Whenever we hear about Kashmir, at the back of our minds, surely we can hear this song, Ye haseen wadiyan, Yeh khula aasmaan, aa gaye hum kahan! Thanks to our Indian cinema, we have many movies showcasing the beauty of Kashmir, ”The Paradise On Earth”. But, do you know this paradise along with its picturesque view also offers some lip-smacking dishes? Kashmiri cuisine has some peculiar curries, desserts and beverages. We’ll be seeing some of those here. But before that, here are some of the facts that you must know about Kashmiri Cuisine:
- The cuisine is a cultural blend of Indian, Iranian, and Afghani cuisine.
- In Kashmir, majorly two types of cooking styles were prevalent, one was Kashmiri Pandits and other Kashmiri Muslims. The main difference between the two was the Hindus use heeng (asafoetida) and curd and the Muslims use onions and garlic.
- Kashmiri food is mild in taste and rich in flavour with the high use of hot spices like cumin, cardamom, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, saffron and ratanjot.
- Kashmiri cuisine is mild in flavour and rich in spices such as cumin, cardamom, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and saffron.
- In Kashmir, the unique feast is known as ‘Wazwan,’ where, ‘Waz’ means chef, and ‘Wan’ refers to a variety of meat curries and other delicious dishes. It consists of 36-course varieties with approximately 15-30 dishes of meat.
Now, we are listing Kashmir’s gastronomic delicacies:
Yoghurt Lamb Curry (Yakhni)
If you want to try an authentic Kashmiri delicacy, try Yakhni, which is lamb cooked in a yoghurt-based gravy. Mawal flowers, black and green cardamoms, onion paste, and dry mint leaves with aromatic fennel seeds flavour yakhni. To get the full flavour of this delectable Kashmiri dish, serve it with well-cooked rice.
Dum Olav
While most Kashmiri cuisine dishes are not vegetarian, there is something very special prepared with potatoes for those who prefer to eat only vegetables. One of the most well-known Kashmiri dishes is Dum Olav or Dum Aloo. To give it a distinct flavour and aroma, Dum Aloo is cooked with yoghurt, ginger powder, fennel, and other hot spices. To get the most out of this all-time favourite and popular Kashmiri cuisine dish, serve it with chapatis or naan.
Gosht Aab
If you enjoy mutton, you will enjoy Kashmiri cuisine. Mutton is a common ingredient in Kashmiri cuisine, and there are nearly 30 different types of Mutton dishes to choose from. Among the many mutton dishes, Aab gosht is one of the most popular. It is available in two varieties: Kashmiri and Iranian. Milk and spices such as cardamom and black pepper are used to make the Kashmiri dish. Yummy!
Rogan Josh
Rogan Josh is a well-known Kashmiri dish that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. However, it is not the type of Kashmiri food you will find at any time; it is prepared only on special occasions as it requires special preparation. This royal-looking dish is made with lamb cooked with onions, garlic, cardamom, and Kashmiri red chilli powder with lots of aromatic ghee and love.
Kaahwa
Kaahwa, a thrilling alternative to regular Indian tea, is a beverage that no Kashmiri can live without. This beautiful golden brown drink is lighter and is made by boiling special Kashmiri green tea in water for only a few minutes. If you are coughing a lot, this one will come to your rescue. Kaahwa sachets are available in the market.
Sheer Chai
Sheer Chai or noon chai (noon = salt), another refreshing beverage from the land of snow, is a unique and crucial part of the Kashmiri food scene. This brew is made with a special type of tea leaves, milk, water, a pinch of baking soda, and dry fruits such as pistachios and almonds. The natives drink this tea with feni, which is thin noodles dipped in the concoction.
Butter Tea
Butter tea, which originated in Tibet, is a popular staple dish in Kashmir. To make this delectable treat, butter and salt are added to the tea.
Phirni Kesar
Kesar Phirni has a distinct aroma and flavour, making it an ideal dish for the festivities. Kesar Phirni, a Mughal culinary contributor, has made Kashmiris drool for centuries.
Shufta from Kashmir
Kashmiri Shufta is a crunchy and nutty delight that is a signature dish of Kashmir. Shufta is a rich blend of flavours and textures that can be found on almost any special occasion.
We hope you enjoyed reading the delicacies of “ The Crown Of India”. Don’t forget to bookmark this post, it will help you next time when you plan to visit Kashmir. Stay tuned with SnackFax for more such interesting stories.