Foodies debate the origins of misal pav and recommend outlets to grab a bite

One Bengali versus a swarm of misalloving Maharashtrians is bad news When Bodhisattwa Majumder took to Twitter to express his displeasure over misal pav mdash which he feels is ldquojust namkeen in a very oily ghoognirdquo mdash supporters of the staple were irked We believe Majumder has realised that misal is to the Marathi manoos what hilsa is to Bangalis The situation however nudged us to study the rich piquant food thatrsquos said to have originated in MaharashtraHappy accidentI think this dish was invented by accident For a balanced preparation you need sweet sour and spicy elements accompanied by some sauce and crunch Misal pav ticks off all those pointsNaina Rahul GoregaonkarAlthough we Maharashtrians love this as a breakfast option and snack the spiciness can be a deterrent for those who are not accustomed to its taste To cut down on the hotness I use tamarind chutney and dahi For enhanced texture I suggest using a base of pohe Misal pav speaks comfort for me as it takes me back in time Long ago Saturdays were about the family coming together over cricket match screenings and misal We would have our fill and skip the next mealStreet secretKunal VijjayakarItrsquos difficult to answer how when or where misal pav came into being The combination dish has evolved differently in different parts of the state Some say that misal happened when people wanted to consume gravies from the day before So when meat curries were made the leftover gravy wouldnrsquot have meat pieces It would then be fixed with farsan legumes and served with pav for a filling meal Think of influences and yoursquod notice that the farsan mdash the way we use it in misal mdash is not quite Maharashtrian whereas the poha gathia chiwda and usal are For firsttimers I recommend the Kolhapuri version of misal that is served with grated coconut Instead of looking for fancy places to try this snack foodies should head to small unknown joints on the streets I remember enjoying misal as a collegian at a stall outside Grant Road railway stationMeal to shareRashmi PatkarAs a Maharashtrian I believe it is the perfect dish to bring a community together Donrsquot we make a giant batch of biryani when we expect friends at home Misal holds the same appeal During Ganeshotsav I had readied a piping pot of misal for our guests and they enjoyed the flavourful break from sweetmeats Being rich in sprouts and pulses this oneinall food keeps you full for long hours We frequent Vinay Health Home in Thakurdwar There you can opt for a helping of dahi too Recently I tasted some amazing chulhacooked misal in Nashik at a place called Sujata You can choose to pair it with bread or bhakriGrab a biteWant to try out the spicy Maharashtrian dish at city eateries Herersquos our top five picksgtgt AaswadAt Sanskruti Building Gadkari Chowk Dadar WestCall 8850560164gtgt Ladu SamratAt Shop Number 1 Habib Terrace Lalbaug Ganesh Gully ParelCall 8686002017gtgt Hotel AmantranAt First floor Nand Vihar building Jambli Naka Thane WestCall 7400321974gtgt I Love MisalAt Shop Number 2 Dhanteras Building LalbaugCall 7738696846gtgt Panshikar Mithai KendraAt Govardhandas Building Charni Road East Girgaum Call 9819817330gtgt Assal MisalAt Eksar Road Borivali WestCall 8788812615