Most of the people around the world know Curries, Biryani or maybe some South Indian Dishes like dosa as an Indian food. But there are many more food items which are lesser known.
Food items I am listing are mainly from state of Maharashtra as I grew up there, but there are thousands of more dishes from rest of India which are unique and delicious.
Vada Pav
It is my most favourite snack. Also can be called as Indian Burger. A pillowy pav, stuffed with a golden-fried spiced batata (potato) vada, covered with a lick of tamarind and coriander chutneys and a sprinkling of garlicky masala - the vada pav is starch heaven, an instant energy booster.[1]Thalipeeth:
Thalipeeth is a type of savoury multi-grain pancake popular in Western India. It is a special Maharashtrian dish. The dough is prepared from a special flour made from roasted tapioca(sabudana), Rajgira (Amaranth), coriander seeds, cumin seeds, wheat, and rice. Onion, fresh coriander and other vegetables and spices are added when kneading the dough. [2]
Kothimbir Vadi:
Kothimbir Vadi from traditional Maharashtrian (Mumbai is in the state of Maharashtra) eateries… Kothimbir is the Marathi (local language in Maharashtra) word for Cilantro and Vadi means fritter, cutlet or croquette.
Crunchy, spicy little cakes, full of delicious Cilantro and peanut flavor. These are made by steaming a batter of chickpeas flour with loads of fresh cilantro, spices, roasted peanuts and sesame seeds until cooked, cutting the cake into bite-sized pieces and frying them till they are wonderfully crunchy on the outside. [3]
Bhakarwadi:
Bhakarwadi or Bakarwadi, is a traditional sweet and spicy snack that is believed to have originated in Ahmedabad. It is often confused for a Maharashtrian snack because it was popularized by Raghunathrao Chitale, a Maharashtrian. It is made from gram flour dough made into spirals stuffed with a mixture of coconut, poppy seeds and sesame seeds. It is then fried until it gets crispy. It can be stored for weeks and enjoyed as an evening snack. [4]
- Shrikhand:
Shrikhand is an Indian sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is one of the main desserts in Maharashtrian cuisine. Yogurt is tied in a muslin (cotton) cloth and left under pressure to drain. In the past, it used to be hung from a wall to achieve the desired thickness. The strained yogurt, and sugar are mixed thoroughly in a deep bowl. Cardamom, saffron, and any other flavors are then added and mixed. It is then left in the refrigerator for the sugar to dissolve. The dish is served chilled. It is usually eaten with Puri which is Fried flat bread made from whole wheat flour. [5]
These are some food items which came to my mind and I thought of sharing it. So next time if you come across any of it taste test it. If anyone want to suggest some other dishes please mention in comments.
Cheers!
References:
[1] http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/vada-pav-trail-the-street-food-that-defines-mumbai-1206466
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalipeeth
[3] http://spiceinthecity.co/2014/07/04/celebrating-local-flavors-kothimbir-vadi-cilantro-croquettes/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakarwadi
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrikhand