| ign="center"> | | | | assortment of sour and sweet pickles and chutneys. |
| Gujarati food is a unique variety of cuisine that is both | | | | The main objective of Gujarati cooking can be said to |
| delicious and intriguing. It is usually vegetarian, as | | | | be the achievement of harmony between the mixture |
| two-thirds of Gujaratis abstain from meat consumption, | | | | of the salty and the sweet. |
| the largest proportion of any Indian community. Its most | | | | The state of Gujarat is also well known for an array |
| distinctive characteristic is that almost every dish is | | | | of snacks, sweets, pickles and savories. Roti, a staple |
| sweetened and no other style of cooking suits the | | | | diet for the locals, comes in a variety of forms, from |
| Gujarati palate. | | | | the extremely dry khakra which is often taken on |
| The vegetarianism of the Gujaratis is mainly derived | | | | journeys to the delectably soft phulkas. |
| from their typical religious beliefs, with Jainism which is | | | | The various traditional Gujarati preparations all feature |
| widespread amongst Gujaratis prohibiting the | | | | the flavors of sugar and jaggery, and great care is |
| consumption of animal flesh. The teachings of the | | | | taken to achieve the correct seasoning, using such |
| founder of Jainism, Mahavira and later Jain teachers | | | | exotic ingredients as fenugreek, thyme, asafoetida and |
| were instrumental in influencing the culinary habits of | | | | mustard. |
| Gujaratis, along with the precepts of Vaishnavaism, | | | | Naturally there is a huge variety of vegetable dishes, |
| which also demands vegetarianism. | | | | with the five vegetable stew undhiu taking pride of |
| Typical ingredients in Gujarati cuisine are buttermilk, | | | | place. Other Gujarati specialties include various papads, |
| yoghurt, groundnut, coconut, sugar, lime juice and | | | | curd-based raithas and relishes. |
| sesame seeds. A traditional Gujarati meal is served on | | | | Travelers seeking an Ahmedabad hotel will find all that |
| a Thali (silver platter used on festive occasions) with | | | | they seek in The Gateway Hotel Ummed |
| the mainstays being a variety of wheat breads and | | | | Ahmedabad. This distinctive accommodation features |
| rice, along with vegetable pulaos, mung bean khichdi | | | | well-appointed rooms and gracious hospitality assuring |
| and baked rotlas. The Thali also features sweetmeats, | | | | a pleasurable stay. |
| farshans (Gujarati fried crisp savories), and an | | | | |