When you think of Uttar Pradesh, the vivid images of historical architectural wonders, vibrant performing arts, colourful fairs, exquisite handicrafts, and deep-rooted culture come rushing in. But one glance at the plentiful and diverse gastronomical landscape of Uttar Pradesh can make it abundantly clear that the state has much more to offer, especially for those who take delight in good food.
A platter from Uttar Pradesh can instantly transport you to the royal era of Nawabs with its signature dishes crafted with a symphony of spices. At the same time, it would take you through the rustic and earthy flavours of India‘s heartland.
Platter of traditional Uttar Pradesh dishes
Uttar Pradesh’s culinary heritage
The state of Uttar Pradesh, the heartland of India, indeed carries a rich cultural history narrated best through its culinary heritage. The vast territory is divided into two distinctive food zones. While the Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh is quite famous for its vegetarian Hindu and Buddhist cooking style, the Western side is influenced by Mughlai and Awadhi cuisines and offers an array of non-vegetarian dishes. Intricate cooking methods, such as ‘Dum Pukht’, where the food is cooked under a low flame for several hours, are exclusive to Uttar Pradesh and are still widely used.
The grandeur of the cuisine of Uttar Pradesh lies in the perfect balance of rustic flavours and the regal heritage that it embodies. The legacy of the royal kitchens of the Nawabs of Lucknow merges seamlessly with the common folk’s simple, earthy flavours and cooking styles. Inheriting the illustrious culinary tradition from the Mughals, the bawarchis (royal chefs) developed a unique “Dum Pukht” cooking style, where the food gets slow-cooked in its own juices, intensifying the natural flavours. The dishes are mainly made in handi and are often cooked over a wood or coal fire.
What are the iconic vegetarian delights of Uttar Pradesh?
The multicultural aspect of Uttar Pradesh creates a delightful variety in its vegetarian delicacies. Though each corner of the region has its unique favourites, some iconic vegetarian meals capture the spirit of Uttar Pradesh’s Cuisine. These dishes range from the delectable Biryani packed with vegetables to a variety of breads cooked in various styles, all of which share the common trait of being extremely flavourful. Let’s explore some gastronomic vegetarian delights that Uttar Pradesh’s cuisine includes.
1. Tehri
Tehri veg yellow coloured rice mixed with peas
Tehri is an exquisite vegetarian dish that is rooted in the kitchens of Awadh. The love-child of vegetable biryani and pulao comprises abundant vegetables and the finest Basmati rice cooked with a vibrant mix of spices. Tehri is often prepared in households across Uttar Pradesh, owing to its simplicity and delightful taste.
It is colourful and flavourful and forms a complete meal even without accompaniments. Traditionally, it features a combination of yellow rice, cauliflower, carrots, peas, and potatoes. The perfect accompaniment to cut the heat of this cuisine of Uttar Pradesh is a serving of fresh curds delicious enough to make even devout meat lovers happy!
2. Baati Chokha
Baati chokha served in a white squared plate with dal and khichdi
Baati Chokha, a specialty cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, is a rustic amalgamation of flavours that offers a rebellious diversion from routine dishes. Baati is a round wheat bread, traditionally baked in a clay oven or “Chulha”, lending it a smoked flavour.
It’s a tangy mash of roasted eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes – all seasoned with local spices and mustard oil. Baatis are often crushed and dipped in desi ghee (clarified butter), enhancing the dish’s rusticity. This dish carries the robustness of rural life, making it an absolute must-try for those exploring Uttar Pradesh’s culinary heritage.
3. Paneer Pasanda
paneer pasanda made with rich gravy, tomato and onions in a pan
Paneer Pasanda, a timeless classic, is a beacon of the rich Awadhi cuisine. It features soft cottage cheese (paneer) cubes sandwiched with spiced stuffing, batter-fried, and simmered in creamy gravy. The dish derives its name from the word ‘Pasanda’, meaning ‘the favourite one’, and it truly lives up to its name!
The delicately flavoured gravy complemented by ghee-fried paneer chunks forms an irresistible combination that can spice up any mundane meal. Paneer Pasanda is usually served with some hot naan or fragrant pulao, which makes for a heartwarming treat for anyone who savours vegetarian fare.
4. Aloo Badi Rasedar
aloo badi rasedar served hot in a black coloured bowl
Aloo Badi Rasedar gracefully brings together everyone’s favourites– potato and sun-dried lentil dumplings (Badi). This delightfully aromatic curry is popular in households across Uttar Pradesh. The lentil dumplings are soaked and fried until golden before adding to the bubbling tomato-onion gravy, richly seasoned with various spices.
The humble potato lends a comforting balance of flavours, making this vegetarian dish a soul-satisfying comfort food. Best enjoyed with steamed rice or hot phulkas, Aloo Badi Rasedar embodies the spirit of Uttar Pradesh’s heartland, making for a perfect vegetarian meal.
What are some of the best meat delicacies?
Non-vegetarian food enjoys a legendary reputation in Uttar Pradesh, especially owing to the royal influence of the Mughlai and Awadhi cuisine. The range of flavourful meat foods of Uttar Pradesh delicacies speaks volumes about the region’s rich culinary heritage.
1. Galouti kebabs
A plate of Galouti kebab with slices of onion a piece of lemon with mint leaves.
A jewel of Awadhi cuisine, Galouti or Galawati Kebab, is a world-renowned delicacy from Lucknow that truly celebrates the culinary traditions of Uttar Pradesh food. This minced meat kebab, mixed with numerous aromatic spices, melts in your mouth even before you have fully experienced its taste!
The legend shares its invention with an ageing Nawab who desired a kebab so tender that it required no chewing. Hence, several varieties of spices were incorporated into the succulent lamb or buffalo meat to create the Galouti Kebab. With its unmatched taste and tenderness, it carries joy in every food lover’s meal and is suitable for people of all ages.
2. Murgh musallam
A full plate of oil grease murgh musallam with potato sliced on table
Gracing festive dinners and special occasions, Murgh Musallam (Whole Chicken) is a royal delicacy that has been pleasing palettes in Uttar Pradesh for centuries. This famous dish requires extravagant preparation involving a whole chicken, marinated with spices and stuffed with eggs, then slow-cooked in a rich and luscious gravy.
The end result is a delightfully rich and flavourful cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, where the tender meat beautifully absorbs the spice’s aroma, giving it a unique flavour. Each mouthful of this classic Awadhi delicacy would take you on a gastronomic journey through the nobility’s grandeur, making Murgh Musallam a must-have for every non-vegetarian food enthusiast.
3. Nargisi kofta
A well garnished with coriander of Nargisi Kofta in a pan on the dining table
Nargisi Kofta, an earlier version of the British Scotched Eggs, is an interesting non-vegetarian dish from Uttar Pradesh. Originating from the Mughal era, this Mughlai cuisine features hard-boiled eggs wrapped in a spicy minced meat mixture, which are then deep-fried. The koftas are served bubbling in a mildly spicy curry, made from tomato puree, caramelised onions, and a dry fruit paste.
The dish boasts an exciting and alluring presentation, resembling “argis” or Daffodil’s eye. Bursting with traditional flavours, Nargisi Kofta promises to take you down the culinary bylanes of ancient Mughal kitchens but today, people in Northern India have given it their own unique twist.
How do you make Nargisi Kofta? Share with us in the comments.
4. Kakori kebab
Kakori kebab served with mint chutney
Named after the town of Kakori on the outskirts of Lucknow, Kakori Kebab is another one of the famous foods of Uttar Pradesh that comes from the heritage-rich Awadhi cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. This succulent delight is made from finely minced lamb meat, spiced with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger-garlic.
The fragrant meat mixture is shaped onto skewers and grilled to perfection over burning coal. The subtle smoky essence further enhances the kebab’s flavours, making it an irresistible treat. The soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture of Kakori Kebabs and their unique taste make them an integral part of Uttar Pradesh’s culinary repertoire.
You can also find other varieties of kebab on our website, including Mushroom Kebab, Peshawari Kebab, among many others.
5. Kulcha-nihari
a bowl full of nihari is served with kulcha
Redefining comfort food for meat lovers, Kulcha-Nihari is a classic combo of soft and fluffy bread (kulcha) served alongside rich meat gravy (Nihari). The Nihari, typically made from kulcha or chicken, is slow-cooked with various aromatic spices that keep the flavours intact.
This Uttar Pradesh cuisine is a testament to the inherent simplicity of comfort foods, yet it satiates the complex taste buds with its rich flavours and textures. The doughy goodness of the kulcha soaking up the piquant Nihari gravy creates an irresistible pair that promises that your Kulcha adventure will not be missed.
What are some scrumptious sweets native to Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh has a unique variety of delicacies that will always be savoured by everyone, including those who are not sweet toothed. These sweets are marked by their rich flavour, delicate sweetness, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, making every bite a heavenly experience. Whether it’s the creamy Malpua, the crisp Khurchan or the royal Shahi Tukda, each sweet dish is a unique delight for the palate. Let us immerse ourselves in the sweetness that Uttar Pradesh offers.
1. Malpua
Oiled malpuas garnished with dry fruits are spread in a white plate
Malpua is among the most popular sweets, and it is famed as the pancake of India. This delicious dessert is a crispy, deep-fried pancake with sweet cardamom-scented syrup. The batter for this tasty treat is made using a mix of refined flour, milk, and sugar and is often flavoured with fennel seeds.
Malpua, during festivals and special occasions, finds a special place in the traditional cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. Garnished with a scattering of chopped dry fruits and often served with chilled Rabri, Malpuas offers a blissfully indulgent experience that will leave you with a satisfied sweet tooth.
2. Sheermal
Famous cuisine of Uttar Pradesh Sheermal
A sweet version of naan, Sheermal, traces its origin to the regal Persian kitchens and is an important cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. This leavened flour bread delicately flavoured with saffron, ghee, and milk, baked to a delightful golden in a clay oven or tandoor, is indeed a Lucknowi heritage.
Its mild sweetness and aromatic flavour, enriched further with a generous brush of kewra-infused ghee after baking, make for a dish that seamlessly blurs the lines between bread and dessert. It was traditionally paired with meat gravies, but today, the sweet and soft Sheermal has an identity of its own as a standalone delicacy in Uttar Pradesh’s cuisine realm.
3. Kurchan
Kurchan is spread on a plate garnished with pistachios
Carrying the essence of rural cuisine of Uttar Pradesh kitchens, Kurchan is an age-old dessert that reduces milk over slow heat. The masterpiece comes to life through patience, as constant stirring for hours forms grainy lumps of solids with a fudge-like consistency.
This caramelised milk is further enriched with sugar, ground cardamom, and a garnish of slivered almonds. With its velvety taste balanced with the slight crunch of nuts, Kurchan offers a nostalgic taste of homemade sweets. For anyone experiencing the cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, this simple yet authentic sweet dish is a must-try.
4. Shahi Tukda
Spoonful of Shahi Tukda with a square tray filled with the sweet dish
Evoking the allure of the royal kitchens, Shahi Tukda, translated to “Royal Piece,” is a delightful dessert that forms an integral part of Uttar PPradesh’scuisine. It is a bread pudding where fried bread triangles are doused in sweetened condensed milk, sprinkled with cardamom, garnished with slivered dry fruits, and then drizzled with rose water to add to its exquisiteness.
This sublime dessert is truly royal in its flavour and presentation, making it an important cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. Its creamy richness is complemented with the crunchiness of the golden-fried bread, which will have you savour every bite, justifying why Shahi Tukda captivates everyone who gets a taste of it.
5. Lal Peda
UP’s lal peda sweet dish is placed on butter paper
The gastronomical journey through Uttar Pradesh’s sweet cuisines would be incomplete without trying the legendary Lal Peda of Mathura. Made from condensed milk known as “khoya” or “rawa,” this reddish-brown sweetmeat carries the robust flavour of cardamom and ghee.
The unique feature of Lal Peda is its somewhat coarse texture, quite unlike most other Indian sweets. It’s then moulded into rounds and lightly flattened, garnished with pistachios. Originating in Mathura, this cuisine of UP is now relished across the state. The delicious taste of this humble yet flavourful sweet takes one on a voyage winding through the stories of KKrishna’smischiefs and childhood lore.
Final thoughts
Touring through the gastronomic universe of Uttar Pradesh surely evokes a sense of awe and admiration. It reveals food not merely as a means to satiate hunger but as a remarkable craft and a flavourful expression of the land’s historical and cultural richness. The magic of the famous cuisines of Uttar Pradesh lies in their ability to bring out the abundant flavour of even the simplest ingredients.
Each cuisine of Uttar Pradesh is, in fact, not just food but a piece of history and culture served on a platter. It serves as a medium to connect with the land’s spirit and revel in the diversity it celebrates. So, whether it’s the Awadhi style of slow cooking, the robust spice profiles, or the generous dash of desi ghee, every bite you savour brings you closer to the heart of India – Uttar Pradesh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the famous cuisine of Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh, often described as the “heartland of India”, is primarily renowned for its Awadhi cuisine. The state’s cuisine mirrors its cultural diversity and royal heritage, offering an array of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and sweet dishes like Tehri, Kakori Kebabs, Nargisi Kofta, Shahi Tukda, and Malpua.
Which vegetarian food is famous in Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh offers several famous vegetarian dishes. These include Tehri, a beautiful blend of vegetables and fragrant rice, Baati-Chokha, a rustic combination of baked wheat balls and mashed veggie condiment; and sumptuous Paneer Pasanda – cottage cheese in creamy gravy.
What is the breakfast food of Uttar Pradesh?
While Uttar Pradesh has a variety of traditional breakfast items, ‘Bedai-Aloo’ and ‘Kachori-Sabji’ are quite popular. These consist of deep-fried bread served with spicy potato curry. Another popular breakfast item is ‘Poha’, a flattened rice dish cooked with veggies and tempered with spices and peanuts.
What makes UP cuisine unique?
The uniqueness of Uttar Pradesh’s cuisine lies in its incredible diversity. Drawing influences from Mughal culinary traditions, it is enriched by the cooking styles of the state’s diverse communities. Whether it’s the royal “Dum Pukht” style or the street-side “chaat”, the state’s cuisine has a flavour for everyone.
How has the diverse history of Uttar Pradesh influenced its cuisine?
Uttar Pradesh’s diverse history encompassing Mughal dominion, Nawabi reign, and a composite cultural milieu has greatly influenced its cuisine. It has led to the origin of maximum vegetarian and meat delicacies, desserts, and snacks, presenting a synthesis of rich flavours, intricate cooking styles, and authentic Indian spices.
What is Lucknow’s most famous cuisine?
Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, is particularly famous for its Awadhi cuisine, which includes royal dishes like Biryani, Galouti Kebabs, Nihari and Kulcha, and Shahi Tukda. Also, street foods like Chaat, Samosas, and Pani Puri are quite popular among locals and tourists.
What is famous in Varanasi for eating?
A city as culturally rich as Varanasi is bound to have a versatile culinary scene. The city is well-known for its street food like Puri-Sabji and famous sweets such as Lassi and Malaiyo. Additionally, one shouldn’t leave Varanasi without trying the famous Banarasi Paan.
