Maharashtra is a lot more than Vada Pav or Missal Pav. But yes, without Vada Pav, Maharashtra is incomplete. I stayed for 2 weeks in Pune, and I absolutely loved it. It was only me and the famous food of Maharashtra.
I almost tried everything, but there are 5 dishes that I absolutely loved and would love to try again. You know, my aunt is Maharashtrian, and she prepared all those dishes with love.
While eating all those delicious dishes, I realized that the taste of Maharashtrian food is very different from North Indian food. They use coconut a lot but not like the south Indian curries.
It is somewhere in the middle. Apart from coconut, tamarind supremacy is also there. It is just tasting everything all at once. You might feel spice in one bite, and in another bite, it’s tangy.
Isn’t it amazing? It’s like adversity in one dish only. From Fish curry to sweet Modak, Maharashtra has food for spice lovers and sweet tooths too.
That being said, let me serve you my favorite dishes on the table. Oh, I almost forgot, bring your notebook as I might tell you the best places for Maharashtrian vada pav.
Vada Pav
Okay, As I am serving you the Maharashtrian food palate, I will start with the starters and what can be more delicious than the one and only vada pav?
How many of you have tried vada pav? Hmmm, a fair amount of people, I see. But those who haven’t tried it, what are you doing? Yeah, I know you are on a diet, but cheat day is there to save you.
Oh, one more thing, If you think that having a vada pav in Delhi and in Pune is the same, you have mistaken, dear. It is not the same. The flavor, the chutney, the fried Mirchi, everything is different.
The best places to have vada pav in Maharashtra are from the street stalls. Trust me; it is where the real taste of the famous food of Maharashtra lies. But if you are looking for a more convenient place to relax and enjoy your vada pav, here is the list –
- Ashok Vada Pav
- Aram Vada Pav
- Kalidas Masala Vada Pav
- Anand Vada Pav
There are more to the list. Now, it is your turn to explore and add places to this list. All the best!
Pithla
Anybody who loves besan here? Yeah, me too! I love dishes made of besan. Starting from bhajis to gatte ki sabzi, Besan (gram flour) makes everything delicious.
You know, when it comes to the most famous food of Maharashtra, I can simply think of one thing, and that is Pithla. No, it is not Punjabi Kadhi.
Kadhi has Yogurt in it, but Pithla is vegan. Hmm, is this why I love this? Probably, haha!
So, Pithla is a besan curry where the besan or the gram flour is dry roasted with onions, and then a paste is made adding other spices like ginger, garlic, chilies, etc.
The consistency is thick, and most people enjoy it with Bhakri. Suppose you have missed your breakfast and you are thinking of going for brunch; it is the best option ever.
Moreover, if you want to make it in your home, just go for it. No need to panic; the ingredients are already available in your kitchen.
You know, when my aunt made this and said that there was nothing special in the house, that’s why she made this, I laughed. I was like, if this is not so special, what would be the special then?
Fish Curry
Now, let’s move on to the main course. I am Bengali, so I love fish. But the Bengali fish curry and the Maharashtrian fish curry are completely different. The best thing about Maharashtrian fish curry is that it is an all flavor in one thing.
As I was saying previously that at one bite, you will feel the spices, and at another, it’s tangy. So basically, Maharashtrian fish curry has all the flavors.
It is spicy, a little bit sweet, and tangy. It is cooked with tamarind, chilies, and turmeric. The consistency of the gravy is creamy. A must-try indeed!
Puran Poli
Now, let’s move on to something sweet. How many of you have heard of Puran Poli? I have heard it a lot, but I never knew what it actually was. It is as popular as modak.
I visited my aunt’s house in Makar Sankranti or the Gudi Parva, and then she made me these sweet parathas. My god! It was just delicious.
So, it is basically chana dal, and Jaggery stuffed parathas. I never knew that parathas could be sweet and so delicious. Jaggery and chana dal gives it the perfect balance of sweet and savory taste.
It is simple, celebrate your next Sankarti the Maharashtrian way.
Modak
Now, let’s conclude the meal with modak. I know; it reminds you of Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete without modak. You know, what is the best thing about Modak?
It is simplicity. Coconut and jaggery, stuffed in rice flour and then steamed till soft. It is better than the laddus. Trust me!
Hmm, I think we have found out why Lord Ganesha is chubby. He is a cute god with his cute Prashad. If you are planning to visit Maharashtra during Ganesh Chaturthi, it is the best opportunity to try the modak.
Wrapping Up
As we are wrapping up, you can take a few modaks with you. India is a land of versatile food. Starting from Odisha food to Maharashtrian delicacies, you will never get bored because you will always have something new.
It might be the same dish but with a completely different taste because you are having it in some other corner in the city. So, why don’t we make the most of being an Indian? We are foodly blessed, you know.
So, with that blessing, will catch you at some vada pav stall.
