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Known for the historic Sri Ambadevi Temple, the city of Amravati in Maharashtra is a popular pilgrimage site. The city is also a haven for food lovers, boasting a rich and a wholesome cuisine, which includes the likes of Maharashtrian staples, such as the soulful poha and crispy batata vada. If you’re a fan of batata vada, drop by the local establishment Nyahari Refreshment to sample fresh and hot vadas.
As Amravati has agricultural roots, it’s no surprise that the food culture of the city centres agrarian practices and fresh local produce. Cereals, such as jowar and bajra, plus lentils like toor dal and moong dal feature prominently in the foods of Amravati. The dishes of Amravati also tend to use spices extensively. Owing to the city’s proximity to the aforementioned Ambadevi Temple, most of its delicacies are vegetarian in nature.
Take a look at the top 7 culinary offerings of Amravati.
Batata Vada
Maharashtra is famous for its thriving street food scene, with batata vada being among the state’s most treasured street foods. This mouthwatering savoury snack comprises a mashed potato filling infused with a host of spices, such as coriander, green chillies, and turmeric. The filling is then coated in chickpea batter and deep-fried to form aromatic and succulent batata vadas. This dish is typically eaten with a spicy coriander chutney.
Recommendations: Nyahari Refreshment
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹150, approx.
Poha
Image Credits: Freepik
Poha is a flattened rice dish usually savoured as breakfast across Maharashtra. To craft this light delicacy, rice is cooked alongside mustard seeds, onions, and a bevy of spices, including turmeric and green chillies. Poha is frequently topped off with fresh coriander leaves and grated coconut. Some recipes also include peanuts as garnish to add a crunchy element to the dish. A squeeze of lemon lends the dish a tangy flavour.
Recommendations: Pohewala
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹150–₹300, approx.
Thalipeeth
Image Credits: Freepik
Thalipeeth is a rustic Maharashtrian flatbread crafted from a special flour known as “bhajanee.” What sets this flour apart is that it’s composed of various roasted grains, legumes, and spices, including chana dal, urad dal, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, wheat, bajra, and rice. As a result, thalipeeth is a deeply enriching and flavourful delicacy. Thalipeeth is typically relished with a pungent green chutney or a smoky garlic-infused condiment called “thecha.”
Recommendations: Radhika Food Junction
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
Varan Bhaat
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A staple across Maharashtrian households, varan bhaat has two main components, as the name clearly indicates. These components include a simple toor-dal based curry-like concoction, usually cooked with mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chillies, turmeric, cumin seeds, and hing. This dal is paired with a serving of steamed rice, which refers to the second “bhaat” component of the dish. The dish is typically topped off with a generous dollop of ghee.
Recommendations: Ambiance Garden Restaurant
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
Amti
Cherished throughout Maharashtra as a comfort food, amti is prepared by tempering toor dal with a special local spice known as “goda masala.” Other ingredients used in the preparation of this dal-based dish include kokum, sesame seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric powder, curry leaves, and red chilli powder. Owing to the use of these ingredients, the dish possesses an enticing sweet-spicy flavour. Amti is usually served with a helping of steamed rice.
Recommendations: Royal Khana
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹350, approx.
Shrikhand
Image Credits: Freepik
Shrikhand is a dense and a creamy sweet dish savoured in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The luscious dish is crafted by blending strained yoghurt with powdered sugar, cardamom, and occasionally saffron strands and nuts. The amalgamation of sweet and spicy ingredients infuses the dish with a multilayered flavour and texture. The dish is also usually garnished with crushed nuts like pistachios, almonds, and cashews for additional bite and crunch.
Recommendations: Aarya’s Kitchen
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹200, approx.
Puran Poli
Puran poli is a sweetened stuffed flatbread pumped with an appetising filling concocted from ingredients, such as jaggary, gram dal, cardamom, and nutmeg. Puran poli is typically consumed during Maharashtrian festivals, including Gudi Padwa and Diwali. Special occasions like birthdays and weddings are also considered incomplete without this dessert. Puran poli is frequently eaten with ghee; some local joints also serve the dish with amti and milk.
Recommendations: Vedika Purnbramha
Type: Vegetarian
Cost For Two: ₹300, approx.
