7 Traditional Sweets to Have When You’re in Maharashtra

Sweets and desserts are an integral part of any culture. They display the true essence of the culture and the flavours associated with the place. Maharashtra is renowned for its drooling desserts and sweets that are consumed on every special occasion and festival. A trip to Maharashtra is incomplete without savouring these lip-smacking Maharashtrian sweets.

7 Traditional Sweets to Have When You’re in Maharashtra

1. Puran Poli 

Puran Poli is one of the most popular sweet dishes in Maharashtra. It is an Indian flatbread comprising of plain flour, jaggery stuffing along with chana dal( yellow gram), cardamom powder, nutmeg powder, sugar, and ghee. Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread, prepared for every celebration and is relished by the local. It is a must-have dish.

2. Modak

Modak is undoubtedly the most famous sweet in Maharashtra. It is Lord Ganesha’s favorite sweet too. Modak is a dumpling look-alike sweet and is prepared with rice flour, wheat flour or all-purpose flour. It has a hard outer shell and is stuffed with almonds, pistachio, grated coconut, and jaggery.  This sweet is available in all the sweet shops across the state. It comes in various varieties.

3. Malpua

Malpua is yet another tempting dessert that you can’t get enough of. It is a pancake that is fried in hot oil till it becomes crispy. The pancake is dipped into the sugar syrup and served hot. It is garnished with crushed pistachio and cardamom powder that enhances the flavour of this lip-smacking dessert. It is served with a dollop of Rabri on the side which takes the flavour of the dish a notch higher. This dessert can be your guilty pleasure for sure.

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4. Chirote

Chirote is a crispy, crunchy, flaky dessert that is found in Maharashtra. This fried pastry is found in all the sweet shops of the city. It has a light and crispy texture. Once the dough is prepared and fried, sugar is dusted on the top and the dessert is served. It is may not be a very popular dessert but it surely isn’t worth missing.

5. Shrikhand

Shrikhand is an extremely relished traditional Maharashtrian dish. This dish is prepared using strained curd and is flavoured with saffron and cardamom. It is accompanied by hot puris and is served during all the festivals in Maharashtra.

6. Basundi

Basundi is a traditional Maharashtrian dessert that is prepared by reducing milk. For flavouring, the dessert cardamom powder and nutmeg powder is used. This dish is served warm as well as chilled. Basundi is one of the most delicious and rich desserts that Maharashtra offers. It surely is a must-have.

7. Amrakhand

Even though Amrakhand is a variant of Shrikhand this variant does need a special mention. This dessert made using mango puree and strained curd is perfect for summer. Infusing mango puree with the creamy curd results in this delicacy. It is a seasonal dessert as mangoes aren’t available throughout the year. This dessert is relished by every resident and should be on your must-try list.

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