Mark Twain once said that the “part of the secret to success is to eat what you like.” With this success mantra, one must surely make a visit to the Magnetic Maharashtra, and one is assured to find the best of delicacies to devour successfully. Due to its vast and diverse landscape, Maharashtra has a myriad of cuisine. Being divided into various regions such as Khandesh, Konkan, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Desh, Maharashtra offers a plethora of delightful cuisines. Ranging from tangy but simple Kadhi Gole to sweet Ukadiche Modak, the Maharashtrian cuisine takes your taste buds on a remarkable tour of taste. It’s a paradise for food lovers, whether a vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

Here is a list of five lip-smacking dishes that stands out as an authentic culinary masterpiece.

1. Masswadi

These are soft and spicy quick bites that are sometimes served with dips. Masvadi is one of the most tempting and filling snack which tastes the best when served hot. This delicacy reminds us of words such as soft, delicate and mouth-watering. It is a specialty of the western Maharashtra and served as a welcome snack to the guests. This traditional yet fresh, quick bite shall form a part of your bucket list when visiting Maharashtra.

2. Kadhi Gole

A simple dish with a tangy twist. Kadhi Gole is a dish that is devoured throughout India with the required regional variation. What makes this dish unique is the beautiful round “Gole” (balls) that melts in your mouth to sooth your taste buds. This enticing dish is also noteworthy as it is the best way to beat the heat in Maharashtra’s tropical climate, making it a great combination of taste and nutrition. The best way to enjoy Kadi Gole is to have it with rice. It’s wholesome, it’s filling, and a must try.

3. Kombadi Vade & Malwan Curry

A visit to the Konkan region is never complete without having the appetizing Kombadi vade and Malwan curry. A must have for the non-vegetarians. This combination of Kombadi vade and Malwan curry is an explosion of taste in itself. Kombadi vade is a mixed flour bread served with either chicken or mutton curry, also known as the Malwan curry. This spicy specialty of the Konkan region is one of the most loved dishes, and a must have.

4. Mande (Puran Poli)

A dish that is becoming popular in the urban Maharashtra as well, it is originally a Khandeshi Dish that can make the hot tropical summer fun. An ideal mande thali has aamras, katachi aamti, papad, kurdaii and pakode served with mandes making it one of the perfect meal with all the possible flavors a thali can have. Not only the taste but also the way these perfectly shaped round bread are made is exceptional. Only a well-trained and skilled hand can make these Mande without letting them tear in between. To devour the real taste of Mande, one must visit the Khandesh (northwestern ) region of Maharashtra where they are made traditionally with the skilled hands of women in every household.

5. Ukadiche Modak

These beautifully shaped sweets form a part of the sumptuous bhog or Prasad offered to Lord Ganesha during the grand celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. The delicious soft stuffing inside the steaming Modak gives it a distinct alluring taste that keeps you craving for more. No wonder, even Lord Ganesh loved having Modak amongst all other food items. This amazing sweet is hard to miss not only because of its taste but also cause of its shape. It’s truly said that the best kind of food is the one that makes its way from one’s eyes to the stomach.

Be welcomed by the luscious Masswadi, Enjoy the sight of endless Arabian Sea with the spicy Malwan curry, cherish the lush green Western Ghats with the wholesome Mande or Puran Poli and treat your sweet tooth with the celebrated Modak. Treasure the taste, cherish the charm. Though all the cuisine as mentioned above tastes amazing every time you eat it, the best way to enjoy these delicacies is to try the most authentic form of these dishes served hot at many countryside Farmstays & Agritourism Center; as the taste of homemade food always stands out no matter what. And real fun in food is only felt with family.