Delhi is called the food capital of India not for nothing. Delhi’s food culture has a unique feature. The traditional food of Delhi changes starkly with the season. In no Indian city does food change so much with the weather. As a result, we eagerly wait throughout the year to have Delhi Winter Food.

The seasonal food items in Delhi have a rich repertoire. In any case, winters are perhaps the best time to eat to the heart’s content. For one, we get a host of tasty vegetables like carrots, beetroot, peas, sweet potato, fenugreek leaves or methi saag, and mustard leaves or our favourite Sarson ka Saag. Moreover, given the cold weather, the metabolism works better. Winter is also a great time to savour the street food of Delhi because of no sweating or depletion in this season.

Must-Try Items in Delhi Winter Food

Gajar ka Halwa

Carrots traditionally are seasonal vegetables that belong to winter. Although some hybrid “Chinese carrot” is sold round the year; it is neither tasty nor affordable. Carrots in winter are not only cheap but are tasty and rich in nutrition. Therefore, the dessert Gajar ka Halwa (carrot pudding) tastes best in winter. Not only is Gajar ka Halwa high in food value, but it is also rich in texture and tastes best in winter.

Gajak and Rewari

These Indian sweets are exclusively available in winter. Delhi along with the whole of North India gets very cold during the months of November to February. Peanuts, sesame seeds, and jaggery are the items that keep you warm this season. These are rich in nutrients and delicious. Gajak and Rewari are sweets prepared using the above ingredients. Quite the on-the-go snack, you can munch on these goodies after lunch, dinner, or any time in between. Gajak and Rewari boxes are sought-after gifts for the Lohri festival.

Daulat Ki Chaat

Contrary to its name it’s not a savoury chaat item from Delhi street food. This is an unusual dessert exclusively available in the by-lanes of Old Delhi from the months of November to March. Being a whipped cream dessert that cannot withstand Delhi heat, winters are the only time to relish this beauty. It’s a soft melt-in-the-mouth scoop of heaven and is a delight to shutterbugs as well.

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Fish Tikka

While fish is readily available and eaten in eastern parts of India throughout the year, Dilliwalas prefer their fish mostly in winter. Fried fish or fish tikkas are hot-selling items in Delhi winter. Some of the famous places to eat this item in Delhi are Ganesh Macchi Wala in Karol Bagh and Paramjeet Macchi in Moti Nagar.

Pinni or Gond ke Laddoo

These are delicious sweet atta balls packed with a punch of healthy calories from nuts, ghee, gur, or sugar along with crunchy wonder element gond. Rich and tasty, one laddoo is enough to make you go on for hours. Best tried at home, these are also available at famous sweet shops like Haldiram, Bikaner, etc.

Panjiri

This is an Indian dish which was always made by mothers and grandmothers to give to those who need nutrition most. Like pregnant women, lactating mothers, studious kids burning the midnight oil, or sons in physically demanding jobs. Roasted atta or besan or gram flour is mixed with ghee, dry fruits, seeds, and sugar powder and then packed in steel boxes for long use. Sometimes Panjiri is eaten mixed with fruits like bananas and distributed as a divine offering or prasad as well.

Soups

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Winter is the season to enjoy warm and comforting soups given the many fresh and pocket-friendly vegetables available in the market. From spinach to mushrooms and from carrots to chicken, this is the time to break away from the monotony of tomato soup. For best nutrition, retain the vegetables in the soup and have it like a broth to get the best fiber content.

Saag and Makki ki Roti

Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti are a combination that originated from Punjab but is now a Delhi staple. The mustard greens are the sweetest in winter and the Sarson ka Saag dish is painstakingly cooked the traditional way in many Delhi households. Makki ka Roti or cornbread is the perfect accompaniment with this dish. A piece of jaggery is often had on the side to add a hint of sweetness. While many restaurants serve this combo, it tastes best when cooked at home.

Gajar Gobhi Shalgam pickle

Gajar gobhi shalgam achaar or pickle is another delicacy had during Delhi winters. All three vegetables carrots, cauliflower, and turnips are available in abundance during the season. The pickle is tempered with mustard seeds that add heat to the dish. To balance the taste, it is sweetened with jaggery. It tastes very good with Saag and Makki ki Roti. This is another preparation that tastes best when homemade.

Peanuts

Munching on peanuts sitting under blankets and quilts or around a bonfire is a common sight in Delhi winters. You can ditch the packed salted peanuts in this season and munch on roasted shelled peanuts. Readily available all over North India, this goes very well with jaggery and popcorn. This combination is a staple during Lohri celebrations.

Now that winter is back with a bang in Delhi, this post is as timely as it can get. Do you think we have missed out on any Delhi winter food traditions? Do let us know in the comments. Also, if you have a favourite Indian dish that you have only during winter, we would love to know about that as well.

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