Regarding food, India is always on top of the list. Undoubtedly, India is a country of food and spices. Indian cuisine has many contrasting tastes from different corners of the country. From spicy Chicken to Sweet Gulab-Jamun, India shows large diversity in food items. But the Indian food journey doesn’t just stop here. People in India are fond of eating and exploring all possible ways to satisfy their hunger. Apart from the usual Chicken, Paneer, Gajar ka Halwa, and Kheer, the Indian food list also consists of some very unusual food items that will blow your mind. Here are some of the weirdest food items served in India that will amaze you.
1. Khorisa
It is a famous Assamese dish made of young bamboo shoots. The bamboo species from which Khorisa is made is found mainly in the Northern-Eastern regions of India. Khorisa is the fermented and dried form of the bamboo shoot, which gives a sour taste. It can be served as a pickle after drying or a complimentary dish with rice. It is also mixed with boiled potato or smashed fish to give them a tangy taste.
2. Bhang Pakore
These famous Indian Dumplings are made of Cannabis leaves. The leaves are chopped into small pieces and mixed with coriander leaves, green chilies, gram flour, turmeric, and salt. It is then deep fried and served hot with chutney. The Indian festival of colors, Holi, is incomplete without this dish.
3. Red Ant Chutney
This unusual chutney is famous in many parts of eastern states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. It is made by crushing and making a paste of the red ants and their eggs. It tastes sour and spicy. The red ant chutney is suitable for your digestive system because of the formic acid present in red ants and their eggs which prevent bacterial infections. It is commonly called ‘Kai chutney’ in Odisha.
4. Baby Shark Curry
This famous East Indian curry is made of baby sharks with spicy Indian masala. This spicy seafood is also known as ‘Mori mutton’ in many parts. The skin of the baby shark is removed, and it is cut into small pieces to make this curry. You can have this curry with rice or bread. It is an unusual but tasty Indian food.
5. Frog Legs
It is a dish of French cuisine. It is served widely in Kerela, Karnataka, and Goa. It is rich in proteins and vitamins. In Goa, it is known as ‘Jumping chicken,’ served in thick curry or cutlets. However, it is banned in many areas of the country because of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
6. Benami Kheer
This unique dish was not yet given a name hence called Benami Kheer. It originated from the ancient Royal kitchens of Awadh. It has not provided the name because the chefs wanted the recipe to be a secret. It is widely served in many country restaurants and loved by the people.
7. Onion Halwa
It is one of the weird dishes served in India. However, it tastes uncommon but is quite famous among people. Finely chopped onions are fried in ghee with milk, sugar, and dry fruits and served hot for better taste.
8. Jadoh
Jadoh, or red rice, is a dish from the Meghalaya region of the country. The word Jadoh means rice with meat. Pork meat is fried and mixed with rice for cooking. Chicken or fish can also be used instead of pork. It is one of the most popular dishes in Meghalaya. A trendy restaurant in Shillong is named after this dish, “Jadoh.”
9. Eri Polu
Silkworm in India is not only used for extracting silk but also to make a popular dish known as Eri Polu. It is made from the soft pupa of a particular silkworm found in North East India. This dish is very famous in Assam.
10. Tilli
Tilli is the Hindi name for Spleen. Tilli fry or spleen fry is eaten widely in many parts of India. It is served with roti, rice, or biriyani as a side dish. Mutton tilli is loved by many people. Tilli or the spleen is a healthy dish as the spleen contains many elements essential for a healthy hemoglobin count in our body.
11. Doh Khleh
It is the famous pork salad served in Meghalaya. Pig’s head and brain are finely chopped, and mixed with chopped onions, chilies, coriander leaves, other seasonings, and drops of lemon juice. It is a simple dish from the Khasi cuisine. It is served in many restaurants in Shillong and parts of Meghalaya.
12. Hilsa Eggs
The eggs of the Hilsa fish is loved by the people of Bengal and many other parts of India. It is rich in protein and also tastes good. The eggs are cooked in a variety of ways. It can be eaten fried or as egg curry. It is very famous among people in India who love seafood.
13. Daulat ki chaat
It is a famous Delhi Street food. It is made of light cream from whisking milk, topped with pistachio, mawa, and dry fruits. It is very light and fluffy and instantly melts in the mouth. It is better served in winters as the creams melt in warm temperatures. It is also called God’s Street food.
14. Fried Snails
Fried snails are primarily served in Odisha and Nagaland. The tribal people of Odisha eat fried snails, and snail curry with cooked rice. The snails are kept in water until their head appears. They are then cleaned and only the shells are left. These shells are cooked with oil and spices and served.
15. Black Rice
Black rice, also known as magic rice, is famous in West Bengal, Manipur, and Kerela regions. It is a scarce variety of rice found only in Asia. This highly nutritious rice is black and when cooked, turns dark purple. It is also called magic rice, forbidden rice, or purple rice.
16. Lamb’s Brain
Lamb’s brains are rich in Vitamin B-12 and hence are healthy to feed on. It is a dish from the Hyderabadi cuisine of India. It is commonly called ‘Bheja Fry.’ This spicy dish is quite popular in many areas. Served with rice, chapati, and bread, this is a typical side dish that is easy to prepare and tastes fantastic.
17. Chamani Qaliya
It is a different style of paneer curry cooked in Kashmiri homes. This curry is cooked in whole milk. Another main ingredient in this dish is cardamon and fennel. For toppings, cheese is used. The combination may sound unusual, but the taste, as per people, is fantastic. Served with rice, and bread, it is loved by the people of India.
18. Bhutte ka Kees
Bhutta in Hindi refers to corn and Kees means crushed. This famous vegetarian dish of Madhya Pradesh, India is made by grating corn cobs. It is a renowned street food. It is soaked in milk and seasoned with turmeric powder, green chilies, and lemon juice. This is served as an everyday snack in many regions.
19. Phan Pyut
Potatoes are loved in many forms. But this is a dish made of rotten potatoes. People of North-East India find these rotten potatoes delicious. Even after ripening, potatoes are left in the soil till rotten. These potatoes are then cooked with spices and served as a side dish.
20. Nahkham
With a terrible smell, this dish is famous in the Garo tribe of Meghalaya. It is made of sun-dried fish. It is then boiled in water and made into a soup. Vegetables, spices, and a lot of cheese are also added to enhance the taste. Despite the rotten smell, it is loved by the people for its taste.
