Ten Most Delectable Gujarati snacks

 

 Gujarati cuisine is one of the oldest culinary treasures of India and is primarily vegetarian. Many of us associate Gujarat only with dhokla, khakhra, or the drool-worthy Gujarati thali. But there is more to the food of Gujarat than that. North Gujarat, Kutch, Kathiyawad and Surat are the four major regions of Gujarat and each of these bring their own uniqueness to the cuisine.

This vegetarian cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes, each with its unique cooking style, and is always high on nutritional value. 

But the real essence of Gujarati food lies in the creative use of everyday vegetables and mild spices. A distinctive characteristic of Gujarati food is its palate-pleasing combination of sweet and sour flavors. Gujarat's coastal climate is mostly hot and dry which is why the use of sugar, tomatoes, and lemon is quite common as these foods keep the body hydrated. 

Let us have a look at these amazing snacks which you can gulp down with a glass of Gujarati beer – Masala Chaas.

1 KHAMAN:

It is a steamed item made from ground gram flour and served with green chutney and fried green chilies. It is soft and fluffy with a mildly sweet, sour, and tangy taste. It is very similar to its humble cousin – dhokla.  Popular adaptations of the khaman include the ameri khaman (mashed up khaman garnished with sev and pomegranate), the nylon khaman (softer and fast-cooking khaman), and the masala khaman (khaman served with hot and spicy chilly powder).

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2.THEPLA:

No Gujarati journeys, picnics, foreign trips, or even business tours are complete without this ubiquitous snack. This fine and flavourful Indian flatbread is made from whole wheat flour kneaded with methi (fenugreek), chilies, herbs, yogurt, and a dash of sugar.

Although the methi (fenugreek) ones are the most common, other varieties of thepla include the palak (spinach), or the muli (radish) theplas.

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Usually served piping hot with fresh curd, pickles, or chhundo, they make a wholesome meal.

3.FAFDA:

A popular tea time snack, fafda, is one of the most loved Gujarati dishes. Fafda is a crunchy, fried, chickpea flour snack. It is stuffed with spices like ajwain (carrom seeds), turmeric, and salt.

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Have a fried chilly or a whip of the dry papaya chutney with this combination along with kadhi. Jalebis are usually served with fafda and together they are a match made in heaven.

4. KHANDVI:

One of the much-loved Gujarati snacks, khandvi is also known as Patuli or Dahivadi. It is primarily gram flour and yogurt that is slow-cooked. It is then flattened so that rolls can be made out of it. This rolled, bright snack is tempered with coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves, and just melts in your mouth.

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5. HANDVO:

Handvo is a savory tea cake that is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. A healthy and an aromatic mix of bottle gourd along with buttermilk, flour, coriander, chilies, lentils and rice.

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It is sometimes pan-fried to get a crispy and golden texture. Handvo is topped with the tempering of mustard, sesame seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida, and peanuts. Like most other snacks it is best enjoyed with a hot cuppa.                                                   

6.PATRA:

A popular snack recipe which is a great combination of flavor and good health! Colocasia leaves, a powerhouse of nutrients like Iron, when made into a delicious dish of Patra, it is super tasty as well. 

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A smooth paste of gram flour with spicy, sweet, and sour flavors is applied over the leaves, rolled and steamed, and then pan-fried. To get a more crunchy texture it is sometimes deep-fried as well.                                                                                         

7.MUTHIYA:

Named after the action that is used to shape the dough, these fist-cakes make for a great breakfast, evening, or tiffin snack. To prepare these, a mixture of chickpea flour, bottle gourd, and spices is prepared, steamed, pan-fried, and seasoned. If you skip the pan-frying, it becomes a great meal for health-conscious folks. Other varieties include the usage of spinach, fenugreek, amaranth, or even bitter gourd.

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 Juicy and fluffy on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside, it is best relished with a dash of mint-coriander chutney or tomato ketchup.

8. DABELI:

This tasty, filling snack originates from the Kutch region of Gujarat. Dabeli combines toasted pav buns and a filling that is made with mashed potatoes and a spice mix usually consisting of coriander seeds, turmeric, cardamom, fennel seeds, coriander leaves, chili peppers, onions, tamarind chutney, coconut, some pomegranate seeds, and peanuts.

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It is a somewhat crunchy, savory, and flavourful fast food dish that one can grab and go.

9.LILVA KACHORI:

Lilva kachori is a special winter snack. These crunchy, tasty, kachoris are made from wheat flour and semolina rolled out and filled with a stuffing of pigeon peas (toovar), green chili, coriander, and dry spices. It is then rolled into balls and deep-fried. 

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Steaming hot kachoris are best served with the mint coriander chutney or tomato ketchup to warm a chilly winter day.

10.GATHIYA:

Unlike most other Indian snacks, gathiya is not crunchy, but soft and puffy. It is primarily made of gram flour and is like a thicker version of sev with a few notable differences. There are usually two kinds of Gathiya: Tikha (spicy) Gathiya and regular Gathiya. 

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Gathiyas are usually served with fried green chilies and a piping hot cup of tea. It is a must-try, for sure!