Between the fiery curries and pillowy pavs, there's so much to Maharashtrian cuisine that deserves an attentive ear. Maharashtra has been a melting pot of many cultures. Maharashtra's drool-worthy food too is a mishmash of many flavours and cooking techniques; some indigenous and some borrowed from their erstwhile rulers/colonisers. Maharashtrian desserts are a lip-smacking affair that serves as a hearty departure from the loaded gravies, rice dishes and flatbreads. From yogurt to rice flour, mango to jaggery, Maharashtrian desserts are an indulgent treasure of flavours.
Here are 5 of our most favourite Maharashtrian desserts that you should definitely try.
1. Puran Poli
The Maharashtrian festive staple is always a delight to bite into. Puran poli is a flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling called 'puran'. Puran recipes differ from households to households; some people choose to make their stuffing with flour, jaggery or nuts. Puran poli is lavishly prepared during special festive occasions such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali or Sankranti.
2. Shrikhand
The chilled hung curd dessert is popular even in Gujarati households. The creamy delicacy is sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom, nuts and saffron. In summers, aamkhand or mango-flavoured shrikhand also becomes a sought-after affair in whole of Maharashtra.
(Also Read: Watch: Recipe Of Classic Mango Shrikhand (Amrakhand) Dessert)
3. Modak
You mostly see this delicious sweet treat during Ganesh Chaturthi. You are perhaps even guilty of tucking in too many at one go. But such is the magic of modak; you just cannot stop at one. Modak is a stuffed rice flour dumpling with a sweet filling of khoya, nuts and coconut. Nowadays, you can also find many experimental modaks in the market; for instance chocolate modak, kesari modak, malai modak, til modak etc.
(Also Read: 11 Best Indian Dessert Recipes | Popular Indian Dessert Recipes)
4. Shankarpada
Shankarpada or shankarpali is a bite-sized, crispy sweet treat that is prepared on festive occasions. Made from dough of sugar, ghee, maida and semolina, shankarpada is widely available in shops in purchase-ready packs. In addition to Maharashtra, shankarpali is also very popular in Gujarat and Karnataka.
5. Mango Mastani
Is it a drink? Is it a dessert? Try it to figure out yourself! This indulgent mango delight is a sensation in Pune. Overflowing with ice-cream, dry fruits and nuts, this thick fragrant mango milkshake is often garnished with silver varq and almond flakes.
Slurping already? We don't blame you! Try them all and let us know which ones you liked the best! If we missed out on your favourite dessert, do let us know in the comments section below.
About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.