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Surat’s Khavsa Is The Distant Cousin Of Burma’s Khow Suey; Know About Its Interesting History

Khavsa is another gem of Surat besides those precious diamonds!

by Ankita Mazumdar
Surat’s Khavsa Is The Distant Cousin Of Burma’s Khow Suey; Know About Its Interesting History

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of soupy noodles? Whenever we think of them, we find a lot of Asian variations. Well, did you know that India has a version of its soupy noodles? It is strikingly similar to Burma’s Khow Suey! The Indian version of this is in a soupy coconut curry with noodles. It is called Khavsa, a popular breakfast dish found in the streets of diamond city, Surat. We might as well say that Khavsa is another gem of Surat besides those precious diamonds! Now, let us discuss how Khavsa and Khow Suey are related.

What Is Surat’s Khavsa? How Is It Related To Burma’s Khow Suey?

These two noodle dishes are very similar to each other yet massively different. On one hand, the basic similarity between them comes from long noodles served in an appetising and flavourful coconut curry. On the other hand, the topping and other ingredients added to Khavsa and Khow Suey are very distinct. Surat’s Khavsa has a lot more spices inculcated, like chaat masala, thick coconut curry, spring onions, lemon wedges, chutney and, interestingly, a handful of crushed papad.

The name ‘Khow Suey’ means coconut milk noodles. It is a traditional Burmese egg noodle dish served in coconut milk curry with a choice of protein. It is also traditionally topped with spring onions, crispy fried onions and garlic, peanuts, lemon wedges and chilli flakes.

Also Read: Surat’s Fruit Pizza Drowning In Cream Has Netizens Asking, “Yeh Kya Aur Kyu Ho Raha Hai?”

History Of These Yummy Noodle Dishes

Gujarat’s Memoni community is behind the origin of Surat’s Khavsa. This community is believed to be from present-day Hyderabad-Sindh. They later settled in present-day Kutch. As they moved across countries, they converted to many religions.

Back in the day, the Memoni community was strictly engaged in the sea transportation and trade sectors. Hence, they were on good terms with Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.  Before India gained independence, the Memoni community would travel to Burma frequently, and some even settled there. 

After British rule, they had to make their way back to India due to societal unrest conditions. It was during this final displacement that the Memoni community brought the famous Khow Suey back to India. It is a known fact that whenever a dish crosses the border of India, customisation and tweaks are done to adjust or make it more likeable for the Indian palate. Khow Suey went through this change as well and became a go-to breakfast option in Surat called Khavsa.

Also Read: THIS Street Shop In Surat Serves A 20-Inch-long Gola That Comes Loaded With Syrups & Ice Cream

Now that you know about the history of Surat’s Khavsa, are you team Khavsa or team Khow Suey?

Cover Image Credits: Instagram/saranshgoila

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First Published: March 21, 2024 10:50 PM