Delicacies Savour this Winter Across India

If quarantine and the cold weather are making your mealtimes dull, try these excellent winter foods, each with a personality as diverse as India. Extremely hearty and comforting – these foods can take your cooking goals to a whole new level this lockdown.

 

With winter around the corner, it's time to indulge yourself in some deliciously warming Indian delicacies. In this section, we have listed some of the most delicious winter foods from across the country to make you feel a little warmer, even on the coldest days.

 

Undhiyu is an authentic Gujarati winter delicacy! Extremely healthy, this dish is made with lots of seasonal vegetables, muthiyas and spices. It is traditionally made in earthen cooking pots. The slow cooking in the pot gives the dish a rustic flavour, aroma and taste. Dynamic because of the taste of available vegetables and yet unique, this dish tastes best with hot puris or rotis. 

 

The mention of winter isn’t complete without the mention of sarson da saag, an all-time winter favorite. This North Indian staple is made using seasonal mustard leaves along with other leafy veggies like bathua (chenopodium or pigweed), spinach and radish leaves. Stir in various Indian spices and this aromatic dish is ready to serve hot with makke di roti with a dash of white butter. Rich, succulent and aromatic, saag offers a whole bunch of nutrition in just a bowl. 

 

Gatte Ki Sabzi is a delectable Rajasthani dish. Gatta or gatte (plural) are gram flour (besan) dumplings, which are added to a spicy curd-based gravy. It is said to be a winter dish since it offers the perfect blend of sour and spicy flavours, the perfect remedy for a chilly weather! 

 

Nolen Gur is a Bengali delicacy, which is nothing but jaggery extracted from the date palm. A variety of sweets are prepared from this. Nolen gur rosogolla, nolen gur cookies, nolen gur kheer, nolen gur laddu, nolen gur sondesh, etc, are some of the common ones to name a few.  With a unique and divine taste, these winter sweets provide the body with much-needed energy to fight the cold weather.

 

Rasam is the main accompaniment in a South Indian thali/meal. Is usually watery and doesn't have a thick consistency like sambhar. Made of tamarind/ kokum, tomatoes, pepper, cumin, lentils, etc - this tangy hot curry/ soup is nourishing and yum, and a warming comfort food for cold days.

 

Thoran is a specialty from Kerala. It is made of beetroot and a coarsely ground mixture of coconut, jeera, chillies, turmeric powder, shallots and salt.  Loaded with umpteen health benefits, this lip-smacking dish is a usual preparation in the lunch menu of every Kerala household in winters. It’s usually relished with rice or plain dosa.

 

Winter is incomplete without a bounty of fresh, vibrant carrots in your diet. Gajar ka halwa is made using a combination of milk, carrots, ghee, nuts and cardamom powder. Rich, flavorsome and healthy, this traditional sweet delicacy is enjoyed across the country every winter. Loaded with health and flavour, one small bowl of halwa can make you feel warm and comfy on chilly winter nights.

 

In South India, the carrot poriyal or carrot palya makes a perfect winter side dish. It is made of chopped carrots, cooked with mustard seeds, urad & moong dal, grated coconut, curry leaves and various spices. Simple and delicious, this southern winter delicacy is packed with vitamins and fiber and goes well with rasam and rice or even dosa and chapatis.

 

Indian winter foods are traditionally rich and indulgent. The goodness of all the ingredients tends to keep you fit and glowing during the winters. So, this season, try eating as many winter dishes as you can, especially when you are stuck indoors.  It will not only give you a break from your mundane menu, but also enhance your mood and allow your system to gear up for the season.