Take a break from Mumbai to this sleepy coastal town for the best Parsi food ever!
UDVADA
Region:Gujarat
This sleepy coastal town on the Gujarat border is renowned for its Iranshah Atash Behram fire temple, which is the most sacred of Zoroastrian fire temples in India. The Zoroastrian community that came to India in the 19th century brought along a delightful melange of Persian platters to tickle the taste-buds.
A visitor can try some great Parsi food in any of the local restaurants. Parsi cuisine is a prudential melange of sour and sweet. While the dal is luscious and thick, littered with chunks of soft meat, served with fragrant caramelised rice, if it’s a chapatti meal one craves, order them with salli boti (sour-spicy chicken in tomato gravy sprinkled with crisp potato straws). Savour fried boi(mullet fish), vindaloo fish curry, sali margi or ghosht, dhanshak, which is mutton served with a mixture of lentils and vegetables.
The offal fiesta that is aleti paleti (a toss-up of chicken organs) or khurchan (a mix of goat organs) are dishes cooked up with the unique Parsi style garam masala and served with freshly baked bread are a must try for those who love a meaty start to their day. The imligoor-no kuchumbar (paste made out of tamarind) is quite a lipsmacker.
A perfect end to a hearty lunch is handchurned Sancha icecream, lagan nu custard, rava sheera and raspberry jelly. Also, try the local cold drink brand, Sunta, which is difficult to find elsewhere. Pack some fresh macaroons and nan khatai for a trip back home.
