There is a famous saying, “Food is the common denominator that brings people together”. And to be honest, one cannot deny this fact as it aptly suits to a country like India which is diverse in almost every aspect starting from religions to languages.
There are many cultures and traditions in each state of India. Along with which there are also different varieties of food in India. Each state has its special dishes that are unique to the state.
In spite of all these diversities, Indians have a common thing that binds them together and it is nothing but their never-ending love for food. Actually, their love for different types of food!
Top 29 Foods From Each State Of India
Although there are many popular cuisines from each state, we tried to list the top cuisine of each state which you definitely need to try. So now, let us straight away take a virtual tour across all the 29 states of India and relish the most popular food of each state.
So here are the top 29 foods from each state in India.
1. Punjab- Makki di Roti and Sarson da Saag
Makki di roti is a type of cornbread made in India. It is served with Sarson saag which is made from green mustard leaves. It can be served with ghee or butter on top of the roti and saag to enhance the taste. Along with this dish, a glass of cool lassi is also often enjoyed which is like the icing on the cake.
2. Andhra Pradesh- Gutti Vankaya Kura
Gutti Vankaya Kura is a brinjal curry that is very popular in Andhra Pradesh. It consists of brinjals cooked in creamy, peanut, and coconut curry with sensational spices. It is served along with steamed rice and can also be eaten with rotis. This dish is very commonly eaten for lunch and dinner in Andra Pradesh.
3. Jharkhand- Pitha
Pitha is a dish that is similar to dumplings or fritters. It is usually stuffed with sweet or spicy fillings. The spicy ones have a masala lentil filling. This dish is vegan and can be enjoyed by anyone. They can be served with mint (pudina) chutney or Coriander (dhaniya) chutney.
4. Gujarat- Khandvi
One of the most famous and delicious dishes of Gujarat has to be Khandvi. It is a rolled snack made with gram flour, coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. It is enjoyed with a tangy sauce or mint chutney on the side. It can also be enjoyed with chilies if you are a spice enthusiast.
5. Arunachal Pradesh- Pehak
Pehak is a type of chutney that is made by using chilies and fermented soya beans. It is a very spicy delicacy that is eaten along with flavored rice or any other dish to add some pang to the dish!
6. Rajasthan- Daal Baati Churma and Gatte ki Sabji
This whole dish is very popular in Rajasthan. Daal Baati Churma is a Rajasthani dish that includes spicy Daal, sweet Churma, and crunchy Batis (bread). Gatte, which is plural for Gatta, are small circular pieces of gram flour that are added to a curd-based gravy. Unique spices are added to this dish to give it its piquant taste. It is often eaten with rice or sometimes also with roti. These dishes are enjoyed together!
7. Kerala- Idiyappam and Curry
Idiyappam is one of the most enjoyed dishes of Kerala. It is made of vermicelli, which consists of rice flour, water, and salt. The vermicelli is pressed into a disc shape. They can be served alongside whichever curry you may like. The plain taste of the idiyappam accentuates the taste of the curry.
8. Maharashtra- Misal Pav
A popular, and delightful, food of Maharashtra is Misal pav. It is very well known for its savory and spicy taste. It includes a curry made of sprouted lentils, with finely chopped onions, crunchy farsan, tomatoes on the top. Along with this curry, there is pav (bread), heated with butter, and also some lemon slices for more zing in the dish! Misal Pav is one of those street foods which is loved by almost everyone in Maharashtra.
9. Kashmir- Khatte Baingan
Khatte Baingan is a dish made with brinjal, also known as eggplant or aubergine. It consists of brinjals in a thick, zesty, and spicy gravy. It is usually served as a side dish in ceremonies in Kashmir and can be enjoyed with rice or roti.
Note: Kashmir which was earlier a state in India is now a Union Territory. However, we included it in our list as most people wanna know about its top food too assuming it to be a state still.
10. West Bengal- Rasgulla
Rasgulla, a sweet dish of West Bengal, is an absolutely perfect dessert. It is a syrupy sweet that is made of dumplings that are shaped like a ball cooked in a sugary syrup until the syrup fills them. This dish is often eaten during festivals or ceremonies. However, it can also be enjoyed on a daily basis. Rasgulla is one such sweet dish that is loved by people all across India.
11.Tamil Nadu- Pongal
Pongal is a special dish of Tamil Nadu which is often prepared to offer to gods. It is made of rice, milk, lentils, and also has cashews in them. They are made in different ways, some with tamarind, jaggery, or black pepper, but are all very enjoyable. Pongal is a simple yet tasty dish.
12. Telangana- Hyderabadi Biryani
Biryani, better known as Hyderabadi biryani, is a very famous dish of Telangana. It is made in the forms of Kachay Gosht Biryani and Dum Biryani. This spicy rice dish is topped with onions, lemon, and cilantro leaves. It is commonly enjoyed as lunch. This dish can be made with or even without meat.
13. Uttarakhand- Kapaa
Kapaa, also known as Kafuli, is a dish that is made often in the winter since it is the most enjoyable then. It is a thick gravy made of spinach, garlic, ginger, fenugreek leaves, curd, and a mixture of spices. It is the main dish that is most commonly eaten with steamed Rice or Rotis.
14. Madhya Pradesh- Bhutte ka Kees
Bhutte ka Kees is a spicy, delicious snack that can easily be made. It is common street food in Indore and Madya Pradesh but also commonly made and enjoyed at home. It is made using grated corn, spices, coconut, milk, mustard seeds, and green chilies. It is a healthy snack that can be enjoyed with tea.
15. Haryana- Hara Dhania Choliya
Hara Dhania Choliya is a famous dish of Haryana. Choliya, which are also known as green chana, are mixed with onions, carrots, and many spices. This dish is a sabji that is eaten with rice and/or roti.
16. Nagaland- Fried Bamboo Shoot
Bamboos are often only enjoyed by pandas, otherwise, they may not be so tasty. However, if cooked in Nagaland style, you may just enjoy it. Bamboo shoots can be used dried or fermented. They add some sourness to dishes that they are combined with. Bamboo shoots are added to many foods such as pork or fish.
17. Odisha- Ras Malai
Ras Malai is a popular sweet delicacy made of milk, sugar, and saffron. It is bought mostly from sweet shops. It is soft and juicy and is served with pistachio on top to add to the flavor. This soft sweet is usually consumed during special occasions, however, you can also enjoy it anytime! Ras Malai tastes even better when you refrigerate them before consuming.
18. Assam- MasorTenga
MasorTenga is a famous sour dish of Assam. The dish involves tomatoes, lemon, raw mango, and mangosteen. It is a tangy fish curry that has some spice and can be best enjoyed with rice at lunch or dinner. This dish is mainly consumed during summertime.
19. Karnataka- Bisi Bele Bath
Bisi Bele Bath is a traditional Karnataka dish that means a hot lentil rice dish. In Kannada, Bisi means ‘Hot’ (temperature), Bele means ‘Lentils’ and Bath is a word that indicates a soft dish cooked by adding the ingredients in water.
Bisi Bele Bath is a spicy dish that has lentils (Toor dal) and rice being cooked together along with few vegetables, tamarind, and spicy Bisi Bele Bath powder. This spicy, yet the tangy dish is commonly enjoyed as a snack with peanuts and puffed rice (murmura).
20. Bihar- Litti Chowkha
Litti Chowkha is a dish that consists of Litti and Chowkha. Litti is bread that is baked from Buckwheat flour dough that is stuffed with roasted gram flour, lemon juice, and spices. It is served alongside Chowkha which are spicy mashed vegetables.
21. Himachal Pradesh- Sidu
Sidu is a type of bread made with wheat that is kneaded with yeast two hours before it is made. It is stuffed with boiled green peas that are mashed, walnuts, roasted peanuts, and paneer (cottage cheese). It is usually eaten with lentils (dal), green chutney, and ghee.
22. Goa- Goan Fish Curry
One of the most famous and well-known dishes from Goa is the Goan Fish Curry. This dish is a thick, flavory curry with coconut, red chilies, and fresh fish or prawns in it. This dish is often served and enjoyed with rice or roti.
23. Sikkim- Momos
Originating from Tibet, momos are extremely popular all over India, especially in Sikkim. Momos are steamed dumplings with a filling inside. The outside is made of white flour and water. In some cases, yeast or baking soda is also added to the dough to improve the texture of the dumplings. The filling of the momos traditionally had meat, however, over the years, new fillings are also added. From paneer to vegetables, anything can be added to the filling.
24. Mizoram- KoatPitha
This dish, which is made from rice flour, jaggery, and bananas, are deep-fried fritters. This delicious dessert is often enjoyed during occasions. They are very crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. They can also be enjoyed with tea or as an evening snack. Some people in Mizoram even eat these fritters alongside fish.
25. Chhatisgarh- Muthia
Muthia are dumplings that are extremely famous in Chhatisgarh. It is prepared using rice batter and has various traditional Chhattisgarhi spices. The dish may seem as it is fried, however, it really is not. It is steamed and therefore holds the interesting flavor of its spices. This famous dish is often enjoyed during breakfast time. This dish can be enjoyed along with tea.
26. Tripura- Chakhwi
Chakhwi is a traditional, healthy, and delicious dish from Tripura. This healthy dish is a mix of bamboo shoots, jack fruit, green papaya, a variety of lentils, and pork. A lot of foods from Tripura are prepared without oil or with little oil. This dish is a healthy snack that can be enjoyed with rice or even just as it is.
27. Manipur- Morok Metpa
Morok Metpa is a side dish that is served alongside main dishes during lunch. It is kind of like a salad. It can be prepared both in veg ways and in non-veg ways as well. The veg way to make it is by frying onions, red chilies, and chives. The non-veg way to make it is by mashing the chilies to a paste and boiling it with Ngari fish, and lastly mashing it again and sprinkling it with salt.
28. Meghalaya- Jodoh
Jodoh is the Khasi version of biryani. This famous dish of Meghalaya is red hill rice that is cooked with pork pieces, vegetables and is garnished with fried fish or eggs. The unique spices give this dish its popularity.
29. Uttar Pradesh- Kakori Kebab
Kakori kebabs are a special Mughlai recipe that has been passed on for centuries from Lucknow. The name comes from the Kakori city on the outskirts of Lucknow. It is prepared with mutton, onions, and a few spices. These kebabs are very soft, that they will melt in your mouth. These kebabs are eaten with rice, onions, and also a variety of sauces.
Well, I know that after going through these mouth-watering dishes, you just can’t control your hunger.
So, why wait! Simply try out all these top 29 foods from each state of India. Do let us know your favorite food for sure by heading to our comments section.
