With love from agra

The city’s amalgam of gourmet delights is presented at the food festival at ITC Kakatiya
With love from agra

HYDERABAD: So, till now you thought Agra is known only for the flawless ivory-white beauty in marble – The Taj Mahal? Well, this beautiful city, the birthplace of great Urdu poet Ghalib, has its unique cuisine which has evolved as an interesting amalgam of British and Mohammedan gastronomic delights punctuated here and there with delicious vegetarian food choices. Not many are aware of this, and to highlight this ITC Kakatiya Hotel recently organised the food festival ‘Agra Ka Swad’ - a handpicked array of dishes like Arvi Gosht Ka Salan, Mongre Ka Salan, Thande Masale Ka Pulao and more.

The food fest is curated by chef Rajveer Singh of ITC Mughal, Agra who has flown to the city especially for the food fest. We tasted Murgh Ka Ishtew, Mahi Anarkali and Paneer Khas Khas. The dishes tasted as if they were made at home. The spices were kept in moderation, the oil quantity balanced and the taste mild on the tongue. Murgh Ishtew had a distinct flavour and aroma. Explained the chef, “Some of the spices are pounded and roasted. In Mahi Anarkali we have used pomegranate seeds and shahi zeera. These spices don’t overpower the taste of the fish.” He added that Agra food has three distinct tastes namely, British, Mohammedan and non-Mohammedan.

That’s how for breakfast the denizens love their aloo sabzi with puris and crispy hot jalebis with rabdi. And at the same time dishes like Murgh Makhane Ka Qorma find their plac on feast tables. The British influence is of course in the mild flavours cooked with milk or curd. Mongre Ka Salan was another dish prepared lightly almost home-like. Cauliflower florets were fried with mild spices and mongra, a herb known for its blood-purifying qualities. In Agra, as is the custom in North India, a lot of vegetables are cooked with mutton dishes to absorb the heat from the meat. In the menu we also noticed Turai Gosht, lamb pieces cooked with ridge gourd. For the dessert there is famous Agra Petha and Rasmalai.
The food festival will see a rotational change of dishes I.e., there will be different dishes for every dinner. The festival will be on till May 28. Price: `2,425 AI. Time: 7:30 pm – 11.30 pm.

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