Punjabi Recipes: One of the most impressive things about Punjabi food is its variety. While meat lovers can never have enough of the evergreen Butter Chicken, Bhuna Gosht, Tandoori Chicken and Amritsari Machchi, vegetarian fare is equally delightful. Sarson ka Saag, Chole Bhature and Dal Makhni are just a handful of vegetarian Punjabi specialities with fans across the globe. Think of Punjab and you can imagine its earthy heritage of lush green fields and robust lifestyle. What makes Punjab different from the other states is its culinary treasure, it is a state synonymous with food. Punjabi food is a lot like Punjabis - rich, robust and full of life. Bold textures and hearty ingredients are what make Punjabi cuisine so popular all across North India.
Punjab is home to authentic tandoori food. It is believed that the 'tandoor' originated in Persia and was introduced to India by the Arabs. Back in the day, people living in the Punjab region were the first ones to learn the art of cooking with the tandoor. It is believed that tandoori chicken was invented in Peshawar as recently as the 1930s and became popular thereafter.
Despite being the land of five rivers, you won't find much seafood on the menu. Fish is their favourite but not in curries. Deep fried and skewered fish delicacies are quite popular, including Machch ke Sooley, Fish Kebabs, Fish Tikkas andAmritsari Machchi.
Best punjabi dishes: Despite being the land of five rivers, you won't find much seafood on the menuSince the state boasts of being one of the largest consumers of milk, you will never sit down to eat in Punjab without a glass of lassior chaach by your side. Moreover, being a wheat producing area, Punjabis are known for experimenting with breads. naan, rumali roti, kulchas (stuffed bread) and parathas are some of the popular bread varieties here.
People in Punjab are also passionate about cooking with gheeand butter. Most star curries are cooked in 'desi ghee' and breads to go with them are served 'makhan mar ke'. Spices are like garam masala, coriander powder, cumin and carom seeds are used generously. The key is to perfectly balance the different flavours, so that no single flavour becomes overwhelming.
Learn from our specialist chefs and lay out an elaborate spread as we bring you 17 classic recipes straight from a Punjabi kitchen:
1. Butter Chicken
Presenting, the classic butter chicken that is unknown to none. Juicy chicken pieces bathed in a creamy gravy bursting with authentic flavours.
Best punjabi dishes: Presenting, the classic butter chicken that is unknown to none
2. Sarson Ka Saag Aur Makki Ki Roti
Palak, bathua and sarso saag come together to create a sensation with hearty makke ki roti. Simple, savoury and full of rustic flavours.
Best punjabi dishes: Palak, bathua and sarso saag come together to create a sensation with hearty makke ki roti
3. Tandoori Chicken
Hard to resist, tandoori food never fails to please one and all. Chef Aditya Bal shows you simple steps and tricks to create some tandoori magic right in the comfort of your home!
Best punjabi dishes: Hard to resist, tandoori food never fails to please one and all
4. Chole Bhature
Talk about Punjabi food and the popular chole bhature can never be given a skip. The dish has become one of the favourites with people across the country and is also one of the must try Indian delicacies.
Best punjabi dishes: Talk about Punjabi food and the popular chole bhature can never be given a skip
5. Masala Channa
Boiled chickpeas wrapped in a flavourful mix of masalas and cooked to perfection. A quick fix for an afternoon meal or a great option for a hurried weekday dinner. This recipe will be loved by one and all.
Best Punjabi dishes: Boiled chickpeas wrapped in a flavourful mix of masalas and cooked to perfection
6. Dal Makhani
From the local highway dhabas to some of the most sophisticated five star hotels - Dal makhni finds its dedicated space on menus across eating joints and restaurants and beyond all cultural division. Master the art of cooking the queen of all dal preparations.
Best Punjabi dishes: Dal makhni finds its dedicated space on menus across eating joints and restaurants
7. Machchli Amritsari
A treat for all fish lovers. Beautiful pieces of fish, coated in a spicy batter and deep fried to a golden perfection. Garnished with a sprinkling of garam masala and a dash of lemon juice for that extra zing.
Best Punjabi dishes: Beautiful pieces of fish, coated in a spicy batter and deep fried to a golden perfection 8. Dhaba Dal
Wonder why the food served by those simple, roadside dhabas is so distinctly flavourful? They make the most of local spices and rustic techniques and unadulterated recipes handed over by generations. Here's an authentic recipe of dhaba dal.
Best Punjabi dishes: Who wouldn't love dhaba dal that is made with perfection
9. Paneer Tikka
For that unexpected dinner party, you can never go wrong with these quick, paneer bites. Soft and tender chunks of paneer, coated with a mix of masalas, grilled hot on skewers.
Best Punjabi dishes: For that unexpected dinner party, you can never go wrong with these quick, paneer bites
10. Murgh Malaiwala
Here's a perfect Punjabi recipe that will add stars to your dinner party. This is a no oil, no ghee recipe including chicken pieces cooked in a blend of masalas, milk and cream.
Best Punjabi dishes: Here's a perfect Punjabi recipe that will add stars to your dinner party
11. Punjabi Kadhi Pakodi Recipe
A delicious creamy gravy with soft fried pakodis dipped in it, makes for an amazing Punjabi kadhi. It is made from gram flour, spices and chillies that makes for a popular lunch dish in an Indian household. Usually served with rice, it is topped with laal-mirch ka tadka.
Best Punjabi dishes: A delicious creamy gravy with soft fried pakodis dipped in it, makes for an amazing Punjabi kadhi12. Amritsari Kulcha Recipe
Made from refined flour, potato-filling, coriander seeds, ginger, onions, et al, Amritsari kulchas are the perfect Punjabi dish that you'd want to prepare at home. This recipe has kulchas made with canola oil.
Best Punjabi dishes: Amritsari kulchas are the perfect Punjabi dish that you'd want to prepare at home13. Bhatti da Murg Pindiwala Recipe
Bhatti da murg pindiwala is a gem from the streets from Punjab where the chicken is cooked on a charcoal grill. Chicken legs are marinated overnight in fine spices and cooked to perfection. This is something that will melt-in-your-mouth and is bound to make you fall in love.
Best Punjabi dishes: Bhatti da murg pindiwala is a gem from the streets from Punjab14. Punjabi Dal Tadka
This Punjabi dal tadka is a mouth-watering dish served with roti, naan or rice. Any north Indian menu is incomplete without this tadka dal.
15. Punjabi Lemon Chicken
Punjabi lemon chicken made with citrus juices, sugarcane juice and some basic Indian spices.
16. Pindi Channe
Spicy chickpea and potatoes mingled in varied masalas with a burst of flavours. 'Pindi Channe' is one of the famous recipes from the Punjab region.
17. Punjabi Lotus Stem Chicken Curry
This chicken curry is an extremely flavorful and aromatic dish that is made with rich Indian spices; tomato base gravy and an aromatic lotus stem stock.
Enjoy these amazing recipes from the Punjab region and fall in love all over again!