Discover the rich culinary heritage of Punjabi Food with these 12 must-try dishes that showcase the region’s vibrant flavours beyond the famous butter chicken.
Punjab in North India is renowned for its delicious cuisine, offering a variety of dishes that go beyond the well-known butter chicken. From the smoky richness of Amritsari kulcha to the tangy zest of aloo paratha, and the comforting warmth of dal makhani, these dishes provide a taste of Punjab’s diverse and flavorful food landscape.
Whether you’re a fan of hearty meals or light, spicy snacks, there’s something in Punjabi cuisine to satisfy every palate.
This list of 12 must-try Punjabi dishes invites you to explore the rich culinary heritage of the region, each dish bursting with distinctive, vibrant flavours.
Amritsari Kulcha
It is a leavened crisp and soft bread packed with boiling and mashed potatoes and spices. This bread resembles Naan. Amritsari Kulcha with Chole, also known as Dal Makhani, is a traditional Punjabi food dish from Amritsar. This filled Kulcha is frequently served with tamarind and date chutney by vendors. On the palate and the dish, it’s a delightful joy.
Chole Bhature
Chole Bhature, also known as Chana Bhatura, is a traditional Punjabi dish that is enjoyed across India. Bhatura is a soft and fluffy fried leavened bread, while Chole is a spicy acidic chickpea dish. The tasty chickpea curry goes well with poori, naan, kulcha, aloo kulcha, and aloo paratha. They go well with either bread or pav. Serve sliced onions, green chillies, and lemon wedges as a side dish.
Sarso ka Saag and Makki di Roti
Sarso ka Saag with Makki di roti is a tried-and-true Punjabi food combination that everyone enjoys. It is typically served during the winter months, but there are no such limitations; you may enjoy this nutritious yet delicious combo at any time of year. This meal is also prepared on important occasions and festivals such as Lohri, Baisakhi, Gurpurab, and Diwali. It is best consumed with butter, jaggery, or honey.
Image Credit: English Wikipedia user Lokantha, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dal Tadka
Dal Tadka is a famous Indian lentil dish cooked with either arhar dal which is husked and split pigeon pea lentils or masoor dal hat is husked & split red lentils. Restaurant Style Dal Tadka is Made on a Stovetop with an optional smoking method and Home Style Dal Tadka is Made in the Instant Pot. With steamed rice or jeera rice, the dal tadka goes perfectly. It also goes well with roti, naan, dinner rolls, and paratha.
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Tandoori chicken
Originally a Punjabi food preparation, it is a soft, succulent dry dish made by slow-roasting spiced and marinated chicken in a clay oven called tandoor. Murgh tandoor, often known as tandoori murgh, is a delectable chicken dish. Murgh refers to chicken, while tandoor refers to a clay oven. With sliced onions, carrots, and lemon wedges, serve tandoori chicken.
Amritsari Fish
It is a lightly battered fish fry with Indian spices, ginger and garlic paste, and gram flour. It’s so well-known in Punjab that it may be found in any of the city’s premier hotels or street food stalls. It has a similar following to Tandoori Chicken.
By now, you’ve probably figured out that the meal is called Amritsari, which literally means Amritsar because it originated in that city. Add some chaat masala and fresh lime wedges and it is ready to serve.
Aloo Paratha
Aloo paratha is a savoury and spiced potato-packed flatbread made with unleavened whole wheat from Punjab, India. It’s packed with spicy, slightly sour mashed potatoes and served with a tart sour mango pickle on the side. One of the most popular breakfast options in Punjab is aloo paratha. Parathas are usually roasted in a lot of ghee and then served with dollops of white butter, or Makhan as it is known in Punjabi.
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Punjabi Pakoda Kadhi
The Hindi word “Kadhi” refers to a yoghurt sauce that has been simmered for a long time. The word “pakora” refers to gram flour fritters (besan).
A savoury, spiced batter mixed with onions, gram flour, and seasonings is used to make the fritters. Sprinkled on top, Kashmiri red chilli powder gives it a lovely hue.
Rajma Chawal
Rajma Chawal is a North Indian dish made especially popular as a famous Punjabi food dish made of kidney beans, onions, tomatoes, spices, and herbs and served with rice. This delectable recipe is simple to prepare and serves as a nutritious and filling dinner.
It’s a traditional Punjabi food thali served on weekends, special occasions, and at weddings. It can also be served with roti. All you need is some onion and lemon wedges on the side to enjoy this delectable dinner, which finds a hallowed place in vegetarian punjabi food recipes.
Pinni
Aate ki pinni (whole wheat flour, semolina, and dry almonds needed in a small ball shape) is a traditional Punjabi treat.
Aate or aata refers to whole wheat flour, and pinni is a Punjabi term for round-shaped sweets. Peanut chikki – aate ki pinni, like Sarson ka saag and Makki ki roti, is regarded as the ideal winter meal in Northern India. Slivered cashews, melon seeds, and dried ginger powder can be added to the pinnis. The ginger powder (saunth) will give the pinnis a little extra warmth.
Paneer Tikka
Paneer tikka is a delicious Punjabi food made by marinating chunks of paneer in spices and grilling them in a tandoor. It serves as a vegetarian substitute for chicken tikka and similar meat-based dishes. When served with a sauce, it’s known as paneer tikka masala.
Paneer tikka can also be enjoyed in a wrap, known as paneer tikka roll, where the grilled paneer (homemade cheese) is wrapped in an Indian flatbread.
Lassi
Lassi is a traditional yoghurt-based drink that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. In Punjabi, the word “lassi” refers to a mixture of yoghurt and water. This beverage is highly popular in India, often hailed as the region’s favourite summer drink and described as the “air conditioner of Punjab” due to its cooling effects.
Lassi is made by blending yoghurt with water and spices, typically served chilled in a glass or a traditional clay cup known as a ‘Kulhar’.
Punjabi dishes offer a delightful journey through the varied and rich flavours of one of India’s most famous culinary regions. Each dish represents a piece of Punjabi food culture, promising not only a treat for the taste buds but also an authentic experience of traditional Indian cooking. Whether you’re enjoying these meals in a local eatery or cooking them at home, they are sure to bring a taste of Punjab right to your plate.
Read more: Food Voyager
