Travelling Foodie: 10 Delicious traditional dishes you can only try in India

MF editorial team 18 Oct 2016 updated the 14 November 2016 à 11:15

1/10
Chole bhature
A much-loved street food, chole bhature is a high caloric treat that packs a satisfying, flavourful punch. Eaten at all times of the day (usually during breakfast), the well-known Punjabi dish consists of an indulgent curried chickpea gravy and large pieces of bhatoora bread made of maida flour and fried to crispy perfection.
It is commonly served with a side of chutney, pickles, and onions for that extra zing to cut through the heavy chickpea gravy. You’ll find that chole bhature is quite popular around north-west India, though this delightful street food can found all throughout the country, during festivals, celebrations, and even served during family gatherings.
2/10
Jalebi
You can think of jalebi as a sort of sweet Indian pretzel. A simple wheat batter is deep fried in hot oil before being soaked in a sugar syrup spiked with lime juice or rose water. The result is a wonderfully chewy dough with a sweet, crystallised sugar coating.
While it’s easy to simply munch on a bag of jalebi, in North India they up the game by serving them with rabri, a sweet and spicy curd made from pearl millet flour. Though jalebi are easily available here (typically during Ramadan and Diwali), there’s something special about watching a street vendor form the intricate shapes in the hot oil right in front of your eyes.
3/10
Biryani
Many would be familiar with this typical Indian mixed rice dish, which has been a popular staple throughout the country for centuries. It is widely speculated that Indian biryani may have originated and evolved from the Persian pilaf, taking on the marriage of spices that India’s dishes are famous for embracing.
There are many different versions of biryani today, depending on whether it is influenced by the cooking styles of North India or South India. But wherever you choose to indulge in biryani, one thing’s for sure: there is nothing better than an authentic serving of this savoury dish. Imagine the delicious and aromatic scent of spices wafting from the most whimsically saffron-tinged dish, peppered throughout with succulent dried fruits and chunks of vegetables and meat.
4/10
Momos
Dumplings? You bet! Chinese and Japanese cuisines aren’t the only ones that boast of parcels stuffed with fillings. Momos are incredibly popular in India - you’ll find them everywhere, from restaurants to street stalls, push-carts to markets. You can order them with a filling of your choice, whether you feel like chicken, mutton, pork, or cabbage (for vegetarians). And they can either be steamed or fried, though we recommend the steamed version if you ever plan on snacking on a few - they don’t distract from the sumptuous flavour of the fillings as much as the fried dumplings do.
5/10
Dhokla
If you’re after something a bit lighter than the many fried goodies on offer in India, Dhokla is for you. Originating from Gujarat, Dhokla is a common breakfast food made by fermenting a batter of rice and split chickpeas before mixing in some delicious spices and steaming it. Yes, the fermented batter sounds funky, but the result is a beautifully soft and fluffy texture, reminiscent of our dim sum favourite, ma lai gao. It’s commonly topped with mustard seeds, coriander, and fried green chillies, and served alongside coriander chutney, making for a perfect savoury breakfast treat.
6/10
Kachori
Kachori is one of those dishes where each city or town claims to not only have invented it, but that they have the far superior version. At it’s most basic form, kachori is the ultimate spicy snack: a sinfully flaky and crisp pastry encasing a fiery dal filling, much like a typical curry puff.
In Uttar Pradesh, the filling is typically a mixture of crushed horse beans, chickpeas, and an abundance of spices. Kachori makers in Gujarat opt for a more fragrant version with the addition of ginger paste. You can even get a sweet version stuffed with potato, coconut, and sugar. But don’t take our word for it, get out there and try them all yourself!
7/10
Bhang lassi
The lassi is possibly India’s best known drink. Thick, creamy, sweet, salty, chilled; perfect for cooling down on a hot day. In India, the bhang lassi is much the same: yoghurt, sweetened with a bit of rose water, spiced with cardamom and cinnamon, and topped off with liquid cannabis. Wait, what?! Surprisingly, such a drink is legal in India, with government-run ‘bhang’ shops dishing out laced lassis for those so inclined. The drink is typically consumed during religious days like Holi, as legend has it that the Hindu god Shiva himself was supposedly a fan of the mixture.
8/10
Kheer
We’re no strangers when it comes to rice pudding, with pulut hitam being a staple dessert in Southeast Asia. But when it comes to finding the best of the best, Indian kheer surely wins with flying colours. While our version simply uses palm sugar for sweetness and sometimes pandan for extra flavour, kheer steps up the game with an abundance of spices (think aromatic cardamom and complex saffron), nuts (pistachios, almonds, cashews), and raisins garnishing the pudding. Served cold or hot, kheer certainly warms the soul and sates the stomach.
9/10
Upperi
We’ve all seen bags of banana chips on offer at the supermarket, and if you’ve ever bought a pack, you’ll know just how moreish they are. Well in Kerala, they dangerously take them to a whole new level by frying thinly sliced plantain in coconut oil, before tossing them in a mix of dry roasted spices for a savoury hit, or jaggery for a sweet treat. In fact, upperi are so sought-after in Kerala that hawkers there fry more than 200kg of plantains a day just to keep up with demand! So instead of munching away on your boring store-bought banana chips here, get to Kerala to try the real deal.
10/10
Modak
Though modaks are most commonly used as an offering to Ganesha (they’re believed to be his favourite food), these cute little sweet dumplings are actually incredibly tasty! A typical modak is made with a sweet filling of freshly grated coconut and jaggery, encased in a soft shell made of rice or wheat flour. But they don’t stop there - some variations include adding pieces of chocolate, dry fruits, and even paneer. Like most dumplings, modak can be steamed or fried, but the must-try version is ukadiche modak (steamed modak eaten with ghee), which is popular in the state of Maharashtra and South India.

Boasting fragrant spices and overwhelming bursts of flavour, the culinary scene in India is truly out of this world.

Known for its extravagant festivals, majestic temples, and diversity in culture, India is one of the most beautiful yet mystical places on earth. But did you know the country’s food is pretty incredible as well? With regions so different from each other, Indian cuisine can vary greatly from north to south, east to west. The cuisine from neighbouring countries such as China, Nepal and Pakistan have also greatly influenced the evolution of Indian food.

With such a fascinating history when it comes to its culinary roots, perhaps it’s not so far-fetched to embark on a delectable foodie tour around the vividly charming country.

Want a delightfully hearty meal? A trip to Hyderabad, the capital city of southern India’s Telangana state, might whet your appetite for their famous Hyderabadi biryani. With its tantalising additions of chicken, mutton, and rich condiments, the dish will leave you craving for more. Interested in exploring the delights of New Delhi instead? While it is certainly a melting pot of different Indian cuisines, do as the locals do – they know what’s best when it comes to food. To find the best chole bhature in town, look for the stalls with the longest lines. If it takes you at least 15 minutes to get to your prize, you know you’re in for a treat.

And we’re sure you’re interested in mouthwatering momos. The name sounds adorable, right? Well, if you’ve never heard of them, they’re actually dumplings with fillings! Yes, India adopted the snack-sized parcels of meaty goodness from its neighbours across the border. Though they originated from the northeast, momos can be found all over India today. If you are willing to travel from Delhi to the border state of Sikkim to the east, you are likely to find the most authentic dumplings in the region.

What are you waiting for? Get outta here!

Have you taken a look at our top 10 picks of traditional Indian fare in the gallery above? If they’ve left you salivating as much as we are, it’s definitely time to book a foodie adventure to magical India and treat your taste buds to an explosion of flavour.

Luckily, AirAsia has you covered with over 8 different locations (including Hyderabad and Tiruchirappalli to the south, New Delhi to the north, and Vishakhapatnam to the east), meaning you can try everything on this list and much more. Just head over to airasia.com to begin your gastronomic journey now!

This post was brought to you by AirAsia.

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Travelling Foodie: 10 Delicious traditional dishes you can only try in India

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