What is Khausa, the Gujarati version of Khow Suey served at Anant-Radhika's pre-wedding?

Ambani weddings are famous for setting the standards high in terms of food, décor, and guest list. At Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre wedding in Jamnagar, the most recognisable food item was Khausa, the Gujarati form of Khow Suey, It was served by Surat-based vendor Raj Khavsa.

From Yangon to Surat: The journey of the Gujarati version of Khow Suey

Khausa originated from a dish called ohn no khao swe, and it’s a coconut milk-based noodle soup from the city of Yangon, Myanmar. In the first half of the 1900s, the Gujarati Memons, who are merchants from Sindh and Kutch, would often visit British Burma and trade in goods like teak wood, textiles, oils, and paper. They were exposed to this traditional dish in Burmese households.

After India’s partition in 1947 and Burma’s independence in 1948 and many South Asian people moved back to Western India. The Memons returned bringing with them their trading connections and food memories. Among them was the coconut noodle soup that later evolved into the Gujarati version of Khow Suey.

Khow Suey is an original Burmese dish made with egg noodles and cooked in a coconut curry sauce with chicken or meat. The dish accompanies with onions, eggs, lime, chilies, and herbs. The dish was modified as it entered Gujarat and became less watery and the base sauce became thicker. Other ingredients were added such as gram flour and yogurt for creaminess and papdi for the crunch. In addition, peanuts and spicy chutneys gave Khausa its signature heat and tang.

People in Surat love eating Khausa for breakfast or as a snack. They are typically served as a vegetarian dish. But you can also find people eating it with minced mutton or chicken. The price of Khausa is as low as Rs 20. There are many ways to make the Gujarati version of Khow Suey. Some add a lot of tomato sauce, while others add a lot of coconut sauce, and some vendors dial up the yoghurt for extra creaminess.

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