Think of Lucknow and the first thing that comes to mind are kebabs,
biriyanis, kormas, and sheermal. While the legendary non-vegetarian
food deserves all the attention it gets, there is also an entire
alternate cuisine that the city specializes in (and not many know
about). The lip-smacking vegetarian options that you find in Lucknow are
as good as, if not better than their non-vegetarian counterparts. Don’t
believe us? Try for yourself.
- Dahi-Jalebi-Khasta.
No morning in Lucknow is complete without the special dahi-jalebi and
khasta combination. No matter what time of the year it is, every
morning carts magically spring up in nooks and corner of the city to
make fresh jalebis and khasta. Where there are no carts there are shops.
The jalebis are best eaten with curd that has been set in clay pots,
and the khasta is served with a dry preparation of potatoes laced with
chili, asafetida, and, dry mango powder. Every lane of the city has its
own Jalebi shop, but some are more coveted than the others. Try Kanchan
Sweets in Indira Nagar, or Neelkanth in Gomti Nagar to sample the
freshest Ghee jalebis and Khasta.
- Pooris & Kachauris.
Served with a tangy potato curry, these deep fried discs define
vegetarian feasts in this part of the country. While every home has its
own recipe of the dish, some shops are so famous that even housewives
rely on them to feed their guests. Served with a sweet and sour dried
mango chutney, boondi ka raita, and a dry preparation of either pumpkin
or potatoes, this meal is best had mid morning. The pooris come soft and
luscious and the kachauris are crisp and crunchy. They are flavourful,
full-bodied, and very, very satisfying. The most famous places to sample
them in the city are Netram Ajay Kumar in Aminabad, and Bajpayee
Kachauri Bhandar in Hazratgunj.
- Kulfi- Faluda.
Sweet after spicy and spicy after sweet – this is how a typical
foodie in Lucknow describes a meal. And so, after Kachauri comes Kulfi.
Served with bland, noodle shaped faluda, topped with flavoured syrup,
the kulfi here is rich, sweet, and laced with nuts. The faluda offsets
the sweetness and the syrup adds seasonal flavours – rose, mango,
saffron. The special thing about the kulfi here is that it is still made
the traditional way inside a large earthen pot. It’s not only delicious
but also eco friendly. Saunter into any sweet shop and you will find
their version of kulfi but the best-known shops are Prakash Kulfi in
Aminabad and Chanakya in Boothnath Market.
4, Chaat
There is nothing a true blue Lucknowite loves more than his chaat.
And he has reasons to do so. Pani ke Batashe, Aloo ki Tikki, Nimbu ki
Matar, Dahi Chutney ke Batashe, Suhaal, Palak ki Chaat, the list is
endless as are the flavours and textures. Whether it is the blandness of
the mashed peas against the tang of the lemony jaljeera water, or the
crispness of the fried potato patty against the softness of beaten curd,
the textures will have you and so will the flavours. Once you have
tasted the chaat of Lucknow, you will be ruined forever. The most famous
place to sample this: Shukla Chaat House in Hazratgunj.
- Mithai/Sweets.
People in Lucknow take their sweets seriously. So seriously that the
most expensive sweet here costs Rs. 36000/- a kilo. While that may be an
aberration, there is no denying that the city is home to some of the
most mouth-watering sweets in the region. Delicate Doodh ki Barfee,
robust Motichoor Laddos, or the indigenous Malai ki Gilori, the sweets
from Lucknow are famous worldwide, especially the Malai ki Gilori.
Shaped like a paan and made with fresh malai (milk cream), the sweet is
filled with crystallized sugar and nuts and garnished with silver varq –
thin sheet of real silver. This melt in your mouth mithai defines the
very core of the city – sweet, delicate, and unforgettable. You can find
the most delectable Malai Paan at Ram Asrey, Hazratgunj.
This post first appeared in
The Hindu
*
Got some recommendations for us to try in the city of nawabs? Do let us know and we’d love to try out.
No comments:
Post a Comment