Cuisines of Awadh

Awadh known as Oudh, Oundh or Oude in the Colonial British Era, is the combination of United Provinces of Agra and Uttar Pradesh. After Independence the same region is known as Uttar Pradesh. The Capital of Awadh had been Lucknow and so is today of Uttar Pradesh.

With the changing times, a lot has changed in Awadh beginning from the name to the dress. But one thing has not changed – the delicacies of Awadh. They still water the mouths of people who come here to try out the numerous varieties of food. Beginning from the House of Lucknowi Nawabs, these have come to the streets where they are taken as some of the best refreshing gourmets of India. So whenever you welcome yourself to the lands of Uttar Pradesh, welcome yourself to the soil of ultimate dishes.

Out of the several dishes which are made here, Lucknowi Biryani is the yummiest. Biryani is basically rice mixed with a number of spices and dry fruits. The color of Biryani is often added up with the addition of turmeric. Made in vegetarian and non – vegetarian forms these make a inseparable part of Lucknowi Household and no meal is complete without the inclusion of this dish.

Another dish which is very famous is the Mughlai Chicken. Small pieces or big pieces, they are best when spices are added to them. Dipped in various Indian Sauces and the variety of with hot spices, this dish is a favorite of non – vegetarians. Another very famous dish of Awadh is Dahi Gosht or Curd Meat. Prepared by the method called Dum Phukt, it is prepared on very low heat. In this method of preparation, the meat is placed on the vessel at a very low heat while the container is almost sealed. Spices added the lamb is cooked and is often offered with rice or Biryani.


Apart from these regular meals, there is one thing which is liked as evening snacks by many. These are the kebabs, sort of pancakes. The most common sort of kebab are of lamb, goat, chicken, fish and shelfish. However when it comes to pure Awadhi dish, then only lambs are used to make the kebabs.
Though kebab has many forms but when the same thing is prepared in a Tandoor, then it is called as Kathi Kebab.


But whatever the form of Awadhi dishes, these have a lasting taste, a taste which stands the test of time. Every visitor of the Awadh would come up with this testing taste !

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Sweets of Kolkatta

Kolkatta once the city of Britishers, today the reminder of the yesteryears. The streets. Buildings, coffee shops, book streets, government buildings, wherever you look all of them remind of the Colonial rule. But there is something which still talks about the Culture of Kolkatta – the sweets of Kolkatta.

Bengali sweets have a name of their own, the perfect mix of sugar and various ingredients which make them mouthwatering. Where else would you find such taste? From the best sweet shops of Kolkatta come out the best of the taste, simply melting down in the taste buds.

Lined up inside the glass of the sweet shop, dipped in various colors, shaped in the form of fruits and flowers, these are the perfect things you get to eat when you are tired and totally exhausted. And some of them are the most delicious and famous of all – rasmalai, sandesh, kheer barfi, sandesh roll, kheer sandesh, special laddu, gulab jamun, sandesh barfi are just some of the most famous ones.

In the long and chequered 300 years old history, the City of Joy has charmed its visitors with the best of tastes. To sample the famous Kolkatta sweets ( which has most of the varieties), you must visit the Dalhousie Square which has a number of sweet shops to taste from. The range is simply overwhelming.

There are other sweets like Misti Doi, Kheer Kodom, Chumchum, Rosogulla Payesh, Kheer Kodom, Rabri which top the list of the famous sweets of Kolkatta. Lotus Sandesh and large sized Chitrakut are some of the most liked ones.

Kolkatalites are thought of having a sweet tooth since birth and this also true to some extent. Most of the Bengalis are fond of sweets. But of all the sweets which are made in Kolkatta, its the Sandesh which tops all of them. Maybe this is the reason why Sandesh is made in a number of flavors. The common ones are pineapple sandesh, black current sandesh, butterscotch sandesh.

So next time you are in Kolkatta don't forget to savor some of the most famous sweets of Bengal...

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