Varanasi has been a center of attraction for centuries. It is not only a geographical location. Rather, it’s a living specimen depicting the key concepts of human existence i.e. Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Apart from these larger-than-life concepts, it has been the focal point of gourmet food.

The street food here is flavorful, colorful, and old school as well. It contains the essence of the vast culture and tradition we have been living by. This article narrates about one of the oldest and a pure Banarasi cuisine, which has remained pious and contains no variation. It is none other than the “Tamatar Chaat”

Tamatar Chaat is entirely the Banarasi variant of chaat. Initially, tamatar chaat was offered for sale at the very old and famous shop “Keshari Deenanath Chaat Bhandar, Chowk”. Tamatar chaat is an astounding combination of flavorful tanginess along with a tinge of sweetness. There is no alternative or substitute for its taste. You can pounce upon the opportunity to relish it only when you are in Varanasi.

Making of Tamatar Chaat

The preparation for Tamatar Chaat requires the following steps and ingredients. It is prepared on an iron griddle (Tawa) on which a spoonful of ghee is heated (quantity varies accordingly). Then they add asafetida (heeng), finely chopped ginger, and green chilies and fry it well. Then they add all the powdered spices which include roasted cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, garam masala powder, red chili powder, dry mango powder and black salt as per taste(phew…I hope I didn’t miss any). Then they add freshly chopped tomatoes along with tomato puree and cook until it’s pulpy. They also add poppy seeds paste. Other than that it also includes the basic chaat ingredients i.e. mashed potatoes and white peas in it.

This ultimately transforms into a semi-dry mix. It is served in an earthen cup. They add a spoon full of ghee and sugar syrup on top of that hot steaming mixture. They also sprinkle chopped coriander and squeeze a little lemon juice. This adds a heavenly texture to this snack. Also, it is garnished with a little sev and a crushed golgappa and served hot. In some places, you might also find paneer cubes in it.

Best Place to have Tamatar Chaat in Varanasi

The price per plate costs 35Rs only. Although “Tamatar Chaat” is sold in almost every street but I would definitely recommend visitors and tourists to pay a visit to “Keshri Deenanath Chaat Bhandar” in Chowk and try out this lip-smacking snack for sure.

If you’d like to explore and taste more of street food from Kashi then check out top 10 places to eat street food in Varanasi.

The post Tamatar Chaat – Ultimate Street Food of Kashi appeared first on Varanasi Guru.

As its name goes, Bhang Lassi is a magical blend of Bhang (Indian Cannabis) and Lassi (A yogurt-based Indian drink). Let me give you an insight into these two edible preparations.

“Lassi” is a refreshing summer drink prepared with a yogurt base; originating from Punjab and popular throughout the nation. It can be considered as the oldest variant of shakes.  It has basically two varities: Sweet and Salty.

The sweet lassi has a thicker texture. The yogurt is emptied in a vessel and nicely churned using a wooden or steel whisker. Once the yogurt has been churned a little, ice & sugar is added and blended again. Once done it is served in an earthen pot or a glass and is garnished with a generous scoop of clotted cream along with Rabri, pistachios, and a few fruits like mango or pomegranate.

The salty variant has the same preparation process but its consistency is a little thinner than the sweeter one. Other than that it has salt in it and is garnished with crushed roasted cumin seeds powder and a tinge of red chili powder. But what you get in Varanasi is very different from that of Punjab.

Here it is way heavier and filling. It is as good as a complete ‘dessert meal’. “Bhang” on the other hand is an edible variant of Indian cannabis.

Its consumption dates back to as early as 1000BC in Indian History. Bhang is considered as the gracious gift by Lord Shiva and is openly and legally consumed in India. It is abundantly distributed especially during Maha Shivratri (The marriage night of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati) and Holi (The color of Festivals).

The Bhang used for the lassi is in the form of a paste which is prepared by soaking the leaves overnight and crushing it on the stone slab with a roller. A few seeds of black pepper are also used for edifying the taste of the paste else it will be smell and taste too grassy. The paste made has a watery texture.

The lassi prepared is the simple one with sugar and ice in it. Once the required consistency is attained the lassi is served in an earthen cup. After that 3-4 spoons of that bhang paste are added and is mixed well. Your “Bhang Lassi” is ready. Enjoy the drink. It should be on your bucket list when you plan your trip to Varanasi.

Recommended Shop:
* Green Lassi Shop (Assi, Varanasi)

*Bhang should be used in a very judicious amount as it affects you after almost 30 mins. It is advisable not to drive after having this lassi. You might feel a little dizzy even by the next morning but it goes away gradually.

The post Bhang Lassi – The Magical Blend of Kashi appeared first on Varanasi Guru.

Banaras is popular for its street food which is well prepared to give you a “Taste attack”. Few of the street foods which are well known is the “Aaloo Tikki Chat”, “Kachori Chana”, “Tamatar Chat”, “Longlatta” and various mouth-watering sweets. These are the commonly known dishes which every person will refer you to try on your visit to Varanasi.

But one of the most underrated treasure troves is the “Malaiyo”. Available hardly for a time of 3 months, it’s a delightful dessert to try your hands on.

Malaiyo (मलइयो) is prepared out of milk and is available only in the winters mostly from November till February. If one plans to visit Varanasi in this time period, I can assure this “Malaiyo” is a bucket list item.

The best part about this sweet sin is that if you want to get the authentic taste, the journey to the best selling shop will give you a tinge of the old Banaras, navigating through the narrow streets narrating the cosmopolitan effect & ultimately advocating “Unity in Diversity”. 

“Malaiyo” , is basically flavored milk foam and is served in earthen vessels of different sizes. It is garnished with fine chopped almonds & pistachios. It can also be named as the “Winter Sweet” as it is available only during the winter season.

The milk foam is created only at low temperature. Once this froth enters your mouth it vanishes leaving a rich sweet taste. This froth/foam is different as it is cloudy & delicate.

Moreover, to taste it, one must visit the place in the morning. By 11 a.m the temperature reaches the point when the foam starts vanishing automatically.

The best place to have Malaiyo is in Thatheri Bazar, which lies in the old Banaras. You may find Malaiyo all day but those are adulterated. In order to keep the foam all day long Trans fat is mixed in the recipe. This not only leads to deterioration of taste as well as ill effects on your body. 

Making of Malaiyo

The authentic “Malaiyo” will have a tinge of Saffron strands, Sugar & Cardamom. Although the recipe is still a secret & varies from different makers, the basic one is this.

First of all milk in a huge quantity is boiled in a large Iron Wok ( लोहे की कढ़ाई). Iron wok is used as it adds iron to the milk as well as gets evenly heated this giving a proper boiling temperature. Once it is boiled for a specific time period, it is left under the open sky for the dew drops to create this magic.

The dew drops initiate the foaming of milk which is then very well churned along with saffron strands, cardamom & sugar. The entire milk changes to foam gradually. It is a tedious and time-consuming process. Once done, it is garnished with finely chopped pistachios and almonds.

After that, it is served in the clay bowls to the customers.

This fresh Malaiyo when it reaches the mouth, it gives your tastebuds a scrumptious sweet treat which will make your time freeze for some time. Once you finish the froth you will be given a mouthful of the saffron milk. This milk is flavour full and rich.

Malaiyo will give you a part of the rich culture which is still well preserved in the heart of the world’s oldest city. Make sure to give it a try but from the recommended shops.

Recommended Shop : 

“Markandey Sardar Shop” managed by Bhaiya Lal Ji.(100 years old) – Chaukhamba, Thatheri bazar.

The post Malaiyo – The Winter Delicacy of Varanasi appeared first on Varanasi Guru.

Apart from its ghat and allies, Varanasi is famous for the vibrant variety of street food and drinks. No matter where you are in the city you will always be accompanied by the street food shops. It’s always good to be surrounded by food but when you have so many options decisionmaking gets tough. To help you out in shortlisting the best options we have compelled a list of top 10 best places to eat street food in Varanasi.

1. Deena Chaat Bhandaar

Deena Chaat Bhandaar is famous for its Tamatar chat and Chuda Matar. Tamatar chat which is an original Banarasi street food has a unique taste and is served in earthen cups. While on the other hand, Chuda Matar is very famous north Indian food. There are 2 Deena chaat shops in Varanasi and the original one is located right behind the Chowk thana. This shop is more than 200 years old!

2. Shri Madhur Jal Paan

Shri Madhur Jal Paan is located in Sarafa Gali near Gowdalia chowk. Madhur Jal Paan is quite famous among locals for their quality food. We’d recommend having Samosas and Gulabjamun from here. They have their own special red chutney which is not available anywhere. Please beware of the fake shops which have been opened in the same street. The real one looks very modest and is on the left side of the lane.

3. Markandey Ki Malaiyo

Malaiyo is a winter exclusive sweet of Varanasi. If you haven’t heard about it before then checkout Malaiyo – The Winter Delicacy of Varanasi. These days you can find Malaiyo everywhere in Varanasi, in fact, you can even find a closer version of it in Lucknow and Delhi. But if you wish to have the original one then visit Markandey near Gopal Mandir they have been selling it for last 100 years!

4. Neelu Kachori Bhandar

Neelu Kachori Bhandar is located in one of the oldest food streets of India. As the name suggests they serve delicious Choley Kachori in the morning. If you wish to try it then you’ll have to reach kachori Gali in between 7 AM to 10 AM. BTW to give you an idea of their legacy, The entire street is known as Kachori Gali because of this and the other shop located at the entrance of the street.  Keeping the legacy of Kachori Gali alive, Neelu Kachori Bhandar is definitely one of the best places to eat street food in Varanasi

 5. Jannat Cutlet Corner

This shop serves Cutlets and Panner Bread Pakora. Just in case you don’t know, Bread Pakora is a popular Indian fried snack and a very common street food. This shop has developed a unique version of it by fusing their delicious Banarasi chutneys and masala. Despite being a new shop it has gained much popularity, especially in Chowk area.The sweet, sour, crispy and salty taste sometimes described as a blast of flavours is worth trying!

6. Blue Lassi

Blue Lassi shop is just 5 minutes away from the Manikarnika Ghat and 3 minutes away from Neelu Kachori Bhandar. You can easily spot it by its vibrant blue colour which also gives it its name. Blue lassi shop is more than 75 years and three generations old. The present owner Chanchal has mastered the art of developing unique flavoured lassi, which is pretty much why it is famous for.

7. Goverdhan Das Malai Wala

Everyone in India knows about malai but not everyone loves it. Those who like it enjoy it every day at least that’s how it is in Varanasi. This shop is located right next to the Bhramnal market and is 80 years old. Their process of making Malai is same as it was 80 years ago and that’s what gives their products an authentic taste. Made from the buffalo milk Malai has 55% butterfat. They serve malai and its products in earthen pots which also enhance the taste of it. Our favourite is malai puri It is made from malai but the core of it is filled with delicious Rabdi!

8. Everest cafe and Momos corner (Discontinued)

Everest Cafe and Momos corner is located on the Shivala Ghat. The place is famous for its veg momos, Omellete, and freshly cooked food. To reach the cafe you will have to climb up a long stair which will lead you to the amazing views of ghats and Ganges. Sit back, relax and enjoy yummy momos with the amazing view.

9. Chachi ki Dukan

Kachodi or jalebi ke bina kya jeena! . How many of you have been to this shop? . by @savorytales #varanasiguru

A post shared by Varanasi Guru (@varanasiguru) on Feb 14, 2018 at 11:28pm PST

Located near BHU, Lanka Chachi ki Dukan is famous for their Jalebi and Kachori Sabji. Just like all the old shops in Varanasi, it has no signboard but still, everyone knows about it.

10. Laxmi Chai Wala

50 years old Laxmi chai shop is one of the most famous Chai shops in India. Located near chowk thana area it serves tea until late night. They also serve toasted bread lathered up with yummy butter and malai which goes really well with a hot cup of tea. Every tea shop in India is a place to talk about politics, Cricket and life. If you have a glimpse of it then head over to this shop.

Which is your favourite shop to hog food in Varanasi? Would you like any other shop in the list?

Please let us know in comments, We would love to give it a try!

The post Top 10 Best Places to Eat Street Food in Varanasi appeared first on Varanasi Guru.