Vidarbha’s vibrant flavours ADVERTISEMENT SWA Varhadi Misal offers a delicious peek into Vidarbha’s culinary traditions, with the name paying homage to the Varhad community from Maharashtra. Their masala, a blend of 28 spices crafted in-house, ensures a perfectly balanced spice level. “We wanted the spice level to be perfectly balanced in order to cater to the cosmopolitan folk,” explains Manohar Patil, owner of the Swa Varhadi’s main branch in Thane.
The Vidarbha masala packs a punch but is balanced with Konkani spices, delivering the “zanzanit” (spicy, pungent) satisfaction without the dreaded heartburn. The misal, a staple here, is cooked in traditional earthen pots, adding an earthy richness and preserving nutrients. The owner aimed to redefine the stereotype of misal being just a quick snack.
We sampled their special misal that was served in an earthy clay pot with two pavs, papad, and a jalebi, making it a full meal. While the misal was a bit oilier than preferred, the lemon wedge cut through the richness, and the pav balanced it perfectly. The crunchy papad added delightful texture and aids digestion.
The meal ends on a sweet note with jalebi made from jaggery. For healthier alternatives to pav, they offer jowar roti and vade. Experimental foodies can try the misal shots and scotch misal, where misal is served in crunchy puris or with Shegaon kachoris — a bold, crowd-pleasing combo.
Flavours of Khandesh Khandesh Misal House is a small eatery with just f.
