Kashmiri Cuisine: Just like the beautiful picturesque of the place, the Kashmiri cuisine will leave you longing for more of it. The state offers a few of the most delectable non-vegetarian dishes, which are authentic to this region.
Highly reassembling the Mughlai cuisine, the Kashmiri cuisine is mostly non-vegetarian. There is a lot of usage of Indian spices in the recipes. There are some mouthwatering vegetarian delicacies also.
Here are our top ten picks from the Kashmiri cuisine-
01. Rogan Josh
A signature Kashmiri cuisine made out of tender lamb or meat with robust Indian spices and yogurt flavors, Rogan Josh is a low-fat aromatic dish that will make you yearn for more of it.
Kashmiri red chili powder and oodles of aromatic ghee are added to the preparation to make it mouthwatering.
This royal delicacy tastes best with Kashmiri kulcha for white rice. The recipe came from the Silk Route.
Where to find Rogan Josh in Kashmir- Mughal Darbar Bakery and Restaurant, Residency Road, Srinagar, Kashmir.
02. Kashmiri Kulcha
Kulcha, or a refined wheat flour-baked bread is a traditional kiln of Kashmir. It is extremely common as breakfast in the region. It is smeared with butter and best complemented with kaahwa or sheer chai.
Where to find the best Kashmiri Kulcha- Rawalpindi
03. Kaahwa
An alternative to regular tea, Kaahwa is much lighter and sweeter. It is made by boiling the delectable Kashmiri green tea for few minutes and adding a hint of cardamom and cinnamon. It is a must-have dish for Kashmiri people.
Where to find Kaahwa in Kashmir- Tea shops in Srinagar
04. Kashmiri Dum Aaloo
Kashmiri Dum Aaloo is famous across the country. Golden crisp boiled, then fried potatoes are cooked with yogurt and Kashmiri red chili powder. Small-sized potatoes are used for the recipe.
There are various versions of the recipe. It is a sumptuous treat for every food lover out there.
Where to find the best Kashmiri Dum Aaloo- Shamyana Restaurant, Boulevard Road, Srinagar.
05. Goshtaba
A royal dish made with minced meat, yogurt, and a plethora of Indian spices, the Goshtaba is a must-have dish in Kashmir.
Where to find the best Goshtaba in Kashmir- The Grandstand, 5th floor, Palm Island Mall, Jammu.
06. Butter Tea
While on a trip to Kashmir, do not forget to taste the famous Tibetan Butter Tea. It is prepared by adding butter and salt to tea. It is an integral part of Kashmiri cuisine. It keeps the body warm and is extremely popular in colder regions of Leh and Ladakh.
07. Modhur Pulav
Modhur Pulav is basically Kashmiri rice sweetened with sugar and ghee. Saffron, milk, cinnamon, dried foods, cardamom are a few of the other important ingredients for the recipe. Kashmir has abundant growth of saffron also used in the recipe from which the dish gets its flavor. The dish will leave you craving for more.
08. Yakhni
Yakhni is actually a lamb curry made predominantly with yogurt. Mawal flower forms a key ingredient for the recipe.
The other ingredients include black and green cardamom, onion paste, dry mint, fennel seeds. It is best complimented with white rice.
Where to find Yakhni in Kashmir- Mughal Darbar Bakery and Restaurant, Residency Road, Srinagar, Kashmir.
09. Kashmir Muji Gaad
Kashmir Gaad is a fish delicacy made with radish or nadur. Lotus stem is added to the dish to give it a different taste. The hot spices and herbs add an amazing aroma to the dish.
10. Aab Gosht
Kashmir is heaven for mutton lovers. There is no end to mutton curries and dishes in the state, and all of them are exceptionally tasty.
Aab Gosht is one such mutton delicacy and is made in two ways in Kashmir, one the authentic Kashmiri style and the other the Iranian style. It is prepared by adding milk and spices to the gravy. It is best served with rice dishes.
Where to find Aab Gosht in Kashmir- Mughal Darbar Bakery and Restaurant, Residency Road, Srinagar, Kashmir.
11. Thupka
This is another authentic Kashmiri delicacy popular in the Leh region. Thupka is a thick noodle-based soup with vegetables added. It is a delight in the cold climate of Kashmir. There are different varieties to the dish like egg thupka, chicken thupka, mushroom thupka, etc.
Thupka tastes best when savored in the local shops on the mountains
12. Paba and Tangdur
Another staple and traditional food of the Ladakh region, Paba, is made using peas, wheat, black bean, etc. The dough is flavored using roasted flours of wheat or buckwheat. Paba is served with Tangdur, which is actually buttermilk with fresh wild vegetables.
13. Thenthuk
Thenthuk is another noodle soup from the Leh region, with the only difference is that in Thenthuk, any and every noodle size is added. Yak meat pieces as also added to the soup to make it even more delicious.
This again tastes best when you have it from the local shops on the mountains in the Leh region.
14. Khambir
A pan-shaped local bread from the region of Ladakh, Khambir is made from local whole wheat. It is savored with Butter Tea.
Kashmiri cuisine will keep you longing for more of it. Heaven for non-vegetarians with the best of mutton delicacies across the nation, Kashmir is a must-visit place for every foodie.
Also Read: Handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir