There was a time when once upon a time, Mughal Emperor Jahangir was traveling in the northwestern part of his realm. After a long period of travel, the expedition finally arrived at the area that is now Kashmir Valley. He was amazed at first glance; he was unable to imagine that a place this breathtakingly beautiful could be in the world! Still and quiet and with a tinge of life that was pulsing, Kashmir captivated him. In a moment of uttering this Persian couplet, “Gar Firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto” meaning “If there exists heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here.” The rest is history.
Although the natural wonders attracted Jahangir, the king may be speaking about the regional Kashmiri food. Anyone who is a fan of Kashmiri cuisine is likely to repeat his words in full! Does any dream of heaven be complete without delicious dishes to savor? If you’re lucky, as you’ll soon realize, Kashmir is not only an idyllic spot in the middle of the Himalayas but also provides an extensive array of exotic delicacies that you can try on your Kashmir Tour.
Perfected over the centuries, the best Kashmiri dishes blend Brahmin Pandit-Mughal-Afghan-Persian-Tibetan influences into one incomparable cooking style. The traditional food to Kashmir has a richness of delicious meats, scented with rice and full of spices and herbs.
What is it that makes Kashmiri food so appealing?
The dish is often referred to affectionately known as “Zaeka-E-Kashmir,” or the taste of Kashmir, authentic food items from Kashmir’s Kashmir Valley are enjoyed today all over the world. From mild to hot food, the Kashmiri taste is a wide variety. If these characteristics characterize a dish, You can easily declare it with “Made in Kashmir”!
Spices Kashmir is one of the top producers of many herbs, like cloves, cinnamon, fennel, ginger, and cardamom, to mention just several. They are therefore used frequently in many dishes, and especially ones that are based on meat. Kashmiri red chilies can make any dish more exciting! Contrary to the other regions of the Indian subcontinent, the gravies here don’t contain the classic onion-garlic paste.
Saffron: Kashmir is one of the three locations around the globe where royal Saffron flowers bloom, resulting in the most expensive spice. The warm, golden-orange spice is used as a flavoring and coloring ingredient in various Kashmir recipes, including Pulao and sweets. This Saffron flavor has been the hallmark of Kashmir food.
Turmeric and yogurt make up the base of most Kashmir curries and gravies. They give a subtle taste but a rich taste. Yogurt is also a basic marinade for many meat-based dishes.
Dry fruits: Splashes of dried fruit over mouth-watering food items can entice many a foodie to eat much more food than they could accommodate!
Ghee: Delicious, aromatic vegetables or meat swimming in ghee. Doesn’t that create a mouth-watering picture?
Food to try in Kashmir
Are you planning to travel to Kashmir? Are you unsure of the best traditional Kashmiri dishes you should try? Find out more in this an extensive list of the top food to try in Kashmir:
Kashmiri Non-Vegetarian dishes
- Mutton Rogan Josh
- Wazwan
- Matschgand
- Yakhni
- Kashmiri Muji Gaad
- Aab Gosht
- Gushtaba (soft meatballs that are cooked in natural white curry, yogurt)
- Rista (Soft Meat Balls in delicious Gravy, Red Curry)
- Kashmiri Style Mutton Ribs
- Chicken Pulao
- Dhaniwal Korma
- Tabak maaz (Deep cooked ribs from lamb)
- Kanti (small pieces of meat cooked with lots of onion).
- Seekh-Tuji is a freshly barbecued meat served with the chutney
- Grilled mutton is also known as Tilli or Tekh
- Marzunga Korma
- Shami Kabab
- Meeth Maaz
Vegetarian Kashmiri Dishes
- Dum Aloo
- Lyodur Tschaman
- Paneer Chaman
- Kashmiri Saag
- Khatte Baingan
- Nadroo Yakhni
- Morel Palov
- Tamatar Zaman (Paneer)
- Nundur Yakhin (Lotus Stem ) prepared in yogurt)
- Haak (Kashmiri Saag)
Kashmiri Traditional Breads
- Tsochvoru and Tsot
- Kulcha
- Lavasa
- Sheermal or Krippe
- Roth
Kashmiri Sweets
- Modhur Pulao
- Mittha Bhaat
- Apple or mango chutney made from raw mango
Kashmiri Drinks
- Noon Chai
- Kahwah
Let’s take a look at these classic Kashmir dishes in delicious in great detail!
What to eat in Kashmir
Let me begin with non-vegetarian Kashmiri dishes and give additional information about all the above.
Rogan Josh
Perhaps the most well-known food item from Kashmir, Rogan Josh, is a famous lamb curry created in the Mughals. Anyone who loves lamb will not be able to refuse a serving (or many!). A delicious meat dish served with rice or naan, Rogan Josh is a regular for every Kashmiri dinner party or celebration. The tender, soft lamb meat is marinated first in yogurt.
It is then cooked using browned onions and spices, with Kashmiri red chilies providing the final touch of drama. The extensive use of the local chilies makes Rogan Josh its fiery red hue. Contrary to popular belief, Rogan Josh is a low-fat dish that is gentle to digest. The yogurt that forms the basis of the dish helps to balance the spice’s heat.
Goshtaba / Gushtaba
A classic delicacy from Kashmir, Goshtaba is minced meat cooked in delicious yogurt gravy with spices. It is traditionally served for royal occasions and is indeed a royal taste and flavor that will entice your taste buds to want more. It’s a well-known fact that it’s an aristocratic dish.
Rista
Rista is a mouth-watering and well-known dish from Kashmiri wazwan. It’s identical to Gushtaba. Rista is also meatballs made that are made with curry red. Rista is cooked in red chilly powder as well as various spices in a specific way. It’s a tasty food item with a delicious gravy that is best consumed with naan and cumin rice.
Wazwan
The most awe-inspiring aspect of Kashmiri Muslim culinary tradition is the lavish royal dinner known as Wazwan. This delicious meal can comprise 36 or more courses, the majority of which contain meat. The name of the dish comes in the two Urdu terms: “Waza” (meaning chef) and “Wan” (meaning shop). The dish is cooked by a group of chefs referred to under the term “Wazas,” who assist the chef in charge and cook “Vasta Waza.” The majority of the dishes that are served included in the Wazwan require a high level of accuracy and precision and overnight cooking.
It is because of the importance of the Wazwan in the local community that the art of cooking is handed down through generations, and trade secrets aren’t divulged to anyone other than the family. Any significant event and celebration held in Kashmir are incomplete without Wazwan, and the chefs who are invited to cook these meals are regarded with respect and admiration.
What is the best way to eat this exquisite, aristocratic meal? First, a waiter comes in with a large jug of water, so guests can clean their hands. The food is served on a huge copper plate that can accommodate up to four people. Rice is served with a variety of sheek kebabs and barbecued ribs and kormas, accompanied by dips, chutneys, and yogurt.
Although each Wazwan is different because an individual Vasta Waza makes it, seven essential dishes are served in every Wazwan. These include:
- Tabakhmaaz or Qabargaah barbecued lamb ribs that are cooked using milk, ghee, and spices
- Rista Hot meatball gravy with a spicy kick
- Damiwal Korma Lamb roasted cooked with onions spice, yogurt, spices, and coriander leaves
- Rogan Josh: Needs no introduction
- Gushtaba: Meatballs cooked in the spicy gravy of yogurt
- Marchhwangan Korma chicken pieces that are cooked with spices and onions
- Aab Gosht Lamb chunks cooked in thickened milk, then spiced with cardamom and fennel.
Matschgand
This dish is the finest recipe for “fatal attraction.” it is a meatball-based dish cooked in spicy red chili gravy. It is awe-inspiring; however, this dish isn’t one for the weak-hearted! Enjoy a bowl of matschgand over jeera rice if you’re brave enough to!
Yakhni
This is the perfect recipe for comfort food that Kashmir offers. It is cooked perfectly in a creamy onion-yogurt gravy, is then spiced with black and green cardamom, dry mint, and fragrant fennel. The most notable ingredient is the special Mawal flowers that give an exceptional flavor. Serve the cup of Yakhni with the aroma of Kashmiri rice, and you’ll get something to remember!
Kashmiri Muji Gaad
In a country of chicken, lamb, or beef-based dishes, this is unique. The festival fish recipe is usually served in December. The radish, fish, and lotus stems are deep-fried and served in the gravy made of ginger and fennel. Local spices and herbs are added to create a searing effect! This can really make you feel warm during the cold winter!
Aab Gosht
The majority of Kashmir kitchens are unable to be functional without the use of mutton. In reality, some of the finest Kashmir dishes are made with mutton. One of them is Aab Gosht. In this recipe, the lamb is cooked with spice and milk, to great effect, along with cardamom and black pepper, giving it that delicious final flavor! Although it’s originated from Persian origin, over 30 local variations exist.
Kashmiri Style Mutton Ribs
Mutton ribs are the top food item in Kashmir. They are cooked with milk and spices and then stuffed in a batter made from grams of flour before being fried crispy. They beat KFC every day, isn’t it?
Chicken Pulao
The entire country of India offers variations of the popular Chicken Pulao, but the Kashmiri version is unique. The rice is fragrant and scented with rich spices and succulent chicken pieces seasoned with Ghee and Kashmir chilies to create that perfect equilibrium.
Dhaniwal Korma
Are you looking for a break from the rich Kashmir curries and dishes? Then try the Dhaniwal Korma. The mellow curry gets its name due to the generous usage of coriander leaf. It is basically a yogurt-marinated meat dish that is fragrant due to cloves and cardamoms.
Tabak Mazz
Lamb’s ribs are deep-fried with salt and chilies, later stuffed with spices. It is a dish that will satisfy all foodies!
Veg Food to Eat in Kashmir
Let me now provide details about vegetarian Kashmiri dishes that are listed above.
Dum Aloo
Do you think Kashmir food is all made of meat and meat? Don’t! The typical meal is served with naan rice or rotis and can cause anyone to feel hungry! The most renowned export of food is the Dum Aloo. Simple and tasty potatoes are cooked to golden before being cooked in the yogurt. Fennel, as well as a ginger powder along with Kashmiri chilies, can be added in order to create an incredibly spicy curry.
Lyodur Tschaman
Take a bite of this mouth-watering paneer (cottage cheese) curry, cooked with a rich base of yogurt and spices. The recipe traces its roots back to Kashmiri Pandits and is a popular dish in Kashmiri kitchens. It is an uncommon but well-loved option in this country of meat-lovers who are confirmed. Turmeric is the main ingredient that gives the dish its exotic yellow hue, and the yogurt helps to soften the spice aplenty.
Paneer Chaman
Another hearty paneer dish this time is cooked in milk, then sprinkled with spices until it changes to a soft earthy brown color.
Kashmiri Saag
A well-known Kashmir vegan dish, it’s also one of the easiest and fastest recipes to make. The most cherished part of winter meals within the Valley, the spinach cooks in oil mustard, then seasoned with garlic and red chilies. The perfect companion to steaming hot Rotis.
Khatte Baingan
The humble vegetable is baked in golden oil before being transformed into a rich, delicious, pulsating gravy. It is a favorite accompaniment to many Kashmiri celebrations.
Nadroo Yakhni
This dish is a bit offbeat featuring fresh lotus stems that are crunchy as the primary ingredient. They are cooked using yogurt and are infused with cardamom, ginger, along bay leaves. It’s an extremely mild dish that has an under-the-hood tangy flavor that can be a bit sneaky!
Morel Pulao
Kashmir food is made up of several unique ingredients that are only found in isolated Himalayan slopes. Some of them, like Saffron, were sought-after throughout the ages and enticed traders from across to the Silk Road and as far as Europe!
The dish is made up of an uncommon ingredient which is the Morel, a type of mushroom. The price, scarcity, and distinctive flavor have made it an important dish. It is so valuable that anyone in a typical Kashmiri family can eat it only at an important event, like a wedding. The most crucial step is to wash the mushrooms and not let them flake from the top layer. Then, the pieces of mushroom are added to white rice and are garnished with ginger powder, black cumin, and mustard oil.
Tschok Wangan
Hot and tangy simultaneously, It is a different eggplant dish that is cooked with aplomb all year long. The most distinctive ingredient is the tamarind-infused water that helps to offset the heat that the spice blends.
Traditional Bread of Kashmir
All those curries, dips, and gravies require the right match. Luckily, Kashmiri cuisine is noted for its traditional bakeries referred to as Kaandars and is located everywhere. They also have bread that is complimentary throughout the year. The bread used in Kashmiri dishes include:
- Tsochvoru, along with Tsot These are small, round, and small fresh, flaky bread is decorated with sesame and poppy seeds
- Kulcha – Dry, hard, and crumbly and are decorated with an almond in the middle
- Lavasa A huge flatbread that can be crisp or soft
- Sheermal or Krippe The Krippe is a dry, crumbly bread that is served alongside the Kehwa drink
- Roth – A huge bread that looks like the shape of a cake made from fruit.
- Bakerkhani is a biscuit-like bread with a hard crust. It’s thick, round, and flat. The topmost portion is finished with sesame seeds.
Kashmir Local Cuisine – Sweets
Below are some delicious food items you should try when visiting Kashmir.
Modhur Pulao
Kashmir dishes are not awash with any sweets. However, the sweets that are available pack an impact! One of them is Modhur Pulao. It is basically the rice dish, which is sweetened with sugar. Ghee milk, cashews, cardamom, almonds, along Saffron provide it a distinctive flavor and dazzling color.
Mitha Bhat
This delicious and tender Pulao is a perfect way to end all the spicy meat dishes. Fruits like pomegranates and pineapples nuts, cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pomegranates are all added to the delicious Kashmiri rice for the perfect sweet, mild dessert.
Apple and Raw Mango Chutney
A mere five minutes are enough time to whip up this sweet and tart chutney. Raw mangoes and crushed apples are topped with yogurt, cardamom, and nuts. Add the ever-present Saffron to create an amazing mixture. It is a fantastic dessert or dip.
Local food in Kashmir Beverages
Not the last, listed below are some local drinks you can sip at in Kashmir.
Noon Chai
The traditional salt tea is a common drink in Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. Made from black tea, milk, bicarbonate of soda, and salt, it’s a popular breakfast drink, served with freshly-baked bread. In Kashmir, the tea has consumed an average of three times per daily.
Kahwah
In the villages, it is known as “Mughal Chai,” and in towns, as “Kahwah,” the green tea is made by mixing ground almonds, walnuts, and spices Saffron. The custom is to offer Kahwah during celebrations, events, and other religious occasions. In the present, there are more than 20 ways of making Kahwah exist, which means that each cup you sip is different!
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