Madhya Pradesh is a beautiful state with plenty of natural attractions and some of India’s biggest spiritual centres. It is also known for its warm and comforting hospitality along with delicious food. Journeying to the heart of the country will be a lovely experience if you’re a foodie, especially since diverse flavors are the signature of the traditional food of Madhya Pradesh. It also takes inspiration from Mughal and Bundelkhand influences along with flavors from other states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Here are some of the best options worth trying in this regard.
Best Traditional Food of Madhya Pradesh Worth Trying
Here are some of the top choices available in terms of the top traditional food of Madhya Pradesh.
1. Poha
Poha is one of India’s most popular breakfast and snack items. You will find it widely available throughout Madhya Pradesh. The dish uses flattened rice along with cooked tomatoes and onions. Have it with curry leaves and green chillies along with a dash of lemon for a filling yet healthy meal.
2. Daal Bafla
Daal Bafla is available throughout the state and draws inspiration from Rajasthani culinary traditions. It is a tempting dish just like the Rajasthani Daal Bati and comes with wheat balls that go through a long cooking process in Ghee. You can have it with sumptuous Daal and Hari chutney (coriander sauce). This is a healthy and well-balanced dish that will delight you immensely. Bhopal and many other places in Madhya Pradesh have the best versions of the item.
3. Seekh Kebabs
Mughal culinary influences are also visible in the traditional food of Madhya Pradesh. One of the best items worth trying is the delicious Seekh Kebabs. You will find them almost everywhere including Bhopal and they come with minced meat that is cooked and wrapped to perfection. Some other delicacies in the same category that you can also try here include Shammi Kebabs, Keema, and more.
4. Bhutte Ka Kees
One of Madhya Pradesh’s most unique items, Bhutte Ka Kees is a corn-based dish and goes through an extensive cooking process with grated corns, skimmed milk, and spices. Other additions include green chillies and mustard seeds. It makes for a fabulous snack if you’re in Indore or other parts of the state and the flavors are hard to find elsewhere!
5. Bhopali Gosht Korma
A traditional food of Madhya Pradesh that takes its name from Bhopal, it mainly uses mutton as the core ingredient. Several Indian spices go into the cooking process to ensure a fabulous taste!
6. Palak Puri
For the best mix of taste and health, try the iconic Palak Puri in the state, including cities like Jabalpur and others. This makes for a satiating breakfast, coming with Raita and Aloo Sabzi for a fabulous taste. The cooking process involves the preparation of wheat dough and it then fuses with ground spinach leaves and other spices for an unmatched flavor.
7. Chakki Ki Shak
Chakki Ki Shak is one of the top specialties of Indore and several other places in Madhya Pradesh. This item also takes inspiration from Rajasthan, with its steamed dough and fabulous gravy with lots of spices. You can have it with curd for a filling lunch or dinner.
8. Malpua
The Indian pancake that everyone loves, Malpua is hugely popular in Madhya Pradesh. It goes through an extensive preparation process with flour and Ghee (for frying) before going into sugar syrup for that tempting flavor. Saffron is sometimes a key ingredient for boosting the overall experience. You can have it with Rabdi as a complete snack!
9. Jalebi
Jalebi is hugely popular throughout India and Madhya Pradesh has its own version that you should not miss trying. This traditional food of Madhya Pradesh is best available in Khandwa. You will love watching the preparation process with wheat flour, sugar syrup, and other ingredients. It will be an irresistible treat for sure!
11. Mawa Bati
Mawa Bati is another traditional item that is known for its crispy and delicious texture along with the unmatched sweetness. It is one of the most famous sweet dishes of the state and uses Mava dough for its preparation. Dry fruits also go into the mixture which is made into balls. After deep drying them, the sugar syrup comes into play for creating the final product. Your trip to Madhya Pradesh will be incomplete without trying this gem of a dish!
12. Sabudana Khichdi
Khichdi is as popular in Madhya Pradesh as the rest of the country. However, the Sabudana (tapioca pearl) version that you will have here is truly unique and a favorite for several festivals and special occasions. The dish also contains peanuts, spices, and green chillies for an unforgettable yet light meal!
13. Indori Sev
Indori Sev is one traditional food of Madhya Pradesh that is also really unique in terms of its flavors. Originating from Indore, this street food delicacy often becomes a tasty topping for sandwiches, Chaats, and even Poha. It has a crispy and spicy feel (with gram flour and a combination of various spices) that you will love!
14. Gajak and Revdi
Gajak and Revdi are two traditional winter sweets that you should definitely try when in Madhya Pradesh. Both use sesame seeds, with the former containing jaggery and the latter coming with a special sugar coating. Makar Sankranti and other festivals are when local households usually cook these desserts.
15. Khopra Patties
One of Madhya Pradesh’s best traditional items, they are a staple in several regions including the city of Indore. Mashed potatoes are used with a wonderful stuffing of grated coconuts and other spices. Deep-frying then takes place until they become completely golden and crispy. You can have this treat with tangy chutney for a fabulous experience.
16. Chironji Ki Barfi
Chironji Ki Barfi is an amazing local traditional food of Madhya Pradesh. These seeds are native to the state and add a special flavor and texture to the experience in combination with milk and sugar. You will love feasting on this Barfi which is a big hit for various occasions, festivals, and ceremonies. It will give you a taste of the state’s rich dessert flavors like no other dish can!
17. Gosht Korma
You shouldn’t miss trying the regular Gosht Korma that is found in other parts of Madhya Pradesh. It is slightly different from the Bhopali cooking style and the mutton pieces are absolutely tender here. They come with a gravy that has a wonderful aroma and creamy texture, made with yogurt, cream, and various other spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Slow-cooking techniques are what make this dish unique, where the meat absorbs all the spices beautifully to ensure a signature taste. People here love having this dish with fried onions and fresh coriander leaves as well.
18. Bara
A traditional food of Madhya Pradesh that has Bundelkhand influences, it is basically split black lentil dumplings. They go through a long soaking process in buttermilk, while crushed sugar and mustard seeds come into play later on. It is a timeless yet unique recipe that you will find in the interiors of Madhya Pradesh.
19. Meeda
Another item that is a staple of the Bundelkhand region, Meeda is about frying or roasting gram flour pieces and then floating them in the gravy comprising onions and tomatoes. It creates a fabulous mix of flavors that burst in your mouth wonderfully.
20. Maheri
A traditional food of Madhya Pradesh that almost everyone will love is Maheri. It is mild and easy to digest, almost like a regular Khichdi that uses buttermilk and broken wheat for its creation. You can have it as a filing yet healthy lunch or dinner.
21. Besan Ke Aaloo
Fall in love with the tempting flavors of Besan Ke Aaloo, which uses dry Amla for its preparation. Ghee roasting is a key part of the process, before it becomes a fine powder. Chickpea flour and the powder then mix together to create smaller balls. Cooking takes place in boiling water and again a round of roasting in Ghee. The final seasoning happens with several local spices that add to its rich flavors.
22. Baffori
Baffori means Bhaap or steam. The cooking process involves tying a clean cloth over an earthen pot containing water. You have to then keep it on the flame till the steam is visible. Thereafter, Pakoris made of chickpea flour are put on the cloth and once they are done, go through a subtle mixing process with various spices. You can have these tempting items with rice or Rotis for lunch or dinner.
23. Karar
For making Karar, you have to split green gram and soak it for 3-4 hours in water. Once peeling is done, it is neatly ground and red chillies, salt, garlic, and ginger go into the mix. Thereafter, it becomes almost like the classic Kadhi and you can have it with rice for a fabulous experience.
24. Fara
Fara is made with wheat flour and salt, with the dough becoming smaller cylinder-like pieces. These then cook in boiling water before seasoning with red chillies, cumin, and many other spices. The final taste is just amazing, to say the least!
25. Ras Kheer
Ras Kheer is a creamy and tempting dessert that offers the goodness of sugarcane juice along with local Mahua flowers and milk. No extra sugar is necessary and it is one of the top picks for locals during the harvest season for sugarcane.
26. Anarsa
Anarsa is a treat that goes through an extensive deep-frying process to maintain its sweet and crispy texture. It is made with jaggery or sugar along with rice flour and the golden hue is simply amazing, to say the least!
27. Puri Ke Laddoo
One of the top dishes to try in the festive season, Puri Ke Laddoo goes through a frying process with bread or thicker Rotis crafted from chickpea flour and oil. The fried Rotis then go through a sieving and crushing process to achieve a more consistent texture. Roasting is then done with Ghee before the addition of jaggery or sugar to the final product.
28. Kadaknath Murgha
The iconic Kadaknath Murgha is also known as Kali Masi. If you are a chicken lover, don’t miss trying this flavorful preparation that will melt in your mouth! It is available in several parts of the state, especially the interiors.
29. Keeme Ki Tikki
It is another traditional food of Madhya Pradesh that you will love having as a snack! Minced lamb fuses with gram lentils to create a fabulous Tikki that you will find hard to resist!
30. Biryani Pilaf
Biryani Pilaf is the signature Biryani dish of the Madhya Pradesh region. You will majorly find this in Bhopal and that too at the Chatori Gali market. One of the highlights of the dish is the accompanying Zarda or pudding. It resembles kheer and uses dry fruits like almonds, raisins, and pistachios for its preparation, along with a dash of saffron. You will love tasting this mutton Biryani for its unique flavors.
Also Read: Traditional Food of Jharkhand
Relish the Traditional Food of Madhya Pradesh
Do not forget to try the traditional food of Madhya Pradesh on your next trip. The state offers a wide range of culinary influences, ranging from its special Daal and beverages like Shikanji to tasty meat-based preparations. Here’s to enjoying the taste of Madhya Pradesh in style on your next visit!
