Welcome Spring With These Maharashtrian Delicacies

by Simran Kashyap Hi Everyone, I am Simran. I love to read and write

After months of chilly winter and the New year, its finally time to welcome spring with open arms! In Maharashtra, Makar Sankranti marks the beginning of spring and the conclusion of the winter season. Lots of til, gur and other Maharashtrian food delicacies are enjoyed with the onset of Makar Sankranti in a quest to ward off the winter and welcome the spring season.

After Makar Sankranti, everyone looks forward to spring, because we all crave for the ideal weather when we can go out, visit various places and simply enjoy with our families. Of course with food as a necessary accompaniment. If I had to describe Maharashtrian food in a word, it would be “comfort”. For us Maharashtrians, our food is simple warmth and the comfort of being at home. Nearly all the Maharashtrian food dishes are prepared with basic ingredients, and without much difficulty. What risotto is to Italians, is what masala bhaat is to Maharashtrians, utmost comfort!

When you’re in the mood for some nutritious yet delicious breakfast in the morning, look no further than thalipeeth, which is a multigrain flatbread, made with thalipeeth bhajani, a mixture of various lentils and spices. Make thalipeeth and enjoy it with some hand beaten curd, or a spicy thecha (red chilli chutney).

As cabbages are harvested during spring, try making some cabbage subzi, which is known as kobichi bhaji in Marathi and have it with whole wheat chapati or jowarchi bhakri. Everything tastes better with dry garlic coconut chutney which can be eaten along with the normal chapati-bhaji!

If you’re lazing out on a Monday afternoon, with absolutely no energy to make chapati, lentils or vegetable curry, the simplest alternative would be throwing in some sauteed vegetables, some goda masala and rice into the pressure cooker and cooking them for 3 whistles at a go! You have a delicious masala bhaat ready to be devoured! Such a quick recipe which makes for a perfect comfort food for those lazy afternoons as winter moves into spring, slowly but surely.