10 Famous foods of Varanasi that is a must-try

Varanasi, also known as Benares, is an ancient and bustling city that holds a special place for Hindus worldwide. Pilgrims from all corners of the globe visit Varanasi to see the Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, other significant temples and ghats. While spirituality is a cornerstone of the city's identity, Varanasi is also a vibrant tapestry of diverse cultures, blending tradition and modernity beautifully.

Imagine wandering the bustling streets of Varanasi, also known as Benaras. The air hangs heavy with the essence aroma of spices – cardamom, turmeric, and coriander – mingling with the sweet scent of simmering sweets and the earthy fragrance of freshly baked flatbreads! Here’s why:

Mark Twain, the renowned American author, once said of the city, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks like it." His words perfectly capture the timeless essence of Varanasi, a place where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life.

Varanasi’s culinary journey is like a vibrant tapestry woven with an explosion of flavours, textures, and fragrances that will tantalise your taste buds and leave an indelible mark on your palate. This holy city is not just a spiritual haven but a gastronomic paradise waiting to be explored. If you're planning a visit, prepare yourself for an unforgettable culinary adventure with these 10 must-try dishes that define the essence of Varanasi’s rich food culture:

1. Kachori sabzi

This delicious dish epitomises the cuisine of Varanasi. Crispy kachoris filled with a spiced dal mixture, known as "dal ki pithi," are served with a fragrant sabzi made from boiled potatoes, black pepper, cloves, chilies, and other aromatic spices. This mouth-watering combination delights both residents and tourists, who can often be seen enjoying this hot breakfast at roadside eateries throughout the city early in the morning. To truly experience Varanasi, don't miss out on trying the authentic Varanasi kachori sabzi.

• Ingredients: Kachori (flour, dal ki pithi), boiled potatoes, black pepper, cloves, chilies, aromatic spices.
• Preparation at home:

1. Kachori: Prepare the dough with flour and water. Make a filling with spiced dal ki pithi. Fill and shape the dough into small balls and fry until crispy.
2. Sabzi: Boil potatoes and prepare a curry with black pepper, cloves, chilies, and other spices. Serve hot with kachoris.

• Best eaten with: Masala chai
  

Kachori sabzi | Credits: theglobalvegetarian, Instagram

2. Aloo kachori

There are two types of kachoris available among street food vendors in Varanasi, badi and choti. Badi means regular kachoris filled with lentil mixture, while choti kachoris mean smaller-sized and stuffed with spicy potato masala. These small bites taste fantastic when served with sweet tamarind or coriander chutneys. Aloo kachori is a popular street food that you can find almost everywhere in Varanasi.

• Ingredients: Kachori (flour, spicy potato masala), tamarind chutney, coriander chutney.
• Preparation at home:

1. Kachori: Prepare the dough by mixing flour and water. For the filling, create a spicy potato masala. Shape the dough into balls, fill them with the masala, and fry until golden brown.
2. Serve with tamarind and coriander chutneys.

• Best eaten with: Sweet lassi

Aloo kachori | Credits: kachoriclub, Instagram

3. Baati chokha

Commonly known as litti chokha, this delicious street food can be found at many street vendors and cafes across Varanasi. The round baatis, or littis, are made from wheat flour dough filled with a spiced sattu (roasted gram flour) mixture and cooked over charcoal, giving them a unique smoky flavour. "Chokha" is a spicy blend of fire-roasted tomatoes, eggplants, boiled potatoes, ginger, chilies, and other spices. For anyone visiting Varanasi, trying the local delicacy of baati chokha is an absolute must.

• Ingredients: Baati (wheat flour dough, spiced sattu), chokha (fire-roasted tomatoes, eggplants, boiled potatoes, ginger, chilies, spices).
• Preparation at home:

1. Baati: Prepare dough with wheat flour and water, fill with spiced sattu, shape into balls, and bake or cook over charcoal.
2. Chokha: Roast tomatoes, eggplants, and mix with boiled potatoes, ginger, chilies, and spices.

• Best eaten with: Buttermilk (Chaas)

Baati chokha | Credits: indianfood_kitchen6, Instagram

4. Chena dahi vada

Among the range of delectable snacks that tourists can have here in Varanasi, chena dahi vada has always been considered one of the most famous dishes by locals, for which the city is famous. It is a variation of the traditional dahi vada. The ingredients involve mashed potatoes, fresh cottage cheese, or chena, grated ginger, cornflour, etc. Deep-fried, round-shaped vadas served with sweetened curd, tamarind, and coriander chutneys, plus masalas, make it to be an excellent dish. Although usually eaten during breakfast, this snack can also be enjoyed at any time of the day.

• Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, fresh unpressed paneer (chena), grated ginger, cornflour, sweetened curd, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, masalas.
• Preparation at home:

1. Make a mixture of mashed potatoes, chena (​​unpressed paneer), ginger, and cornflour. Shape into round vadas and deep-fry.
2. Serve with sweetened curd, tamarind, and coriander chutneys, and sprinkle with masalas.

• Best eaten with: Sweet lassi

Chena dahi vada | Credits: chefmayanki, Instagram

5. Choora matar

During the winter, Varanasi's street food stalls abound with this delightful snack. Choora Matar is a unique twist on poha, made with flattened rice (choora), green peas, clarified butter (ghee), cashew nuts, and a blend of spices. It often includes chopped coriander leaves and a splash of lemon juice for extra flavour. Enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee with choora matar in the evening is a perfect way to experience this local favourite.

• Ingredients: Flattened rice (choora), green peas, clarified butter (ghee), cashew nuts, spices, chopped coriander leaves, lemon juice.
• Preparation at home:

1. Soak flattened rice in water briefly and drain.
2. In a pan, cook green peas in ghee, add cashew nuts, spices, and flattened rice. Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice.

• Best eaten with: Masala chai

Choora matar | Credits: adi_gourmet_kitchen, Instagram

6. Laaiya channa

If you're familiar with bhel puri, then laaiya channa is its counterpart from Benares, widely popular in Varanasi. Similar to the bhel puri found at roadside vendors across India, this beloved snack from Varanasi has one key difference. Instead of using puffed rice (muri) like in bhel puri, laaiya channa is made with soaked and boiled chickpeas (chana). These chickpeas are then mixed with peanuts, onions, tomatoes, green chilies, lime juice, and a variety of spices, creating a delicious and sought-after tea-time dish in Benares.

• Ingredients: Soaked and boiled chickpeas (chana), peanuts, onions, tomatoes, green chilies, lime juice, spices.
• Preparation at home:

1. Boil chickpeas until tender.
2. Mix with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, peanuts, lime juice, and spices. Serve as a snack.

• Best eaten with: Masala buttermilk (Chaas)

Laaiya channa | Credits: livewhatyoulove7039, Instagram

7. Dahi chutney golgappe

For those who love street snacks, dahi chutney golgappe is a must-try in Varanasi. These delightful treats stand out even among the city's rich variety of street foods. Unlike anywhere else, the taste of these crispy golgappas will linger on your taste buds long after you've enjoyed them. They are filled with mashed potatoes and chickpeas, then topped with curd, tangy chutneys, aromatic spices, pomegranate seeds, and sev. For a perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavours, visit any nearby chaat shop and try the delicious dahi chutney golgappe. Different eateries around Varanasi proudly serve this famous local delicacy.

• Ingredients: Golgappe (flour, water), mashed potatoes, chickpeas, curd, tangy chutneys, aromatic spices, pomegranate seeds, sev.
• Preparation at home:

1. Prepare or buy golgappa/pani puri shells.
2. Fill with mashed potatoes and chickpeas. Top with curd, chutneys, spices, pomegranate seeds, and sev.

• Best eaten with: Jaljeera

Dahi chutney golgappe | Credits: hungrito, Instagram

8. Tamatar chaat

It is a unique and tasty chaat that is available in various popular eateries in Varanasi and is loved by the locals as well as tourists visiting Varanasi. The potatoes are boiled, mashed, and mixed with tomatoes, onions, green chillies, and coriander leaves to make this dish. To spice up this chaat, black pepper, red chilli powder, garam masala, and other spices are sprinkled on palash leaf biodegradable bowls so that it has a local touch. Although tamatar chaat might be slightly spicy, it’s worth trying out for any chaat lover visiting Varanasi.

• Ingredients: Boiled potatoes, tomatoes, onions, green chilies, coriander leaves, black pepper, red chilli powder, garam masala, spices, crispy namak pare, chat masala.
• Preparation at home:

1. Boil and mash potatoes. Mix with chopped tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and coriander leaves.
2. Season with black pepper, red chilli powder, garam masala, and other spices. Garnish with crispy namak pare and chat masala.

• Best eaten with: Masala soda

Tamatar chaat | Credits: anjuverma.recipes, Instagram

9. Malaiyyo

The winter delicacy malaiyyo from Varanasi is a beloved treat that melts in your mouth, enjoyed exclusively during the winter season. Unlike any other sweet dish, it is made from milk foam or froth. To prepare malaiyyo, milk is boiled in an iron vessel and left uncovered overnight under the sky, allowing dew drops to initiate foam formation. This foam is then churned with sugar, cardamom powder, and saffron strands until it becomes frothy. Finally, it is garnished with chopped pistachios and almonds and served in earthen cups called kulhads. Don't miss this special street dessert if you are in Varanasi during the winter, as it is a unique experience you won't find anywhere else.

• Ingredients: Milk froth, sugar, cardamom powder, saffron strands, chopped pistachios, almonds.
• Preparation at home:

1. Boil milk and leave it uncovered overnight to collect the froth.
2. Churn the froth with sugar, cardamom powder, and saffron strands until frothy. Garnish with chopped pistachios and almonds. Serve in earthen cups.

• Best eaten with: Kesar badam milk

Malaiyyo | Credits: swad_mania, Instagram

10. Rabri jalebi

Rabri jalebi is a heavenly combination that you must try when in Varanasi. The rabri, a sweet cream made from condensed milk and flavoured with rose water, almonds, and pistachios, is rich and velvety. It pairs perfectly with the desi ghee jalebis, which are made using all-purpose flour, dahi, saffron syrup, and sugar. The jalebis are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, soaking up the syrup with every bite. When eaten together, the creamy rabri and the crunchy, jalebis create an explosion of flavours and textures that is simply divine. Make sure to have at least one plate of this famous Varanasi treat.

• Ingredients: Rabri (condensed milk, rose water, almond pistachios), Jalebi (all-purpose flour, dahi, saffron syrup, sugar).
• Preparation at home

1. Rabri: Boil milk until thickened, add rose water and chopped almonds and pistachios.
2. Jalebi: Make a batter with all-purpose flour and dahi. Fry in hot oil in spiral shapes, then soak in saffron syrup. Serve with rabri.

• Best eaten with: Gulab jamun

Rabri jalebi | Credits: hungrito, Instagram

Conclusion

Varanasi has always been a city steeped in historical culture and religious fervour. It offers a diverse food culture with influences from various parts of the world as well as different regions of India. The city is a haven for street food, with a variety of delicious options available on its streets, corners, and in its small shops. Allow your taste buds to explore the panorama that Varanasi offers by indulging in its street food delights.To add more sweetness to your trip, consider staying at The Hosteller, an inexpensive accommodation option that prides itself on vibrant community spaces, cosy rooms, and service committed to delivering a unique experience. We have hostels across the country, The Hosteller aims at creating opportunities for social interaction, thereby bringing people together around a common love for travelling. This makes it an ideal blend between affordability and comfort, enabling you to experience the magic in the full sense of the word while visiting other exciting destinations.