Amidst all these discussions, our humble Maharashtrian, healthy food hardly gets any recognition.
Throwing some light on the traditional Marathi dishes that never make it to the top & are probably unknown to the rest of India...
Masale bhaat/Tendli bhaat/Vaangi bhaat - Differently flavored rices made on different occasions. Masale bhaat has earned a place in the naivedya platter as an offering after a pooja in Marathi households. It's served with grated coconut as a topping.
I wonder what we would do without Puran poli & toop(ghee). Savored lovingly especially during Holi where ghee is used to balance out the dryness that may be caused by the Chanaa flour.
Matki usal (Sprouted matki curry) that goes wonderfully with chapati, rice, bhakri. There's also a Misal version of this that's eaten with pav (bread). Very much known to people because of its popularity.
Thalipeeth (Savory Multigrain Pancakes) - A power-packed breakfast made with multiple grain flours like jowar, rice, wheat, bajra and besan. Can be a very good weight-loss food that has complex carbohydrates and is packed with nutrients.
Khamang Kakdi Koshimbir and other varieties of Koshimbir - A great way to make vegetables easily digestible with the use of spices, tadka, coarsely crushed groundnut powder and coriander.
Crispy poha chiwda- Maharashtrians love their chiwda all-year round. A popular poha snack made with peanuts, curry leaves and cashewnuts. Quite healthy if made with less oil.
Kolhapuri Bhadang is a popular fiery spicy puffed rice-based snack from the historic city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. A treat for pungent and spicy food lovers.
Super-spicy and sweet combination due to tiny addition of powdered sugar.
Aloo wadi or Patrode (Stuffed rolled colacasia leaves) that belong to both Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisine. Rich in fibre, very good for gut health as colacasia has the power to clean up the debris in the gut. Again, should be fried in very less oil or simply shallow-fried.
The healthiest, fibre-rich monsoon veggie in Maharashtra and Goa. Paatal aloo chi bhaaji - Colacasia leaves curry that ensures a good bowel movement the next day. :)
It also gives you an itchy throat which is a testimony of its gut-scraping properties. Well, not literally 😀
Shengdanyachi Aamti or Peanut Curry- A humble fasting dish that goes with Bhagar or millet rice on fast days like Navratri, Ekadashi. Very creamy and delicious!
Pithale Bhakri - Thick creamy besan dish that's eaten with Jowar bhakri and green chilli thecha in rural Maharashtra on a regular basis. Also some cracked onions go along!
Bhoplyache Ghaarge - Sweet pooris made with jaggery, pumpkin pulp, sooji and fried in ghee. A great breakfast food or a snack food.
Can be had plain or along with pickles. Surely not known to many.
Solkadhi - Konkan style Kokum curry made with Kokum and coconuts.
A summer drink that's had with rice or is simply sipped on as a drink.
Known for its digestive and Pitta-reducing properties.
Batatyacha Rassa - Potato curry- traditional and quintessential part of Maharashtrian cuisine. This curry is loved by all especially children and is one of the easiest curries to make. Had with Pooris, chapati, rice or pav.
Lastly, my fav desserts of Maharashtra - Shrikhand, Aamras, Basundi. Well, you'll have to look them up if u don't know about them.
The dessert list of Maharashtra is never-ending. And most of them with healthy ingredients. Incompatible combos aren't used much in Marathi cooking.
There are many more main dishes and accompaniments that I've not listed here.
Do let me know if you've tasted these dishes already!
Maharashtra gave a lot to India sans the noise. 🥲
Thread ends~
Jai Maharashtra! 🚩
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Sugar- Friend or foe?
Present day nutrition "facts" are manipulated time & again based on what narratives the food industry wishes to set to introduce to the masses, new "fads". #Ayurveda is time-tested, has already undergone timely updation wrt new foods, their properties etc.
So what are the properties of different derivatives of sugarcane?
Half-cooked molasses are hard to digest, make the tissues exude more, cause mild increase of doshas, cleanses the urine.
Old (stored for long periods) jaggery is beneficial for heart health while fresh jaggery causes increase of kapha & weakness of digestion.
Summary is jaggery, in any form is heavy when it comes to digestion. Unpurified jaggery should be discarded at all times!