MADHYA PRADESH – POSHAN MAAH – 28 Days, 28 States

The state of Madhya Pradesh is known as the heart of India, not just because of its geographical location, but also because of its rich culture and history, as well as its vibrant cuisine. Madhya Pradesh’s cuisine comprises a wide variety of traditional food items that vary regionally. Wheat is the staple food of the state. It is a food haven for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, and the passion for food runs deep in the veins of its people.
The food of Madhya Pradesh differs from region to region. Bhopal Cuisine is known for its spicy kebabs, biryani, korma, fish, meat, and keema. Places such as Indore and Gwalior are popular for various delicacies prepared from milk. One of the famous cuisine is Bafla made of wheat and is served with ghee and daal. Also, there are some mouth-watering sweet dishes to relish like Jalebi, Lapsi, and Mawa Bati.

Some of the popular food items of Madhya Pradesh are:

DAAL BAFLA: A close cousin of the daal baati of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh’s daal bafla is also equally famous and equally delicious. The two dishes taste very similar as well and are prepared on special occasions and at the time of social gatherings in Madhya Pradesh. Ghee-laden dough balls are first boiled and then baked before being crumbled and topped with dal. This delight tastes the best when paired with desi ghee.

PILAF: Much like Lucknow, Bhopal is famous for Mughlai food in Madhya Pradesh. Biryani pilaf is a common delicacy in the city, with mutton being the main type of meat. This special biryani comes with zarda—a traditional South Asian sweet dish made by rolling rice in milk, sugar, and food colouring. Zarda is seasoned with raisins, pistachios, almonds, cardamom, and saffron, adding even more flavour.

PALAK PURI: A popular, deep-fried bread eaten mainly for breakfast, it is served with aloo sabji and pickle. It is commonly found in the Khandwa region of Madhya Pradesh. They are loaded with the goodness of palak or spinach.

ROGAN JOSH: Rogan josh is an aromatic lamb dish of Persian origin, which is one of the signature recipes of Kashmiri cuisine, but Bhopalis also have quite a preference for it. So much so that, it has become one of the best places to get a plate of spicy rogan josh.

SEEKH KEBABS: Jabalpur’s seekh kebabs are very popular. They are succulent, made of minced lamb, and skewered till crisp on the outside. They are usually served with mint chutney.

POHA: A popular breakfast option across the country, but, savoured much more in Madhya Pradesh. Made with flattened rice, onions, potatoes, and seasonings like chillies, lemon, and curry leaves, it makes for a light yet satisfying treat.

JALEBI: In Indore, this melt-in-mouth dessert is best paired with poha. The sweet and savoury combination of jalebi and poha is loved by many people across Madhya Pradesh.

LAPSI: In Madhya Pradesh, the best-served sweet is said to be Lapsi. It is made from broken wheat that is pressure cooked. Broken wheat is first roasted in ghee and then cooked along with sugar or jaggery. It is garnished with cardamom seeds.

BHUTTE KI KEES: This dish is only made in Madhya Pradesh and is a healthy and yummy food that is made with grated corn kernels cooked in spices, coconut, and skimmed milk. Mustard seeds and green chillies are added to up the spice factor of the dish. It’s one of the most loved street food in Madhya Pradesh.

Local liquor is distilled from the flowers of the mahua tree and is considered a sacred drink among tribal communities. Flowers of the mahua tree, high in nutritional value, are also used to make jams, jellies, biscuits etc. Some dishes from Madhya Pradesh bear a close resemblance to those of neighbouring states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
There is no better way to experience the various cultural influences on Madhya Pradesh Cuisine than to taste a few, if not all of them.