Food connects people and defines a place, culture, custom, and tradition. It acts as a motivation for people, especially for passionate eaters. It is a way to link people of distinct cultures and traditions. When it comes to food, Pune is the perfect junction where a person can find assorted mouth-watering tasty delicacies amplified by its traditional aspect. Pune has been home to many saints, freedom fighters, and poets. Pune mirrors the Maharashtrian Culture. Pune is a west-central Maharashtrian state known by the name of “Queen of the Deccan”. It is a Queen for food lovers as it offers a wide range of variety in Maharashtrian courses. Thus, this stunning city is a famous food destination where one can get spicy tangy delicious food in any nukad and corner of the city. Pune food culture is an amalgam of tradition and food giving more refined flavors to the dishes. Along with this, the Maharashtrian spices add a spark to the simple yet piquant dishes.
Let’s take a look at some of the delicious of Maharashtrian food items that describe the food culture of the resplendent city, Pune:
1. Vada Pav
Vada pav is one of the simplest yet best in taste dishes of Maharashtrian food. Vada Pav was invented by Ashok Vaidya, a local food vendor. Over the years this simple yet delicious dish has gained popularity. The vada, is a deep-fried dumpling made of spicy potato filling sandwiched between the bread roll, is served with a medley of chutneys which adds uniqueness according to the place. The famous one is the classic green chutney, red chutney, quite spicy in taste and the famous red dry garlic chutney. The places to get the best of Vada Pav in Pune are Garden Vada Pav Centre, Parihar Sweets, The Wada Pav Café, and Priyadarshan snacks.
2. Pav Bhaji
Paav Bhaji is one of the popular street foods of Maharashtra. In Paav Bhaji, the Bhaji, made of mashed vegetables in a thick gravy of tomato puree vegetables and Maharashtrian spices like turmeric, red chili powder, paav bhaji masala, etc and decorated with sliced butter while Paav is the bread roll generously buttered on a hot pan. The dish served with sliced onions and lemon which enhances the taste of the recipe. The places where one can enjoy the best of Paav Bhaji in Pune are Relax Pure Veg, Falhaar, Supreme Snacks, Cream center, Siddharth Paav Bhaji and Durga Famous Paav Bhaji.
3. Puran Poli
Puran Poli is a well-known Maharashtrian savory in which flatbread stuffed with a dense sweet filling made of the powered gram, ghee, and jaggery. , it is a festive dish that makes the occasion more grand. In this dish, the sweet filling part is the ‘Puran’ while the flatbread part is the ‘Poli’. Served with a combo of milk and ghee to enhance the taste. It is also known as Holige, Obbattu, and Bobbattu in the Southern parts of India. It is healthy as it hastens the fat burning process. Mumma’s Kitchen, Hotel Peshwa, Saoji Khamang, and Asha Dining Hall, Ratnaj Kitchen, Shubhangi’s Kitchen are some of the places which are famous for Puran Poli in Pune.
4. Misal Pav
Misal Pav is a delicious breakfast recipe having originated from Nashik and Ahmednagar. It is a spicy and tangy delicacy. In Misal Pav, the Misal portion, made of sprouted pulses, is cooked with spicy Maharashtrian masalas, while paav is a bread roll generously buttered. The dish garnished with sliced onion, wedge lemon, sev, and coriander is irresistible. The places famous for Misal Paav in Pune are Vaidya Upagar Gruha, Khasbag Misal, Shri Kala Snacks, and Hotel Ramnath, Shri Krishna Bhavan, Hotel Malhar.
5. Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana Khichdi is a famous recipe generally eaten during fasting and for breakfast. Sabudana is a carbohydrate rich variant of tapioca. Made of soaked sabudana with roasted peanuts, spices, and potato slices. The dish, served with sliced lemon and curd which complements the whole recipe. It is easy to make and good for digestion. The best places to get enjoy Sabudana Khichdi are Khadadi, Amruteshwar, Shree Upahar Gruha, and K2H Meals, Appa Deccan Gymkhana, Bipin Snacks, Kharadi Kharadi, Pune.
6. Bhajaniche Thalipeeth
Bhajaniche Thalipeeth is a traditional Maharashtrian dish that is mostly served as breakfast or for snacks. So, in short, it is a multi-grain Maharashtrian flatbread made from roasted grains, cereals, and spices. It is a perfect combo of appetizing and healthy recipe full of nutrition. It is served with delicious butter and chutney, onion slices and chilies. The famous stops to enjoy this dish are Shabari Thalipith Centre, Durvankur, Wadeshwar, and Shabree Restaurant, Mathura, Khadadi, Durvankur.
7. Bakarwadi
Bakrwadi is a very famous Maharashtrian snack with a combination of sweet and spicy ingredients. The outer portion of Bakarwadi, made of either gram flour or all-purpose flour while the inner portion consists of stuffing made of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, tamarind, coconut, dry mango powder with some spices. It is the perfect snack for your small breaks. The places to enjoy the best of Bakarwadi in Pune are Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale, Hotel Shreyas, Kayani Bakery, and Martand Malhar.
8. Zunka Bhakri
It is also known as Pithla Bhakri. It is a traditional vegetarian Maharashtrian dish. Pithla, which is also known as poor man’s food, made of gram flour which is mixed with water to form a paste. This is then cooked in oil and other spices such as turmeric, red chili powder, salt, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and garnished with coriander. Bhakri is a flatbread made of wheat, jowar, bajra, rice, or nachni flour. It is very healthy and nutritious. This dish is usually served with spicy chili thecha, made of green chilies. The best places to have this dish in Pune are, Singhgad Fort, Hotel Girija,Kailash Garden, Maratha Samrat Restaurant, Mathura Pure Veg, Shantai Zunka Bhakar, Jhunka Bhakar Kendra.
Visiting Pune anytime soon? Well, make sure you try these dishes out to know about the Pune Food Culture!