Come winter and we find ourselves, tucking into a comforting bowl of Maggi, sipping aromatic Chai or perhaps healing ourselves with the good old Haldi Doodh. Winter also beckons foodies to gorge on regional winter-special delicacies that are best enjoyed when the cold weather leaves you freezing. So, here are 5 winter foods from North India to warm your soul.
1. Kadai Doodh
Kadai Doodh or Batte Ka Doodh is a popular North Indian drink or dessert that you’d mostly find being freshly prepared on the streets of Delhi. This hot milk drink is prepared in a large vessel with a lot of dry fruits and spices. The concoction is cooked till it’s reduced to nearly half. So, you might find the taste resembling flavoured condensed milk. Kadai doodh is served piping hot to drive away all your winter blues.
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2. Sarson Ka Saag Aur Makki Ki Roti
The mandatory winter dish, Sarson Ka Saag Aur Makki Ki Roti is on everyone’s bucket list. The classic Punjabi meal is a winter combination of a wholesome green saag made with mustard. It’s paired with sizzling hot makki roti, or roti made with corn that’s topped with a dollop of white butter. Devour it with a serving of gud or jaggery to amp up the taste. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a plate of freshly prepared Sarson Ka Saag aur Makki Ki Roti at a homely dhaba in North India. Until it’s safe to travel, order this dish from a nearby North Indian eatery.
3. Gajar Ka Halwa
During the winter season, red carrots paint the town red. And red carrots, call for Gajar Ka Halwa! Popular in North India, this winter dessert is prepared with red carrots, full-fat milk, ghee, sugar, khoya and dry fruits. A child’s best excuse to gobble veggies and every foodie’s irresistible mithai, Gajar Ka Halwa warms your body and soul. This mandatory winter dish tastes best when prepared with red carrots.
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4. Shakarkand Rabdi
When it comes to transforming veggies into sweet dishes, we Indians are total experts. With halwa made from carrots, pumpkin to beetroot, there’s nothing left to the imagination. Well, not quite. North India’s Shakarkand Rabdi is a winter mithai that must be on your bucket list. This rice pudding made with sweet potatoes is known to be a powerhouse of antioxidants, healing nutrients and minerals. Forget the common rabdi when you can slurp on a warm, soothing one made of sweet potato.
5. Daulat Ki Chaat
Daulat Ki Chaat, Nimish, Malai Makhhan or Malaiyyo is a melt-in-the-mouth dessert that’s made by churning whole milk in the break of dawn during winter. Only available during the winter season, this saffron flavoured milk cloud is found in Delhi, Kanpur and Varanasi. To prepare this heavenly souffle, raw milk is mixed with cream and cooled over an ice slab overnight. It’s then whisked by hand in the morning until the concoction is light and frothy. The sweetened milk is then blended with khoya and served in a kulhad, topped with saffron and dry fruits, to give it a rich texture.
So foodies, these are some of the best winter delicacies from North India you must try to keep yourselves warm and satiate your cravings.