Malwa
Malwa, the region around Indore, is a great gastronomical hub. Its main city Indore, apart from being the industrial capital of the state, is a great place for foodies. The famous Chhappan Market in the city is a treasure trove for food lovers and stays open till late in the night. Indore and the Malwa region in general have many famous culinary dishes to offer. The most prominent item is the combination of Poha and Jalebi. These two items are not unique to this region but they are made in a unique way which is different from elsewhere. Unlike the Poha that is found in Maharashtra, the MP version usually doesn’t have peanuts and is served with Sev rather than the gravy which is poured over it in Maharashtra. The Poha in MP is spicy but also has an undertone of sweetness along with a flavour of cumin. The Jalebi that accompanies it is crunchy but also juicy. The Madhya Pradesh Bhawan and Madhyanchal Bhawan in Delhi are places to visit if you want to try out the MP version of Poha for breakfast.
For main course also, Malwa has a lot to offer. The most famous dish of this region is Dal Bafla. This item is similar to Dal Bati but is much richer and oozes with ghee. The Baflas, which are almost identical to Batis, are put in a kadhai full of ghee and left there for a long time to soak as much of it as possible. The result is a sinfully dense Bafla which is enjoyed with spicy Dal and an equally rich Choorma.
For desert, the people of Malwa love to have Mawa Bati. Not very different from a Gulab Jamun, it’s made from mawa, as the name suggest, and is usually in an irregular shape unlike a Gulab Jamun which is spherical. It’s a delicacy which is exclusive to this region of MP. To further satiate the apetite, the region offers two unique drinks, Ghamandi Lassi and Doodh ki Shikanji. The former is the modified variant of the popular North Indian Lassi and is thick in texture to the point that it can be eaten with a spoon. Doodh ki Shikanji is a concoction made by mixing various milk based products like Kesar milk, Rabri and Lassi. These two drinks are also found only in the Malwa region along with Bhopal also.
For main course also, Malwa has a lot to offer. The most famous dish of this region is Dal Bafla. This item is similar to Dal Bati but is much richer and oozes with ghee.
Chambal
Malwa is not the only place to find delicious food in MP. The Gwalior region has its own robust cuisine. When the winter arrives, the most popular item that the people of the region turn to is the famous Gajak. It is usually a rectangle shaped bar which is made from jaggery and has a powdery texture. There are now many varieties of this item and it’s available all over the state. If you want to taste this delicacy in Delhi without going all the way to Gwalior, then old Delhi is the place to go to. There are many old and famous shops selling this delicious item. Among them Kanwarji chikki wale is a reputed institution that has been there since 1850 and serves many varieties of Gajak. Along with this shop there are other outlets also that sell Gajak and its many variants.
The town of Bhind is popular for its unique type of Peda which is dark brown in colour and is garnished with powdered sugar. It has a luscious texture and a rich taste.
Central MP
Apart from these two regions, other areas of MP too have their own specialities to offer. The Kachoris of Sehore, a small town 37 km from Bhopal, are very popular and unique. They are round in shape and have a completely different filling from what is usually in a Kachori. Sagar, another small town approximately 180km from Bhopal, is known for its unique Chironji Barfi. It is dark in colour due to the skin of the nuts and is made using generous amounts of ghee. Dal Bati, which is genrally associated with Rajasthan is also a popular meal in this part of Madhya Pradesh and easily available in the region.
Sadly most of these delicacies are still restricted to their respective areas and are hardly known outside MP. But if you happen to visit the state, these items are a must have. When it comes to culinary delights, the heart of India is full of surprises.