India is known for its diversity – in culture, in customs and in cuisines. From biryani to kebabs, to shorbas and kormas, we have it all. You’ve heard of, and maybe even tried Delhi’s chaat and Mumbai’s vada pav, and Surat’s dhoklas; but have you heard of Pune's tilli? Have you tried Dibrugarh's eri polu?
From silkworm curry to garlic kheer, India is home to some truly innovative recipes. While some of these dishes may leave you in awe of the rich diversity of India, the other items on the list may leave you frustrated at how boring your plate is.
If you have it in you to take on a truly gastronomical adventure, read on and discover the unique dishes from around India.
1. Baby Shark Curry
To make this fish, the baby shark is chopped into small pieces and cooked in a thick coconut gravy with a lot of spices. Baby shark curry is usually served with rice. The dish is a delicacy in Goa, but be prepared to pay heftily for your meal.
2. Red Ant Chutney
Known in Chattisgarh as chaprah, the red ant chutney is prepared by drying red ants and their larvae in the sun. The dried ants are then treated with sweeteners, spices and other ingredients. The chaprah is considered to be so spicy that it can actually burn your tongue. That is precisely why the locals call it an adventure and not merely a chutney!
3. Paaya
In order to attain the rich texture of this dish, hooves (from buffaloes, goats, and sheep) are cooked with rich spices and an onion-garlic gravy and is cooked slowly on heat (usually overnight). This dish is popular in Hyderabad and Lucknow and is usually served with rotis or rice.
4. Tilli
Buffalo spleen is marinated in mild spices and roasted to make Tilli. The dish, popular in West Maharashtra, may be known for its pungent smell, but those who have tried Tilli swear by its unique taste.
5. Hilsa Eggs
The Hilsa fish may be a staple in most Bengali kitchens, but the eggs of the Hilsa also make for a scrumptious snack. There is no ONE set recipe. The eggs can be consumed in a number of ways – simply fried to be served as a snack, or sprinkled with spices and tossed in mustard oil to be relished in the monsoons.
6. Doh Khleh
The Doh Khleh is a pork and onion salad with a catch. What makes this special dish from Meghalaya stand out is the fact that it is garnished with – steamed pig brain.
7. Snail Stew
If you’re visiting Nagaland, don’t leave without trying some snail stew, or some steamed hornet, or even some silkworm curry. If you’re turning up your nose at the ingredients in some of these dishes, then you’re missing out.
8. Benami Kheer
The main ingredient of this kheer is as interesting as its name – garlic. If you’ve decided that this is the most unusual dessert you’ve heard about, then wait till you try some onion halwa.
9. Frog Legs
Frog legs are enjoyed as a delicacy in Sikkim, Goa and some other parts of the country. To prepare the dish, the frog legs are dried, sprinkled with salt and pepper and fried in batter. Some also swear by its medicinal properties. If you’ve developed a taste for this dish, remember that the Indian bullfrog is recognised as a threatened species.
10. Haldi ka Halwa
You’ve heard about haldi ka doodh and the cringeworthy Haldi Latte, but have you heard of haldi ka halwa? The dish, found in North Indian households and usually served in winters around Makar Sakranti, is said to fight cold and strengthen immunity. The halwa is prepared by mixing kachi haldi with other ingredients such as gud (jaggery), ginger and dry grapes in ghee. It is garnished with nuts, which are high in proteins. An out and out healthy recipe!
11. Bhunni
Bhunni is a unique Garhwali dish. The main ingredients of the dish are goat's liver, stomach, intestines and blood – an acquired taste, for sure.
12. Phan Pyut
A dish from the North East that is made from rotten potatoes. Read that again. Ripe potatoes are left uneaten and consumed only when they completely rot. They are either eaten raw or cooked with spices before eating.
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