Punjab is one of the most prosperous states in India, and the food of Punjab attests to this in every morsel. Even though it is known as the breadbasket of India, we get so much more than just that in their cuisine. Down south, a lot of people think that most North Indians are Punjabi and you can’t blame them given all the Punjabi influence in the culture up north! No matter what divides people, food has the power to unite us as Indians, especially the rich Punjabi food with its succulent taste and desi ghee. And with Pakistan being Punjab’s neighbour, a lot of Pakistani flavours have also seeped into the cuisine of Punjab giving it even more exotic flavour.
Here are some famous food items of Punjab, the land of bhangra which you might not have even known were Punjabi dishes!
- Langar – The Feast of Piety in Punjab
- Butter Chicken – The king of all Punjabi dishes!
- Shakkar Para – A sweet, indulgent dish of Punjab!
- Lassi
- Chole
- Chole-Bhature – Punjabi Food Fiesta!
- Parantha – The Staple Food of Punjab
- Amritsari Fish – Non-veggie delights!
- Dal Makhani
- Paneer Tikka
- Punjabi Pakoda Kadhi – Food of Punjab, light and flavorful!
- Rajma Chawal – Staple Punjabi Food on tables across India!
- Sarson ka Saag – The most stereotyped dish of Punjab!
- Makke ki Roti ‘ The saag’s favourite companion!
- Karma Prashad
- Gobhi-Shalgam-Gajaar Achaar – Awesome Pickles of Punjab
- Pinni – A hot, sweet hug from Punjab!
Langar – The Feast of Piety in Punjab
While not being a dish, the langar is an absolute must-try for everyone at least once in their life. The community kitchen of every gurdwara is open to all for service and serving. Anyone can go there and help to cook for the people, as well as receive a meal. Being just simple food consisting of naan, daal and some Prashad, it is definitely one of the humblest meals you’ll have while sitting with people across castes, creeds, genders and everyone is treated equally here.
Butter Chicken – The king of all Punjabi dishes!
While chicken may very well be called the national bird of Punjab, butter chicken is the crowning jewel of the food of Punjab. While it may not have originated in Punjab, it was invented by a Punjabi family so that counts, right? No celebration can be complete without this delicacy. This creamy, gravy dish is lightly spiced and paired up with either naan or rumaali roti.
Shakkar Para – A sweet, indulgent dish of Punjab!
A great accompaniment to tea, it can also be snacked on when you’re craving something a little sweet. Made from semolina and flour, it is light and not overly sweet. For those with a sweeter tooth, these can be coated in coarse sugar or desecrated coconut for a different flavour. These can be just as easily made at home and stored for 2-3 weeks to keep munching on! It is deep fried Punjabi Food so do be careful of how many you munch on.
Lassi
A drink known far and wide, lassi is something Punjabi’s pride themselves in. Though it can be salty, the original lassi as it became famous, is sweet with a dollop of cream and butter to make it as rich as you can. Flavours like mango rose or strawberry are added these days to give it a twist while beating the summer heat. Almost all restaurants serve this even if they’re not Punjabi joints which show the popularity of this humble drink.
Chole
Be it Amritsari chole or Peshwari chole, they’re both equally delicious, just the place of origin varies. A staple in Punjabi cuisine, this chickpea dish is best had with either a paratha or naan. Or you can just have spoonfuls of it as is, given how good it tastes. The difference between them is that Peshwari is slightly drier while Amritsar is made with a bit of gravy. The spices used are also different but not all that much. So it really depends on which part of the food of Punjab you feel like owning your allegiance to while ordering!
Chole-Bhature – Punjabi Food Fiesta!
It’s a standard Punjabi dish in most fast-food restaurants now. And these two accompany each other like a dream when you feel like indulging a little. Made with flour and milk rather than wheat flour, it’s different from a poori. And although it’s much larger than a poori, you can’t just eat one because it’s that tasty! The soft, slightly fermented bhatura should be your Go-to when you are craving some hardcore, spicy food of Punjab.
Parantha – The Staple Food of Punjab
No matter who you are, chances are that you’ve had a parantha at least once in your life. This delectable offering has come to India through the annals of Punjabi cuisine, and what a discovery that was! Be it plain or stuffed, this bread is a staple of most Punjabi households. Even while travelling, the most preferred item to eat at a Dhaba is mostly always a paratha. Fried in desi ghee is the way most people in Punjab like it. Have with some cold curd and pickle, it is quite a humble match made in gastronomic heaven. The possibilities of the stuffings are endless. Be it potatoes, onions, cottage cheese, keema to newer variants like bottle gourd, mangoes and almost anything you could imagine! The popularity is a testament is a fact that the national capital also has an area ‘parathewali gali’ dedicated to serving up all possible varieties of it. Plus, like a roti, it doesn’t even have to be round so you can definitely make it at home without being taunted about making a ‘world map’ in the name of food!
Amritsari Fish – Non-veggie delights!
An amazing contribution of the food of Punjab to the rest of India, Amritsari fish is a favourite dish among non-vegetarians of India! A succulent, fried fish, this can be had either with naan or just like that since it is a dry dish. Batter fried, it is juicy and succulent on the inside while also being spicy. It is served in places all over the country with the same name which is only a testament to its popularity. A spicy fish with cold lassi, you possibly cannot go wrong with the combination!
Dal Makhani
If one dal had to rule them all, it would definitely be the dal makhani. This delectable buttery Punjabi dish of lentils is a rich concoction of black lentils and red kidney beans made in a thick gravy made even richer with dollops of cream. It’s a dish worth serving in a royal court. Traditionally, it simmers for 2-3 hours over a low flame to get it to thicken as the flavours keep becoming deeper.
Paneer Tikka
Also called ‘chicken of the vegetarians’, the paneer tikka has a special place in the food of Punjab. Chargrilled and spiced, this soft cottage cheese delicacy is the first to come to mind when one thinks of vegetarian appetisers. And frankly, any menu would be incomplete without it!
Punjabi Pakoda Kadhi – Food of Punjab, light and flavorful!
The Punjabi kadhi attests to the awesomeness of the day-to-day food of Punjab and its people. The Punjabi kadhi is different from its Gujarati friend in a number of ways. It’s spicy and tangy along with having besan pakoras while the Gujarati variant is sweeter and of a lighter consistency and white in colour. The pakoras that are put are generally made of besan and onions. An alternative to them is also by putting in some peas and sliced onion to give a different flavour.
Rajma Chawal – Staple Punjabi Food on tables across India!
It’s a staple in every household in north India while also having a nostalgic connotation for most. Having rajma or chawal with anything apart from each other feels wrong, like breaking up your favourite couple. Even though it comes from Kashmir indigenously, it’s a favourite among all Punjabis and their grandmothers. This Punjabi dish is also generally served with a side of pickled onions, to enhance the taste. To give it a slight twist, some people also add a little bit of crushed papad to their rajma chawal to give it a nice crunch.
Sarson ka Saag – The most stereotyped dish of Punjab!
‘Sarson ka khet’ is synonymous with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, given that food and Bollywood our two, true Indian passions. Every north Indian foodie worth their salt (and spices) would associate this dish with Punjabi cuisine. Being a winter favourite, it can be found in all restaurants as a speciality. Given the slightly bitter taste of the mustard leaves, spinach can also be added to make it healthier, tastier and with a dollop of the famous dest-ghee for good measure and as a wintery guilty pleasure!