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Delectable kebabs, fragrant biryani, and whipped, ethereal desserts.

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has forever been a haven for gastronomes, with inhabitants and tourists equally praising its superb cuisine.

A Global Honor

Last month, Unesco honored it as a Creative City of Gastronomy – placing it on a prestigious list of international urban centers and igniting hopes that it will spotlight Lucknow's sublime food. With this designation, it enters a international community of cities cities across over 100 countries committed to promoting "artistic expression as a driver of development that sustains urban life".

The honor "demonstrates its centuries-old food heritage and vibrant culinary scene," according to a representative from UNESCO's Regional Office for South Asia.

Lucknow is merely the second Indian city – after Hyderabad, which was selected in 2019 – to find a place in this highly sought-after list of seventy urban centers worldwide.

An Urban Center with a Culinary Soul

The honor for this venerable city arrives as hardly a shock to its residents or dedicated food lovers. Many echo the view that it is "a recognition that was delayed".

With the UNESCO recognition, this cherished, lively, and diverse city – the administrative center of India's biggest state – is now in the global gaze for what has perennially shaped its soul: an profound love for food.

"'The day's menu, the method of preparation' is a constant dialogue from morning until going to bed in many homes," states a local cultural expert. "And you are actually assessed by the quality of food that is produced in your kitchen."

A Heritage of Nawabi Cuisine

The Nawabi City – as it's widely known after its historic wealthy Muslim rulers – is famed for its tender kebabs and a unique take on biryani that were created, perfected, and elevated to exquisite levels in their royal kitchens.

These imperial kitchens were centers of culinary innovations, fusing Iranian and local Indian styles to create what became known as the food of Awadh.

It was in that period that Lucknow's iconic kebabs were developed. The story goes that the galouti kebab was devised to cater to an ageing nawab who had lost his teeth. His culinary artists minced the meat with papaya, kesar, and spices and made it so silky that it needed no chewing.

But arguably the greatest contribution of the chefs of Awadh was the slow-cooking Dum pukht technique, where food is prepared on a low, leisurely heat, with the pot's lid securely sealed with a flour paste.

A Diverse Culinary Landscape

Besides the well-known kebabs and biryani, the culinary masters also developed a repertoire of dishes that included kormas (creamy curries), sheermal (saffron-infused flatbread), and shahi tukda (a sweet bread pudding).

However, Lucknow is not just about kebabs and biryani – the region is also a dream for plant-based eaters.

The local traditionally vegetarian community's cuisine doesn't just highlights fresh harvests but also offers the city its highly curated Indian desserts, sweets, and unique street food, like chaat – tangy fried snacks.

Time-Tested Food Joints

Virtually on every corner, there are little shops and stalls – lesser-known delights that are immensely popular with the locals.

In the city center of Hazratganj, huge crowds start gathering from early morning at a legendary tea stall to get a steaming cup of spiced tea with milk, presented in kulhads, along with incredibly soft buns slathered with freshly churned white butter.

To start the day, one can visit a unpretentious joint situated in the historic quarter of Aminabad. Almost 150 years after it was founded, the place is still in great demand for its freshly fried kachoris (fried bread stuffed with lentils) and jalebis (crispy, syrup-soaked sweets).

Preserving Tradition for the Future

The city also offers remarkable seasonal delights, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert found in the winter. The method of making it is precise and complicated. The cook whisks the milk and then exposes it at night, allowing the dew to give it its amazing light consistency.

On chilly mornings, street vendors line up in historic neighborhoods like Aminabad and Chowk. A number of however express concern that their younger generation are unwilling to take up the art.

A well-known culinary expert from Lucknow has frequently stated that the city's rich food legacy puts it right on top of the Indian street food experience. The significant impact from the UNESCO recognition, however, will be realized only if Lucknow can now generate interest about its lesser-known eateries.

Every dish in Lucknow comes with a history – influenced by multi-generational food businesses, from modest street carts to bustling restaurants, and guarded family recipes.

The international acclaim, it is believed, will encourage more people globally to learn these tales and visit the city to taste the gastronomic treasures of Lucknow.