The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Banarasi Foods. If you manage to be in an Banarasi restaurant or you are visiting Varanasi in India, I recommend the following:
1. Baati Chokha
Varanasi is famous for its baati chokha, a traditional dish popular in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It consists of flatbread balls stuffed with dal (lentils), onions, peas or sattu (roasted chickpea flour) grilled over firewood and served with edible chokhu (traditionally made with roasted potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines). Because baati is such a simple dish, many freedom fighters serve it as a travelling dish.
2. Bhang Lassi
Bhang lassi is a variety mixed with marijuana. It is a traditional drink made by grinding the cannabis plant into a paste (bhang) and mixing it with yoghurt and usually spices and nuts. It should be noted that bhang lassi is a strong drink and there are several claims that its use can cause psychosis and hallucinations or cause psychosis-like symptoms. It is recommended to buy only from authorised shops.
3. Chaat
The term refers to a variety of Indian street foods, snacks or small meals that often combine salty, spicy, sweet and sour flavours. The name chaat is derived from the Hindi verb chaatna, meaning to lick, possibly referring to the spicy delicacy of the dish. Chaats are usually small and can be eaten on their own as a snack or with other dishes for a complete meal.
4. Kachori
This spicy starter is a staple of North Indian cuisine and is especially popular in Varanasi. It consists of round, flat balls of fine flour filled with delicious dal (lentils) and spices. Kachoris are traditionally eaten with spicy chutney. The best place to eat them is at the hot and crispy Kachori Gali near Vishwanath Mandir.
5. Lassi
Lassi is a popular yoghurt drink and the most enjoyable way to end a typical Varanasi breakfast. It is traditionally served in a charcoal hat (clay cup) with a little cream, usually flavoured with rose water and generously garnished with spices such as cardamom. Bhang, hemp mixed with milk, is also a popular drink here, especially during the Maha Shivratri festival.
6. Paan Of Varanasi
You can’t say you’ve been to Varanasi if you haven’t tasted the heavenly flavour of the famous Banarasi Paan. The betel leaf rolls are stuffed with betel nut and other spices that will make your mouth water with flavour. The makers of Varanasi paan have perfected the process and turned it into an art form, making it a culinary and visual treat. To make this delicious paan, you first clean the betel leaves. Then, the betel nuts are soaked in water to remove their astringent taste.
7. Thandai
A North Indian milk drink containing nuts, seeds and various spices. The preparation begins with a thick paste, often a combination of various nuts and spices such as cashew nuts, almonds, cardamom, pepper, poppy and fennel seeds. The milk is mixed with sugar and saffron, sometimes rose water and mixed with a paste of nuts and spices. Thandai is always served cold and is often garnished with chopped nuts and saffron strands.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.
The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Indian Foods. If you manage to be in an Indian restaurant or you are visiting India, I recommend the following: