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‘Half-baked list’: UP’s new cuisine plan faces flak for leaving meat off the menu
The cabinet has approved the scheme, under which traditional dishes from all districts will be given a new identity.
Some of Uttar Pradesh’s most recognised non-vegetarian dishes do not appear in the state’s new culinary branding plan. The ‘One District One Cuisine’ (ODOC) scheme, which assigns signature foods to each district, has instead focused entirely on vegetarian items. This has led to divided opinions over representation of the state’s full food culture.
The cabinet has approved the scheme, under which traditional dishes from all districts, such as Lucknow's Rewadi, Agra's Petha, Mathura's Peda, and Meerut's Gajak, will be given a new identity. The initiative focuses on improving packaging, branding and market reach, along with training and financial support for artisans and confectioners.
Officials said each district will be assigned a “signature cuisine” that will be standardised, branded and promoted through exhibitions, festivals and digital platforms, along with support for training and improved packaging for local food producers.
District-wise cuisine list
Lucknow
- Lucknow – Rewadi, mango products, chaat, malai makhan
- Hardoi – Potato puri, laddoo, laujhad
- Lakhimpur Kheri – Banana, jaggery, khoya peda, kheer mohan, rasgulla
- Raebareli – Spices, mircha pakora, peda
- Sitapur – Butter cream, samosa
- Unnao – Black berries, samosa, kushali, unusual sweet item
In 2019, UNESCO designated Lucknow a ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ for its rich Awadhi food culture. This includes kebabs, biryani, nihari, and other traditional street food.
Ayodhya
- Ayodhya – Chandrakala, balushahi, kachori, peda, kulhad dahi-jalebi
- Sultanpur – Peda, samosa, kadhai poodi, red peda
- Barabanki – Chandrakala, red peda
- Amethi – Samosa, jaggery kheer, dumpling
- Ambedkar Nagar – Balushahi, chaat, khajla
- Gonda – Dahi bada, kachori
- Bahraich – Chamcham
- Balrampur – Coconut-based sweet, kalakad, chaat
- Sravasti – Imarti
Western Uttar Pradesh and NCR
- Agra – Petha, dalmoth
- Firozabad – Potato-based snacks like tikki and kachori
- Mainpuri – Sohan papdi, potato preparations
- Mathura – Peda, khurchan
- Aligarh – Dairy products, kachori
- Hathras – Hing-based items, sweets
- Kasganj – Moong dal halwa, snacks
- Meerut – Rewadi, gajak
- Ghaziabad – Papad-based items
- Gautam Buddh Nagar – Cake and bakery products
- Hapur – Papad
- Bulandshahr – Kachori, peda
- Baghpat – Balushahi, ghewar
Central and Bundelkhand
- Prayagraj – Kachori, samosa, rasmalai
- Fatehpur – Bedmi puri, sweets
- Kaushambi – Jaggery products
- Pratapgarh – Amla-based items
- Hamirpur – Dal-based preparations
- Mahoba – Date jaggery
- Jalaun – Local sweets and snacks
- Eastern Uttar Pradesh
- Azamgarh – Teheri, carrot halwa
- Ballia – Sattu-based dishes
- Mau – Litti-chokha
- Varanasi – Thandai, lassi, kachori, Banarasi paan
- Jaunpur – Imarti, sweets
The initiative, announced by chief minister Yogi Adityanath on November 8 last year and launched by Union home minister Amit Shah on January 24, follows the ODOP model. The government has allocated ₹150 crore for the programme. Artisans and entrepreneurs will be eligible for a one-time subsidy of up to 25%, capped at ₹20 lakh.
Debate over representation
The list has been criticised for being fully vegetarian and for missing several known regional dishes. The programme aims to promote district-level food specialities under a unified brand. Dishes such as Lucknow’s galawati kebab, Awadhi biryani, nihari, Rampur’s mutton korma and Bareilly’s meat preparations are not included.
Pushpesh Pant, president of the Cuisine Society of India and food historian, told HT, “I find this exercise laughable and not worthy of serious comment,” adding, “There should at least be a dish that is distinctly identifiable.” He added, “Food doesn’t recognise man-made borders.”
He later told PTI, "This seems to be a half-baked move that smacks of bigotry. In short, ignorant nonsense. I love all dishes. All I am saying is why engage in selective discrimination?"
A senior MSME official, who asked not to be named, said multiple factors were considered, including branding value and implementation feasibility.
Awanish Awasthi, advisor to Yogi Adityanath, wrote on X, “This step will empower local artisans while giving a boost to employment and entrepreneurship. Under the leadership of the chief minister, Uttar Pradesh is creating a new identity in taste, culture and economy.”
MSME minister JPS Rathore told PTI, "We aren't banning any food or dictating food choices. We are merely promoting vegetarian dishes." He added, "In other words, we are showcasing food which we think best represents that district,"
Chef Nitin from Lucknow told PTI, "Cuisines aren't just biryani and kebab. As a chef, I believe that vegetarian dishes are such a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Yes, it would have been nicer had they got some non veg on the ODOC plate but so what if it isn't," he said, adding that the list was full of "sweet dishes."
(With inputs from HT's Rajeev Mullick and PTI)
