23 Famous Gujarati Food You Must Try

Gir is an ideal holiday destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Apart from offering a unique opportunity to observe Asiatic lions in their natural abode, Gir is also known for tasty Gujarati food. 

Gujarat is known for some of the best dishes that are enjoyed across the world, and here are some of the best food in Gujarat you can’t afford to miss when on a vacation in Gir. 

• Khandvi:
   

This famous Gujarati dish is soft, light, mushy, and delicious. It is a breakfast recipe that has a sweet and salty taste. It is prepared with a batter that consists of gram flour, sugar and salt. This is one of those dishes of Gujarat that have become famous in major cities like Mumbai. 

• Dhokla: 

 

This is one of the most widely consumed Gujarati dishes in the world. It has a spongy texture and is made with fermented rice and chickpeas. Green chutney makes a brilliant accompaniment. Dhokla can also be consumed after frying it with cumin seeds, curry leaves, and mustard. 

• Thepla: 

 

This is also one of the best food in Gujarat. It is a flatbread prepared with various ingredients such as wheat flour, fenugreek leaves, or cumin seeds. This dish has a vibrant flavour that is impossible to ignore. It is usually eaten with a spicy pickle, curd, or coriander chutney.

This is a famous food of Gujarat that comes from Surat. Undhiyu is a mixed vegetable dish that is cooked upside down in clay pots underground. It is a seasonal dish, which awaits the arrival of the kite festival in January. Its ingredients include eggplant, bananas and beans, potatoes, fried chickpea flour dumplings, and green peas. This is a must-try dish for everyone visiting the Club Mahindra resort in Gir. 

• Fafda Jalebi:

 

Gujarati cuisine is all about a range of snacks that are consumed at any hour of the day. The sweet and salty fafda jalebi is a street food available across Gujarat. Fafda is a snack made from gram flour and turmeric, usually consumed with jalebi.

• Gathiya:

Gathiya is a popular Gujarati snack made from gram flour (besan), infused with spices, and deep-fried to crispy perfection. These savoury, crunchy strands are often seasoned with ajwain, black pepper, and other spices, making them a delightful treat enjoyed with chutneys or as a side with tea.

• Khichdi:

Gujarati Khichdi stands out with its unique blend of cereals, rice, ghee, and vegetables. Considered the national food of India, this light, nutritious dish offers a flavourful medley that caters to diverse taste preferences. Its simplicity, health benefits, and versatility make it a staple food of Gujarat, reflecting the state's culinary heritage.

• Khaman:

Made from chana flour, Khaman distinguishes itself with a soft, spongy texture and a distinctive aroma, thanks to a generous amount of soda. This traditional food of Gujarat balances sweet and salty flavours, creating a delightful experience. Best enjoyed as a snack or breakfast item, Khaman is a popular choice in Gujarat's vibrant street food scene.

• Handvo:

This is a savoury cake made by fermenting rice and lentils, creating a soft texture and a rich brown colour. Packed with various vegetables and crushed peanuts, Handvo is a flavourful dish cooked in a special pressure cooker. The final touch involves a tempering of cumin seeds and curry leaves, adding layers of taste to this unique Gujarati speciality.

 

• Dabeli:

 

It is one of the amazing dishes of Gujarat that boasts distinct flavours. This street food favourite, hailing from Kutch, combines buns with a filling of sev, peanuts, chutney, pomegranate, Dabeli masala, and spices. Best enjoyed with evening tea, Dabeli exemplifies the fusion of sweet, spicy, and tangy tastes.

• Lilva Kachori:

Lilva Kachori is a monsoon-special food of Gujarat and a tea-time delight. It is like a deep-fried ball of flour filled with traditional Gujarati stuffing. Served with chutney and coffee, these kachoris make for a delicious evening snack, showcasing the culinary diversity of Gujarat.

• Sev Tameta Nu Shak:

A light yet flavourful dinner option, Sev Tameta Nu Shak combines sev, tomatoes, and spices to create a sweet and tangy taste. This famous food of Gujarat is made by sautéing tomatoes and diced onions, slow-cooking them until perfectly blended, and garnishing with coriander and sev. It's a family-friendly dish that satisfies hunger with its enticing flavours.

• Gujarati Kadhi:

Gujarati Kadhi is a staple in the region, offering a simple, light, and delicious dish that combines a salty-sweet flavour profile. Featuring a thin soup-like consistency, this kadhi incorporates the sweetness of jaggery, and it's often enhanced by adding pakodas. This is a famous food of Gujarat
and is complemented by hot chapatis and plain rice. It is also a cherished part of a Gujarati thali.

 

• Mohanthal:

 

It is a traditional Gujarati sweet made from sweetened gram flour and adorned with cardamom and nuts. Often prepared during festivals and special occasions, this delectable dessert is considered Lord Krishna's favourite delicacy. With a simple recipe and few ingredients, Mohanthal is a cherished treat for sweet cravings in Gujarat.

• Khichu:

With a smooth and sticky texture, Khichu offers a uniquely delicious experience. Being one of the popular dishes of Gujarat during festivals like Navaratri, it is often found at stalls near Garba venues. This gooey dish, made with rice flour or alternative flours like Nachani and Bajri, is steamed with green chillies and cumin seeds, and seasoned with groundnut oil. Its smooth and sticky texture makes it a favourite, especially among children.

• Gota:

Gota is a monsoon-perfect snack. You could call it Gujarat's version of pakoras. Prepared with a flavourful combination of methi (fenugreek) and besan (gram flour), Gota is a spicy and delicious treat, especially popular during Holi. Served with sweet chutney or tomato ketchup, Gota and chai create a delightful combination, making it a favourite street food during the rainy season.

• Gujiya:

This is a traditional food of Gujarat. It is sweet and is often associated with festivals and special occasions. These crescent-shaped pastries are filled with a mixture of khoya, nuts, and sugar, then deep-fried or baked to golden perfection. Gujiya represents the rich and indulgent side of Gujarati desserts, making it a must-have during celebrations.

• Khakhra:

  

This is like a crispy, thin cracker made from whole wheat flour and seasoned with various spices. Khakra is like a light snack, typically roasted, which makes it a popular choice for those looking for a nutritious treat. This famous food of Gujarat comes in various flavours, catering to diverse taste preferences, and is often enjoyed with chutney or yoghurt.

• Basundi:

A traditional Gujarati dessert, a rich and creamy milk preparation sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom or saffron. Often garnished with chopped nuts, Basundi is simmered to achieve a thick consistency, creating a luscious and indulgent dessert enjoyed during festivals and special occasions.

• Murghanu Shaak:

Murghanu Shaak is one of the unique dishes of Gujarat featuring tender pieces of chicken cooked with a flavourful blend of spices. It might not be easily available and a majority of Gujarati food is vegetarian. This non-vegetarian delicacy showcases the culinary diversity of Gujarat, providing a savoury and aromatic option for those who enjoy meat-based dishes.

• Surati Ghari:

Surati Ghari is a sweet delicacy originating from Surat in Gujarat. This festive treat is often associated with the festival of Chandani Padva and is made from clarified butter (ghee), milk, and gram flour. Surati Ghari is intricately designed and filled with mawa (khoya) and nuts, creating a rich and decadent sweet that reflects the cultural richness of Gujarat's culinary traditions.

• Doodhpak:

This is a cherished Gujarati dessert, is a creamy rice pudding made by simmering rice in milk until thickened. Sweetened with sugar and infused with aromatic spices like cardamom, it offers a comforting and indulgent treat. Garnished with chopped nuts, such as almonds and pistachios, Doodhpak is a festive delight enjoyed during special occasions, adding richness and flavour to Gujarati culinary traditions.

 

• Chorafali:

 

Chorafali is a famous food of Gujarat that is eaten as a snack. It is made from gram flour (besan) and urad dal flour. This deep-fried, crisp snack is seasoned with a blend of spices, including black pepper and ajwain, giving it a distinctive flavour. Chorafali is known for its unique texture, lightness, and ability to stay crunchy for an extended period. Often enjoyed during festivals and special occasions, Chorafali reflects the vibrant and diverse array of snacks in Gujarat's culinary landscape.

Each of these dishes of Gujarat highlights the unique flavours and textures that make Gujarati cuisine a delightful experience. The food of Gujarat is diverse with options that range from sweet, sour, and spicy flavours, offering a wide variety of options for food lovers to explore and enjoy.

Club Mahindra’s Gir Resort offers an opportunity for you to binge on many of the famous foods of Gujarat. The Club Mahindra Resort in Gir takes pride in offering an extensive and excellent choice of cuisines.

Apart from these mouth-watering delicacies, Club Mahindra Gir Resort also offers a range of holiday activities to keep you entertained throughout your stay. The resort has comfortable and spacious rooms equipped with modern facilities to ensure that you have a memorable family holiday.

With a Club Mahindra membership, you can enjoy a holiday every year at one of their resorts. There are a number of things to do in Gir apart from enjoying a guided safari in the wild, which attracts tourists from across the globe. It’s time for you to tick it off your bucket list! With more than 2,81,000 members and numerous positive Club Mahindra reviews, enjoy your stay at the best resort in Gujarat.