Every time this season arrives, the one thing that rings in my head is “Winter is coming” (an iconic dialogue from Game Of Thrones). The chilly and cold winds start blowing past my face and I’m totally packed in my layers of thermals, sweaters and jackets. Another popular saying, or rather song lyrics around winter, go like “Dilli ki sardi”. Well, Delhi winters have been well-known since decades and it’s not just the weather that people get so excited about. Winter brings in a host of delectable bites to nibble on and enjoy the breeze.
At my Punjabi household, winters are all about pinnis and panjiris. Every year, my mother and grandmother decide on a particular day and collect all the ingredients for pinni. That day the kitchen would be occupied for at least four to five hours and all of us would only get more and more tempted with the appetizing aroma of flour, ghee and sugar filling the house. Finally, once the mixture would be ready, they would sit down on the table and start rolling it into oval-shaped ladoos. These pinnis would be kept to cool down a bit after which each one of us would attack on them.
That’s a seasonal tradition at my house. Similarly, the diversity of India is no stranger to a plethora of such traditions and food rituals performed in different parts of the country. Be it the desert areas of Rajasthan or the coastal backwaters of Kerala, each region has their own winter special that is unique to them. The intermingling of cultures has also made it possible for many communities to gorge on certain specialties of another place.
In the hopes of expecting a really chilly season this year as we enter December, here are some regional sweet and savoury regional delicacies to keep you warm this winter.
1. Nolen Gurer Sandesh From Bengal
Bengalis are well-known across the country for their meaty affairs as well as their sweet tooth. Their chenna-based sweets are amongst the most popular sweetmeats in India. From kaacha gola to cham cham and sandesh, there is a sweet treat for each one on the Bengali dessert counter. However, teher is one dish that is a winter specialty, Nolen Gurer Sandesh. Made with date palm jaggery, this heavenly sweet combines milk with nuts and dry fruits for the crunch and is only available in winters.
2. Beetroot Thoran From Kerala
Taking a trip to the South of India would make you familiar with this traditional dish called thoran. Thoran, for the unversed, is a combination of dry vegetables with coconut that is an authentic dish of Kerala. In this winter special fare, the thoran is made with beetroot that has been finely chopped and spruced up with red chillies, garlic, urad dal and mustard seeds. The stir-fried dish is best eaten with rice and a curry.
3. Raab From Rajasthan
Although it is equally popular in Gujarat, raab is an iconic winter beverage from the desert land. Made with millet flour, ghee and milk, this drink tastes like thick porridge that can be drunk. The high nutrient profile of this winter special makes it an ideal choice to keep yourself warm and the immunity high. The healthy drink is usually consumed during chilly winter mornings to prepare the body for the weather.
4. Til Pitha From Assam
This North-Eastern delicacy is a perfect snack for winter afternoon. A celebratory dish that is usually prepared during the Magh Bihu festival in January, these pancakes are made with sesame and stuffed with jaggery to give hints of sweetness. While the dish appears quite simple, acing the til pitha requires practice.
5. Gushtaba From Kashmir
It is hard to have any discussion about winters in India without the mention of Kashmir. The hilly terrains make it an attractive tourist destination but there is more to the picturesque views. The fiery, hot curries from the Kashmiri cuisine play an important part in bearing with the cold outside. Gushtaba is one such dish where the minced meatballs are spiced up, only to be dunked in yoghurt gravy. Another popular curry is the Mutton Rogan josh whose flavours definitely raise the josh!
6. Undhiyo From Gujarat
A delectable ensemble of vegetables tossed in spicy gravy along with fenugreek balls, undhiyo is winter classic from the region. It is made with papdi, which is a creeper that grows in winters. Cooked along with eggplants and sweet potatoes, the undhiyo is packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre to save you from the winter chills.
7. Kootu From Tamil Nadu
Another delicious combination of seasonal vegetables like carrots, peas, capsicum etc., this real taste and essence of kootu is best enjoyed during winters. The freshness of the vegetables in relished along with a hot sambhar and rasam.