Prepare a flavourful Gujarati Thali at home complete with authentic and traditional Gujarati recipes. In this guide, you will find recipes for Gujarati flat breads, shaak, gujarati dals, pickles, and so much more!
In many Gujarati households, a traditional Gujarati thali is prepared daily.
Traditional Gujarati food is always pure vegetarian and some recipes are even naturally vegan. Pure vegetarian means that no eggs are used.
What is a Thali?
Thali translates to plate in Hindi or Gujarati. It’s a round stainless steel platter on which food is served, in small round steel bowls. Thali are served primarily for lunch or dinner.
You can serve the food in a proper thali, but a “thali” can also be used to describe a complete meal regardless of how it is served.
A typical thali consists of a flatbread, a curry, a lentil dish, a rice dish, a salad, a pickle and yogurt.
A thali is known to be well balanced with complex carbohydrates, vegetable dishes that are high in dietary fibre, lentils for protein and yogurt to provide healthy gut bacteria.
You can find thali in many cuisines within India. Notable ones include:
Punjabi thali or North Indian Thali
South Indian Thali
Bengali Thali
Indo-Chinese Thali
Thali like this are often served in Indian restaurants and are a great way to try out different dishes from the various cuisines.
Gujarati Thali
Gujarat is a state in Western India. Gujarati food has its own unique taste compared with food from around India.
The flavours are typically spicy, tangy, sweet. The sweetness comes from the use of a type of unrefined sugar – jaggery.
The spices used are commonly ginger and green chilies with the basic Indian spice powders. These are dry red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin coriander and garam masala.
In the tempering, mustard seeds or cumin seeds can be used. Curry leaves also make an appearance in various recipes.
In a Gujarati Thali, all food is served at once – the starter, main and dessert! It is also eaten together as well so that all the various flavours and textures can complement each other.
A Gujarati Thali contains all the macro nutrients that a body needs for one day.
You can get a few different types of Gujarati Thali – some are for everyday, and some are for events such as weddings or special occasions.
The differences are included in the post.
What is included in a Gujarati Thali Menu?
In a Gujarati thali, you will find a variety of authentic Gujarati dishes. Each thali is carefully prepared so that ingredients and flavours complement and balance each other.
You may have heard the words “dal bhaat shaak rotli”. This is essentially a daily style of Gujarati thali eaten in Gujarati homes.
Usually, Gujarati thali is served in a stainless steel plate with steel bowls with water or buttermilk (chaas) served in a steel glass too.
Indian flatbreads – rotli, poori, thepla or puran poli are examples. Mostly, wholewheat atta or multigrain atta is used which is healthy and full of fibre.
Gujarati curries – aka shaak or saak in Gujarati. These vegetarian curries are made with vegetables. These curries may contain garlic, especially if they are kathiyawadi recipes but onion is rarely used in Gujarati cooking. Examples include potato cabbage curry, aubergine (eggplant) and potato curry, ivy gourd curry, sev tomato curry, chickpea and potato curry, okra curry and so many more.
Gujarati Kathol – In Gujarati, ‘Kathol’ translates to legumes/beans/pulses. Instead of vegetable curries, kathol recipes are made in replacement and served with kadhi.
Gujarati Kadhi or Gujarati Dal – the daal and kadhi are never served at the same time – it is always one or the other.
Stir fry or salad – carrot stir fry, cabbage stir fry or kachumber
Raitu/raita or plain yogurt – boondi raita, cucumber raita or yogurt cools down the meal and boosts gut health
Pickle or chutney – pickle is thought to aid in metabolism. Pickles can provide extra flavour to meals however, they tend to be oily and spicy. Some chutneys like green chutney are much healthier.
Farsan – a snack or appetizer is sometimes included. Farsan includes khaman, patra, sev, kachori, gota and more.
Plain boiled rice – plain boiled basmati rice is eaten along with the toor dal or kadhi
Roasted papad
Chaas or water
Gujarati sweets – sweets include keri no raas, shrikhand, lapsi
Thali at a Gujarati Restaurant
Particularly in India, many restaurants serve thali as part of their menus. These thali are packed with many different curries, dals, farsan, breads and sweets!
In some places around India, or the Gujarat capital Ahmedabad, you can find restaurants serving unlimited Gujarati thalis. Here, your plate is continually topped up!
Everyday Gujarati Thali
In an everyday Gujarati thali that is prepared at home, it is unlikely that farsan and sweets are included. If my Mum or my Grandma makes a thali, they stick to one curry, either dal or kadhi, one salad and one flatbread.
Let’s get into the different food served in a Gujarati Thali:
Gujarati Shaak
KOBI BATETA NU SHAAK – CABBAGE AND POTATO CURRY
Cabbage and Potato Sabji or Kobi Bateta nu Shaak an everyday Gujarati style stir-fry prepared with potato and cabbage without using onion and garlic.
This Tindora nu Shaak, or Tindora Sabzi recipe, is an easy Gujarati curry prepared with ivy gourd and basic spices. This vegan tindora recipe is gluten-free, healthy and can be ready in 15 minutes.
Mag nu Saak/Shaak or Mung Bean Curry is a traditional Gujarati recipe made with moong beans, tomato and garlic. This easy and quick recipe can be made in Instant pot and stove top. Serve this plant based and naturally gluten-free curry with rice, roti, salad and papad.
This style of homely Chana Bateta without onion and garlic is perfect with halwa poori. I have used white chickpeas, or Kabuli Chana, to make a mild aloo chana masala that is vegan and can be made in one pot within 15 minutes!l
Sev Tameta nu Shaak is a delicious Kathiyawadi Gujarati curry. It is prepared by combining fried gram flour noodles (crunchy sev) with a spicy and sweet tomato and garlic gravy.
RINGAN BATETA NU SHAAK
This homely and wholesome eggplant and potato shaak or ringan bateta nu shaak is cooked in tomato and garlic gravy. We love making this in our pressure cooker or Instant Pot for a quick yet delicious mid-week meal.
This delicious stuffed okra sabji or sambhariya bhindi is a popular Gujarati style sabji. It is made with a stuffing of coconut and spices with capsicum and green onion for extra flavour and texture.
This Potato Chips Curry or Bateta Chips nu Saak is a Gujarati vegan potato curry that can be ready in under 15 minutes. It is a perfect pantry staple curry that requires few ingredients
Guvar dhokli nu saak or shaak is an easy, delicious traditional Gujarati recipe that is prepared with cluster beans and multigrain flour dumplings. This curry can be made traditional way over the stovetop or in the instant pot if pressed for time.
Aloo Shimla Mirch Sabzi, orAloo Capsicum, is a deliciousIndian currymade with sauteed potatoes, green peppers and basic Indian spices. It is a no onion and garlic recipe. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Homemade Multigrain Atta is a brilliant addition to your chapatti atta because you can incorporate so many health benefits, giving you the wholesome goodness of 6 different grains.
These Bajra Methi Dhebra is a healthy preparation of Gujarati thepla. The addition of millet and gram flour and fenugreek leaves in to these pan fried flatbread makes them nutritious and tasty.
Vedmi or Puran Poli – is a traditional Gujarati stuffed bread with a sweet lentil filling. We love to serve with Valor Ringna Nu Shaak and Gujarati Kadhi.
Bajra Na Rotla – prepared with pearl millet flour/bajra flour and are suitable for gluten-free diet. They are often prepared during the winter months.
Gujarati Thepla– made using wheat flour and basic spices without adding any vegetables. Can be served with mild curries, yogurt, pickle or Indian chai tea.
Dal / Kathol & Kadhi
Gujarati Kadhi (traditional recipe)
Gujarati Kadhi, is a yoghurt-based soup. Traditional Gujarati Kadhi is thinner than Punjabi kadhi, mildly spiced, sweet-sourness that is typical of Gujarati cooking. This kadhi is great to eat with plain rice or khichdi.
Gujarati Dal is a flavourful and nutritious everyday recipe made with tuver/toor dal, spices, and a touch of sweetness. It is finished with a tempering and is served with steamed rice or in a thali for a complete meal.
Mug ni Chutti Dal or Dry Moong Dal is a simple side dish commonly enjoyed in Gujarati cuisine made with split yellow lentils and basic spices.
Kala Chana Nu Shaak
Rasadar Kala Chana Nu Saak is a classic curry recipe of Gujrat, which is cooked in mildly sweet, tangy and spicy tomato and tamarind gravy and made without onion and garlic.
This split chickpea dal can be made without a pressure cooker or can be made in the pressure cooker or in an Instant Pot. This Gujarati Channa Daal which is equally tangy and sweet.
Gujarati Bhinda Ni Kadhi – or Bhinda ni kadhi is a delicious and creamy, thick yogurt & chickpea flour based okra curry which is famous in the Gujarati Cuisine usually served with rotli, rotla or khichdi.
Rice
Plain boiled rice known as Bhaat or sometimes Matar Bhat or jeera rice is served in Gujarati thali.
Khichdi – If khichdi is prepared, then kadhi will be prepared but not a protein such as dal because khichdi is already made from a mix of rice and dal.
Farsan
Farsan refers to a variety of savoury snacks specifically found in Gujarati cuisine.
In an everyday Gujarati thali, these would not be included but rather for special occasions or weddings.
Lilva Kachori with Garlic
Garlic Lilva Kachori has an unsurpassed taste. This vegan Lilva ni Kachori has the addition of garlic and a soft pastry for a unique Gujarati kachori recipe.
Gujarati Khichu, a popular savoury dish, is also known as Papdi no Lot or Khichiya papdi lot. This easy and quick snack or side dish is made with rice flour, green chilies, basic spices and is served hot with peanut oil and pickle masala.
Patra – Gujarati Patra is a popular vegetarian snack made from Colocasia leaves coated with a spiced gram flour batter, steamed, and then tempered with mustard seeds and sesame seeds. They are eaten as a snack or in thali as farsan.
Khaman – khaman is probably Gujarati cuisines flagship recipe! Spongy khaman are made from a gram flour batter then steamed. A tempering is poured on top the cooked khaman.
Sundries
Easy Poppadoms Recipe
Poppadoms are a delicious Indian appetizer popular in Indian restaurants. With this quick and easy homemade poppadom recipe, you can prepare perfectly crunchy poppadoms to serve during curry night! Included are fried, tava cooked, air fryer and microwave recipes.
Kachumber Salad is a refreshing Indian-style side salad to accompany a variety of Indian meals. Made with 3 simple main ingredients, tomato, cucumber, and onion, this zingy salad can be ready in 5 minutes!
Yogurt – yogurt or curd is always included whether homemade or store bought.
Chutney or Pickle for Gujarati Thali
INSTANT KERI NO CHUNDO/AAM CHUNDA
A classic Gujarati Sweet and Sour Mango Pickle, Keri No Chundo, or Chunda recipe It is served as part of Gujarati thali. In this recipe raw mangos are grated and combined with sugar and chili powder to make this easy and delicious Indian pickle.
This spicy condiment recipe is made with fresh garlic, red chilli powder and sesame seeds. It is no cook, simple and easy to make and more importantly has a long shelf life compared to the other chutney recipes.
Lapsi or Fada Lapsi is a delicious Gujarati sweet dish prepared with broken wheat (Dalia), ghee and sweetened with Jaggery or sugar. This aromatic and easy Lapsi Halwa recipe is perfect for festivals such as Diwali, Navratri and Raksha Bandhan.
Keri no Ras also known as Mango Ras or Aam Ras, this popular and staple Indian dessert is made with mango puree and sugar. Then flavoured with ginger powder or saffron and cardamom.
Commonly, keri no ras is paired with poori. However, you can also dunk your rotli into the pulp as well!
Sukhdi Recipe (Gol Papdi)
Made with only 3 ingredients, this authentic Gujarati sweet Sukhdi recipe is delicious and has a soft melt in the mouth texture. It is also known as gur papdi or gol papdi.
Magas or Magaj is a very popular authentic Gujarati sweet or mithai made during Diwali. This melt in your mouth fudge is made with roasted gram/chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. This delicious mixture can also be rolled into small balls to make Magas ladoo.
The ultimate Diwali mithai has to be Gujarati Mohanthal! This recipe contains mawa or khoya to create proper crumbly Mohanthal that is as good as kandoi or mithai shops. This style of perfect Mohanthal is readily found in temples and in Havelis (Vaishnav temples) around the world.
Gujarati Shakarpara Recipe: How to make Shankarpali
Shakarpara is a sweet and crispy Gujarati snack made with a few basic ingredients such as flour, ghee, jaggery, and milk. These flaky diamond biscuits are usually made for the Indian festival Diwali, Holi, Satam and the perfect tea-time snacks throughout the year. These are also known as Shankarpali.
Basundi recipe is a traditional Indian dessert that is made using milk, and sugar, flavoured with warm spices and topped with rich nuts. Easy milk basundi is rich and delicious, it is basically just boiling milk and sugar in a heavy bottom pan until it is thickened. Serve with poori on festival such as Gudi padwa, Bhai dooj or raksha bandhan.
Doodh Pak – this Gujarati style rice pudding is rich, creamy and delicious. A perfect dessert that is made with basic ingredients, that too is Egg-free and gluten-free!
Sooji no Siro or Suji ha Halwa is a simple everyday Indian dessert made with semolina, milk, sugar and nuts. This siro is often made for prashad, especially satyanarayan katha, but can also be enjoyed anytime.
POTATO AND PEANUT FARALI BHAJI – MOONGPHALI ALOO KI SABJI
Aloo and peanut farali bhaji is must during fasting season such as Navratri. Made with boiled potatoes, basic spices and roasted peanuts. If you make this recipe, you want all for yourself!!
Buff Vada or Farali Pattice is a Gujarati recipe, that is mostly consumed during the fasts (vrat). These easy snack prepared with coconut and dry fruit filling and mashed potato. This fasting recipe best to serve with Dahi Chutney.
Farali Rajgira Magas – this wonderful Gujarati sweet is made with amaranth flour.
FAQs
What is the main famous food of Gujarat?
The most famous food of Gujarat is undoubtedly Dhokla, a steamed savoury cake made from chickpea flour. It is soft, spongy with a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Another popular dish is Undhiyu, a curry made with a variety of seasonal vegetables, spices, and coconut.
Thepla, a thin, spiced flatbread is another Gujarati favourite, often enjoyed with pickles or yogurt.
Handvo, a savoury lentil and rice cake, is loved for its unique texture.
Finally, Gujarati Kadhi, a tangy yogurt-based soup, is a comfort food staple in Gujarati households with rice or khichdi.
What are the staples of Gujarati food?
The staples of Gujarati food include rice, wheat flour, lentils (such as toor dal, moong dal, and chana dal), vegetables (such as okra, eggplant, and potatoes), yogurt, buttermilk, spices (such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and mustard seeds), jaggery (unrefined cane sugar), and various oils and ghee (clarified butter) for cooking.
These ingredients form the foundation for a wide range of Gujarati dishes, including rotli (Indian bread), dal (lentil soup), shaak (vegetable curries), kadhi (yogurt-based curry), and various snacks and sweets.
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Prepare a flavourful Gujarati Thali at home complete with authentic and traditional Gujarati recipes. Included is a quick recipe for gujarati style chaas (Indian buttermilk).
1tablespoonfresh mint and cilantro leavesfinely chopped (optional)
pinchsaltto taste
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Instructions
How to build a Complete Gujarati Thali
Choose a flatbread
Choose one or more shaak
Next, select either dal, kathol or kadhi
Choose a rice dish
If making for a special occasion, go for a farsan
Optionally, choose a pickle or chutney
Pick a Gujarati sweet
How to make Chaas for Gujarati Thali
In a jug, add in the yogurt of your choice. Using a spoon or wire whisk, whisk the yogurt gently until smooth.
Add chilled water to thin out to your desired consistency. Note that Gujarati Chaas is thinner than Punjabi Lassi.
Add crushed roasted cumin seeds and a small pinch of salt.
Optionally, add in finely chopped or torn fresh cilantro (coriander) and/or mint leaves
Add more water if required to thin out further.
Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Cook time is for the chaas recipe.For individual recipes of the dishes mentioned above, please visit the relevant blog posts by clicking through the links.You can also browse this roundup for Gujarati Sweets or Gujarati Dinner Recipe Ideas
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Gujarati Thali
Amount per Serving
Calories
21
% Daily Value*
Fat
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.04
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.3
g
Cholesterol
4
mg
1
%
Sodium
24
mg
1
%
Potassium
56
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
2
g
1
%
Fiber
0.1
g
0
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
37
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
0.2
mg
0
%
Calcium
47
mg
5
%
Iron
0.3
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
The nutritional information provided is an approximation calculated by an online calculator/plugin. Please consult a professional dietitian for nutritional advice.
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