13 Indian Desi Snacks: Travelling for taste?

Do you travel for taste? One of the many joys of moving through the country as vast and vibrant as India is its rich culinary heritage. State-to-state cuisine has grown not only with conventional family recipes but also influences from Mughal, British, Persian, French, or Portuguese. India is a diverse nation, diverse in culture and taste from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. From the local beer of the East to the spicy Pyaaz kachoris of the West, from the fiery-hot chaats in Delhi to the fluffy idlis of the South, there’s so much to be had on your next journey. Here’s a list of lip-smacking delicacies that any ‘food-obsessed traveler’ needs to try!

1. Khawa Chai- Kashmir

Kahwa is a Kashmiri tea flavored with cinnamon, cardamom, and Saffron. It’s a perfect cocktail to taste on chilly winter days, but it can be had throughout the year.

2. Kullu Trout- Himachal Pradesh

A Tickle for taste from Himachal. The marinated fish is shallowly fried, in mustard oil with minimal seasoning hot Indian spices to maintain the initial freshness and flavor of the trout. Served on a bed of steaming rice. Let’s go to these Wadhiyan for some fish.

3. Chaat- Dilli

Whether it’s the Gol-Gappes or the crispy Tikkis, the Dahi loaded Bhalla or the Papdi chaat; Delhi is synonymous with street food, talk, and chaat! Treat your taste buds to these tempting, spicy flavors. Chale, BTW?

4. Kachori- Rajasthan

These flattened cutlets are filled with spices, onions, peas, lentils, and much more! Fed with tamarind or mint chutney or occasionally with Aloo sabzi, this lip-smacking delicacy must be enjoyed once in a lifetime.

5. Kebabs-Lucknow

Right from the town of Nawabs, Kebabs. Seasoned with seasoning, crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, Galouti Kebabs, or Tangdi Kebabs, to name a few, served with spicy dips or mint chutney. Try to taste it on the next journey to Lucknow.

6. Litti Chokha- Bihar

This authentic Bihari cuisine dish, Litti, or tandoor Satu balls are served with the bharta of Aloo & Baigan and the curd. Although it resembles the dal-batti of Rajasthan, it is quite different in taste and preparation. Worth a try while you’re in the streets of Bihar. Any friend in Patna?

7. Ghungi Chaat- Bengal

This Bengali street food, made up of boiled yellow dried peas or white peas, filled with tomatoes, Mattar, onions, and green chilies, flavored with lemon juice, makes a great evening snack. You just can’t say no to it!

8. Momo- Sikkim & Darjeeling

Momos – This food, thought to have originated in Tibet and Nepal, is commonly used in the north-eastern states. Stuffed with the filling of your choosing – chicken, pork, beef or cabbage, and even paneer, momos are commonly available, followed by a fiery-hot red chili-garlic-tomato sauce. We are a big-time fan, what about you?

9. Dabeli- Gujrat

Gujarati version of Vada Pav. The buns are fried to crunchy perfection in melted butter and stuffed with potato cutlets, garnished with fried peanuts, pomegranate seeds, sev, and sweet, tangy sauces. We recommend this Gujarati snack is a tasty treat.

10. Dum Briyani- Hyderabad

What’s the one thing you go around recommending when a friend comes to your town, Hyderabad? Yes, we caught you here. Its BRIYANI. Prepared with lusciously marinated meat or goat, filled with exquisite spices, the vessel is packed with dough and steamed over coals. As tempting as it sounds, an authentic dum biryani is going to blow your mind and taste buds!

11. Vindaloo- Goa

Vindaloo is influenced by a Portuguese recipe by Carne De Vinha D’Alhos. A meat dish prepared with wine and garlic. Vindaloo can be made from beef, chicken, pork, pomegranate and is also available in vegetarian varieties.

12. Kottu Paratha- Chennai

Borrowed from the culinary influence of Sri Lanka. Kottu Parotta is made by chopping flattened bread and mixing it with various vegetables, eggs, and occasionally chicken and mutton bits. Finely ground in traditional South Indian steel tumblers, served on a banana leaf and garnished with a generous topping of coriander.

13. Thattu Dosa- Kerala

The thick, round, steaming hot doses of spicy chutney and sambar make a nice change to daily doses, vadas and idlis.

Listening to heart is overrated, this coming year let’s listen to our taste buds. The best part about India is that wherever one goes you’ll always find some tasty and new discovered.