Top Punjabi recipes 2024

Before Partition, Punjab was a unified land of vibrant culture and spirit. The province was divided into two after 1947 and both India and Pakistan had a Punjab to boast about. What made Punjab such a lucrative area was the fact that the Silk Route followed through their path and five rivers flowed through the region. Panj refers to five and ab was another word for water in Persian language, which came together to form the word Punjab. The region has been a site of several invasions and plunders which might have looted it of its jewels and gems but left behind a melting pot of cultures. This led to Punjabi cuisine being deeply influenced by Afghani, Mughal and Persian flavours, which are visible till date. 

Popular Punjabi Recipes 

The melange of flavours and ingredients that went into the making of Punjabi cuisine lent it its vibrant and colourful palate. Some of the most popular Punjabi recipes include sarson da saag and makki di roti. For the unversed, this is a quinessential Punjabi dish during winters, made from mustard greens that are spiced up with a tadka of ginger and garlic along with a roti made of maize-flour. Another popular rendition of this dish involves eating the makki ki roti with oodles of ghee and a dollop of jaggery (gur) slathered on top of it. This dish is not only a powerhouse of flavours but also provides with warmth and nutrition during the chilly cold winters. 

Punjabi Recipes For Breakfast 

You pick any Bollywood movie which is set in the land of Punjabi khets (fields) and you are bound to come across a tall glass of lassi along with thick aloo ke paranthe being prepped early morning. Given the argricultural dependency of the region for most of their food as well as a source of occupation, Punjab is known for its wide fields and bountiful harvest. Employed in this primary sector of the economy, most people have to toil hard and plough their fields, grow crops and harvest them. The physical labour involved in such tasks requires them to consume food that provides them with long-lasting energy and strength. Lassi, a dairy-based drink, make from churned milk and sugar, keeps the stomach cool in the sweltering summers. Aloo ke paranthe are stuffed Indian flatbreads, filled with mashed potatoes and rolled out into a dough. These keep the stomach full for longer hours. 

Punjabi Recipes For Lunch 

Lentils and grains form an important part of the Punjabi cuisine as much as vegetables and meat. Dal makhani is a popular rendition of the simple maa ki dal that we relish in different parts of the word today. There are others like pindi chole (chickpeas), rajma (kidney beans) and kadhi pakora (fritters in a yoghurt curry) that are eaten for lunch along with roti or phulka and rice. Since carbs are known to provide tons of energy, the Punjabi cuisine comprises of carbs in most meals. Several paneer-based gravies are also cherished by the locals. 

Punjabi Recipes For Dinner 

Much talk about vegetables and lentils? Let's get down to the meaty talk now. Haven't we all heard of how Punjabis love Butter Chicken with naan? Well, that's actually true. The creamy and buttery gravy, made with tomatoes and onions, is dunked in with juicy chicken pieces that fall off the bone once you dig in. Tandoori chicken is another specialty of the cuisine although its origins can be traced back to our neighbours, Pakistan. The technique of cooking food in a tandoor was brought to our homeland after Partition when many fled the other side of the border to settle in India. In fact, Moti Mahal chain of restaurants that you see today were a pioneer in inventing this dish. 

Health Benefits Of Punjabi Cuisine 

While it may sound a little ironic to place healthy food and Punjabi cuisine in one sentence, it is possible. Eating mindfully and balancing the food intake with the amount of physical activity can lead to a healthy lifestyle. Since the land is fertile for cultivation and people prefer to consume fresh and seasonal produce, it comes with several health benefits. Makki ki roti and sarson ka saag as well as lassi are proof.