All About Authentic Misal Pav | History | 6 Types

Delicacy of maharashtra

Misal Pav is a popular delicacy, hailing from Maharashtra. The dish is popular in parts of Gujarat too. Misal, often known as moth bean curry, is a fiery, flavorful dish. Onion, garlic, ginger, and chilies are just a few of the spices used to make the curry. After that, the masaledaar dish is topped with boiled potatoes, chiwda, sev, chopped onions, coriander, and green chilies and drizzled with lemon. With pav, or butter-toasted bread, people enjoy the thick, spicy mixture of sprouted lentils.

Misal pav is a popular dish from Maharashtra, India. It is a spicy curry made with a mix of sprouted lentils and other ingredients such as onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and chillies. The curry is then served with pav, a type of Indian bread. This delicious dish is a great way to enjoy traditional Indian flavors and is often served as a snack or as a main course.

Misal pav is usually served with a side of chopped onions, lemon wedges and sev, a type of Indian fried snack. The combination of the curry and the crunchy sev is a great way to enjoy the flavors of this dish. Misal pav is usually served with a dollop of butter or ghee, which adds a richness to the dish. It can also be served with chutney or yogurt, depending on the person’s preference.

Origin
Misal Pav originated in the state of Maharashtra and is now popular all over India. It is a great way to enjoy traditional flavors without having to put in too much effort. It is also a very healthy dish as it is packed with proteins from the lentils and vitamins from the vegetables.

What’s the history behind this dish? 
Misal Pav probably originated in Nashik 100-150 years ago, as a nourishing and affordable meal for workers. The misal is a good mix of proteins, carbs, and fat, an essential energy booster for a hard workday. While the dish traces its origins to Nashik in Western India, over time, locals have tweaked the basic recipe of how to make misal, to suit their palettes. Puneri Misal, Nagpuri Misal, Kolhapuri Misal, Nashik Misal, Khandeshi Misal are some of the variants of this immensely popular dish. 

The misal has two parts – the thick spicy sprouted mixture is called Ussal while the watery gravy is called Rassa. Moong beans can be used in place of moth beans.

  • Puneri Misal: This delicacy is made with ussal in a not-so-spicy red rassa. With a side of chopped coriander and onion, it is generously topped with diced potato and sev-chiwda. This Misal has both, sweet and tangy notes, making it leitspicy than its other counterparts.
  • Nashik Misal: Made from matki sprouts, this misal comes in black or green juice. It is a spicy curry topped with farsan or sev, onion, lemon and coriander. Black pepper has more black gravy while green is a mixture of green chilies and coriander. Fried papad and curd are two such accompaniments that set the other misal of Nashik apart.
  • Nagpuri Misal: The moth bean tari is topped with Kande Pohe (Onion flat rice dish) along with other farsan. Also, grated coconut is like a cherry on the cake for a Misal dish. It brings together flavor combinations that sing through your palate.
  • Kolhapuri Misal: Kanda-Lasun Masala (Onion-Garlic) is the game-changing ingredient used in Kolhapur to make this deliciously spicy curry. No other Misal’s use this masala. As for toppings, finely diced onions and farsan are most loved while instead of pav, it is usually served with sliced ​​bread instead of pav.
  • Mumbai Misal: You won’t find potatoes in this street version whose heat quotient ranges from slightly pungent to very spicy.
  • Khandeshi Misal: Another spicy version is unique for its use of black masala and black pepper to make black juice or gravy. From the north-western region of Maharashtra, this misal is a hot and spicy affair with kala rasa made from dried coconut, onion, garam masala and coriander powder. Black or black masala is ubiquitous in Khandeshi cuisine, making it one of the spiciest dishes of Maharashtra.

No matter how you choose to make it, Misal Pav is sure to tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more. If you haven’t tried it yet, you definitely should!