Interesting Indian Dishes that are not well-known

India has huge food diversity. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, you will get innumerable dishes that you might have not even heard of. Therefore, we have listed some lesser-known dishes of Indian that are a must-try.

India’s cultural and social diversity has always been reflected in its traditions, customs and especially its food. We are well aware of the typical dishes from different states like Chole Bhature from the North, Idli from the South, Macher Jhol from Bengal, Fafda and Jalebi from Gujarat, Momos from the East and much more. 

Some dishes have been overshadowed by the immense popularity of various regional dishes. Here’s a look at some of the lesser-known yet delicious dishes. 

1. Sidu:

Sidu or siddu is a speciality of Kullu, a district in Himachal Pradesh. It is a kind of bread made with wheat flour and uses yeast. It is essentially bread stuffed with walnuts and it makes it a healthy snack. Usually, it is eaten with daal, ghee or green chutney.

2. Dehrori:

Dehrori is a Bihari dessert that originated in Chattisgarh. It is made with basic ingredients like rice, cardamom powder, cashew, almonds, ghee, lemon juice and sugar. It is traditionally prepared on festivals like Diwali and Holi. 

3. Bebinca:

Bebinca is a traditional layer cake from Goa. It is derived from Indo-Portuguese cuisine. It has 7 and 16 layers but can be modified according to one’s preference and taste.  

4. Labra:

It is a traditional dish made in both Bangladesh and Kolkata. It is cooked during Durga pooja, Lokkhi pooja (Laxmi pooja) and Bengali new year. This curry is liked by all due to the addition of Panch Phoran, which means five spices which are a concoction of mustard seeds (til), fennel (saunf), cumin (jeera), nigella (kalaunji) and fenugreek (methi).

5. Kesari:

Kesari bhat or kesari bat is a South Indian dessert made from semolina (rava), ghee, milk and water. Its called kesari due to its saffron colour, which is achieved by the addition of saffron. It is offered as naivedyam to the Hindu gods and deities during pooja and festivals like Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi etc.

6. Babarsa:

Babarsa, a sweet, came into existence in Khipai, a city in Midnapur, West Bengal. It looks like an imarti and is made up of ghee, flour and honey. Today, very few shops sell this sweet as it is expensive and didn’t gain as much popularity as rosogulla and chomchom. The sweet traders of Khirpai feel that government should intervene to keep the legacy of this sweet alive.

7. Bedhai:

Bedhai is a famous dish in Uttar Pradesh, especially in cities like Agra, Firozabad and Mathura. This dish is a spicy potato-based curry served with crispy puris. It is a breakfast choice for many people residing in these cities. 

8. Paddu:

It’s a South Indian dish that has a similar batter composition as dosa and idli. Its batter is made of black lentils and rice. This dish can be both spicy and sweet with the addition of chillies and jaggery, respectively. 

 

Whenever you get a chance, do try these dishes in the places of their origin to taste the authentic taste.