It is not only you visit the mountains for their landscape and snow-capped mountain vistas, but you also visit there for its amazing food. Many people have this misconception that food is not great and varied in the Himalayan region. But the reality is just different.
The Indian side of the Himalayas is shared by four countries – China, Nepal, Pakistan and
Bhutan. Therefore, it is no surprise that the food available in the Indian region
The Himalayan region is a mixture of all the regions.
There are endless numbers of times I have been to the Himalayas and every time I have fallen in love with the food in every region.
The Himalayan food is diverse and unique covering the cultural borders from all ends. The different foods that are available in the Himalayan region have influenced different cultures.
The Aroma of Food – What drives you to the Himalayas?
No matter which part of the Himalayas you visit, you’ll find unique culinary stories and secrets everywhere. India is extremely renowned for its food but still, the local Himalayan food is prominent over there.
These days, famous locations offer not only the local staple dishes but also other in-demand cuisines. You will get Himalayan food not only in the big restaurants of the regions but you will also get delectable dishes in the tin-roofed shacks throughout the Himalayan region.
However, what I feel is that the best part of the Himalayan food is the drooling mixture of Indian, Chinese, Nepalese, Tibetan, and Kashmiri cuisine which is very difficult to find in other parts of the world.
Another distinct aspect of Himalayan cuisine that has always drawn me to the high-altitude regions is its strong emphasis on using fresh greens and local herbs.
For example, if you will visit the interiors of Sikkim do not forget to try ‘Rai Saag’ which is very famous in these regions. This is the reason I always try to visit the interior locations of Sikkim and stay in the homestays where one can get the best local cuisines. And that is also at a very reasonable cost.
At high altitudes, the thin air with less oxygen leads to moisture loss in food. This is why food is always covered to retain moisture, which undoubtedly makes the spices even more aromatic.
One thing that is very common in the food of the entire Himalayan region, is the use of distinct spices in the majority of their dishes. However, this usage of spices is quite different from the taste of spicy food available in other regions of India.
Some Distinct Processes of Foods available in the Mountains
As I already said, the taste of the food in the mountains is quite different and unique as compared to other regions of India.
Now, you might be thinking, what makes these foods taste so different and unique from other cuisines by following a simple cooking process?
Well, definitely I will say, that climate plays a major role in the taste of Himalayan food as the ingredients available in these regions have a distinct taste.
While exploring different parts of Nepal, I have witnessed that people over there cook the meat first and then dry them and store it. Now before serving, they cook it again. Now this process definitely will change the taste of the food.
If you will visit the North East part of India, the use of chilli is very common in their dishes. Like Delo Chilli and Naga Chilli are quite famous all over the world.
Most Popular Dishes in the Mountains
My entire blog would be incomplete if I do not elaborate on the most popular dishes of the mountains that makes them so special. Many say, they visit mountains for the landscape.
However, if you will ask me I will always say definitely for the landscape and also for its delicious dishes.
- Maggi: Trust me, your visit to the mountains will always remain incomplete if you do not have a plate of Maggi noodles. It doesn’t matter whichever part of the Himalayas you are in, you will always get a plate of hot heartwarming Maggi noodles.
- Dal Bhat (Lentil Soup): One of the staple dishes in the Himalayas is Dal Bhat where steamed rice is served with cooked lentil soup. It is often accompanied by pickles, dried chillies, and vegetables. After a long tiring hiking day, when you are served with a plate of hot ‘Dal Bhat’, surely the taste is heavenly.
- Momo (Dumplings): Tibetan momo are not only famous in Sikkim and the North East but are also quite famous in other Himalayan region as well. These are steamed flour dumplings with fillings like vegetables or meat. Momo definitely has a Chinese influence and is served hot with red chilli sauce and hot broth.
- Ema Datshi: If you are in Bhutan, you simply cannot miss their national dish, Ema Datshi where Ema means chilli peppers and Datshi means cheese. It is a spicy stew made with chilli peppers and local made farm cheese along with spring onions, salt, and oil. The moment I had Ema Datshi, I simply fell in love with this heartwarming simple flavour.
- Rajma Chawal: If you are visiting the regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the most famous dish is Rajma Chawal. It is a combination of steamed rice and rajma or red kidney beans in a thick gravy flavoured with Indian whole spices.
- Tea: And last but not least, a cup of tea in the mountains is known to be the king of all dishes in the mountains. Tea is no longer served as a mere beverage in the mountains but is a bucket full of emotions.
Apart from the above dishes, dishes like Alu Paratha, Wai Wai, and Dum Aloo are also very famous. Apart from these authentic dishes like Yakhni, Madra, Sukuti, Tudkiya Bhatha, etc are also quite popular among the explorers.
So for your next journey to the mountains, not only engulf the beauty of its landscape but also enjoy its local food!!!
Featured Image @prosenjit08 and Gopal Bhatia/Canva
About Author
Bidisha Sinha is a content writer based in Kolkata, India. She has an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication and was a Software Professional in an MNC in India. Later she left her job and became an Entrepreneur and has her own content writing firm. When she is not working, Bidisha enjoys travelling to the Himalayas specially hiking, reading books, writing, capturing moments, and spending time with her 4 year old daughter. Currently she stays in Kolkata with her husband and her 4 year old daughter.
