A visit to Chandigarh is incomplete without tasting its mouth-watering and lip-smacking delicacies. The people of the city are all-time food lovers, who prefer exotic preparations with lots of spices. As in any other place of Punjab, the traditional food of Chandigarh is spicy and makes use of oil and ghee to a considerably higher extent. There are no intricate marinades or exotic sauces, but an exuberant use of spices with a liberal addition of oil or ghee. The people prefer wheat items to rice. Among the different wheat items, the most popular ones are Makkee ki Roti (chapatti made of corn) and stuffed parathas.
Milk and milk products are commonly consumed by the people of Chandigarh. In fact, curd, buttermilk, and lassi are important beverages that accompany a meal. The people here use ginger-garlic paste as a common spice and add lots of onion and tomatoes to the meals as well. They also use the spices included in ‘garam masalas’, like cardamom, cinnamon, mace and bay leaf, regularly in their food preparation. Besides they usually garnish their food with finely cut coriander leaves and juliennes of ginger. Let us now explore the most popular dishes that form a part of Chandigarh cuisine.