Indian feasts have been hailed as one of the grandest in the world. The desserts that follow are just as grand as the previous courses. Traditional Indian food is as diverse as the people of this country. North Indian cuisine is strikingly different from South Indian, giving us a plethora of food items to choose from. Here is a list of 10 North Indian sweets and snacks that South Indians may not be familiar with. Give them a try any chance you get!
1. Kalakand
Kalakand is a popular North Indian sweet which is said to melt in your mouth. It originated in the Alwar region of Rajasthan. The key ingredients are sweetened condensed milk and paneer. It is topped with dry fruits and served during celebrations and festivals such as Holi, Diwali, and Eid.
2. Imarti
Imartis are jalebi lookalikes made out of urad flour and milk. They are fried in ghee and doused in sugar syrup. Imartis were introduced in India during the Mughal rule. They are popular across North India and are sometimes known as Jhangiri, Omriti, or Amriti.
3. Ras Malai
This creamy dessert is made with crumbly curd cheese, sugar, and milk. It is a combination of cheesecake and pudding. It originated in Odisha and spread to other parts of India and Bangladesh.
4. Sohan Halwa
Sohan halwa is also known an Persian sohan halwa because it is known to have originated in Persia. It is still popular in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It is made with milk, water, sugar, ghee, cornflour, almonds, pistachios, and cardamom. They are caramel in color, decorated with nuts, and packed in cylindrical containers.
5. Cham Cham
This dish is made with sugar, saffron, cream, water and lemon juice, garnished with coconut flakes. Although it is a Bengali sweet, it is more famous in Uttar Pradesh and Bangladesh. It is also called chom chom or chum chum in some parts and can be found in many colors such as pink, green, and orange.
6. Malpua
This coconut flavored delicacy is made with either rice or wheat flour. It is a particular favorite in Bangladesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Nepal. Malpua is known to have many methods of preparation. Some of the more extravagant varieties contain fruits such as bananas and are offered to go Gods.
7. Mishti Doi
Mishti doi or mitha dahi literally means ‘sweet curd’. This dessert is made with sweetened yogurt, milk, and sugar. It is particularly preferred in West Bengal and Odisha after lunch. It is usually sweetened with brown sugar or date molasses and served in small earthen tumblers.
8. Rabri
The ingredients for making rabri are curd, flour, and bajra roti. It is a popular dish in the northern parts of India and parts of Pakistan. In Bihar and Rajasthan, rabri is eaten with lunch. There are variants of rabri depending on the region.
9. Sandesh
This intricate dish is prepared with milk and sugar. Some recipes swap the milk with chhana or paneer and sugar with jaggery. Although it is consumed by people all over the north, it originated in West Bengal. It can be shaped in different ways and is known to have many names. Sandesh is an important sweet served during celebrations, especially at weddings.
10. Pitha
Pitha is a deep-fried sweet with a filling inside. It is favored by the people of Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bangladesh. The batter is either made of rice or wheat flour and the filling is sweetened using sugar, jaggery, or palm syrup. There are variations of pitha that are baked, steamed, or simply rolled over a hot tawa.
Check out these 12 South Indian Sweets And Snacks That North Indians Don’t Know They’re Missing!
**Featured image by Wikimedia Commons.
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