Across regions, families indulge in seasonal delights that warm the soul and body. While some traditional winter foods have remained popular, many have faded from everyday menus. These forgotten winter specialties, from hearty snacks to comforting drinks, showcase India’s rich culinary heritage.
Lehsun Ki Kheer: Hailing from the royal kitchens of Rajasthan, this kheer uses garlic as its main ingredient. The garlic is blanched repeatedly in vinegar or alum water to remove its pungent smell, leaving behind a nutty, almond-like texture. It was traditionally served to royals to combat the desert’s biting winter cold. (Image: AI-generated)
Ganne Wala Chawal: A rustic winter specialty from Punjab and Haryana, this dish involves slow-cooking Basmati rice in fresh, raw sugarcane juice. The result is a fragrant, earthy, and naturally sweet pulao. As fresh sugarcane crushers moved further away from urban centers, this seasonal treat became a rarity. (Image: AI-generated)
Shufta Kanaguchhi: In Kashmiri cuisine, Shufta is a rich mix of dried fruits and paneer. The “forgotten” version includes Kanaguchhi (Morel mushrooms). These rare, expensive mushrooms are foraged from the wild and added to the honey-based stew for their deep, smoky flavour and warming medicinal properties. (Image: AI-generated)
Harisa: While still available in the lanes of Old Srinagar, this labor-intensive dish is disappearing from households. It is a savoury, porridge-like preparation of mutton slow-cooked overnight with spices and rice until it reaches a silky, buttery consistency. It is traditionally eaten at dawn to provide energy for the entire day. (Image: AI-generated)
Ratalachya Gharya: This Maharashtrian delicacy consists of sweet, deep-fried flatbreads made from mashed sweet potatoes and jaggery. Unlike the common savory aloo puri, these are earthy and sweet, specifically prepared during the winter harvest when sweet potatoes are at their peak. (Image: AI-generated)
Raab: Common in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Raab is a warm, medicinal porridge made from Bajra (pearl millet), ghee, and ginger. It is a traditional antidote for the “winter blues” and respiratory issues, though it is often replaced today by modern instant soups. (Image: AI-generated)
Daulat Ki Chaat: This “ethereal” winter dessert from North India is made from milk foam collected during the chilly, dewy hours of the night. It is flavored with saffron and topped with silver leaf. Because it literally collapses in heat, it can only be prepared and served in the peak of winter. (Image: AI-generated)
Hokh Syun: Kashmiris would sun-dry summer vegetables like turnips (gogji), tomatoes, and spinach to survive the snow-blocked winters. These dried vegetables, known as Hokh Syun, are cooked with smoked fish or meat to create a concentrated, deeply flavoured winter stew. (Image: AI-generated)
Avarekalu Saaru: A seasonal gem from Karnataka, this is a spicy gravy made from hyacinth beans. The process of “sode,” or hand-peeling the skin off each individual bean, is so time-consuming that the authentic version of this dish is rarely made in modern urban homes anymore. (Image: AI-generated)
Milagu Kuzhambu: A seasonal staple in Tamil Nadu, this is a dark, pungent curry dominated by peppercorns and tamarind. Unlike regular sambars, it uses no lentils. It was historically prepared as a “remedy” during the monsoon-to-winter transition to ward off chest congestion. (Image: AI-generated)
