Gujarati cuisine

Gujarati cuisine refers to the cuisine of Gujarat, a state in western India. Despite having an extensive coastline providing wholesome seafood, Gujarat is primarily a vegetarian state due to the influence of Jain vegetarianism. Many communities, however, do include seafood, chicken, and goat in their diet.[1][2]

The typical Gujarati thali consists of rotli, dal or kadhi, rice, and shaak/sabzi (a dish made up of several different combinations of vegetables and spices, which may be either spicy or sweet). The thali will also include preparations made from pulses or whole beans (called kathor in Gujarati) such as mung, black eyed beans etc., a snack item (farsaan) like dhokla, pathra, samosa etc. and a sweet (mishthaan) like mohanthal, jalebi, doodh pak etc. Gujarati cuisine varies widely in flavour and heat, depending on a family's tastes as well as the region of Gujarat to which they belong. North Gujarat, Kathiawad, Kachchh, Central Gujarat and South Gujarat are the five major regions of Gujarat that contribute their unique touch to Gujarati cuisine. Many Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty, and spicy simultaneously.

Staple foods

Staples include homemade khichdi (rice and lentil or rice and mung bean), and chaas (buttermilk) and pickles as side. Main dishes are based on steamed cooked vegetables with different spices and dals that are added to a vaghar, which is a mixture of spices heated in oil that varies depending on the main ingredients. Salt, sugar, lemon, lime, and tomatoes are used frequently to prevent dehydration in an area where temperatures reach 50 °C (122 °F) in the shade. It is common to add a little sugar or jaggery to some of the 'Vegetable dishes and dal. The sweet flavour of these dishes is believed to neutralize the slightly bland taste of the vegetables.

Gujarati Thali, a variety filled traditional dish served in Gujarat

The cuisine changes with the seasonal availability of vegetables. In summer, when mangoes are ripe and widely available in market, for example, Keri no Ras (fresh mango pulp) is often an integral part of the meal. The spices used also change depending on the season. Garam masala and its constituent spices are used less in summer. Regular fasting, with diets limited to milk, dried fruits, and nuts, is commonplace.

In modern times, some Gujaratis have become increasingly fond of very spicy and fried dishes. There are many chefs who have come up with fusions of Western and Gujarati food. Gujaratis are predominantly vegetarians[3], even though pockets of the state consume chicken, eggs and fish.

Flat bread prepared with Bajra has nutritional value similar to other foods based on flours.[4] Common meals in villages near Saurashtra during the cold winters consists of thick rotis, termed bhakri, made of wheat flour, garlic chutney, onion, and chaas.

Sweets (desserts) served as part of a thali are typically made from milk, sugar, and nuts. "Dry" sweets such as magas and ghooghra are typically made around celebrations, such as weddings, or at Diwali.

Gujarati cuisine is also distinctive in its wide variety of farsan — side dishes that complement the main meal and are served alongside it. Some farsan are eaten as snacks or light meals by themselves.

Gujaratis will often refer to dal-bhat-rotli-saak as their everyday meal. For special occasions, this basic quartet is supplemented with additional shaak, sweet dishes, and farsan. A festive Gujarati thali often contain over a dozen items. Dietary rules restrict the permissible combination of dishes. For example, if kadhi is to be served, then a lentil preparation such as chutti dal, vaal, or mug ni dal will also be included. The sweet dish accompanying kadhi will likely be milk or yogurt–based, like doodhpak or shrikhand. However, a yogurt-based raita would not be served with such a meal. Festive meals based on dal will typically have a wheat-based sweet dish like lapsi or ladoo as the sweet accompaniment. Many Gujarati families make and consume moong dal in their diet on Wednesdays. There are established combinations of spices that some believe to facilitate digestion, that are eaten with different foods.

In coastal Gujarat, the Kharwa community has developed a cuisine consisting of fresh and dried fish. Common seafood are pomfrets, khandwas, gedadas, surmai, prawns, crabs, lobster. and narsinga (calamari).

Gujarati thali is sometimes seen as being "no-frills"[5] even though it can be elaborate. India's current prime minister, Narendra Modi has often arranged Gujarati food for his special overseas guests like Shinzo Abe[6] or Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa [7] Modi himself has been said to prefer Khichdi.[8] even when visiting overseas[9], something that opposing politicians sometimes mocked.[10]

Distinct Features

The Gujarati Cuisines vary in flavour and other aspects from region to region.You can notice that the food from Surat, Kutch, Kathiawad and North Gujarat are most distinct ones.Tastes also differ according to family preferences.Also most of the Gujarati popular dishes has the sweet taste.Traditionally sugar or jaggery is added to most of the Gujarati foods like vegetable and dal which gives it the sweet taste. Also the making style of Gujarati food is very unique. Some are stir-fried while some are steam cooked with vegetables and spices or dal being boiled and later vaghar (chaunk) being added to it to enhance it flavour.[11]

List of Gujarati dishes

Breads

Bajri no rotlo
  • Bajri no rotlo (બાજરીનો રોટલો): Thick millet flour flatbread usually grilled over coals in clay pan.
  • Makai no rotlo: Thick corn flour flatbread usually grilled over coals in clay pan.
  • Bhakri: Made with whole wheat flour, thicker than Rotli, crispy.
  • Phulka rotli (Also called rotli or chapati): Made with whole wheat flour, rolled thin.[12]
  • Juvar no rotlo: Thick sorghum flatbread.
  • Parotha: Shallow fried whole wheat flatbread.
  • Puran poli (Also known as vedmi): Whole wheat bread filled with sweet Chickpea daal filling usually made for special occasions.
  • Puri: Made with whole wheat flour, deep fried.
  • Thepla/dhebra (થેપલા/ઢેબરા) : Made with a mixture of flours, pan fried, mildly spiced, usually contains shredded vegetables.
  • Poodla (sweet): Made with a mixture of flours, pan fried.

Rice

In addition to plain rice, Gujarati cuisine also includes rice based dishes such as:

Vegetables (Shaak/)

  • Bateta nu shaak (potato curry)
  • Bateta sukhi bhaji (dry potato)
  • Bateta Kanda nu shaak (Potato and onion curry)
  • Bateta Ringan nu shaak (Potato and Eggplant Curry)
  • Bateta Guvar nu shaak (Potato and Cluster beans curry)
  • Bateta Chawli nu Shaak (Potato and glossary long beans)
  • Lasaniya Bateta (Garlic flavored Potato curry)
  • Bharela Ringan (stuffed dry Eggplant)
  • Bharela bhinda (stuffed dry okra)
  • Bharela karela (stuffed dry bitter gourd)
  • Bhinda nu shaak (dry okra)
  • Bhinda Bateka nu shaak (dry Okra & potato)
  • Vatana bataka nu shaak (potato and peas curry)
  • Cholaa nu shaak (black eyed peas curry)
  • Chawli Ringan Bateka nu Shaak (glossary long beans, brinjal and potato curry)
  • Dhana capsicum nu shaak (dry coriander, capsicum and chickpea flour curry)
  • Dudhi bateta nu shaak (bottle gourd and potato curry)
  • Ringan bateta nu shaak (eggplant 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)
  • Ganthia nu shaak[13]
  • Gathoda nu shaak
  • Guvar nu shaak (cluster beans curry)
  • Kadhi (curry made from buttermilk chhash and gram flour, usually either sweet or tangy)
  • Kanda bataka nu shaak (onion and potato curry)
  • Karela nu shaak (bitter melon curry)
  • Kobi bateta nu shaak (dry cabbage and potato curry)
  • Keri nu shaak (Mango curry)
  • Kobi Papdi nu shaak (dry Cabbage and broad beans curry)
  • Mag nu shaak (mung bean curry)
  • Methi nu shaak (fenugreek)
  • Methi bateta nu shaak (fenugreeek potato curry)
  • Panchkutiyu shaak (five-vegetable curry consisting of ridge gourd, potato, bottle gourd, eggplant, and green peas)
  • Parwal bateta nu shaak (pointed gourd and potato curry)
  • Ringan nu shaak (eggplant)
  • Ringan no olo (roasted eggplant mashed curry)
  • Sev tameta nu shaak (curry made of green (unripe) tomatoes)
  • Sambhariyu Shaak (Stuffed Ivy gourd, baby potatoes, sweet potatoes and eggplant curry)
  • Tameta bateta nu shaak (tomato and potato curry)
  • Tindoda nu shaak (ivy gourd curry)
  • Tindoda batetanu shaak (ivy gourd curry)
  • Tameta muthiyanu shaak
  • Palak nu shaak ( Spinach curry )
  • Undhiyu: A mixed vegetable casserole that is traditionally cooked upside down underground in earthen pots fired from above. This dish is usually made of the vegetables that are available on the South Gujarat coastline during the winter season, including (amongst others) green beans, unripe banana, muthia, and purple yam. These are cooked in a spicy curry that sometimes includes coconut. Surti Undhiyu is a variant that is served with puri at weddings and banquets. Again it is a mixed vegetable casserole, made with red lentils and seasoned with spices, grated coconut, and palm sugar in a mild sauce. It is garnished with chopped peanuts and toasted grated coconut, and served with rice or roti. This dish is very popular all over Gujarat, and most Gujarati families eat it at least once a year on Makar Sankranti.
  • Val papadi nu shaak (Flat bean)

Side dishes (Farsan)

Khaman Dhokla
Handvo

Farsan are side dishes in Gujarati cuisine.

Snacks (Nasta)

Khandvi, a popular Gujarati snack (Farsan).

Most nasta (singular nasto) are deep fried and made with Gram Flour.

  • Chakri
  • Chorafali
  • Fafda
  • Ganthia
  • Khakhra
  • Mathia
  • Sev (palak Sev, Aloo sev)
  • Sev mamra
  • Lasaniya mamra
  • Dhokla
  • Porbandar khajli
  • KHANDVI
  • Methi sakarpara
  • Methi Muthia
  • Ragda Pettis
  • Nachni Methi Muthias
  • Tuver lilva kachori
  • Khichu Papdi

Dal (pulses)

  • Moong Dal
  • Meethi (Sweet) kadhi
  • Kadh (an intermediate between kadhi and daal)
  • Tuer dal
  • Mix dal

Mithai (sweets)

Mohanthar (Gram Flour Fudge)
Mohanthar (Gramflour Fudge)

Condiments

  • Chutney
  • Raita
  • Athanu
  • Papad
  • Kachu
  • Chhundo
  • Murbbo
  • Chhas ( Buttermilk )

Spices and seasonings

References

  1. Tarla Dalal (1999). The Complete Gujarati Cook Book. Sanjay & Co. p. 4. ISBN 81-86469-45-1.
  2. Robert Bradnock; Roma Bradnock (2001). Rajasthan & Gujarat handbook: the travel guide. Footprint Travel Guides. p. 54. ISBN 190094992X.
  3. Upper Caste Dominance and the Political History of Gujarat’s Conversion to Vegetarianism, KINGSHUK NAG, The Wire, 03/04/2017
  4. Livestrong
  5. ‘DE T(H)AALI!’ WE’RE ON THE SAME PLATE, Deepal Trivedi, Pune Mirror Dec 6, 2017
  6. For Modi And Japanese PM Abe, A Rooftop Gujarati Dinner, OUTLOOK, 9/13/2017
  7. Portuguese PM treats Modi with special Gujarati vegetarian lunch, Hindustan Times, Jun 24, 2017
  8. Khichdi, Dhokla, & More: Prime Minister Modi Has Given His Heart To Simple Gujarati Food!, Neha Verma, Oct 01 2017
  9. 'Modi's requirements were simple: The meal had to be pure veg' ReDiff, October 12, 2015
  10. Congress mocks Centre over 918-kg Khichdi, says country won’t go far, ANI, November 5, 2017
  11. "Traditional Gujarati Food & Cuisine". Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  13. Dalal, Tarla. "Ganthia Nu Shaak By Tarla Dalal". tarlaldalal.com. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
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