Jammu and Kashmir have always been a place of fantasy to Indians as well as to foreigners. Each year, huge numbers of tourists visit Heaven on Earth to experience the spectacular beauty of the region. After all, this is the place where you get the magnificent view of the Greater Himalayan Range, along with the outstanding valleys, beds of colorful tulips, snow-laden peaks and valleys, and many more.
But, there are many descriptions of the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir you will find in articles, stories, novels, films, etc. We are not adding anything to it. What we are telling you today is about the spectacular cuisine of the state. After all, your trip can’t get completed until you taste the traditional Kashmiri dishes over there. Sitting in a cozy restaurant beside the fireplace and having any of these dishes, direct from the chef’s counter can make your trip to Kashmir full of thrill and excitement. What are the most famous foods you should try during your trip to Jammu and Kashmir? Read on to know more-
11 Popular Kashmiri Food and Local Dishes That You Must Try:
1. Tabak Maaz
In simply stating, this unique dish is fried lamb ribs. This traditional dish originated in Kashmir and it is made of soft lamb ribs, garlic, ginger, cardamom, cloves, oil, turmeric powder, and salt. It is the aroma of the whole spices and the garlic that amalgamates perfectly with the meat and gives the outstanding taste of the dish.
As the lamb broth is used to prepare the dish, it tastes wonderful. The golden-brown fried ribs look awesome on your plate and when you taste them you will know why it is recommended when you are in Kashmir.
2. Mutton Rogan Josh
Talking about Kashmir delicacy and missing this age-old yet new dish of Kashmir will be a mistake. Here, meat is cooked in lots of spices, onions, garlic, and ginger, and the creamy taste is added by the freshly churned yogurt.
Whenever you take a small portion of this dish, you will feel on the top of the world. Mutton Rogan Josh is an all-spicy and creamy dish that you can enjoy with rice, roti, naan, and parathas. If you are a non-vegetarian, this dish is a celebration of your taste buds.
3. Modur Pulao
This is not at all the regular pulao that you have on weekends. Modur Pulao is something that is full of outstanding ingredients that leave their taste on your palette and together it tastes awesome. It contains all the basic ingredients of pulao, like cinnamon, ghee, saffron, and milk.
But, the specialty of this pulao lies in the extravaganza of different dry fruits, mixed with the dish after preparing it. Saffron is the heart of this pulao and gives a scintillating aroma while it tastes sweet due to the use of the right amount of sugar. A combination of Modur Pulao with mutton rogan josh can make your Kashmir trip heavenly.
4. Matschgand
Kashmiri cuisine is known for its enchanting aroma and this dish is not any exception to that. Matschgand is a curry dish, made of meatballs, and dipped in spicy curry. For the non-vegetarians, this dish can be the reason to visit Kashmir several times.
When you shiver in the chilly wind from the Kashmir Valley and want to warm yourself up from inside, lunch or dinner with this adorable Kashmiri delicacy can be the best idea for you.
5. Yakhni
This is another favorite dish for those who love meat abundantly. Cooked in yogurt, spicy curry, and lots of herbs, this lamb dish is authentic in Kashmir.
Cooked in low flame, the aroma of the spices hugs the meat adorably and it becomes aromatic to cast a spell on you. When the meat melts in your mouth and you feel the juiciness of it on your palette, it seems worth visiting Kashmir again and again.
6. Dum Olav
Vegetarians should never get disheartened as Kashmir won’t leave you without welcoming you with its wonderful veg dishes. Dum Olav is one of those vegetable dishes that can make you forget anything else. You must have dum aloo before at many places, but Dum Olav is different.
Yes, it is made of baby potato, spices, yogurt, ginger, etc. but the valley of Kashmir adds something more love and care to it. The fragrance is enticing while it tastes awesome with roti or naan.
7. Kalari Kulcha
From the street side vendor to any lavish restaurant, this authentic Kashmiri kulcha is available everywhere. Kalari is a special kind of cheese, made from Kashmiri goats or cows’ milk and it is super soft and dense.
When it is used as the stuffing to make Kulcha, you get the softest bread in Kashmir to enjoy. Today, many restaurants have improvised it and started to use Kalari as the stuffing inside the bun and selling like burgers.
8. Aab Gosht
This is another traditional lamb curry, that originated in Kashmir. The entire meat is cooked in milk and lots of whole spices, like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garlic, fennel, ginger, onions, etc. This is a slow-cooked dish where the milk is boiled with all the spices and then the broiled meat is added to it.
The heat is kept simmering and it takes time to get cooked. The more you slow-cook it, the more tender and aromatic the dish will be. Visit Kashmir now to taste the authentic taste of this dish.
9. Paneer Chaman
This is another vegetarian dish that will bring you to Kashmir once again. Paneer is cooked in milk and cardamom while the other spices are added slowly to make the gravy flavorful and tasty.
This is another slow-cooked dish where the heat is kept simmered so the spices can leave their flavor slowly into the milk and paneer and you get a thick and aromatic curry to enjoy your meal.
10. Goshtaba
Kashmir is a state that has rich history since its inception. It has witnessed lots of changes on its ground which has influenced the local culture. That’s why, if Kashmiri cuisine has the rich touch of the Mughals, it also has the delicacy of the Kashmiri pundits.
Goshtaba is a royal dish, that belongs to the Kashmiri Hindu Kings of ancient times and it is cooked in many households and restaurants. Minced mutton balls are cooked in thick gravy of yogurt and spices and the flavor is tantalizing.
11. Kashmiri Muji Gaad
Though Kashmir is not popular with fish, still this is the dish that is cooked at festivals and occasions. Usually, this dish contains unusual ingredients like radishes and lotus stem with fishes and gives you a unique fish item to taste. You will find it difficult to get this dish outside Kashmir as the ingredients added here are exclusive.
Hopefully, you enjoyed the dishes we have mentioned here to enjoy in Kashmir. There are many and if you want to explore those, you have to be a foodie. Get along with the culture of this celebrated state that has many more things to offer you. Take the aroma of the food, get impressed with the look of it, and then indulge yourself in the superb Kashmiri cuisine to enjoy your trip to Paradise on the Earth.
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