Kashmir, the prestigious crown of the country and an integral part of the nation, has always caught the attention of onlookers. The snow-clad peaks in Kashmir and the Holy Shrine of Vaishno Devi on Trikuta Mountain in Jammu never cease a chance of drawing visitors.
Alright, enough of the geographical praise of the region, there is more beyond it. People wonder that why the 'Heaven on Earth' Kashmir is known just for its alluring meadows and snow-capped peaks. Apart from its geographical beauty, we have something delectable that can awake the sleeping gastronome inside you.
Yes! You answered that right, it is the Kashmiri Cuisine we'll be talking about. The piquant Kashmiri Cuisine is renowned for its lip-smacking dishes. There are various tempting food items in this cuisine that are devoured with different other dishes.
So, to assist you savoring some authentic Kashmiri delicacies, we have picked some items from the menu. Take a look at them.
Originating from Persia, Rogan Josh is a widely devoured dish in Kashmir. A famous Kashmiri food, this succulent dish includes the juicy lamb cooked in ghee with various spices, onion, garlic, and yogurt. The concept of savoring Rogan Josh was introduced by Moghuls in India. The mouth-watering fragrance of this luscious and royal food is undeniable. Presently, Rogan Josh is available with various miscellanies.
Yakhni is another authentic Kashmiri dish that can tempt you for a bite every time you see it. Comprising the marinated and squishy lamb, spices, and yogurt, this lamb curry is an easy-to-cook meal. You just need to allow some intimate time to the mutton and spices while you cook them on a low flame. Add the spices and allow them to blend thoroughly. Cook it for 5 minutes and tada, Yakhni is ready to be served!
Amid the non-veg. snacks, there's a veggie delight for you. Known by the name of Dum Aloo, Dum Olav is sslluurrrpy dish from Jammu and Kashmir. It is cooked and eaten in different ways all over North India. Dum Olav is the Kashmiri version that is prepared using boiled potatoes fried in oil and later cooked with the sauted miscellany of tomatoes, onion, garlic, and other spices. Relish the flavor with naan or paranthas!
If you are an ardent lover of meat then you should devour the dish called Matschgand. Another remarkable name from the Kashmiri food cuisine, Matschgand is a food that evokes esurience of each meat lover. It constitutes the minced meatballs dipped in the spicy gravy that wait to be attacked. If you are not in favor of adding mutton to it, the boneless chicken can be another great option.
Kashmiri Muji Gaad- though its name might sound a li'l weird, it truly has a juicy taste. Muji Gaad is a famous food item in the Kashmiri non-vegetarian platter. It is a dish that comprises freshwater fish fried with the sauted mixture of tomatoes, onion, and green chilies. To enhance the flavor, chopped radish and lotus stem are added to it. That sounds healthy, doesn't it?
Mutton is the staple diet for a sizable populace of Kashmir and that's a major reason for it being an important part of the cuisine. Aab Gosht is one of the palatable foods of Kashmir and is often termed as Kashmiri Biryani due to its companionship with rice. It is widely eaten on various occasions like Eid and weddings. If you haven't tasted it, you have not eaten the real Kashmiri feast.
Goshtaba has the sobriquet 'Royal Dish'. In the previous eras, it was cooked for the royals of Kashmir extensively. Goshtaba is a mutton-based dish that includes minced mutton and other spices like red chili powder, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and oil. The appetizing flavor of these meatballs can make anyone go bananas. Aren't you eager to taste this dish, pal?
At times, it may sound like a name of a Bengali dish to many but, it isn't so. Modur Pulav is a Kashmiri dish. Having rice as the base, it is cooked using oil, cardamom, sugar, saffron, and milk. Adding milk won't turn it to the kheer. It is sweetened-Kashmiri rice that will surely leave you spellbound as your taste buds greet them!
Raise your hands if you thought this dish belongs to Tibet. Alright, jokes apart, this one is for the vegans out there. If you thought you'll not get any pure vegetarian food in Kashmir, this dish will clear the queries away. Lyodur Tschaman is soft cottage cheese prepared in the turmeric based gravy adorned with chilies to enhance the flavor. It tastes best when eaten with rice. Yummy!
And here's the final burp, sorry, we mean the halt. You just had a scrummy introduction with the tastiest Kashmiri platter. All of the dishes you read about aren't hard to prepare, though they might take some time to prepare. Do give a try to prepare any of these dishes in your own way and don't forget to tell us.