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Cuisine & Must Try Dishes

Home Cuisine & Must Try Dishes
Must-Try Dishes

Must-Try Dishes

Uttar Pradesh is a food lover’s paradise, offering a variety of flavors influenced by Mughal, Awadhi, and rustic rural cuisines. From rich Nawabi delicacies to simple yet flavorful street foods, the state has something to satisfy every palate.

 

1. Lucknawi/Awadhi Cuisine – The Royal Nawabi Flavors

The capital city Lucknow is famous for its rich, aromatic, and slow-cooked Awadhi cuisine, influenced by Mughal kitchens.

  • Tunday Kabab – Melt-in-the-mouth minced meat kebabs, made with a secret blend of over 160 spices.
  • Galouti Kebab – Soft lamb kebabs, originally made for Nawabs who had lost their teeth!
  • Lucknawi Biryani – Fragrant, slow-cooked rice with marinated meat, different from Hyderabadi Biryani.
  • Kakori Kebab – Delicate, spiced minced meat skewers, a specialty of Kakori town near Lucknow.
  • Sheermal – A mildly sweet, saffron-flavored naan (flatbread) enjoyed with kebabs.
  • Nihari-Kulcha – A rich, slow-cooked meat stew paired with fluffy kulchas.

 Best Places to Try: Tunday Kababi, Dastarkhwan, Idris Biryani (Lucknow).

 

2. Street Food of Uttar Pradesh – A Burst of Flavors

UP’s streets are lined with delicious, affordable snacks, perfect for food lovers!

  • Bedai & Aloo Sabzi (Agra, Mathura, Varanasi) – A crispy puri stuffed with lentils, served with spicy potato curry.
  • Kachori-Sabzi (Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow) – Flaky deep-fried kachoris filled with lentils or spices, served with potato gravy.
  • Chaat (Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur) – Try Tamatar Chaat (Varanasi), Aloo Tikki Chaat, Dahi Bhalla, Papdi Chaat.
  • Pani Puri/Golgappa (All Over UP) – Crispy water balls filled with tangy, spicy, and sweet flavors.
  • Basket Chaat (Lucknow) – A special chaat served in an edible, crispy potato basket.
  • Samosa & Jalebi (All Over UP) – The ultimate combination: spicy samosas with hot, sugary jalebis.

 Best Places to Try:

  • Ram Bhandar (Varanasi) – Kachori Sabzi
  • Shukla Chaat (Lucknow) – Basket Chaat
  • Deena Chaat Bhandar (Varanasi) – Tamatar Chaat

 

3. Traditional Vegetarian Dishes

Uttar Pradesh has a strong vegetarian tradition with simple, hearty meals.

  • Baati Chokha (Varanasi, Allahabad) – Roasted wheat dumplings served with mashed spiced brinjal & tomato chutney.
  • Tehri (Eastern UP, Varanasi) – A yellow rice dish cooked with potatoes and peas, similar to a vegetable biryani.
  • Dubki Wale Aloo (Mathura, Vrindavan) – A flavorful potato curry, often eaten with kachori or poori.
  • Aloo Rasedar (Varanasi, Lucknow) – A tangy, spiced potato gravy served with puris.
  • Bharwa Bhindi – Stuffed okra (bhindi) filled with aromatic spices.

 

4. Specialties from Different Cities

Each region of UP has its own signature dish that food lovers must try.

  • Mathura Peda (Mathura) – A rich, caramelized milk sweet made with khoya.
  • Petha (Agra) – A famous translucent sweet made from ash gourd, available in flavors like Kesar, Paan, and Chocolate.
  • Gujiya (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi) – A crispy, sweet dumpling stuffed with khoya, coconut, and dry fruits.
  • Malaiyo (Varanasi – Winter Special) – A light, frothy milk dessert available only in winters.
  • Banarasi Paan (Varanasi) – A betel leaf delicacy with a blend of aromatic flavors.

 

5. Sweets & Desserts of Uttar Pradesh

UP is famous for its rich and diverse range of sweets, often made with milk and ghee.

  • Imarti (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi) – A deep-fried, sugary dessert similar to jalebi but thicker and more intricate.
  • Makhan Malai (Lucknow, Varanasi – Winter Special) – A saffron-flavored, airy milk froth dessert.
  • Rabri (Mathura, Lucknow, Kanpur) – Thickened, sweetened milk served with jalebis.
  • Balushahi (Lucknow, Kanpur) – A crispy, deep-fried flour sweet soaked in sugar syrup.
  • Revdi & Gajak (Kanpur, Agra – Winter Special) – Sesame and jaggery-based crunchy sweets, perfect for cold weather.

 Best Places to Try:

  • Ram Asrey (Lucknow) – Traditional sweets & Makhan Malai
  • Panchi Petha (Agra) – The most famous Petha shop

 

6. Unique Beverages of Uttar Pradesh

Pair UP’s delicious food with some traditional drinks!

  • Thandai (Varanasi, Prayagraj) – A cooling milk-based drink with saffron, almonds, and fennel seeds, popular during Holi.
  • Lassi (Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur) – A creamy yogurt drink, often topped with malai (cream).
  • Bael Sherbet (Varanasi, Ayodhya) – A refreshing drink made from bael fruit, known for its health benefits.
  • Sattu Drink (Eastern UP, Varanasi, Allahabad) – A cooling, protein-rich drink made from roasted gram flour.

Uttar Pradesh’s cuisine is diverse, flavorful, and rich in history, influenced by Nawabi, Mughal, and rural traditions. Whether you’re indulging in royal Awadhi dishes, exploring the street food of Varanasi, or savoring sweets from Mathura and Agra, every meal in UP is a treat for the senses.