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Tempting kebabs, aromatic biryani, and fluffy, cloud-like desserts.

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has long been a dream destination for epicures, with inhabitants and visitors equally swearing by its superb cuisine.

A Global Honor

Recently, UNESCO recognised it as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy – adding it to a prestigious group of global cities and kindling hopes that it will showcase Lucknow's sublime food. With this title, it joins a worldwide network of more than four hundred urban centers across over 100 countries dedicated to promoting "artistic expression as a key factor of development that sustains urban life".

The honor "demonstrates its profound culinary traditions and lively food ecosystem," as stated by a representative from Unesco's Regional Office for South Asia.

Lucknow is just the second Indian city – following Hyderabad, which was chosen in 2019 – to find a place in this prestigious list of seventy urban centers around the world.

A City Defined by Food

The accolade for this time-honored city is little surprise to its residents or passionate food lovers. Many share the opinion that it is "better late than never".

With the UNESCO recognition, this adored, lively, and diverse city – the capital of India's largest state – is at last in the spotlight for what has always characterized its soul: an profound passion for food.

"'What will be cooked, how should it be prepared' is a continued conversation from waking up until going to bed in most homes," explains a local cultural expert. "And you are often assessed by the quality of food that emerges from your kitchen."

A Heritage of Nawabi Cuisine

The Nawabi City – as it's widely known after its historic wealthy Muslim rulers – is renowned for its tender kebabs and a distinctive take on biryani that were conceived, refined, and taken to extraordinary levels in their royal kitchens.

These royal kitchens were centers of food experimentation, merging Iranian and native Indian styles to create what became known as the culinary tradition of Awadh.

It was during this time that Lucknow's most famous kebabs were fashioned. The story goes that the mutton galouti was created to feed an ageing nawab who had no longer had his teeth. His culinary artists processed the meat with papaya, saffron, and a blend of spices and made it so fine that it required no chewing.

But perhaps the biggest contribution of the chefs of Awadh was the slow-cook Dum pukht technique, where food is cooked on a low, leisurely heat, with the pot's lid securely closed with a flour paste.

A Diverse Culinary Landscape

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

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

The local traditionally vegetarian community's cuisine not only showcases local ingredients but also provides the city its highly curated Indian desserts, sweets, and distinctive street food, like chaat – zesty fried snacks.

Time-Tested Food Joints

Nearly on many street corners, there are little shops and stalls – hidden delights that are extremely popular with the locals.

In the heart of the city of Hazratganj, throngs of people start assembling from the crack of dawn at a renowned tea stall to get a steaming cup of milky masala chai, presented in kulhads, along with pillowy soft buns covered in freshly churned white butter.

For breakfast, one can head to a unpretentious joint operating in the old city area of Aminabad. Almost 150 years after it was established, the place is still much sought-after for its freshly fried kachoris (fried bread stuffed with lentils) and jalebis (crispy, syrup-soaked sweets).

Safeguarding a Culinary Heritage

The city also boasts remarkable seasonal delights, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert available in the winter. The technique of making it is precise and demanding. The artisan whisks the milk and then sets it out at night, allowing the nighttime moisture to give it its unique light consistency.

On chilly mornings, street vendors can be seen in historic neighborhoods like Aminabad and Chowk. A number of though note that their children are unwilling to take up the art.

A renowned chef from Lucknow has frequently stated that the city's immense food legacy positions it among the best of the Indian street food experience. The real value from the UNESCO recognition, however, will materialize only if Lucknow can now create awareness about its under-the-radar eateries.

Every dish in Lucknow has a narrative – crafted by family-run food businesses, from modest street carts to lively restaurants, and closely held family recipes.

The worldwide honor, it is hoped, will inspire more people around the world to explore these tales and visit the city to delight in the culinary delights of Lucknow.