GUJARATI CUISINE
Gujarati Cuisine is primarily a vegetarians gourmet and has the influences from the Jains & Buddhist. Most of the Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty and spicy at the same time. The Gujarati Maharaj (cook ) is legendary for his subtle use of spices and retains the flavor and texture of vegetables and is served with hot pickles and chutneys.
For a standard everyday fare, Gujaratis often have Daal-Bhaat (rice and Dal) and Rotli-Shaak (roti and vegetables) as their standard menu at home. A typical Gujarati Thali (plate) offers an endless spread of Rotli (wheat bread ), Daal (pulses), Bhaat (rice) and Shaak (a dish made of different combinations of vegetables & spices which is either stir fried, spicy or sweet). It is common to add a little sugar or jaggery to some of the sabzi/shaak and daal. The sweet flavour of these dishes is believed to neutralize the slightly salty taste of the water.
North Gujarat, Kathiawad, Kutch, and South Gujarat are the four major regions of Gujarat that all bring their own style to Gujarati food due to their climatic conditions.
Traditional Gujarati Thali food is very popular over North Gujarat. They usage of vegetable oil and spices are quite less. Farsan (the appetizers) like Khaman Dhokla and Khandvi are a must in the Gujarati Thali. They also include a variety of Dal or Kadhi, Hot Rotli or Puris, Shaak, Raita, Doodhpak (sweetened milk with saffron and nuts), papads, chutney and pickles.
The people of Khathiawad love Dhebras ( prepared with wheat flour, yoghurt, spinach, green chillies, sugar and salt) served with Chhunda (sweet and sour mango pickle). Sweets made of peanuts and sesame seeds called the Chikki are the favourite sweet dish.
Kutch cuisine is a very simple meal prepared by rice and pulses. The main dish is the Khichdi and kadhi or Bajra no rotlo, guvarnu shaak. Doodhpak and Shrikhand are few mouth watering sweets in the Kutch region.
Undhiyu and Paunkh are few popular vegetarian dishes of the South Gujarat mainly comprising of the people of Surat. They mostly add green chillies to add flavor and life to the food. Nankhatais and Gharis are the popular sweets of the Southern Gujarat.
Popular Gujarati Dishes : Sweets : Basundi, Ghari Ghebar or Ghevar, Halvasan, Keri no ras, Malpua, Shrikhand,
Sutarfeni
Diwali Special Snacks : Cholafali, Ghooghra, Mathia, Soonvali,
Farsan (Snacks) : Daal Dhokli, Dhokla, Fafda, Farsi Falafel, Ganthia, Handva, Kachori,
Khakhra, Khaman, Khaman Dhokla, Khandvi, Khichu, Muthia, Sev Khamani
Shaak and Daal: Vegetables and Curries : Meethi (Sweet) Kadhi, Sev Tameta nu Shaak, Undhiyun
Breads : Bajri no rotlo, Bhakhri, Dhebara, Thepala
