Who doesn’t love rich and diverse flavors in food? Almost every one of us, right? Food is the best way to explore different cultures and one such rich culinary tradition can be found in Jammu Kashmir’s cuisine. The cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir incorporates aromatic spices and unique cooking techniques. And that’s why the dish here offers a tantalizing culinary experience that delights the senses!
Traditional recipes passed down through generations in Jammu and Kashmir are refreshing, mouth-watering, and healthy. If you wish to try a handful of fancy and tasty Jammu and Kashmir food, keep reading.
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10 Best Food Items of Kashmir
Here are some of the best cuisine of jammu and kashmir which you must try when you’re travelling to Kashmir.
1. Rogan Josh
Rogan Josh is a famous dish of Kashmir and a must-have in any culinary exploration of the region. It is a spicy lamb curry cooked with a blend of aromatic spices like saffron, cardamom, and cloves. This curry is bursting with tasty mutton, Kashmir red chili powder, and yogurt. It tastes best when topped with a classic layer of oil.
Ragan Josh means “red meat” in Persian. This dish can be served with any kind of roti, parantha, or rice. It epitomizes the essence of Kashmiri flavors and is often a popular choice in festivals and celebratory occasions.
2. Kashmiri Rajma
The spicy and delicious curry, Kashmiri Rajma, is another popular cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri Rajma is a delightful variation of the popular Indian kidney bean curry. It can be served for both lunch and dinner. In goes rajma (black kidney beans), black cardamom, bay leaves, asafoetida (heeng), fenufreek seeds (methi dana), cloves, and salt to taste.
Kashmiri Rajma is a hearty and nutritious dish and a staple in Kashmiri households. Something that sets the dish apart from the usual rajma curry is the unique blend of spices, including fennel seeds, ginger, and asafoetida. All of these spices come together and infuse a distinctive flavor into the dish!
3. Modur Pulao
Modur Pulao is also known as Kashmiri Sweet Pulao. You can prepare the dish by using fragrant rice, saffron, dry fruits, and nuts. The pulao tastes further yummy with the use of a surplus amount of ghee. The pulao is typically served alongside a spicy curry.
The list of Jammu Kashmir famous food is incomplete without including Modur Pulao. It is cooked in milk, cream, or a blend of both. Basmati rice cooked with ghee adds the right percentage of fragrance. Modur Pulao can be a luxurious addition to festive occasions and wedding parties.
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4. Goshtaba
Normally eaten towards the end of the meal, Goshtaba is a rich and creamy meatball curry. It is a true delicacy of Kashmiri cuisine. The fresh slaughtered meat and use of a unique spice blend known as “vadi masala” is what makes the dish unique! Goshtaba is often served as a part of Wazwan, a multi-course meal reserved for special occasions.
Goshtaba is a Kashmir-famous food that reflects the culinary expertise of the region. The dish is made of minced mutton or lamb. The mutton is cooked in a rich yogurt-based gravy infused with spices like fennel, ginger, and cloves. Yogurt and the slow cooking process give its gravy a velvety texture.
5. Kashmiri Muji Gaad
If you love the spicy and tangy-flavoured dish, Kashmir Muji Gaad is a must-try. Two main ingredients used in Kashmiri Muji Gaad are lotus stem, locally known as “Muji,” and river fish like trout or carp. It is among the most loved food in Jammu and Kashmir! All credit goes to the lotus stem that adds a unique texture to the dish.
Kashmiri Muji Gaad is a curry with thick gravy. To cook this gravy, you can use yogurt and spices like turmeric, ginger, and fennel seeds. The best part of the dish is its sauce. Kashmiri Muji Gaad’s sauce is full of flavor as it is cooked with ginger powder and cooked mustard oil.
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6. Dum Aloo
Dum Aloo is a popular cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir featuring potatoes cooked in a rich, spiced gravy. Also known as Kashmiri potato curry, Dum aloo is rich and has a creamy texture. Ingredients used in the dish include baby potatoes, yogurt, ginger, fennel, and asafoetida. It can be served with naan, roti, or rice.
As soon as you taste Dum Aloo, you’ll find the flavor melting in your mouth. It is because baby potatoes used are first deep-fried and then slow-cooked on low heat. Dum Aloo is cooked until the potatoes absorb the flavors of the gravy. Dum Aloo is so popular that it is loved beyond Kashmir!
7. Yakhni
You cannot afford to miss the traditional food of Jammu and Kashmir – Yakhni. Yakhni is a traditional Kashmiri yogurt-based curry made with proteins like mutton, chicken, or paneer. A few ingredients used in the curry are lotus roots, ghee, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, aniseed, ginger, yogurt, and salt. Serve Yakhni with naan, steamed rice, or other Indian flatbreads.
Yakhni is cooked with a properly balanced blend of aromatic spices. Plus, the slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together beautifully. This is what makes the dish so unique and tasty!
8. Kashmiri biriyani
Are you a fan of biryani? If yes, try Kashmiri Biryani – one of the top cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri biryani is a fragrant rice dish layered with marinated meat, aromatic spices, and saffron-infused rice. The taste of Kashmiri biryani is very special. It is because of the subtle flavors and gentle heat.
Kashmiri Biryani uses mutton or chicken that’s marinated in yogurt and special Kashmiri spices like saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon. The meta is then mixed in parboiled rice and slow-cooked to perfection. Serve the biryani with fried onions, nuts, and raisins!
9. Lyader Tschaman
Lyader Tschaman is a Kashmir delicacy that’s vegetarian’s delicacy. It is a rich gravy dish made of chunks of cottage cheese. Being a famous food of Jammu and Kashmir, people love consuming it as a satisfying dining experience! Usually, Tschaman is cooked in a rich and creamy yogurt-based gravy. The collection of spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon adds an aromatic flavor to the overall dish.
Try the traditional Kashmiri paneer curry, Lyader Tschaman whenever in Jammu and Kashmir. Ingredients used here include cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese), spiced tomato, yogurt, and spices like ginger, garlic, and fennel seeds. Lyader Tschaaman tastes best when garnished with fresh cilantro and served hot with rice or naan.
10. Haakh
Also known as Collard, Haakh is a Kashmir famous food. Haakh is a simple yet favorable dish made with leafy green vegetables such as collard greens or spinach. This dish is cooked in a different style. For example, it can be cooked with paneer (Haakh Chaaman ), mutton (Haakh maaz) with smoked fish or dried fish.
Haakh greens are cooked with mustard oil and garlic. To infuse perfect tanginess, you can toss in spices like fennel seeds and dry ginger powder. In Kashmir, Haakh is often served as a side dish alongside rice or bread. It is enjoyed best in the cold season. People cherish the earthy flavors and nutritional value of the dish!
11. Tahari
Tahari is Jammu Kashmir famous food that crosses the boundary between a hearty meal and a comforting stew. It is a fragrant rice dish cooked with green vegetables like potatoes, carrots, peas, etc. The spices used in the making process include cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Tahari is more popularly known as Kashmiri Pulao and is served with saffron that adds a beautiful golden hue to the dish.
12. Wazwan
Explore the tantalizing cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir Wazwan – known for its opulent multi-course dining experience. The center of the dish mainly includes a variety of meat dishes, like Rogan Josh or Goshtaba. Usually, succulent lamb and chicken are interspersed with accompaniments such as Yakhni and Haakh.
13. Shab Deg
Shab Deg is a simmered turnip and mutton strew, loved for its smoky flavor and juicy texture. This is a traditional food of Jammu and Kashmir with richness of cream and almonds. Shab Deg is prepared out of minced meat. Lamb or chicken are two of the most popular choices of meat used in the making of this dish.
Minced meat, used in Shab Deg is mixed with spices like cumin, coriander, and chili powder. The prepared meat is then molded onto skewers. The skewers are cooked for long time over charcoal or an open flame. Shab Deg kabab is served with fat breads like naam and mint chutney.
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Wrapping Up
So, now you know the popular dishes of Jammu and Kashmir. Tasting the cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir satiates both the palate and the soul. You must taste the aforementioned dishes for they offer a unique journey through the region’s diverse culinary traditions. For the best experience while trying these dishes, consider immersing yourself in the local ambiance. How about dining in a traditional Kashmiri setting?
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