Indian cuisine is celebrated for its diversity, with each state offering unique flavours and cooking methods. Among these, steamed dishes have a long-standing tradition in the country, making food light,
nutritious, and easy to digest.
Steam cooking uses minimal oil and spices while retaining flavour, providing a healthy alternative for those who want to eat well without compromising on taste. While idli and momo are the most popular steamed foods, India’s culinary heritage boasts a wide range of lesser-known steamed dishes that are both healthy and delicious.
From Gujarat to Karnataka, these dishes combine nutrition, taste, and visual appeal. Here are five steamed delicacies that every food lover should try:
Patra
Patra is a Gujarati dish made by spreading a spiced gram flour paste on colocasia (arbi) leaves and rolling them into layers before steaming. After cooking, the rolls are sliced into rounds, revealing beautiful layers, and topped with a mustard and sesame tadka. The dish offers a delightful blend of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours while being light and healthy.
Panki
Panki is a delicate, thin steamed dish made from rice flour and light spices, cooked between banana leaves. The aroma released when unwrapping the leaves adds to the experience. Best enjoyed hot with chutney, Panki is a simple yet flavoursome snack.
Pathrode
Similar to Patra, Pathrode from coastal Karnataka uses a paste of rice and spices instead of gram flour. The layered leaves are rolled, steamed, and often combined with coconut, tamarind, and jaggery, creating a sweet, sour, and spicy taste. Traditionally made during the monsoon when fresh leaves are abundant, Pathrode is a seasonal favourite.
Muthia
Muthia is shaped by pressing the dough with the fist, often made from gourd, fenugreek, or green vegetables mixed with flour and spices. The rolls are steamed, sliced, and lightly seasoned, making them a perfect snack to accompany tea.
Sandwich Dhokla
A modern twist on the traditional Dhokla, sandwich Dhokla is made by layering green chutney between gram flour batter and steaming it. Cutting the cooked Dhokla reveals beautiful yellow and green layers. This light, festive snack is both visually appealing and delicious.
All these dishes are oil-free, light on the stomach, and full of nutrition, offering a healthier alternative to fried foods.
