| Haryana Food |
| Simplicity is the key word when it boils down to eating and drinking for the Harayanavis. The 2 meal a day routine is followed in rural areas with the afternoon hunger pangs being put to rest in the fields. The villagers don’t eat breakfast and go straight to lunch which consists of loaves made from flour (either bajra, wheat or gram) with salt and enough green chillies to put anyone else on fire. The evening meal, normally after a hefty drinking bout for the men, is another simple affair of khichri (salty millet porridge) eaten with Ghee or Karhi (chick pea flour beaten in spiced yoghurt) and moong or rice. In urban areas it’s a slightly different story. Breakfast is a common feature, especially for working people. Earlier bajra and bejhar (gram and barley mixture) flour was used but now wheat is more popular. Famous Saag (a veggie preparation) is common as is milk, curd and buttermilk. The afternoon meal is usually a simple affair yet again, but at night the menu can be very varied with meat and vegetables sitting side by side. Most Haryanvis are farmers and except for south Haryana, the rest of the state is rich in vegetables. Haryanvis are predominantly vegetarian. Traditional favorites, besides fresh vegetables, are Bathua-Ka-Raita (green leafy Bathua in delicately spiced yoghurt) and Aloo-ki-Tikiyass (mashed, browned potatoes patties, stuffed with spicy lentils, with sour tamarind chutney). Mixed Dals (an unusual combination of mixed, spiced pulses, simmered over a slow fire) is eaten with hot Ghee. The traditional breads eaten are Chapatis (millet, corn and whole wheat breads) and poories (puffed, whole wheat breads) In Haryana what is perhaps the most common are the roadside dhabas (eating joints). The food is rich and can be excellent, although don’t depend on that if you have a weak stomach. Talking about dhabas being common, you should check out the booze shops. The phrase "one for the road" is put to shame in Haryana. Liquor shops abound here and can be found every 100 yards. For a short time Haryana was made a dry state, and now that the liquor ban has been lifted, people seem to be drinking with a vengeance. You can find anything here, from local hooch to expensive scotch and wines. |
