8 Desirable Kashmiri Dishes You Must Taste on Your Next Visit

 Desirable Kashmiri Dishes You Must Taste 

Kashmir is considered to be the "Paradise on Earth." It finds its significance in the breathtaking lands, but more importantly, in the delicious and savoury food varieties. The distinct culture and long history of Kashmir are reflected in its food, which is influenced by Persian, Mughal, and other local traditions. From its serene Dal Lake to its throbbing markets in Srinagar, you cannot afford to miss the several local dishes that every region, especially Kashmir, offers. Here are eight scrumptious Kashmiri dishes to try on your visit.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

1. Rogan Josh

Rogan Josh must be Kashmiri cuisine's most famous dish. This is an aromatic curry prepared with lamb or goat cooked in red chilies. It has a deep red colour because of its main spice, Kashmiri red chile powder. Fragrant pieces of the meat, resulting from slow cooking with spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, are devoured at each spoonful.

How It's Served

Rogan Josh is generally served with steamed rice or naan. That way you can soak in the rich gravy of Rogan Josh. It is to be tasted by those who are meat lovers and more often seen at the centre of traditional Kashmiri meals. The flavour is mellow yet strong enough to give total satisfaction, so it is liked equally by the locals as well as the tourists.

Cooking Tip

If you want to prepare it at home, use fresh spices for the perfect flavour. Patience is the secret of making a perfect Rogan Josh-it cooks the flavours well by letting them blend slowly.

2. Yakhni

Yakhni is a soothing curry prepared with tender pieces of chicken or mutton in a yoghurt-based gravy. It's unlike Rogan Josh, as this is light and creamy. The real flavour of the dish comes from the aromatic spices, such as fennel, cardamom, bay leaves, and so on.

How It Is Served

Yakhni is typically served over steamed rice, making it a warm, comforting, heartwarming meal. It may be served especially on those cold evening days in the Kashmir Valley because of the warmth and richness of each spoonful.

Cooking Tip

Use freshly churned yoghurt instead of store-bought for that authentic flavour. The creaminess of the yoghurt makes it an ideal fit in terms of consistency and taste.

3. Dum Aloo

One of the most popular vegetarian dishes in Kashmiri cuisine, this dish shows the perfect example of the diversity of the region. Dum Aloo is baby potatoes cooked in a rich spicy gravy prepared from tomatoes, yoghurt, and spices. Traditionally, it is known to be prepared until the potatoes are soft, spongy, and flavour-infused.

How It's Served

Dum Aloo is typically served with steamed rice or with flatbreads such as roti or naan. The dish, besides being extremely tasty, also looks pretty nice and carries its bright scarlet red and yellow colours with it.

Cooking Tip

Dum Aloo should be lightly fried before adding to the gravy to give it a crispy crust on the outside and a soft fluffy inside. Also Read:- Geography, Culture and Traditions of Nepal

4. Gustaba

One of the many Kashmiri dishes made of minced mutton is Gustaba, one of which is made from fine mutton mince by preparing it in a creamy gravy of yoghurt and various spices. It is served mainly on special occasions, thus turning out to be truly a delicacy.

How It's Served

Gustaba is served with steamed rice, and creamy sauce that is thick and decadent. It is usually topped with fried onions and coriander for a touch of class in the presentation.

Cooking Suggestion

To attain the maximum flavour, mince the meat with spices and yoghurt before rolling it into the meatballs. This allows all the spices to sink inside it, tenderising as well as flavouring Gustaba.

5. Kashmiri Pulao

Kashmiri Pulao is a fragrant rice dish that may be served as a side or a main course. Long-grain basmati rice is boiled with nuts, saffron, and aromatic spice blends. The dry fruits like raisins and almonds make it an exciting delicacy.

How It's Served

Kashmiri Pulao is mostly served with raita (yoghurt sauce) or with a rich curry. The distinctiveness of the spices contrasts well with this dish of dried fruits, creating a unique, flavorful dish.

Cooking Tip

For an authentic taste, saffron strands soaked in warm milk should be added to the rice while cooking. That gives the pulao its signature colour and fragrance.

6. Tabak Maaz

Tabak Maaz is a traditional dish from Kashmir prepared using lamb ribs. After marinating and frying them to crispy perfection, they develop a savoury and aromatic taste because of their spice flavour containing cardamom, cinnamon, and fennel.

It is typically served as a starter or an appetiser, often served with a chutney or mint sauce. The crunch of the ribs is undoubtedly one of the most delightful finger foods around.

Cooking Tip

For the ribs to achieve the right crispiness, you must fry the marinated ribs over medium heat so that it is cooked evenly and develop a golden crust beautifully.

7. Nadru Monje

Nadru Monje are crispy deep-fried fritters made of the tender stem of the lotus plant, nadru, coated with spiced gram flour dough. It is a tasty snack in Kashmir, which has become a hot favourite along with tea.

Serving

Nadru Monje is liked as a snack hot, with sour tamarind or mint chutney. It is good for an evening snack or appetisers while festivals go on.

Cooking Tip

Traditionally, if the batter has to be kept for some time before breeding the lotus stem, it ends up better in this case. It forms a good sticking and crunchy delight.

8. Sheermal

Sheermal is a very old traditional Kashmiri bread, a bit sweet and rich in flavour. Prepared using flour, milk, and saffron in just a hint, sheermal is a part of most special events and celebrations.

How It Is Served

This bread is good with heavy meat dishes like Rogan Josh and Yakhni. Its sweetness balances perfectly with the spiciness of the curries.

Cooking Tip

Add cardamom powder to the dough to make the Sheermal even more aromatic. This way, it will not only make for enhanced flavour but increase the appeal of the bread, too.

Conclusion

Kashmiri cuisine treasures the complete gamut of flavours, aromas, and even textures that make the region such a treasure trove in terms of cultural history. From the fabled richness of Rogan Josh to the fragile sweetness of Sheermal, each dish is a story unto itself.

During your visit to Kashmir, try out these eight mouth-watering dishes to ultimately experience real Kashmir. No matter a small local eatery or even sitting at a houseboat staying at Dal Lake, the experience with regard to food will, all the same, leave an exciting impact. So pack your bags, get ready for an adventure, and savour the flavour of what Kashmir has in store for you! Also Read:- Most Famous Foods and Festivals of Gujarat Know more about us:-

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