MAHARASHTRIAN FOOD^

Maharashtrian Food Culture


Maharashtra is a state blessed with nature's bounties. Ecological diversity is the reason due to which a variety of crops, fruits, and vegetables are grown. Maharashtrian cuisine is austere yet full of flavor and color. There is a proper balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian variety and not to forget the delectable seafood! The state comprises mainly five regions, Konkan, Paschim Maharashtra, Khandesh, Vidarbha, and Marathwada. Cuisine in every region is primarily influenced by the predominant agricultural produce of that region. 


 Basically in Maharashtrian homes, we find a perfect way of arranging the food in a predetermined order in the thaali. Dry vegetables are served on the right-hand side, while pickles and the side dishes are served on the upper left-hand side. Sweet, snacks, laddoos, Puran Poli, jalebi, papad, bhajji are served on the lower left side of thali. Bhaat, dal is served at the center of the thali. Unlike the western system, the sweets and desserts are served right in the beginning and consumed during meals but after varan bhaat. eating with the left hand is obviously not welcomed. All this system of the arrangement of food in thali has a scientific reason behind it.

Region-wise food specialties
Konkan- consists of the five coastal districts of Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The region predominantly produces rice on a large scale with a variety of vegetables and seasonal fruits like chickoo, mango, coconut, cashewnut jackfruit, and battle nut. Fishing is an important occupation observed in the Konkan area. Vegetarian food is largely influenced by rice, coconut, and cashews, while nonvegetarian food is primarily seafood. The popular Maharashtrian dishes like Ukdiche Modak, Valachi Usal, Kajuchi Usal, Ghavne or Ghavan, and Amboli are from the Konkan region The dishes are austere yet full of flavor. Popular non-vegetarian dishes are Kalvan and fried fish. Malvani cuisine in Konkan is famous for dishes like Tikhla, and Vade sagote . Solkadi is the famous cooler after the meal.


Paschim Maharashtra (the Deccan plateau)- plains rich with alluvial soil consist of the district of Pune, Ahmadnagar, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, and Kolhapur. The region is known for its large production of milk and sugarcane. The popular dishes like Bhel, misal pav, Kat vada usal, Bharleli vaangi Puran Poli, pithale, zhunka, and thalipeeth are from this region The popular non-vegetarian Kolhapuri Tambda and pandhra rassa is famous all over Maharashtra. 


Marathwada- includes the district of Aurangabad, Latur, Osmanabad, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, and Nanded. Marathwada cuisine is not as spicy as Kolhapuri or Khandeshi cuisine. Marathwada is famous for crispy Vaalkyachi Vadi, Hirvya Chinchecha thecha, kandyache pithle, hurdyachi usal, katachi amti , khavyachi poli, govlyachi kheer, daalichi bhaji, bhajirichi bhakri. 

 

Khandesh - the four districts of Nashik, Jalgaon, Dhule, and Nandurbar from the Khandesh region. Khandesh is rich in the production of fruits, especially grapes and bananas. Also produces sugarcane and milk in abundance. The region also grows groundnuts and brinjals in large amounts. Groundnut thus is in influences the cuisine here. The popular vegetarian dishes of Khandesh are Shev bhaji, vaangyache bharit and bhakri, knandeshi khichidi, and gulachi puri. A special nonvegetarian item in Khandesh is Khandeshi Kala (black)  masala chicken or mutton.



Vidarbha - Buldhana , Washim , Amrawati , Hingoli, Akola,  Nagpur,  Yavatmal, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli form the vidarbha region . Vidarbha has two cuisines namely, Varhadi cuisine and the spicy and fiery nonvegetarian Saoji cuisine. Vidarbha cuisine has been influenced by spices, dry coconut, and besan thus making it a spicy cuisine. Besan is used more in vegetarian dishes whereas the spicy and non-vegetarian Saoji dishes of chicken and mutton are made up of spices like black pepper, dry coriander, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. A Popular Saoji dish is ' Saoji Mutton Rassa'. Patodi rassa bhaji, kalnyachi bhakri , vada bhaat, and varhadi thecha constitute staple diet of vidarbha region.



All the people in Maharashtra love trying the different flavors from the state and not only in the state the dishes are famous all over the country.  
More such special dishes and snacks from Maharashtra  I will be exploring with something new in it on my Instagram stories.  



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