India – a land of beauty and splendour. Be it the lofty Himalayas or the pristine clear water of Andaman and Nicobar. The starry night at Rann of Kutch or seeking solace at a monastery in Gangtok, India is not only home to beautiful tourist spots but also a hub of delicious cuisines. These are food that unites us all, no matter where we live.
When one thinks of India, the mind is brimming with images of the tall exotic temples, and scenic beauty along with its mouth-watering food.
Here is a list of some of the best food you can taste across India:
The list has been prepared from a resource pool of its availability in different parts of India and the preferred tastes compiled online.
1. Kebabs
A famous dish that took birth in the land of nawabs Lucknow, Kebabs are travelling across India makes and it a must to-taste dish on the list of every foodie. Enjoy spicy chicken and mutton kebabs with mint chutney.
2. Vada Pao
If you ever get a chance to visit Mumbai, you have to try Vada Pao. It is generally considered as a snack but is entirely fulfilling. This dish is made up of stuffed aloo (potato) patty that has fried onion and green chillies in it. The stuffed patty is then put inside a bread bun. Not only this dish is delicious, but it is also very budget-friendly. This snack has started appearing in many restaurants popularizing Mumbai’s local dishes across India.
3. Pani Puri/Golgappe
This is one street food that is available all over India with different names. These are deep-fried Golgappe that are filled with spicy or sweet water with a mixture of Aloo and Chana Chaat.
4. Chole Bhature
This dish consists of deep-fried Bhature accompanied by thick chickpea (chole) gravy. This is a signature breakfast dish of North-India.
5. Stuffed Parantha
Another dish that is widely eaten in breakfast in northern India is stuffed Parantha. It is becoming an easy-to-make breakfast choice across India. So, pick from a variety of stuffed Paranthas like Aloo, Gobi, Mooli, Paneer, Egg, etc. and charge the beginning of your day.
6. Dal Makhni
This dish is a mixture of Red Kidney Beans and Black Gram. The Dal is slowly cooked overnight with loads of butter and cream, thereby giving it a rich taste.
Read More: Dal Makhani Recipe
7. Butter Chicken
No visit to India is termed as complete until you have had the most famous delicacy from North India Butter Chicken. The chicken is marinated overnight in spices and yoghurt and cooked in tons of melted butter.
8. Rogan Josh
This dish is a speciality from the land of Kashmir and is prepared from dry red chillies. This dish is mainly enjoyed during winter, but such is the craze of this dish that it is available throughout the year. Unlike Butter Chicken, Rogan Josh or Mutton Rogan Josh is made up of light gravy and has a strong aroma of spices. Try it out with rice, Lal Mirch Ka Parantha (red chilli Parantha) or a butter Roti.
9. Gatte ki Sabzi
Rajasthani dish that is prepared by cubes made of gram flour that is further cooked in a thick gravy.
10. Rajmah Chawal
Just like Butter Chicken is the signature dish for non-vegetarians, Rajmah Chawal is a must-have dish for vegetarians. It is made of kidney beans (rajma) that is cooked in thick gravy loaded with spices. This signature dish is mostly relished with rice. Pair this dish with pickle and curd and voila, you’re in for a treat!
11. Paneer Butter Masala
Cubes of cottage cheese are shallow fried and then tossed in a thick gravy of onion, tomato and cashew nut paste, and after that, it is topped with cubes of butter.
12. Hyderabadi Biryani
As the name suggests, this is a signature dish of Hyderabad. Biryani is a rice dish that is cooked with aromatic spices like cardamoms, sautéed brown onions, curd, cumin seeds, cloves, etc. This dish is present across the country. It is present in variants like- Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani and even Veg Biryani.
13. Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti
This is the most loved dish of Punjab. This combination is mostly relished during winter when Saag is topped up with loads of fresh homemade butter.
14. Dosa and Sambar
This is one of the famous dishes of South India that has a global reach and is available at every nook and corner of India. Choose a Dosa from variants available and enjoy it with piping hot sambar and coconut chutney.
15. Daal Baati Churma
This Rajasthani dish steals away all the points for being a perfect blend of sweet and spicy elements. Batti (bread) is made of wheat flour that is accompanied by spicy Dal and Churma, which is a mixture of the kind that is eaten with the dish.
16. Macher Jhol
In other words, Fish cooked in tangy tomato gravy is one of the most popular dishes of West Bengal. To have the authentic taste, try it out with steamed rice.
17. Gajar ka halwa
This is one of the most popular desserts in India. Gajar (Carrot) ka Halwa is a signature dish that is prepared with carrots, milk, ghee and nuts. It is generally preferred during winter.
Read More: Recipe for Gajar ka Halwa
18. Kheer
Rice is slowly cooked in milk and is topped with sugar, saffron and nuts. This dessert is served both cold and hot as per your liking.
19. Rabdi
Like Kheer, in this dish too, rice is cooked slowly in milk. However, in this dish, the rice is cooked till the time when the colour changes and the density increases. It is then topped with sugar and nuts and is served chilled.
20. Lassi
No trip to Punjab or North India is complete until you’ve had a glass of Lassi. It is a yoghurt-based drink that is blended with water. It is served both as sweet (sugar added) and spicy flavour.
So, the next time you’re on an eating spree, don’t forget to tick these dishes from your checklist.
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