My in-depth guide to Punjabi spicy food

You must have heard loads of travel stories. People traveling here and there. Blah blah! But I think it’s just not the people who go on traveling but also, their stuff, the food they carry along etc. also do the traveling. So, folks your food etc. is traveling with you without a ticket. Just kidding.

Food is definitely essential. But this doesn’t mean you can carry any kind of food with you. You have to keep in mind, what to eat and what not to eat. Keep this in mind, and traveling would be fun.

I recently made a trip to north India, spicing up the journey with Punjabi food. Whether I’m eating Punjabi food or south Indian food or any other food, you just get engulfed by the aura created by them. By them, I totally mean food. The civilization that existed or is still existing, the stories, the history, and geography of that place, how the food gets famous et cetera… et cetera… comes to unwind like a woven cloth.

1 bite of food, unravels the whole civilization in front of you. This is the magic of food. So what’s the deal with Punjabi food? Apart from easy to carry and delicious, it is one hell of a meal. Common Punjabi food take away includes the following –

1.    Pinni

Pinni is a Punjabi and north Indian cuisine, mostly eaten in winters. Made from desi ghee, almonds, wheat flour and jaggery is a sweet dessert.

2.    Jaggery energy bars

Like protein bars, you too can carry nut and almond filled. Being rich in vitamin E and B and minerals, which helps in growth and development, fights against cancers, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer's disease and viral/fungal infections.

3.    Roasted chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas is another perk to have. Rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, mineral, and vitamins.

4.    Sweet mathri

This one is another sweet dessert of Punjabi food, made up from jaggery and whole wheat flour or refined and bleached wheat flour.

5.    Paratha

Paratha is one of the most famous cuisines of Punjab. Available in different taste and décor is a complete meal.

6.    Fruits and nuts

This is available everywhere. Easy to get and easy to carry.

7.    Dried lotus seed

Another specialty of Punjabi food is dried lotus seeds, whether roasted or not. Containing kaempferol, a flavonoid which helps in preventing inflammation and aging.

Another benefit of dried lotus seed is that they are a good source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.

Being low in sodium and high magnesium content makes them useful for people who have heart diseases or high blood pressure or diabetes. It also comes in handy in obesity problems too.

Totally, a must have food item for travelers.

8.    Murmura mixture

Another healthy food item made up of puffed rice, spices, veggies, and chutneys, adds up as a spicy snack.

9.    Gajak

It is another north India winter dessert. Made of sesame seeds, and Groundnut and jaggery is a rich source of vitamin B1, vitamin E, potassium, protein, fiber and dietary copper.

Available in various type depending upon the ingredients you add up in it and also helps in stabilizing VATA as per Ayurveda point of view.

Other benefits of gajak are preventing high blood pressure, acts as a digestive agent etc.

10. Gajar ka halwa

Another light sweet dish from north India, Gajar ka halwa is a combination of nuts, milk, sugar, khoya, and ghee (is a clarified butter) with grated carrot. It contains less fat and its ingredients add up to an advantage.

11. Panjiri

Panjiri is a sweet dish made with wheat, sugar, ghee (is a clarified butter) and dry fruits, a staple food from India and Pakistan are usually given to nursing mothers. Useful in warding off cold and increasing breast milk production. Nutrition values depend on the ingredients of panjiri.

So, even while traveling you can eat food. Just choose what food you need to carry. Remember, each foodstuff has its own pros and cons. What you to keep in mind is not to carry liquid foodstuff and unnecessary food items. That’s all folks. Have a happy, safe and delicious journey.

The end.