‘Zaika-e-Lucknow’: The city of Nawabs goes global with UNESCO recognition for its cuisine

From the silken softness of Galouti kebabs to the intoxicating aroma of Awadhi biryani and the cloud-like nothingness of Makkhan Malai, the notes of Lucknow’s cuisine are many, each more delectable than the last, and now recognised by UNESCO.

Reaffirming a widely acknowledged matter of fact, Lucknow has officially been inducted into UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (CCN), under the ‘Gastronomy’ category, marking a global acknowledgement of its culinary heritage.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Friday designated 58 cities as new members of CCN, which now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries, “for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development”.

The United Nations in India in a post on X said, “From mouth-watering Galouti Kabab to Awadhi Biryani, delectable Chaat and Golgappe, desserts like Makhan Malai and so much more — Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is a haven for food, enriched in centuries-old traditions.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people all over the world to visit Lucknow to discover the city’s uniqueness.

Modi said Lucknow is synonymous with vibrant culture, at the core of which is a great culinary culture.

“I am glad that UNESCO has recognised this aspect of Lucknow and I call upon people from around the world to visit Lucknow and discover its uniqueness,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

He was responding to a post by Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that it is “a recognition of its distinguished culinary heritage and invaluable contribution to India's rich gastronomic traditions”.

Lucknow’s food has always represented a paradise for gourmands, whether they slurp up its aromatic gravies or savour the silken delicacies.

Mohd Usman, owner of the iconic Tunday Kababi in the city’s Aminabad area, said, “We don’t just love having good food, we take great pride in serving it too. Nothing satisfies a true Lucknowite more than seeing someone relishing the city’s signature dishes.”

Synonymous with the city, the iconic Galouti, or Galawati, kebabs are known for their soft and melt-in-the-mouth texture. The mildly spiced kabab, prepared with finely minced chicken or mutton, has gone beyond the borders of Lucknow and is now popular across the country.

But Lucknow isn’t just about its kebabs. There is a huge platter — both for vegetarians and non-veg lovers — to choose from, and that is again just a fragment of Lucknow’s food story.

If the ever-inviting, rather demure, creamy “Malai Gilori” is an all-time favourite, the mouth-watering “paani puri” or “paani ke batashe”, as they are commonly called in Lucknow, are at the top of the popularity chart for their uniqueness in using white peas instead of boiled potatoes.

The city’s food scene ranges from the flaky sheermaal to white buttery kulchas, to be paired with niharis; from the aromatic, slow-cooked biryani to daal-gosht and the smoky “patthar ke kebabs”.

Unmissable in the city’s culinary landscape is the crispy khasta-aloo matar combo — a savoury, crispy kachori topped with a spicy potato curry.

Talking about the state capital’s global recognition, UP’s Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the tourism department submitted the nomination to the Union Ministry of Culture in January, which was later forwarded to UNESCO “after thorough evaluation” in March.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also posted on the social media platform and said, “Under the successful guidance of our respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, India’s traditions, culture, and values are constantly gaining new recognition and prestige on the global stage. Heartiest congratulations to the people of the state on this historic achievement!”

The appeal of Lucknow’s culinary delights is heightened further due to the secret recipes that have lived on for generations.