Maharashtra is a western state of India that is spread over the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. The Maharashtrian cuisine has its own distinctive flavors and tastes rice is the staple food grain in Maharashtra also like the other coastal states of India, there is an enormous variety of vegetables in the regular diet, and fish and coconuts are used extensively for preparing the food.
Maharashtrians consider anna or food equal to Brahma whom Hindus consider as the creator of the universe. Like Hindus Maharashtrians also believe in offering their food first to God as a thanksgiving. On festive occasions, specific mithai (sweets) are offered such as Ukadiche Modak (Ganesh Chaturthi) and Satyanarayan puja Sheera.
Peanuts and cashew nuts are widely used in vegetables and peanut oil is the main cooking oil. Kokum a deep purple berry that has a pleasing sweet and sour taste is widely used in Maharashtra, it’s most commonly used in an appetizer digestive called the sol kadhi, and is served chilled.
Maharashtrian meals are planned and cooked to keep health in mind, the vegetables are more or less steamed and lightly seasoned to retain their nutritional value, almost no or very less deep frying and roasting. Coconut is used in cooking as an embellishment, jaggery and tamarind are used in most vegetables, or dals so that the food has a sweet and sour flavor, the kala masala (a special blend of spices) is added to make the food spicy, and nutritious.
In the vegetarian fare, the most popular vegetables are brinjals. A popular style of cooking brinjals is Bharelivangi or baby brinjals stuffed with coconut. Another typical dish is the Pachadi, which is tender brinjals cooked with green mangoes and flavored with coconut and jaggery. Besides, common vegetables are greatly relished by the Maharashtrians. A typical dish is the patal bhaji, which is a sweet and sour dish flavored with groundnuts.
Maharashtrian papads are eaten roasted or fried. A typical feature is the masala papad in which finely chopped onions, green chilies, and chat masala are sprinkled over roasted or fried papads.
The most popular dessert of Maharashtra is the puran poli, which is roti stuffed with a sweet mixture of jaggery and gram flour During Ganesh Utsav every home at Maharashtrian welcomes Lord Ganesha by offering a favorite sweetmeat of Lord Ganesh Modak which is made of rice flour casting that fashioned like a large flower bud and stuffed with freshly grated coconut cooked with jaggery. The Modak is placed on lightly greased banana leaves and steamed well.
Shreekhand is a sort of thick yogurt sweet dish, which is a great favorite on special occasions and the Navratri festival. Shreekhand flavored with cardamom powder and saffron, which can be served with piping hot puris.
In Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra; snacking is a favorite pastime activity especially chaat dishes on the beach like Juhu and Marine Drive. The Chaat is one of the most widely eaten foods in the city after Vadapav and followed by bhelpuri, pani puri, pav bhaji, and dosa etc.
