Vadodara is one of the largest cities of Gujarat. While being an integral part of the city’s diverse culture, the city also serves to be the ultimate hub of unmatched heritage and cuisine. Formerly referred to as ‘Baroda,’ the city offers its tourists a peek into the rich historical background along with some of the most mouth-watering food delicacies, including sweets. Let us help you explore the must-have, famous sweets of Vadodara.
On the streets of Vadodara, you will encounter a series of traditional sweet shops and eateries selling some of the most classic versions of conventional sweets, some with innovative twists. While a majority of the city’s local cuisine comprises an array of savoury delights, the culinary landscape here is also dominated by its delectable range of sweet dishes.
What are the Most Famous Sweets of Vadodara?
One of the largest cities of Gujarat, Vadodara is a divine treat for all food-enthusiasts out there, including those with a sweet tooth. The city boasts a range of high-end restaurants, traditional sweet shops, and small eateries that are as varied and vast as its sweet menu.
As you wish to try out the most famous sweets in Vadodara, you will come across everything, right from classic Gujarati delights to sweet dishes from all over the world. You might assume there is not much for a sweet-lover in the city. Don’t be fooled! Vadodara has something in store for everyone. Here are some of the must-have sweet delights you should not miss out on your journey to Vadodara:
1. Doodhpak
Featuring the goodness of rice, sugar, and milk, this famous Gujarati dessert is quite common across the city. The sweet dish is famous across both Gujarati and Parsi cuisine. It is a rich, creamy dessert mostly prepared during special occasions and festivals.
When you have Doodhpak in Vadodara, the mere simplicity and divine taste of the dessert make it a highly sought-after sweet option. To enhance the overall taste, the dish is topped with the goodness of spices like cardamom, saffron, and nutmeg. Moreover, the dish is also garnished with chopped nuts and dry fruits including almonds, chironji, pistachios, cashews, and so more.
2. Sutarfeni
Boasting the rich flavours of rice flour roasted deliciously in ghee and blended with melted sugar, this conventional Gujarati sweet delicacy has a divine taste and texture. The overall structure of the dish resembles a delightful cotton candy. The term ‘Sutar’ implies thread while the term ‘Feni’ implies fine. Therefore, the literal meaning of the dish’s name translates to Fine Threads, just like its texture.
The dish is deliciously paired with rich spices like cardamom, saffron, and nuts like almonds and pistachios. The delicacy follows a slightly complicated process to be prepared. Therefore, it is readily available only across famous sweet shops and eateries of the city.
3. Mohanthal
It is one such sweet delicacy in Vadodara that is as popular as fafda and dhokla in the entire Gujarat. Prepared out with rich ingredients like besan or gram flour, loads of ghee, milk, and other spices, the delicious and fragrant dessert is best consumed warm and luscious.
The entire dessert is encased in a rich sugary syrup to impart the mouth-watering flavours. Once the dish has been cooled down, it appears like a fudge-like dessert. The delectable sweet or mithai is usually prepared on special occasions and festivals like Janmasthami and Diwali.
4. Magaj
Often prepared on special occasions and festivals in Vadodara, Magaj or Magas is a famous traditional dessert in Gujarat. The dish is prepared by mixing chickpea flour with a generous serving of ghee and besan. This delightful dessert also features the goodness of rich spices like cardamom and nutmeg.
To enhance the overall flavours, most sweet shops in Vadodara garnish the dish with divine toppings like chopped almonds, pistachios, and cashews. The best part is that it is simpler to prepare this delicacy. Therefore, it is easily available across all sweet shops of the city.
5. Sukhdi
It is a famous traditional Gujarati sweet delicacy that is prepared by combining whole wheat flour, ghee, and a generous amount of ghee. Also referred to as Gud Papdi or Gol Papdi, Sukhdi is quite a renowned sweet dish across the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
The overall texture of the dish is quite soft and crumbly, adding to the experience of trying this delicacy. Moreover, you will be delighted to try out the melt-in-your-mouth flavours of the dish. The sweet item is usually cut into diamond or square pieces and served with other savoury dishes.
6. Kansar
Prepared out of cracked wheat, sugar, milk, and ghee, Kansar is a popular dessert item in Vadodara. The dish is typically prepared on good days, including special occasions and festivals. According to some food legends, it is important for the groom and bride to taste this delicacy on the wedding day as it is regarded as good luck.
Right after the marriage in Gujarat, it is also a ritual for the bride to cook this sweet dish as the first delicacy at her in-law’s place. Overall, the dish is quite light and features the goodness of nutrients and essential vitamins. The locals of Vadodara are highly passionate about this dessert. Therefore, you can easily get it across nearby sweet shops in the city.
7. Mesub
An aromatic fragrance with flavoursome tang has complete control over the hearts of the locals of Vadodara. Mesub is a hearty sweet dish with a number of lovers across Gujarat. People in Vadodara celebrate this sweet delicacy as it connects people by traditions and taste. Mesub is a must-have speciality in Gujarat. It is a divine mixture of healthy ingredients, including ghee, butter, jaggery or sugar, and gram flour.
Conclusion
If you are visiting Vadodara, you are guaranteed to be surprised by its diverse culinary scene. While on one hand, you have some of the most delectable savoury delights, on the other hand, you will be surprised to try out its delicious sweet dishes as well.
