The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Mumbaikar Foods. If you manage to be in an Mumbaikar restaurant or you are visiting Mumbai in India, I recommend the following:
1. Bombay Sandwich
It is a traditional sandwich that originated in Mumbai, hence the name. To make it, spread green chutney on one slice of crustless white bread while spreading the other. Between the slices is a mixture of vegetables and spices such as sliced potatoes, masala spices (cumin, fennel, black pepper, cinnamon, chaat masala), tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, beetroot slices and onions. Green hot sauces are usually made with a mixture of mint, coriander, chilli and various spices.
2. Chana Masala
Chickpea is the star ingredient in this traditional dish known in the city of Bombay. It is a stew with a very strong flavour thanks to the addition of coriander seeds, chillies, ginger, onion and chopped chilli, which gives it a sour and citrusy taste. It is popular especially in the Punjab area in regions like Gujarat and Sindh in northwest India. Chana Masala is served with rice or bread or both.
3. Chapati
In India and Mumbai, you can find various types of bread to go with main dishes and sauces. Chapati is one of them and consists of a wholemeal cake cooked in a tandoor (oven) or cooker called a tawa. In restaurants it is used as an accompaniment to various dishes such as Thali.
4. Gulab Jamu
Sweet dishes are also found within the typical gastronomy of the city of Bombay and it is precisely thanks to the Gulab Jamun, this dessert is made with a dough of powdered milk and sugar flour, at the same time rose water is added and to give it its characteristic reddish colour saffron is added. The dough is formed into small balls and fried in oil. This is one of the most common desserts in the city’s fast food and street food stalls.
5. Ice halwa
An Indian dessert made with milk, starch or flour and various spices and seasonings. It is in the form of thinly rolled square sheets. This dessert is traditionally associated with Mumbai. The main ingredients are usually milk, ghee, sugar and cornstarch or sooji. Often flavoured with cardamom, this dessert is often enriched with saffron in addition to the standard white version, giving the dessert a bright yellow colour.
6. Panipuri
This is a typical Mumbai street stall. Hindus often eat it as a snack. This delicacy consists of a crispy hollow ball filled with chillies, potatoes, onions, chickpeas, tamarind and Indian curry. It is very tasty and works as a snack.
7. PavBhaji
The street food in India is unparalleled. In Mumbai, Pav Bhaji is one of the typical street food dishes, based on a variety of vegetables such as potato, tomato, onion, peppers and chopped green pepper, which gives a spicy taste to the dish, is a thick vegetable curry and is usually served with two pieces of soft bread. The origin of this typical dish of Bombay cuisine is Maharashtra, the state that has this busy city as its capital, in the west-central area of India. Pav Bhaji is also considered a snack.
8. Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori Chicken is as significant a dish in Mumbai as the Thali, and is one of the city’s most famous dishes, named after the tandoor, the charcoal oven in which it is made. This traditional Bombay dish consists mainly of a chicken marinated in yoghurt and seasoned with other ingredients such as garlic, ginger, paprika and other spices, which give it its characteristic red colour and spicy flavour. This is one of the oldest prominent dishes in the city, dating back to the time of the Mughal Empire. It has spread from Bombay to become popular in East Asia.
9. Thali
Thali is undoubtedly one of the star dishes here. You can find it in almost every restaurant in the city. It is served on a large platter with several bowls and containers with various ingredients and sauces. It usually consists of rice, chapati or papad (bread), vegetables, curd (yoghurt), paneer (cheese) and other ingredients.
10. VadaPav
A light and quick option and especially for bread lovers is available at Ladoo Samrat. VadaPav is considered the favourite snack in Mumbai, this sandwich is a vegetarian option, it is a perfect blend of spice and crunch that is a must try, it is known as one of the cheapest fast foods in the city, it basically consists of a Vada Sweet Potato made with circular shaped mashed potato that is deep fried and served in a bun seasoned in various condiments.
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: