Famous Festival Food of Maharashtra

The Maharashtrian cuisine is distinctive, while it also shares many similarities with other states' cuisine. In their cooking, you will find mild to spicy and tangy to sweet flavours. Rice, wheat, jowar, nachani, lentils, fruits and vegetables are all dietary staples of this region. However, the food made during the festivals is very different and rich here, just like any other state. Many unique dishes are made, especially during festivities which one must try. The food items are sweet and savoury and add that special touch to all the celebrations. Let us check out some famous festival and traditional food of Maharashtra.

Sabudana Khichadi

A special dish made during the fasts or vrats has a unique flavour with crunch peanuts and green chillies, the only spice used. The tapioca pearls are soaked overnight and made the next day for faral, which means exceptional food prepared for upwas or fasting. Made with cumin seeds, boiled potatoes, peanuts, green chillies, lemon juice, etc., this simple dish is bursting with flavour. It can be a delightful breakfast item too.

Puran Poli

A sweet dish made for special occasions is a rich, decadent item with simple ingredients, but preparation makes it unique. Cooked and mashed channa dal is fried with ghee, sugar or jaggery with some cardamon and nutmeg powder for that decadent taste. Once it reaches a puran or stuffing like consistency, it is cooled and stuffed into wheat roti dough just like a partha. It is cooked on a hot Tawa and then slathered with puri desi ghee before serving the guests.

Ukadiche Modak

They are said to be Lord Ganesha's, favourite sweets. They are dumplings whose outer coating is made from rice flour, and the inner stuffing is from jaggery and coconut. The dumplings are steamed by keeping them on a banana leaf on a steamer and served with a dollop of ghee. These sweet dumplings are made during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival to celebrate Lord's love for sweets. This preparation of these dumplings is considered an art in itself.

Shrikhand

A sweet yoghurt dish served chilled during a Pangat or the traditional way of eating food while sitting a row. The yoghurt is tied in a  soft muslin cloth to remove the whey water and get the thick creamier yoghurt. It is then mixed with sugar, cardamom powder, saffron, and chopped nuts. It is a must-have item during a wedding or Dushera celebrations. Served with piping hot puri, shrikhand is sometimes made using fresh fruits.

Aamras

Summers are all about mangoes, and a chilled bowl of aamras is a favourite of all Maharashtrians. The pulp is extracted from two or three varieties of mangoes to get a sweet flavour with a little tanged and is chilled till it's time to eat. The ras can be served with puris or chapatis is the perfect way to cool down during the summer months.

The Food of Maharashtra is rich, diverse and delectable. It had something for everyone. We discussed some food which is savoured during festivals and celebrations. But you can also have them as a Sunday special treat for you and your family.