Bean Curry)
• Dudhi nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd Curry)
• Fansi ma Dhokli nu Shaak (French Bean Curry with Dumplings)
• Fansi nu Shaak (Dry Green bean Curry)
• Ganthoda nu Shaak
• Gathia nu Shaak
• Guvar nu Shaak (Cluster Beans Curry)
• Kadhi
• Kanda Bataka nu Shaak (Onion and Potato Curry)
• Karela nu Shaak (Bitter Melon Curry)
• Kobi Bataka nu Shaak (Dry Cabbage and Potato Curry)
• Mag nu shaak (Mung Bean Curry)
• Methi nu Shaak (Fenugreek)
• Panchkutiyu Shaak (Five Vegetable Curry consisting of Ridge Gourd, Potato, Bottle Gourd, Eggplant, and Green Peas)
• Parwal Bataka nu Shaak (Pointed Gourd and Potato Curry)
• Ringan nu Shaak (Eggplant)
• Ringan no Olo (Roasted Eggplant’s mashed Curry)
• Sev Tameta nu Shaak (Curry made of Green (Unripe) Tomatoes)
• Tameta Bataka nu Shaak (Tomato and Potato Curry)
• Tindoda nu Shaak (Ivy Gourd Curry)
• Vad Papadi Nu Shaak
• Lilva Kachori (A variety of kachori made with pigeon peas.)
• Methi na Gota (Fried fenugreek Dumplings)
• Chakri
• Chorafali
• Ghanthia
• Khakhra
• Mathiya
• Patra
• Porbandar Khajli
• Kadh (combination of kadhi and daal)

List of Gujarati sweets (Mithai) include:

• Adadiya
• Jadariyu
• Sutarfeni
• Kansar
• Maisub
• Halvasan
• Malpua
• Keri no ras
• Basundi
• Ghari
• Ghughra
• Ghebar or Ghevar
• Magas (or Magaj)
• Sukhadi
• Monthar
• Gud papdi (Gol papdi)
• Ronvelia
• Shiro
• Ghooghra
• Jalebi
• Shrikhand
• Laapsi
• Shakkarpara
• Kopra paak
• Gaajar Halwo
• Dudhi no Halwo
• Velan lapsi
• Bit No Halwo
• Doodhpak

Please do enjoy these dishes when are you visiting Gujarat once in your lifetime. The unique tastes of these delicacies will surely tempt your taste buds for a long time.