Page 355 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INTRODUCING WESTERN INDIA  353

dollop of ghee at the end.
Jaggery or sugar is used to
sweeten every dish, and the
food is usually seasoned with
mustard, asafetida and
fenugreek, used both for
flavour and digestion.
Integral to a meal are crisp
farsaans, particularly dhokla
(steamed spongy cakes of chick-
pea flour and yoghurt), khandvi
(chickpea flour rolls filled with
coconut), mirchi pakora (green
Women selling fresh vegetables in a Rajasthan village chilly fritters) and khakra (wafers).
Saurashtra is famous for pickles
such as bhujia, dal-moth and a savoury griddled bread and methia masala, made from
khatta-meetha sev. made from chickpea flour. Rice powdered fenugreek, chillies
specialities, such as khichdi (a and salt and used as a salad
nourishing mixture of rice and dressing, while from the bakeries
Gujarat five kinds of lentils), vangi bhat, of Surat come wonderful local
Gujarat has large vegetarian (rice with aubergines and biscuits, nankhatais.
communities of Hindus and coriander) and masala bhat
Jains, who, as practitioners of (spicy rice) are made more ON THE MENU
non-violence, have developed tempting by the addition of a
an extremely refined vegetarian Batata nu shak A dry spicy
cuisine, rated as one of India’s potato preparation.
most sophisticated. A typical Besan halwa A sweet made
thali contains innumerable from chickpea flour.
small bowls (katoris), filled with Dahi pakora Lentil dumplings
vegetables, lentils, farsaans in yoghurt.
(savoury snacks), pickles, Kadhi A light curry made with
chutneys, breads and sweets. chickpeas and lentils.
This meal allows a person to
savour the delicate balance Makki soyta Corn kernels in a
of flavours – sweet and sour, spicy sauce.
salty and spicy, crisp and soft, Mattar ki kachori Fried bread
low fat and deep-fried. stuffed with peas.
Bajra (millet) is the staple grain Mula ni kadi Yoghurt curry
of the Saurashtra peninsula and with white radish.
Kutch district in Gujarat and is Paunk Mixed vegetables
used to make the rotlis (baked seasoned with lime and jaggery,
bread) that are eaten with most Young girls gathering red chillies that a winter dish, popular in Surat.
meals. Another bread is thepla, have been sun-dried

Gatta curry has steamed Sulas, a speciality of Rajput Shrikhand is a dessert made
dumplings made from chickpea clans, is barbecued meat from yoghurt flavoured with
flour cooked in a spiced softened with a paste made saffron, cardamom, nuts
yoghurt sauce. from a melon-type fruit. and dried fruits.

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