Vaisakhi, often called Baisakhi, is the start of the Sikh New Year and has great religious and cultural importance for the Sikh community. On April 13th, people throughout the world celebrate Vaisakhi, a festival commemorating Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 1699 establishment of the Khalsa Panth. The harvest festival in the Punjab area also happens at the same time, marking a season of plenty, happiness, and appreciation. What could be more fitting than a delicious Punjabi brunch to celebrate Vaisakhi 2024? Enjoy the rich flavours, with these Punjabi breakfast dishes like Chole Bhature, Aloo Paratha and more.
Let's have a look at some famous breakfast selections that will make your Vaisakhi morning more special with food.
Aloo Paratha
Aloo Paratha, a quintessential Punjabi delicacy, is a beloved breakfast option cherished for its comforting taste and wholesome goodness. It is a soft, flaky whole wheat flatbread stuffed with a spiced potato filling, generously seasoned with aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, and chili. Cooked on a griddle with a dollop of ghee or butter until golden brown and crispy, Aloo Paratha is often served with a dollop of creamy yoghurt, tangy pickle, or fresh mint chutney.
Chole Bhature
Thanks to its decadent look and robust flavours, the North Indian morning dish Chole Bhature has become a huge hit. As a side dish, you'll find fluffy deep-fried bread called Bhature with a spicy chickpea stew called Chole. While the Bhature is light and airy, the Chole, which is cooked to perfection with a fragrant spices, tomatoes, and onions, has a robust and flavourful taste.
Aloo Puri
Aloo Puri is a classic breakfast combination that holds a special place in Punjabi cuisine for its simplicity and irresistible taste. The soft, puffy puris, deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, served alongside a comforting potato curry, Aloo Sabzi is a treat for the taste buds. Aloo Sabzi, made with soft potatoes simmered in a flavourful onion-tomato gravy infused with spices like turmeric, cumin, and garam masala, offers a perfect contrast to the crisp texture of the puris. Aloo Puri is often enjoyed with a side of tangy pickle or fresh yoghurt, adding an extra layer of flavour to this traditional breakfast ensemble.
Mooli Paratha
For a healthy and delicious breakfast, try Mooli Paratha, a flatbread filled with radish and enjoyed all throughout Punjab and beyond. Grated radish, ajwain (carom seeds), green chilies, and fresh cilantro are the fillings for this whole wheat dough pie. After that, the parathas are rolled out and baked on a tawa until they're crispy and golden brown, adding a delicious crunch to every bite. A dollop of sour yoghurt, achar (pickle) or handmade butter is a traditional accompaniment to Mooli Paratha, enhancing its homemade flavour and rustic appeal.
Kulcha
One popular breakfast choice is kulcha, a leavened flatbread that has its origins in the Punjab area. The traditional filling for kulcha, which is made with refined wheat dough, includes onions, spicy potato, and fragrant spices like as ajwain and coriander. In a tandoor (a clay oven), the filled kulchas are cooked until the exterior is crisp and golden and the interior is soft and light. As a mouthwatering example of Punjabi cuisine, kulcha is best enjoyed hot with a spoonful of butter or with chole (chickpea curry) and pickled onions for breakfast.
Lassi
No Punjabi breakfast is complete without a refreshing glass of Lassi, a traditional yoghurt-based drink that is both cooling and nourishing. Made by blending fresh yoghurt with water, sugar, and optionally flavoured with cardamom, saffron, or rose water, Lassi serves as the perfect accompaniment to spicy breakfast dishes, offering a soothing contrast to the strong flavours. Whether sweet or savoury, plain or flavoured, Lassi provides a refreshing way to quench your thirst and refresh your palate, making it an essential part of any Punjabi breakfast spread.