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Every state in India has different taste and cooking style. Here’s a list of some authentic, must have, local dishes indigenous to the various Indian states.

1. Andhra Pradesh

GONGURA PACHADI

It is an authentic Andhra pickle made from sorrel leaves and tastes delicious with a plate of hot steamed rice and onion.

2. Arunachal Pradesh

SMOKED PORK IN SENGMORA XAAK

You will love this pork dish cooked with sengmora leaves. Generally served with rice, be sure to try this out with some traditional Arunachali Apong (rice beer).

3. Assam

MASOR TENGA

Masor Tenga is a mouth-watering sour fish curry made from freshwater river fish and tomatoes, kajinemu (elongated lemon) or thekera (dried mangosteen). It is delicately spiced with exotic tastes and flavours.

4. Bihar

LITTI CHOKHA

This lip-smacking, crunchy dish from Bihar consists of Litti (wheat balls stuffed with Pitthi – roasted and spiced gram flour) and Chokha (char-grilled aubergines or mashed potatoes). It tastes delicious with pure desi ghee on the side.

5. Chhattisgarh

DEHRORI

Dehrori is a delicious festive dessert from the state of Chhattisgarh, usually prepared on Diwali eve. It consists of fried rice dumplings dipped in sugar syrup and garnished with nuts.

6. Goa

BEBINCA

Along with its dominant seafood cuisine, Goa is famous for this authentic and exquisite pudding dessert. The traditional Bebinca is made of 16 layers and is served warm with cold ice cream. Try this out the next time you are in Goa.

7. Gujarat

KHANDVI

It is a delicious savoury snack made from gram flour and yoghurt, tempered with sesame, mustard seeds and flavoured with green chillies, sprinkled coconut and coriander.

8. Haryana

BAJRA KHICHDI

This is a porridge (khichdi) made of coarsely crushed pearl millet and is eaten with pure ghee or sesame oil. Side dishes like lassi, papad, pickles, gur or curd takes this dish to a whole new level.

9. Himachal Pradesh

MADRA

Madra is a traditional Pahadi gravy dish made from an unique combination of chick peas, yogurt, coconut, almonds and raisins. It has a wonderful aromatic flavour and tastes delicious.

10. Jammu and Kashmir

KALAADI CHEESE

Kalaadi is a traditional local hill cheese, indigenous to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is very dense, usually made from cow’s milk. You cannot afford to miss this divine taste if you are in J&K streets.

11. Jharkhand

RUGDA

Rugda is a variety of mushroom indigenous to the forests of Jharkhand. It is very healthy and tastes great with rice or poori. If you visit Jharkhand during the monsoon season, give it a try.

12. Karnataka

PANDI CURRY

This is a rich, dark and spicy pork curry generally served with a flat bread called ‘Akki roti’. An ethnic delicacy of the Coorgi cuisine, Pandi curry takes you to the hills of the Western Ghats.

13. Kerala

IRACHI ISHTU

Irachi ishtu is an authentic Keralean stew made with chicken, beef or lamb. This lip-smacking dish is served best with appam or plain bread.

14. Madhya Pradesh

BHUTTE KA KEES

Bhutte ka kees is a spicy grated sweetcorn dish from the land of magical chaats, Indore. Do try this out the next time you visit there.

15. Maharashtra

THALIPEETH

This is a multi-grain pancake made from roasted chana daal, urad daal, wheat, sorghum, millet, rice and mildly spiced with coriander seeds, cumin seeds, onion, fresh coriander etc. It is nutritious, has bursts of flavour and is served best with buffalo milk cream.

16. Manipur

KHAMAN ASINBA KANGSHOI

Chamthong or Kangshoi is a soupy stew of seasonal vegetables, coarsely chopped onions or spring onion, dried or fried fish pieces and water. It tastes delicious with rice. Make sure to taste this exotic Manipuri dish if you are there.

17. Meghalaya

JADOH WITH PORK

Meghalaya is best known for the dish ‘Jadoh’ – red hill rice cooked with pork pieces. It is a khasi version of biriyani. Next time you are in Meghalaya, do not miss this authentic and delectable Khasi dish.

18. Mizoram

SAWHCHIAR

This is an ethnic Mizo delicacy prepared by boiling meat and rice together. It is a kind of stew made from pork, lamb or chicken. Absolutely delicious, it is surely a must have.

19. Nagaland

NAGALAND PORK W/ DRY BAMBOO SHOOT

Naga signature dry bamboo shoots with pork, a dish that you will love to the very core if you are a meat maniac. Cooked with dry bamboo shoots, loads of chillies and herbs, this dish tastes heavenly with boiled rice.

20. Odisha

CHHENA PODA

This is an Oriya dessert made from baked ricotta cheese. It is a sort of ‘Indian cheesecake’ and is absolutely mind blowing. Check it out when you visit Odisha.

21. Punjab

MAKKI-ROTI AND SARSON-SAAG

This is a famous traditional Punjabi delicacy. ‘Makki Roti’ is a corn meal Indian bread that tastes fabulous with ‘Sarson saag’ – mustard green and a glass of lassi.

22. Rajasthan

MALAAI GHEWAR

Malai Ghewar is a round shaped Rajasthani festive dessert. It is made from milk, flour and pure ghee. You may find this dish in other parts of India, but the ones from Rajasthan are incomparable and divine.

23. Sikkim

PHAGSHAPA

This is one of the many delicious dishes of Sikkim. It is made of strips of dried pork-fat stewed with radishes,turnips and dried chillies.

24. Tamil Nadu

KAMBU KOOZH

You will find this cool, refreshing and healthy dish in the streets of Tamil Nadu. It is a porridge made from millet and stored in earthen pots.

25. Tripura

AWAN BANGWI W/ WAHAN MOSDENG AND KHUNDRUPUI LEAF

Awan Bangwi is an ethnic Tripuri cake made from guria rice, onion, ginger, cashew-nuts, raisins, ghee, pork pieces and lard and garnished with various herbs. The cake is wrapped in a special leaf called ‘Lairu’. If you ever happen to visit Tripura, give this delicacy a try.

26. Uttar Pradesh

BAINGAN KI LONJE

Baingan ki lonje is a mouth-watering dish from Uttar Pradesh that consists of stuffed aubergines. The spicy and tangy filling gives out a fabulous taste and flavour.

27. Uttarakhand

BAL MITHAI

It is a chocolaty coloured fudge, made by roasting evaporated milk cream with cane sugar and is coated with white sugar balls. This exquisite dessert is a delicacy of the state of Uttarakhand.

28. West Bengal

DAAB CHINGRI

It is a traditional Bengali preparation of mild and soupy mustard prawn curry, filled inside a green coconut. The divine aroma of the tender coconut water and kernel gets infused in the prawns, giving them a fabulous flavour. Daab chingri tastes best with a plate of steaming boiled rice.

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