Cuisine & Must Try Dishes

Traditional Gujarati Cuisine

Gujarati cuisine is a delightful mix of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, offering a wide range of vegetarian dishes, snacks, and sweets. The state’s cuisine is influenced by its climate, geography, and rich cultural traditions, making it one of India’s most unique and diverse culinary experiences.

Here’s a list of the must-try traditional Gujarati dishes that every food lover should experience!

 1. Gujarati Thali – A Royal Feast

 Best Place to Try: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara
 Best For: Traditional Meal, Cultural Experience

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ A grand platter with multiple dishes served together.
✔️ Includes dal, kadhi, shaak (vegetable curries), farsan (savory snacks), rotis, and sweets.
✔️ A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.

 What’s Included in a Gujarati Thali?
✔️ Dal & Kadhi – Lentils and yogurt-based curry.
✔️ Undhiyu – Mix-vegetable dish cooked with green garlic & spices.
✔️ Rotli/Puri & Rice – Traditional bread and steamed rice.
✔️ Farsan (Savory Snacks) – Dhokla, Khandvi, Patra.
✔️ Sweets – Jalebi, Shrikhand, Basundi.

 Price Range: ₹300 – ₹800 per thali.

 Tip: Try a Thali at Agashiye (Ahmedabad) or Sasumaa (Vadodara) for an authentic experience.

 2. Dhokla – Gujarat’s Soft & Spongy Snack

 Best Place to Try: Surat, Rajkot, Ahmedabad
 Best For: Breakfast, Tea-time Snack

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ Soft, fluffy, and slightly tangy steamed chickpea flour cakes.
✔️ Served with green chutney & fried chilies.
✔️ A healthy, light, and protein-rich snack.

 Types of Dhokla:
✔️ Khaman Dhokla – Yellow, spongy, and mildly sweet.
✔️ White Dhokla (Khatta Dhokla) – Made with rice & lentils.
✔️ Sandwich Dhokla – Layered with chutney & spices.

 Price Range: ₹30 – ₹100 per plate.

 Tip: Try it at Jalaram Dhokla (Rajkot) for an authentic taste.

 3. Fafda & Jalebi – The Ultimate Breakfast Combo

 Best Place to Try: Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot
 Best For: Breakfast, Festivals

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ A crispy and crunchy deep-fried snack made from gram flour.
✔️ Paired with hot, syrupy jalebis for a perfect sweet & savory combination.
✔️ A must-have breakfast during Dussehra & other Gujarati festivals.

 How It’s Served:
✔️ Fafda – With Kadhi (spiced yogurt dip) & green chilies.
✔️ Jalebi – Deep-fried & soaked in sugar syrup.

 Price Range: ₹50 – ₹150 per plate.

 Tip: Best eaten fresh from roadside stalls early in the morning!

4. Undhiyu – Gujarat’s Winter Special Dish

 Best Place to Try: Surat, Bhavnagar, Vadodara
 Best For: Winter Food, Traditional Festive Meal

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ A slow-cooked mixed vegetable dish with spices, green garlic & fenugreek dumplings.
✔️ Traditionally made in an earthen pot, giving it a smoky flavor.
✔️ A must-have dish during Uttarayan (Kite Festival).

 Main Ingredients:
✔️ Surti Papdi (Green Beans), Baby Potatoes, Yam, Brinjal.
✔️ Methi Muthiya (Fenugreek Dumplings).
✔️ Spices & Green Garlic.

 Price Range: ₹100 – ₹300 per plate.

 Tip: Try "Surti Undhiyu" in Surat for the most authentic flavor.

 5. Thepla – Gujarat’s Travel-Friendly Flatbread

 Best Place to Try: Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhuj
 Best For: Breakfast, Travel Snack

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ Thin, spiced flatbread made with wheat flour & fenugreek leaves.
✔️ A perfect travel-friendly snack that stays fresh for days.
✔️ Served with pickles, curd & tea.

 Variations of Thepla:
✔️ Methi Thepla – With fenugreek leaves.
✔️ Dudhi Thepla – With bottle gourd for extra softness.

 Price Range: ₹50 – ₹150 per plate.

 Tip: Try with mango pickle for the best taste!

 6. Khandvi – The Melt-in-Mouth Delight

 Best Place to Try: Ahmedabad, Vadodara
 Best For: Light Snack, Tea-time Treat

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ Soft, silky rolls made from gram flour & yogurt.
✔️ Delicately spiced & garnished with mustard seeds & coconut.
✔️ A low-calorie, protein-rich snack.

 How It’s Served:
✔️ Topped with fresh coriander & grated coconut.
✔️ With a side of green chutney.

 Price Range: ₹40 – ₹120 per plate.

 Tip: Try at Das Khaman House (Ahmedabad) for the best Khandvi!

 7. Aamras – Gujarat’s Summer Mango Delight

 Best Place to Try: Surat, Vadodara, Bhavnagar
 Best For: Summer Special, Dessert

✅ Why Try It?
✔️ A thick mango puree served with hot puris.
✔️ Made from Alphonso & Kesar mangoes, known for their rich taste.
✔️ A must-try summer delicacy in Gujarat.

 How It’s Served:
✔️ With piping hot puris & a dollop of ghee.
✔️ Sometimes topped with dry fruits.

 Price Range: ₹100 – ₹250 per serving.

 Tip: Best enjoyed in summer when mangoes are in season.