Born to eat—Amritsar residents give precedence to taste buds over health

AMRITSAR, AUGUST 31

If there is one term that aptly describes the residents of Amritsar (fondly called as Amritsaris) is that they are ‘born to eat’. And almost anybody would, if offered easy access to the delicacies served here. This certainly is no exaggeration as the eating habits of the residents and their food preferences are now known not only across the country, but are also making waves the world over. One visit to the city is sufficient to confirm this. In the case of the residents of this border town, eating precedes virtually everything including the health concerns, which are nowadays being given a lot of importance across the globe.

As one walks out of Rajasansi International Airport, the Railway Station or the Bus Stand, one is accosted by a number of restaurants and way side eateries with delectable delights on their menus, serving a wide range of palatable dishes including vegetarian and non-vegetarian as well as a number of sweet meats. There must be several hundreds of them all over the city and can be found in virtually every nook and corner. This is why the place has earned for itself the title of the ‘traditional eating capital’ of Punjab.

However, most of these foods are rich in fat and calories, but no one seems to care as all that matters most is the taste. Vegetarian delights--starting with snacks as ‘pakoras’, ‘samosas’ (stuffed with boiled potatoes), ‘aloo tikki’ (potato burgers), Chhole Bhature, and ‘kachauris’, all of which are deep fried in cooking oil or lard, the eating joints here serve delights as ‘Tandoori Paranthas’, ‘Dal Makhani’, ‘Butter Naan’, ‘Aloo Wala Naan’ (also stuffed with boiled potatoes) and ‘Nutri Kulcha’.

The Amritsari Kulcha made out of maize flour (maida) and served with spicey ‘chana’ (white gram) is an all time favourite snack of the residents. Then there is ‘Paneer Tikka’ and ‘Tandoori Paneer’, which are very well liked as vegetarian dishes and are made of cottage cheese. Coming to non-vegetarian delights, we have ‘Tandoori chicken’, ‘kebabs’, ‘Keema Naan’, Amritsari fish, which is fried fish with lemon juice sprinkled on it and lamb brain, which again is a preferred non-vegetarian delicacy.

Top these foods off with a glass of traditional ‘lassi’, butter milk, and you are in for a rare treat that is often unforgettable. A dessert comprising Ras Malai, Gajjar Ka Halwa, Phirni, Malai Kulfi, Gulab Jamun and Jalebi is not to be missed. Is your mouth watering? Then come to Amritsar. EOM.