New Delhi: Indian food is a pleasantly rich blend of flavours and tastes that vary by state. As you travel across the country, you will come across a plethora of diverse recipes, ingredients, and cooking techniques. Each state, like its culture and language, has its own set of gastronomic delicacies to offer. These are recipes that have been passed down over generations, much like a family heirloom. Because each household prepares these foods differently, no two servings will ever taste the same.
The North- East of India is also a gourmet culinary destination, with countless options for food enthusiasts to discover. It is a fascinating mix of people and civilizations. Their flavours and meals are as distinct as their colourful way of life. Several of their meals make use of simple yet flavourful fresh ingredients such as Bamboo Shoots, Bhut Jolokia, and regional greens. Despite the fact that many recipes contain meat, it is worth noting how light and delicious they are.
Here are some dishes from the North-East that you may want to try on your next trip:
1. Smoked Pork Curry From Nagaland:
Naga pork curry is one of the most delectable non-vegetarian dishes in Indian cuisine. Crispy, juicy smoked pork is cooked in a delightfully spicy curry with bhoot jholokia and bamboo shoots to produce a flavourful and hearty dish. The curry is typically served over steamed rice. This mouth-watering delicacy is a must-have for non-vegetarians.
2. Narasingha Masor Jhol From Assam:
This is a characteristic Assamese dish, and it consists of fish fried in a curry leaf paste gravy. While curry leaves, or Narasingha as they are known in Assam, are frequently used as a flavour in South Indian cuisine, it is uncommon to find an authentic Northeast Indian meal that incorporates these leaves as a primary element. Narasingha is also known to have numerous therapeutic benefits, including the ability to enhance digestion and decrease cholesterol.
3. Sanpiau From Mizoram:
Sanpiau, a representation of Mizoram's rich culture, is one of its prominent cuisines. This delicious snack is frequently cooked in all Mizoram households and is also available on the street. Coriander paste, onion, black pepper, sour fish sauce, and powdered rice are the major elements of the meal. It is kind of a healthy snack and is a vegetarian meal. Nonetheless, egg Sanpiau is also cooked occasionally. The recipe is nearly identical, but it includes a scrambled egg.
4. Jadoh From Meghalaya:
Jadoh is a renowned Meghalayan dish that is prominent in India's North Eastern cuisine circuit. It is often made with Amrmbrosial rice, a Meghalaya speciality. This rice is long-grained, pale crimson in colour, and has a distinct smell, in addition to being gluten-free. The dish is prepared with very little oil, making it lower in calories and healthier than other types of pulav commonly consumed in India. While the vegan Jadoh is seasoned with tomato, tinda, jhinga, potato, and okra, the non-vegetarian Jadoh is stuffed with succulent pork.
5. Chikhvi From Tripura:
Tripura is the state where this dish originated. This meal, made with stir-fried deep-fried bamboo shoots and sliced pork, offers the perfect balance of smokiness and lusciousness. The pork is cooked to perfection, with a hint of wetness in every bite.
6. Gyathuk From Sikkim:
Gyathuk is a variation of Thukpa also known as Noodle Soup. This popular Sikkimese meal is influenced by Tibetan Thukpa cuisine. It is essentially a boiled delicacy made up of thick spaghetti noodles, boiled vegetables, and chunks of meat. To give the dish an authentic Tibetan flavour, natural and refreshing homemade spices and herbs are added. This meal is a must-try if you visit Sikkim and it also keeps your body warm during the state's cold winters.
7. Pehak From Arunachal Pradesh:
Pehak is a chutney prepared from fermented soya bean with king chilli and it tastes best with steaming rice. As a result, don't miss it if you're in Arunachal Pradesh. Furthermore, Pehak contains the flavour of seasoned rice and spicy, tangy mash, which makes it even more wonderful.