Sabudana or tapioca pearls are mixed with nuts and spices to create this breakfast dish. This khichdi is mainly consumed during the fasting of Navratri (a holy nine-day festival). Sabudana Khichdi makes use of potatoes, chilli, peanuts, cumin and curry leaves, among other ingredients.

Poha is one of the most popular food options in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Made with flattened rice, potatoes, onions, peas, groundnuts and seasonings like lemon juice, it is a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Originating from the state of Maharashtra, the dish is light and easy to make. Though simple looking, poha tends to be spicy and makes use of several flavours and spices such as chillies, mustard, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Some variations include topping the dish with peanuts and cashew nuts or aloo bhujia to give it a crunchy texture.

Visitors can relish a wide variety of namkeens or salty snacks that can be bought from any local shop in Ujjain. From baked to roasted to fried, the savoury snacks capture the taste of the city. You can choose from options like sev, chips, chiwda, namak para, bakarwadi and more. All these snacks are packed with chillies, mint and various other spices like turmeric, asafoetida and black pepper. They are used to make chaats as well.

Quite similar to dal bati of Rajasthan, dal bafla is made with wheat balls that are boiled and baked. The wheat balls are crumbled and dal is poured over them to create this lip-smacking dish. Laden with ghee, dal bafla has a very soft texture. It is best served with pudina chutney, onion and a tall glass of buttermilk.

Made from mashed and sauteed corn or grated corn, bhutte-ki-kees is a popular street snack. The recipe uses a paste made of corn cooked with ginger, green chillies, mustard seeds and several other spices. It is best served with a hot cup of masala chai.