Introduction
The Kashmiri cuisine originates from the people of the Kashmir Valley in India. Most of their dishes have rice as it is their staple food. Unlike most parts of India, Kashmiris really love their meat, so fewer of their dishes are vegetarian friendly since a significant portion of the natives eat meat.
1.Rogan Josh
Rogan Josh is a colored yogurt-based curry infused with spices and brown onions. It is also favored with alkanet and Kashmiri chilies. It is definitely a Kashmiri signature dish and has put the cuisine on the food map. The lamb curry is best served hot and usually with rice or naan bread.
2.Yakhni lamb curry
Yakhni lamb curry is a saffron and yogurt-based gravy with mawal flower, dried mint leaves, and onion paste. It is seasoned with herbs and spices such as ginger powder, whole cloves, bay leaves, cumin seeds, and ginger powder. This Kashmir delicacy is commonly served with plain rice.
3.Shab Deg
Shab Deg is definitely for the patient cooks. The meat is cooked overnight in a very large cooking vessel, which is where the name comes from. The cooking vessel is sealed with dough while the meat cooks in turnips and spices, locking inn and infusing all the different flavors. It would not be Kashmir if the gravy is not yogurt based with a dash of cinnamon, cardamom and aniseed. A variant of this dish would be using chicken as a substitute for the lamb.
4.Dum Olav
The dish is made from baby potatoes boiled in yogurt, dry ginger, fennel, and some hot spices. Dum Olav is also referred to as the Kashmiri Dum Aloo. It is one of India’s favorite curry recipes and has also gained popularity outside India. It is a simple but very tasty and hot dish.
5.Modur Pulao
The rice is boiled to perfection in milk, cinnamon, ghee and saffron. The rice is then finished off with all sorts of dried fruits such as raisings and almonds. If you love flavor, then this is a must-try dish for you. It tastes very sweet and yummy, just the sight of it is enough to get you drooling.
6.Goshtaba
Goshtaba is a native Kashmiri dish that was originally made for Kings, it tastes like royalty. The mutton is minced and shaped into sizeable balls. The balls are then cooked in a yogurt-based gravy infused with different flavors from various spices. The dish is mouth-watering and will cause anybody to go for seconds.
7.Aab Gosh
Aab Gosh is a very popular Kashmir mutton dish, could also be one of the very few mutton dishes that are not yogurt-based. The mutton is cooked in milk and a variety of flavorful spices. The curry also has a dash of green chilies. It is popular for a reason and would make you think twice about trying a different mutton dish.
8.Lyadar Tschaman
Lyadar Tschaman is a very popular Kashmiri vegetarian dish. It is made from Kashmiri cottage cheese cooked in a thick and creamy gravy. It is also scented with fennel and cardamom; the aroma is amazing. This dish is common in many households and is enjoyed even by non-vegetarians.
9.Kashmiri Muji Gaad
Kashmiri is a tasty and unique traditional vegetarian dish. It constitutes of eggplant diced and cooked in a yogurt-based gravy with great spices. There are a lot of different recipes available for making the best Kashmiri Muji Gaad. It is usually served as a side dish and tastes amazing.
10.Kashmiri Rajma
Kashmiri Rajma is usually served with different kinds of paratha, either Tawa paratha or Lechha paratha and sometimes it does just as great with steamed rice. It is a very healthy meal full of flavor and is usually served with kidney beans and garnished with sliced onion and cucumber. It is great for breakfast.
11.Matchschgand
Matchsgand is cooked in a juicy and spicy red gravy, the dish is often mixed with dry fruit to add extra flavor. The meatballs are seasoned with turmeric powder, garlic powder, fennel powder and the meat is often goat meat. People who are familiar with this dish know how difficult it is to separate yourself from it. It is indeed a meal fit for a king.
12.Khambir
Kambir is an authentic pan shaped bread found everywhere across India. It is very popular and is usually served with butter tea. It has a thick crust and is quite tasty, it is great for breakfast. Khambir is also known as fermented Ladakhi bread made from whole wheat flour. It is very common in the Ladakhi cuisine but it is also found in the Kashmiri cuisine.
13.Paneer Chaman
This traditional Kashmiri dish will definitely make you fall in love with paneers and make you love them even more if you are already a fan. The paneers are slowly cooked to perfection in milk, with a sprinkle of Kashmiri cottage cheese and cardamom. It is cooked until tender and brown. This dish is very rich in flavor and is very tasty, it is definitely a vegetarian delight and can also be enjoyed just as much by non-vegetarians.
14.Haak
Haak is a very healthy meal that is vegetarian friendly. They are green leaves that resemble spinach quite a lot. They are cooked in mustard oil and a variety of spices for about half an hour. If you are looking for a light dinner, Haak served with rice will be just right.
15.Kashmiri Saag
This is one of the simplest and easy to make Kashmiri dishes. You just need 6 ingredients and a few minutes of your time, which could also be one of the reasons why it is perfect for a cold winter night. Kashmiri Saag is usually paired with Makki ki roti.
Conclusion
The Kashmiri cuisine dishes are largely based on meat and yogurt-based gravy. The dishes are very tasty and definitely something you should give a try sometime.