Here is a list of 10 unique desserts you must try:
1. Nap Naang A unique and delicious dessert from Nagaland, nap naang is a pudding prepared from glutinous or sticky black rice, which gives it a distinct nutty aftertaste. A kheer (rice pudding) of sorts, this dessert is cooked in milk and flavoured with nuts.
2. Parwal ki Mithai Bihar’s pride and joy, the unusual surprise of a vegetable parwal makes this such a special dessert. Made with sweet khoya-based filling stuffed inside pointed gourds, the delectable sweetmeat is a perfect example of a sweet and savoury dessert.
3. Adhirasam Although it looks similar to the modern doughnut, adhirasam dates back to the 16th century. Known as sirsa in Chhattisgarh, anarsa in Marathi, and arisa pitha in Odia, adhirasam is a pastry made from rice flour, jaggery, butter, and pepper, and comes in the shape of a vada.
4. Pootharekulu Originating in the small village of Atreyapuram of Andhra Pradesh, pootharekulu is a wafer-like sweet made with transparent rice paper that is prepared with a rice batter called jaya biyyam. The rice papers are coated in sugar and ghee, and stuffed with dry fruits and jaggery.
5. Elaneer Payasam Made with tender coconut pulp mixed with condensed milk, this quick version of kheer is a brilliant addition to your daily meals.
6. Shorbhaja Now prepared only in a handful of sweetshops in West Bengal, this delicacy is made with condensed milk mixed with leftover sandesh (a Bengali sweet made from unripened curd cheese) that has been deep-fried in oil or ghee.
7. Dehroris These are scrumptious dumplings made of rice and curd, which are then deep-fried in ghee and sweetened with chashni or sugar syrup. Dehroris are primarily made in Chhattisgarh during any prominent festival and served with a glass of buttermilk.
8. Pitha Made predominantly in the eastern states of India, especially West Bengal and Assam, it is prepared with a sweet stuffing of jaggery, preferably nolen gur, khus khus (poppy seeds), khoya, sesame seeds and coconut. A monsoon and winter delicacy, in Bengal, it is often prepared to celebrate Makar Sankranti festival, while in Assam it is a crucial food during the Bihu festival.
9. Patoleo While Bebinca is one of the most popular desserts from Goa, this unique Goan delicacy is no less and a must-try for any sweet tooth. Patoleo is a steamed sweet that is cooked by spreading rice paste over a turmeric leaf. The batter once spread over the leaf is then stuffed with Goan coconut jaggery, freshly grated coconut, and cinnamon powder.
10. Madhurjan Thongba A traditional dessert prepared in Northeast India, especially Manipur, madhurjan thongba are deep-fried gram flour dumplings dropped in a thick base of sweet condensed milk and flavoured with bay leaves and cardamom.