It is no secret that Gujaratis love their tea time snacks. But viewing all Gujarati food through the same lens is like saying Bihar eats only litti chokha. It’s about time Gujarati snacks get their due recognition because they are a bomb of flavours. Whether it is Surat, Kutch, Ahmedabad or America, a true-blue Gujarati carries their culinary treasures along and generously shares them with the rest of the world. If you love stuffing your face with light, fluffy dhoklas and mathri with your tea, you have the Gujju community to thank. Bringing a revolutionary blend of flavours to evening munchies, Gujarati farsan food is a melange of lip-smacking ingredients. An elaborate Gujarati farsan list includes spicy namkeens, savoury dhoklas, khandvis, crispy fafda, bhajiya, chakri and it goes on.
The best part about Gujarati snacks is their versatility to complement any meal. Have fafda and jalebi for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a snack, and you’ll love it every single time. If you enjoy tea time as much as the Gujjus do, try the Gujarati farsan dishes. Elevating Indian tea time snacks, here are some recipes for you to try when hosting family and friends.
Dhokla by Chef Ajay Chopra
Gujarati snacks are incomplete without the quintessential dhokla. A savoury tea time dish made using a batter of gram flour and Indian spices, Dhokla benefits are real. The batter is poured into a mould and steamed till light and fluffy. Demould the dhokla, cut it into pieces and temper it with oil, curry leaves and mustard seeds. If you enjoy a zing of sweet and savoury, you can drizzle sugar syrup over the soft dhoklas as you garnish them with chopped coriander, chillies and shredded coconut. A low-calorie, tea-time snack, you can enjoy dhoklas with tamarind and green chutney.
Green Moong Handvo By Chef Pankaj Bhadouria
Handvo is an authentic Gujarati farsan food that is like a savoury cake. Made using a fermented batter of lentils and rice, Handvo can be baked and pan-fried. Chef Pankaj’s take on the traditional Gujarati snack makes it easier for lazy cooks who often forget to pre-soak their rice and lentils. Make a coarse paste using sprouted green moong, spinach and chillies. To it, add semolina (suji) and curd, an instant fermenting agent, before spicing the batter. Make your tempering in a pan and pour the batter over it. Let it cook on a low flame till the Handvo gets a crispy, golden crust. Serve Handvo with a side of tea time cakes for a balanced combination of sweet and savoury flavours.
Rasiya Dhokla By Chef Pankaj Bhadouria
The perfect Gujarati farsan item list will include a mix of sweet and savoury snacks because Gujjus love their sugar. From a slightly sweet kadhi to pairing fafda with jalebi, traditional Gujarati cuisine will always have a pinch of sweetness in its dishes. Rasiya Dhokla, as the name suggests, is a gravy version of the humble khaman dhokla. It is made using a fermented batter of rice and chana dal that is then steamed till fluffy. On the side, a tempering of mustard and cumin seeds, curry leaves, jaggery, tamarind pulp and chilli powder is prepared. The cut pieces are doused in this semi-sweet gravy and served with hot tea.
Mathri By Chef Ajay Chopra
A deep-fried Indian snack, Mathris with achaar are a popular tea time snack in Gujarati households. Made using a dough of all-purpose flour, spices and seasonings, Mathris are durable and make the perfect travel snack. There are a variety of flavours that can be made with just interchanging ingredients. The plain mathri, methi mathri and ajwain mathri are some of the most common choices. Flaky, crispy and delicious, Mathri with a tangy-spicy mango pickle is a finger-licking good tea time snack.
Bhakri By Chef Ajay Chopra
Gujju’s love homemade farsan food, and they do a very good job of making them. Gujarat’s very own version of pita bread, Bhakri is a simple flatbread made using rice, jowar, ragi or bajra flour. Very nutritious and high in dietary fibre, Bhakri is served steaming hot with curries or chutney and can be eaten as a side during meals or as a snack with tea. Soft, luscious bites will send you in a food coma as you devour copious amounts of Bhakri with tea.
Pizza Samosa By Chef Pankaj Bhadouria
Gujarati snacks represent the diverse culture and unique creativity that is inherent in Gujjus all over the world. So, it is only fitting that we give the credit for this fusion snack to the Gujaratis. A blockbuster tea time munchie that is a mix of Italian pizza filling and a flaky Indian samosa crust is surprisingly delicious. A hearty stuffing of bell peppers, onions, mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce is prepared and filled in small samosa pockets. Deep-fry them golden brown and serve with tea.
There is still a lot to discover when it comes to Gujarati snacks. But for now, treat your taste buds to these 6 tea time snacks as you curb your mid-meal hunger pangs. You can also try south Indian snacks to enjoy cross-cultural cuisines with your tea.