Page 17 - Seniorstoday October 2022 Issue
P. 17
Originally Gujarati food was very simple. to the dependency on jaggery to counter the
Gujaratis are fond of eating and love to snack. saltiness that permeates coastal region of
While one can snack anytime, the average Saurashtra. To compensate they add lime,
Gujarati likes to eat snacks even as part of tamarind and kokum. Hence the food of the
their meal! The cuisine is full of - to die for coastal areas results in this sweet and sour
mouth-watering farsan (snacks). You have taste.
a large variety of freshly made dishes like There is certain similarity in the simple yet
dhokla, idra, khaman, khamni, khandvi, hardy and wholesome food of North West
bhajiya, kachori, thepla, handvo, muthiya, Frontier Provinces - now Punjab and Sindh
paatra, samosa, patties and many others. and Kathiyawadi cusine…. With brinjal
While there is a large variety of dry snacks bharta, dal, tandoor baked bajra or jowar
too like khakhra, ganthiya, phaphda, chevdo, bhakhri and Makki ki roti with dollops of
bhuso, papad-papdi, the list is endless. white butter or ghee, jaggery and chhaas or
lassi to top it all.
While the food of the Surat region and costal
belt here is quite different.
The identity of the popular Gujarati Thali
is formed by the coming together of many
cuisines from all over the state. Gujarati food
is often accused of being loaded with oil but
one can actually make a healthy choice! ......
Gujarati food is mainly vegetarian, a typical
Thaali – has choice of 3 seasonal vegetables
(1 dry veg + 2 semi gravy) and 1 pulse item
and two varieties of farsan, one steamed and
one fried. At an average every home would
have 1 seasonal vegetable + 1 pulse veg + dal/
khadi as the main meal. …...the other variety
of dishes like dumpling gravies, pulses
(kathol), sprouts etc., outnumber the actual
vegetable dishes. This fusion is in fact very
The different regions of Gujarat, North,
South, Saurashtra and Kathiyawad have
added to the varieties with their specialities.
The sweet flavours in dal and kadhi are due
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #40 | OCTOBER 2022 17
