If you are one of those lucky individuals who have a golden fate of visiting Surat when the winters are settling in the great diamond city, consider yourself lucky. Apart from textile and diamonds, Surat is extravagantly known for its flamboyant dishes and local foods made exclusively in this city.
Here are some must-have dishes from winters that are lip-smackingly delicious and healthy too!
Salampak
Salampak is a dessert that is packed with tons of nutritious ingredients and a handful of ghee. The ingredient list of this dessert goes on and on. You get to taste multiple dry-fruits in this dessert, like cashew, dried figs, pistachio, almonds, walnuts, melon seeds, dates. This dessert is unique in its way. Dry spices like nutmeg, black pepper, dry ginger powder, and ganthoda make it even more unique, and nutrient-packed.
Dry fruits and the dry spices present in this dish make it rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is believed that Salampak helps in keeping the body warm and immunized during the harsh winters.
Umbadiyu
Do not mistake this dish for Undhiyu, Umbadiyu is a dish very similar to Undhiyu but spicier. This dish is extremely easy to prepare and has such earthy flavors. You will soon know why!
This dish you can spot on humble stalls adjoining the Surat-Vapi highway. The preparation of this dish requires vegetables like potatoes, Surti Vaal Paapdi, and Tuvar Paapdi. The preparation is quite simple, wash all the vegetables thoroughly in running water. Put it into an earthen clay pot, add some chili, ginger, and garlic paste. Seal it with wheat flour dough and bury it in a pit in the ground. To cook it, cover it with dry leaves, dry cow dung cakes, and light it.
Served with lemon juice on the top and chutney on the side.
Just that easy! The taste of this dish is so raw and earthen. You will be bound to fall in love with it. The health quotient too is great with all the vegetables and less to minimum use of oil.
Ponk, or Tender green jowar millet
Surtis live and breathe ponk and ponk dishes during winters. This tender green jowar millet has a sweet taste and is eaten in every form and added to every dish! Ponk is popularly eaten with lemon-sev, fresh lemon juice, and chutney. This variety is available only in winter for a short duration, if you have a chance to try it, do not miss this delicacy.
These were some healthy and delicious winter foods from Surat.Â