Maharashtrian Cuisine

 As the name suggests, Maharashtrian cuisine is the cuisine of the Marathi people from the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has distinctive attributes while sharing much with other Indian cuisines. Traditionally, Maharashtrians have considered their food to be more distant than others. Maharashtrian cuisine includes mild and spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, vegetables, lentils and fruit are dietary staples. Peanuts and cashews are often served with vegetables.

Overlooking the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea, Maharashtra cuisine is largely influenced by seafood and the cuisine that is popular in the interiors of the state presents a strong blend of the traditional and the contemporary preparations. The coastline of Maharashtra is usually called the Konkan and boasts its own Konkani cuisine, which is a harmonized combination of Malvani, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin, and Goan cuisines. Besides the coastal Maharashtra cuisine, the interior of Maharashtra or the Vidarbha area has its own distinctive cuisine known as the Varadi cuisine.

Serving a Maharashtrian Meal

In Maharashtra, even an everyday meal consists of several accompaniments that are set out in a particular manner in the taat (platter). The taat vadhany (method of setting food on the platter) is an art. It starts with a bit of salt at the top center of the taat. On its left is set a small piece of lemon. Then follows the chutney (spicy accompaniment made of ground coconut and green chilies), koshimbir (salad), bharit (lightly cooked or raw vegetable in yogurt) in that order.
The people of Maharashtra are known for aesthetic presentation of food. In formal meals, the guests sit on floor rugs or red wooden seats and eat from silver or metal thalis and bowls, placed on a raised chowrang, a short decorative table. To avoid mixing of flavors, each guest is given a bowl of saffron scented water to dip fingers in before starting to eat the next delicacy.

Festive Food in Maharashtra

Gudi Padwa, Holi, Haritalika, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Makara Sankranti are some of the festivals native to the state of Maharashtra. And some special foods during these festival times are as follows:

Gudi Padwa: Soonth Panak, Sprouted Chana Usal
Holi: Puran Poli
Haritalika: Coconut Potali
Ganesh Chaturthi: Karanji, Modak
Diwali: Shankarpali, Badam Halwa, Chakli, Karanji.
Makar Sakranti: Till Gud