Guess The Thali! Which State?
Each state and smaller sub-region of India brings its own a unique blend of dishes, spices, traditions to your plate. Food is served rather magnificently arrayed on large thalis, packed with umpteen katoris or vatis of intriguing items. Can you recognise each Indian state's thali? Go ahead and try...
This thali is oveflowing with the cuisine of which state? It's bold, spicy and rich food and a meal might include a berry-based sabzi or pickle, dishes concocted from papad and definitely baked, ghee-laden baked wheat balls served with teekha dal. Do you think you guessed right? Click right, to the next slide to check the correct answer...
Yup, it's a Rajasthani thali.
And it's full of desert flavours and yummy classics like dal-baati-churma, Ker Sangri, Gatte Ki Sabzi.
A thali that is a symphony of sweet, salty, tangy tastes and is loaded with wee little side snacks collectively called farsan. Which state?
Indeed, it's a Gujarati thali.
Every Gujju meal is known for its sweet and salty notes. Khichdi is usually served and meetha dal. And boasts the tastiest farsan and the much-adored dhokla usually makes the cut.
A sumptuous thali about the unique culinary embrace of river fish, mustard oil, kasundi, gorgeous sweets and more...
A Bengali thali. A perfect answer!
When eating a repast from Bengal, expect Shorshe Ilish, Aloo Posto and a sweet ending like maybe Mishti Doi or Sweet Tomato Chutney. And afterwards your choice of luscious Bong sweetmeats.
Here's a thali that might contain a kokum-flavoured curry, seafood, stuffed-eggplant, a sweet-sour lentil amti, chutneys and will be fairly spicy. Any guesses?
A Maharashtrian thali? Cent per cent correct!
Puran Poli, bhakris or rice or millet flatbreads and Bharli Vangi (stuffed baby eggplants) are total comfort foods and part of most hearty Maharashtrian fare.
It's a Southern thali. Rice papads are a must in this meal. Its cuisine uses slightly less coconut than its neighbouring state. The cooking oil is more often sesame than cocounut. Rasams and courses of rice, culminating often with curd rice are essential parts of the lunch/dinner. Meals may be vegetarian. Which state?
You are right. It's a Tamil Nadu thali.
Sambar, rasam, many types of poriyal (spiced pan-fried vegetables), kuzhambus (vegetable curries) and deep-fried appalam make it a simple, soulful spread.
The food on this thali is likely to be the spiciest in the country. Folks around here like their food hot, hot, hot. They also love eggplant. And leaves of the gongura or red sorrel plant. Non-veg thalis might have biryani and a mutton dish flavoured with gongura leaves.
Sahi jawab! It's an Andhra thali.
Spicy dishes with gongura, hot pickles and fiery curries are all included in a signature Andhra bhojanam.
Straight from the snow-capped mountains and meadowed valleys, presenting a thali that uses dry fruits, saffron and features slow-cooked meat wonders with collard greens and paneer delights for veggies. Kahan ki thali hai?
A Kashmiri thali, of course.
Wazwan beauties like Rogan Josh and yakhni lamb preparations steal the show at any Kashmiri meal.
Subtle, earthy and light on the palate, the thali of this state brings together hill-grown herbs and riverside traditions. It leans towards a lot of fish, some bamboo, rice cakes and each meal usually has something mildly bitter and something sour.
It's an Assamese thali, alright.
They believe in including khar, tenga and tita elements in their cooking (alkaline, sour, bitter respectively). Simple, rustic dishes like Masor Tenga made from rohu river fish and bamboo shoot curries shine here.
You can count on this thali being about big-hearted flavours, it being from the Land of Five Rivers. Butter, paneer and ghee-loaded treats will fill your plate for sure. Lassi might be served. And a range of flaky flatbreads. Kaunsa state?
Punjab da swad! It's a thali from the great state of Punjab.
It's many components like Sarson Da Saag, Makki Di Roti and a big glass of lassi will bring pure tummy comfort.
Rice there will be. Pithas or rice pancakes too. Fish. Yoghurt-based dishes. Mustard oil is the cooking medium. Sweets will surely have chenna. Whose cuisine?
It's an Odia thali.
And filled with comforting Dalma and mustard-spiced curries. Soul-warming Pakhala Bhata may be on the menu too. And delicious Chena Poda.
How did you fare on this foodie quiz? Guessed all 10 thalis correctly? Well pat yourself on the back and go out and have a scrumptious meal!