After months of scorching heat, finally monsoon is here to provide the much needed relief. The best thing about monsoon is you have plenty of time indoors to enjoy mouth-watering monsoon delicacies. The hot and spicy monsoon food favourites, make rain all the more pleasant. While pakodas and piping hot chai are everyone’s favourite, each state has varied delicacies to offer during this season. Here, we give you 8 signature monsoon savouries from each region of our country to tickle your taste buds.
Aalu Vadi from Maharastra
Typically a Maharastrian dish, Aalu Vadi is known as Patrode in Gujarat. It is prepared with Alu (colocacia leaves) in two different ways. In the simpler process, the pre-steamed alu wadi is deep-fried making it crunchy and delicious. As the colocacia leaves are available aplenty during the monsoons, Aalu Vadi has become a popular monsoon delicacy of Maharastra.
Litti-Chokha from Bihar
A perfect blend of flavour and crunchiness, this is a must have during the monsoon months due to its numerous health benefits. Litti is easy to digest and its healthy ingredients provide the necessary warmth to the body. This culinary delight from Bihar, contains the filling of sattu (roasted gram flour) and served with desi ghee alongside chokha (prepared with mashed potato, egg plant, spices, chillies and tomato).
Pazham Pori from Kerala
Pazham Pori is a traditional tea-time snack. Perfect to make at home, Pazham pori are slices of ripe banana, coated with a batter of maida or rice flour, and deep fried in coconut oil. Crispy on the outside with sweet succulent pieces of banana nestled inside, it is a perfect delight with a cup of tea during one of those rainy days.
Methi na Gota from Gujarat
A popular snack of Gujarat, Methi na Gota is also famous with the name of Dakor na Gota. It is made from fresh fenugreek leaves along with bengal gram flour and spices. It is then deep fried and served hot with fried green chillies. Though these fritters are deep fried, methi or fenugreek are known to promote good health and helps prevent some common infections during the rainy season.
Lukhmi from Telengana
The Hyderabad version of samosa, Lukhmi are small pockets of minced meat nestled in a crispy casing and deep fried in oil. Unlike samosa’s these tiny pockets are square-shaped, tastes best when served with a hot cuppa of tea. Although the mutton keema filling is quite popular, vegetarian version of this snack is also available with filling of minced carrot, beans and potato.
Beguni from West Bengal
One of the favourite monsoon delight of Bongs, Beguni are brinjals fried in besan or gram flour. This simple recipe often accompanied with puffed rice and a hot cup of tea is a perfect antidote to the gloomy weather.
Mirchi Bajji from Rajasthan
Mirchi bajji is a spicy yet delicious pakoda variety from Rajathan. These crispy bajjis are prepared with Bhavnagiri chillies, in which mashed potatos are stuffed, then it is dipped in a batter (prepared of gram flour) and deep fried. Mirchi bajji keeps the body warm during the monsoon.
Momos from Northeast States
Popular is the northern and north-eastern regions of India, momos are a favourite monsoon snack for many. A white moon-like crescent dumpling, stuffed with the goodness of minced meat, pork, chicken or vegetable, momos are all you need to beat the cold showers. Prefer it steamed or fried, a plate of steaming momos with hot garlic sauce and red chutney is enough to soothe every drenched soul.
Well after writing so much about these flavoursome recipes, I just can’t wait to binge on some of these delights. 🙂 So, what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate the monsoon spirit with these steaming delights. Though, make sure to take extra note of hygiene in your food preferences during this season.
