Punjab is an inseparable part of India. It is the land of many rivers, great agricultural lands, people with hearts made of gold and most importantly – the land of lip-smacking cuisines and treats. With rich and strong flavours along with the extensive use of spices and other condiments, these Punjabi cuisines have permeated every nook and corner of the country and have become the favourites of all food enthusiasts. Punjabi cuisines carry with them the taste of India and help in uniting people all across. With a heavy emphasis on serving delicacies with ghee and butter, many of these dishes are daily food items while some are just meant for special occasions. We are going to delve a little deeper to get better insights into the top 10 most popular food dishes in Punjab!
1. Chole Bhature
A people’s favourite, Chole Bhature is a Punjabi dish that is prepared using chickpeas and abundant Indian spices. It has a very strong aroma and is one of the most widely consumed dishes in the country. It is extremely popular in the Northern parts of India and is often seen as a combination of chana masala and puri. Bhature are special kinds of fluffy Indian bread made from all-purpose flour or maida. The sheer taste and availability of the dish has made it a staple dish in Punjab. With its spicy and tangy flavour along with its delicious taste, Chole Bhature has become a dish that can be easily found across restaurants and street vendors. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular food dishes in Punjab.
2. Aloo Paratha
The reigning champion of Indian breakfasts, Aloo Paratha is another popular and beloved dish originating from Punjab. It consists of an Indian flatbread or paratha which is then stuffed with potatoes. The entire process involves many layers and uses ingredients such as wholemeal flour, ghee, and flour. You can mash the potatoes and mix them with ginger, chilli powder, coriander and salt. Given its taste and ease of preparation, Aloo paratha has become one of the most popular Indian dishes in the west. You can alleviate the taste of your paratha by topping it with butter. You can serve it piping hot with curd, chutney and pickles.
3. Tandoori Chicken
A mouthwatering offering in the entirety of Indian cuisines, Tandoori chicken is one of the most loved Punjabi food dishes of all time. Also known as Tandoori murgh, this dish has tons of flavours. It is made with the help of chicken meat pieces which are marinated using yoghurt in a timely manner. It is seasoned using exotic Indian spices such as tandoori masala, cumin, nutmeg and garam masala. Tandoori chicken is, more often than not, prepared in a traditional manner with the help of cylindrical ovens called tandoors. This helps in developing an aromatic and smoky flavour on the meet. You can enjoy tandoori chicken with chutney. It is also served best when placed on skewers.
4. Lassi
Having won the hearts of people all across the country, Lassi is undoubtedly the most common drink for all of Punjab as well as other people in North India. You might also know Lassi as the pride of Punjab and rightfully so! It is also one of the most popular body cooling dishes drinks all of us enjoy throughout the country. Lassi as a drink is thick in texture and is usually served in huge glasses. Lassi is also rich in nutrients. You can easily prepare it as a health drink for sportspeople around you. You can find this drink in every Punjabi household. Who knows, you might chance upon it across restaurants and cafes during the summer. All this ensures that Lassi figures in our list of top 10 most popular food dishes in Punjab.
5. Amritsari Fish
Another popular Indian appetiser and dish from Punjab, Amritsari fish is a lip-smacking delicacy that leaves people wanting for more. Many of you might even call it Amritsari Machhi. This dish is made out of gram flour batter and is served along with a minty and aromatic coriander chutney. This is the perfect combination for an appetiser. A number of important ingredients make this dish so unique. These include carom seeds, fish meat, cardamom and spices etc. to name a few. The final dish is full of bursting flavours with a unique combination of spices and herbs. The dish hails from the Amritsar region of Punjab.
6. Butter Chicken
India’s most famous food export to the west, Butter Chicken is the crowned king of Indian delicacies as well as of food hailing from Punjab. The dish is a people’s favourite, with its creamy texture and its spice-induced flavours. This gravy delivers the best flavourful rests when paired with naan, rumali roti or Malabar paratha. The process of preparation is also fairly simple. You can easily marinate the chicken by grilling and preparing it. It also uses a thick gravy consisting of a perfect blend of tomato, garlic, spice blend and butter. There is also a tinge of sweetness in butter chicken as almonds and cashews also form important ingredients of the dish.
7. Sarson Da Saag and Makki Di Roti
One of the best dish combinations among Indian cuisines, Makki Di Roti and Sarson Da Saag are examples of staple dishes of a Punjabi household. You can enjoy this combination the best in the winter months. It tastes the best when consumed along with butter, lassi and jaggery. This combination of dishes is extremely nutritious, explaining the consistent energy and strength of those from Punjab. It also happens to be a speciality across all restaurants. The dish is a winter favourite and is perfect for your guilty winter indulgences. The bitter taste of mustard coupled with crumbling roti is going to make you keep coming back for more! This is why Sarson ka Saag and Makki di Roti makes it to our list of the top 10 most popular food dishes in Punjab.
8. Shakkar Paara
The go-to Punjabi snack with tea, Shakkar Para is a great dish to have whenever you are craving something sweet. Made from semolina essence and flour, this dish is extremely light with just the perfect amount of sweetness. You can make Shakkar Para with great ease. You can also easily store them for 2-3 weeks straight after preparation. They are diamond-shaped and have the goodness of crystallised sugar. You can also eat this snack in savoury form by deep-frying or baking it until it is crisp. It has flour, cardamom powder, ghee and sugar as its components. You can find this dish in abundance during the seasons of Holi and Diwali.
9. Dal Makhani
People’s favourite Dal, this Punjabi delicacy is delectable and keeps making people come back for more. Dal Makhani is an extremely buttery dish, consisting of lentils and kidney beans. You can then immerse them in a rich and thick gravy. It is buttery in nature and is made up of lentils, kidney beans immersed in a thick and rich gravy. You can also top your creamy makhani concoction with handsome dollops of cream. It is a dish that can be served to nobles and royals alike. This gravy goodness also has an aromatic smoky flavour which makes it one of the most beloved lentil recipes in North India. On occasions, the dal can also consist of urad, rajma butter and a hoard of spices which leaves everyone in awe. Dal makhani is undoubtedly everyone’s comfort food, especially in the winters!
10. Paneer Tikka
For all your dinner parties and get-togethers, the one dish that can never go wrong is Paneer Tikka. These easy to make and scrumptious paneer bites make for the perfect snack on lazy evenings. You can easily prepare paneer tikka with the help of marinated paneer bites suspended in yoghourt-based marinades. These bite-sized snacks are scrumptious. You can arrange these snacks on skewers and then grilled to achieve a smoky and charred taste. The best way to eat paneer tikka is with a tangy mint and cilantro chutney. Along with paneer, you can also prepare vegetables such as onion, bell peppers and tomatoes. Its universally loved taste and ease of preparation easily make it one of the most popular Punjabi dishes.
We hope that this list of the top 10 most popular food dishes was able to quench your taste buds and help you know about the dishes hailing from Punjab that make everyone’s mouths water. You also, can easily make any of these dishes and enjoy them to your heart’s content. These dishes are easy to make, widely enjoyed and have a universal appeal. Enjoyed the article? Read more on ChandigarhTimes.net and share with your friends!
