Gujarat is a coastal state of western India. People tend to sweat a lot here and get dehydrated. Hence, you would find a profound influence of sugar, jaggery, lemon and tomatoes in the Gujarati cuisine. The ingredients provide instant hydration. You would find bottle gourd in multiple food items to beat the heat. Moreover, the state has four distinct parts: Kathiyawar, Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Kachh. The influence of each part is quite visible in the Gujarati cuisine. Rather, each part has the own distinct recipes. Nevertheless, every recipe is as finger licking tasty as the other. You would definitely enjoy each dish. The following is the list of some of the famous Gujarati delights you absolutely cannot afford to miss when you visit the state.
- Dhokla:
No doubt the most famous Gujarati delight. Well, you might have tasted the soft and delicious Dhokla multiple times in various parts of the world. But, you are really in for a surprise when you order it in the home-ground. There are plenty of varieties of Dhokla with a variety of ingredients. You should definitely taste the authentic variety in an authentic Gujarati restaurant. When you leave one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Navrangpura in Ahmedabad for sight-seeing, you can always snack on the tasty Dhokla.
2. Khamman:
You absolutely cannot miss the Dhokla’s closest cousin. You are in for a surprise when you order Khamman in an authentic Gujarati restaurant. Khamman can be a healthy snack before you check into one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Motera in Ahmedabad.
3. Khandvi:
The toothsome snack is very light on the stomach as well. Gram flour is cooked in buttermilk and rolled into shape. Then, the pieces are sautéed in spices and curry leaves. It is not just tasty but equally healthy as well. You can snack on the tasty delight as you wander about the city and check into one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Thaltej in Ahmedabad to rest for the day.
4. Bardoli ki Khichdi:
Indians love khichdi. The rice and pulses recipe is found in every part of the country. The Gujarati version is prepared with raw mango and selected spices. You absolutely cannot miss your plate of the delicious khichdi before checking into one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Naroda in Ahmedabad.
5. Thepla:
Another favourite and popular Gujarati food is the Thepla. Whole wheat flour and gram flour is mixed with a choice of herbs and spices and prepared into a flatbread. It is a sumptuous, healthy and very delicious. The fenugreek version is the most common one and deserves a special mention. You absolutely cannot miss munching on Theplas for snack or meal in one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Kapasia Bazar in Ahmedabad.
6. Undhiyu:
The recipe originated in Surat. The kite festival, Uttarayan is famous in Gujarat. Undhiyu is specially prepared to celebrate Uttarayan. All the winter seasonal vegetables like eggplant and purple yam are used to cook the delightful spicy curry. Muthiya is also added in the curry to add a crunchy taste to the preparation. Chickpea flour is mixed with spices, herbs and bottle gourd to prepare the Muthiyas. You will actually get a burst of flavours with each spoonful of the curry. It is quite a delight during the cold winter season. The name Undhiyu is derived from the word “Undhu” meaning inverted. The curry is traditionally prepared in an inverted earthen pot.
7. Handvo:
When cakes meet Dhokla, Handvo is born. The mouth-watering snack is a close cousin of the Dhokla and Khamman. The texture is very similar, but Handvo tastes quite different. The cake is prepared with assorted vegetables and crushed peanuts. Bottle gourd is a major ingredient.
8. Patra:
Another toothsome Gujarati snack is healthy and delicious. The sweet and sour savoury snack is a delightful treat. You must indulge in a plate of patra before retiring in one of the hourly couple friendly hotel on Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway in Ahmedabad.
9. Gujarati Kadhi:
The Gujarati Kadhi is a sweeter version of the Indian curd curry. It is a regular staple in Gujarati households.
10. Dal Dhokli:
An amalgamation of Gujarati and Rajasthani dishes, Dal Dhokli is an Indian noodle soup. Wheat noodles are boiled with a variety of vegetables to prepare the sumptuous stew.
11. Lilva Kachori:
The kachori is loved all across India. The kachori is a heavenly delight where the stuffed flour ball is stir fried and served with sauce or chutney. In Lilva Kachori the stuffing is made of green peas and selected spices.
12. Gota:
India loves pakoras or fritters. Almost every state has an indigenous variety of the delicious crunchy delicacy. Similarly, Gujarat also has a variety of pakoras known as Gota. The fritters are prepared with gram flour and fenugreek leaves. A tangy chutney made of dates and tamarind is served with the fritters to add flavor to the Gota.
13. Fafda Jalebi:
When in Gujarat, you absolutely cannot miss out on Fafda Jalebi. From highway Dhabas to roadside stalls, you would find Fafda Jalebi almost everywhere. Fafda are salty fried gram flour sticks while Jalebi are sweet pretzel dipped in sugar syrup. The taste complements each other. You can definitely savour them individually. But, together they complement each other and the unique blend of tastes will surely fill your senses as you relax in one of the hourly couple friendly hotels on Ashram Road in Ahmedabad.
14. Khichu:
Rice flour is steamed with selected spices to prepare the mouth-watering wholesome dish. It is a rare food item with groundnut oil adding the aroma. The other varieties are prepared with flours of ragi, jowar, wheat and bajra. All are equally delicious.
15. Shrikhand:
The state is famous for the dairy delights. Shrikhand or hung yoghurt is particularly famous. If you visit Gujarat during the mango season, then do treat yourself with a bowl of Shrikhand in one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Surat.
16. Mohanthal:
Famously known as Lord Krishna’s favourite dessert, the sweet is served to the Lord on Janmashtami. Every household has a unique delicious recipe. You would find the savoury delicious sweet in almost every sweet shop in the state. The dessert is prepared by sweetening gram flour with cardamom, saffron and dry fruits. The mouth-watering delight will definitely melt in your mouth and leave you craving for more. You would surely muse over the delicious sweet even after checking into one of the hourly couple friendly hotels in Rajkot to rest for the day.
Hope the delicious delicacies of Gujarat have enticed you to plan a vacation there. The best time to visit Gujarat is definitely during Navaratri. Learn the hacks to ace the Garba and dance through your vacation. Irrespective of your time of visit, enjoy the stay to the fullest.