Top 27 Maharashtrian Foods

Pav bhaji is a popular street snack originating from the Indian state of Maharashtra. It consists of a vegetable curry that is typically served with a soft bread roll known as pav. The dish was invented in the 1850s as a midnight meal by street vendors who prepared it with all the leftover vegetables from the day, which were then mashed and combined with spices and ghee butter. Originally, it was a quick and easy meal for Mumbai's textile mill workers, but today it is a favorite street snack that is also served in some restaurants in Mumbai. There are a lot of varieties of the basic pav bhaji, with added cheese, paneer, mushrooms, plantains, and even dried fruits thrown in the flavorful curry mix.Expand

Misal is a specialty dish of the Indian state of Maharashtra, its name literally translated to a mixture of everything, so the ingredients vary from cook to cook. However, a combination of these ingredients is the most common in a typical misal: curd, moth bean or pea curry, gravy, spiced potatoes, and garnishings such as onions, coriander, and tomatoes. It is mandatory for a true misal to be spicy, while the base needs to be crunchy. Visually, it should look like a work of art, with lots of colors - typically red, brown, orange, and green. The earliest mention of the dish appeared around the early 20th century. Since it is highly nutritious, easy to prepare, and relatively inexpensive, it remains one of the most popular meals in Maharashtra.Expand

Vada pav is one of Mumbai's favorite sandwiches, its name referring to the key ingredients: vada, or spicy mashed potatoes that are deep-fried in chickpea batter, and pav, or white bread rolls. This iconic street food is said to have originated from a street vendor named Ashok Vaidya, who worked near the Dadar train station in the 1960s and 1970s. He thought of a way to satiate the hungry workers, and concluded that the ideal dish should be portable, affordable, and easy to prepare. Ashok made vada pav, and its popularity skyrocketed, especially after the Shiv Sena, a Marathi-Hindu nationalist political party, started to promote the sandwich as an ideal working class snack. Today, the sandwich is sold throughout Mumbai, both on street stands and in elegant restaurants, ideally accompanied by a hot red chutney with coconut, peanuts, garlic, tamarind, and chiles.Expand

Misal pav is a traditional dish originating from Maharashtra. Its two main components are misal – a curry made with sprouted moth beans, usually topped with chivda, onions, chilis, and potatoes – and pav, bread rolls used to mop up the flavorful curry. Misal pav can be served for breakfast, as a snack or a main dish. It is commonly found in roadside stalls, breakfast joints, and office canteens.Expand

Batata vada is a popular vegetarian street food item that was invented in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a potato fritter made with a combination of mashed potatoes and spices that is shaped into a ball, dipped in chickpea batter called besan, then deep-fried. The dish is typically served with a chutney consisting of shredded coconut, tamarind, and garlic. Batata vada is also a part of a popular Indian sandwich called vada pav, consisting of batata vada and chutney, served on soft buns called pav. Vada pav sandwich is the most popular way of consuming batata vada, sold at numerous food stalls throughout Mumbai.Expand

These crispy Indian fritters consist of a combination of soaked tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, roasted and crushed peanuts, and a variety of spices such as turmeric, chili, ginger, and fresh coriander. Sabudana vada fritters can be found at many stalls throughout Maharashtra and are especially popular in Mumbai. Since they do not contain meat, the fritters are a favorite fasting snack. Sabudana vada is typically served hot, paired with yogurt or chutney.Expand

Shrikhand is a popular Indian yogurt-based dessert, combined with sugar and nuts in order to develop a rich, creamy texture and sweet flavor. In North India, it is usually served for breakfast, while in South India, it is commonly served as a dessert after the main dish. Shrikhand is also a festive dish that is made for Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) in Maharashtra and Gujarat. There is a popular theory about the origin of shrikhand; it is said that the herdsmen used to hang curd or yogurt overnight so they could carry it more easily while traveling. The next day, they would collect the thick yogurt and combine it with dried fruits, nuts, and sugar to make it more flavorful during their long travels. Nutritious and filling, the dish is also very easy to prepare at home, where it is ofen served for breakfast or as a light dessert after a meal.Expand

Aamras is essentially puréed mango pulp that is typically eaten as a dessert. It is made with ripe and juicy mangos that are sliced or diced and blended into a creamy, sweet, and fragrant mixture. The finely puréed cream usually gains the sweetness from ripe mangos, but it can be additionally sweetened with jaggery or sugar. It is sometimes merely elevated with the addition of saffron, dry ginger, or cardamom, but its simplicity allows room for alteration and the creation of numerous varieties. Classic aamras is a typical summer dessert, but canned varieties are available all year round. Even though it is often regarded as a dessert on its own, aamras may also be accompanied by poori bread, steamed rice, and dal. This creamy delicacy is usually associated with Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, and it is commonly served at festive occasions.Expand

Bhelpuri (also spelled bhel puri) is a type of chaat - a savory snack that is commonly served in cafés and street carts throughout India. There is a lot of debate about what should go in a bhelpuri, but the most commonly used ingredients include puffed rice, ground nuts, potatoes, onions, and chilis. Tamarind or date chutneys are commonly used to give the dish a spicy flavor. The dish is extremely popular in Mumbai, where it is usually enjoyed as a beach snack or comfort food. Although there is no clear evidence about the time of bhelpuri's origin, it is believed that the snack was invented by an unknown Gujarati migrant.Expand

Patrode is a savory vegetarian dish from Malvani and Maharashtrian cuisine. Basic ingredients are the same throughout the entire region - taro (colocasia) leaves stuffed (or chopped up) with a mixture of gram flour, tamarind, jaggery, and various spices, while patrode variations differ only in shape (sliced rolls or dumplings) and the cooking method (steamed or fried).Expand

Eleftheria Cheese is a Mumbai-based artisanal cheese producer. The company specializes in crafting various types of cheese, including feta, halloumi, and ricotta, using traditional techniques. Eleftheria Cheese focuses on using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. It is known for holding cheese-tasting events and workshops to educate consumers about their products and the art of cheese-making.Expand

Under The Mango Tree is an Indian social-enterprise initiative that connects small beekeepers and farmers from rural communities, enabling them to earn a sustainable livelihood through the production of natural, single-origin honey. Their model combines a commercial arm, which handles the sourcing and sale of honey, with a nonprofit arm that trains producers, provides equipment and promotes the cultivation of the indigenous Apis cerana indica bee. This approach preserves the authentic characteristics of the local flora while ensuring fair pricing and direct benefits for the beekeepers. Their range includes wild and monofloral honeys, special editions and organic variants, all minimally processed to maintain natural aroma, purity and nutritional value. Under The Mango Tree integrates ecological sustainability, biodiversity preservation and social impact, creating a transparent value chain built on responsible production and genuine quality.Expand

Pride of Cows is a premium Indian dairy brand built on the concept of single-origin milk sourced exclusively from their farm in Manchar, near Pune. The entire production process is closely controlled - from cow nutrition and animal care to milking, processing, packaging and direct home delivery - ensuring freshness, purity and consistent quality. Their milk and dairy products are known for their rich, creamy texture and clean, natural flavour, supported by high hygiene standards and modern farm management practices. The range includes milk, yogurt, paneer, ghee and other specialty dairy items, all produced without intermediaries and under strictly monitored conditions. Pride of Cows positions itself as a brand for consumers who value reliable, nutritionally rich and premium-quality dairy products with clear origin and a true “farm-to-home” experience.Expand

Sarda Farms is a family-run dairy from Nashik built on a fully controlled, closed-loop system in which every step - from animal care to final delivery - takes place within the farm itself. Located in the foothills of Igatpuri, in the village of Shenit, the farm raises Holstein Friesian cows in spacious, climate-controlled barns, with carefully managed feed and filtered drinking water. Milking is carried out in automated, hygienic parlours, after which the milk is immediately chilled, processed and packed without exposure to external contamination. It is then delivered through a strict cold-chain system to preserve its natural freshness and stable texture. Sarda Farms emphasizes the complete absence of hormones and antibiotics, and milk from unwell cows is never mixed with the main batch. The result is milk with a clear origin, clean flavour and balanced nutritional profile - a product designed for consumers who value transparency, high standards of hygiene and milk that faithfully reflects the conditions of the farm where it was produced.Expand

Pascati Chocolate is an Indian bean-to-bar producer and the first brand in the country to offer certified organic and Fairtrade chocolate, with a strong focus on ethical sourcing and full process control. They work directly with small farmers in Kerala and the Western Ghats, actively supporting improvements in fermentation and drying techniques to achieve a stable and distinctive flavor profile. All stages of production take place in their own facility - from roasting and winnowing to fine grinding, conching, tempering and molding - ensuring full transparency and consistent quality. Their range includes dark chocolates of varying cacao percentages, along with bars featuring nuts, spices or fruit inclusions, all made without palm oil or artificial additives. The brand also emphasizes education through factory tours and workshops, giving consumers insight into the bean-to-bar process and the philosophy behind clean, sustainable chocolate.Expand

Ether Atelier Chocolat is a luxury artisanal chocolatier from Mumbai that approaches chocolate as a blend of craftsmanship and contemporary design, focusing on precisely developed flavors and visually distinctive presentation. Founded in 2019, the brand has built a recognizable style that pairs high-quality chocolate with creative techniques, offering bars, pralines, truffles, fudge and seasonal collections that combine classic elements like hazelnuts or caramel with unexpected aromatic accents. Their creations are defined by balanced flavor profiles, refined textures and elegant packaging, making the brand appealing both to consumers seeking a premium chocolate experience and to clients looking for sophisticated corporate or custom gift sets. Ether Atelier treats chocolate as a medium of expression, which is why they stand out through experimentation, limited editions and collaborations with lifestyle and fashion brands, reinforcing their identity as a chocolatier that merges elegance, creativity and gastronomic precision.Expand

Moonshine Meadery is India’s first registered meadery, founded with the aim of presenting the traditional fermented honey drink in a modern, craft-driven format. They work in small batches and use only natural ingredients - various types of honey, fruits, spices and botanicals - while emphasizing transparent sourcing and close collaboration with local beekeepers. Their range spans a wide spectrum of styles: from classic traditional meads to fruit-based varieties such as apple, mango and guava, as well as experimental releases featuring coffee, chilli, smoked pineapple or coconut–kokum combinations. Moonshine Meadery bridges the ancient legacy of mead with contemporary fermentation and sensory practices, producing naturally gluten-free, aromatic and well-balanced drinks designed for those who appreciate authentic, distinctive and thoughtfully crafted alcoholic beverages.Expand

Bombay Island Coffee Company is a specialty coffee roastery based in Mumbai, India, dedicated to crafting high-quality Arabica coffee roasted in small batches. Operating under Rigmor Coffee Roasters, the company sources its beans from carefully selected estates in Chikmagalur, Karnataka - a region renowned for its exceptional coffee production. Their coffee is made exclusively from Arabica beans, prized for their delicate bitterness, rich aroma, and balanced flavor profile. Each batch is freshly and meticulously roasted in limited quantities to maintain consistency and quality. Their offerings include a variety of coffee profiles - most notably the Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold, known for its notes of dark chocolate, spices, and nuts.Expand

Colors Chocolate is a chocolate producer based in Mumbai, India. They specialize in crafting high-quality chocolates with an emphasis on artistic designs and unique flavors. The company sources premium ingredients to ensure the quality of their products. They offer a range of products including chocolate bars, pralines, and gift boxes.Expand