Thinking of Kashmir, the first things that come to my mind are snow-clad mountains, lush green scenery, Dal Lake with Boat Houses and finally the authentic Kashmiri cuisine. Last year, I went to Kashmir during winters and the charming beauty impressed me within no time. On my visit, I was welcomed with a warm cup of Kashmiri Kahva and specially homemade bread. Then, I decided to explore the authentic cuisine that Kashmir has to offer. So, if you want to come on a memory walk through the signature recipes of the Kashmiri cuisines, then join in and read on.Â
The first recipe on my list is the signature dish of Kashmir - Rogan Josh! This authentic Indian lamb curry with a heady combination of intense exotic spices, is really palate pleasing. Rogan Josh is a slow-cooked Kashmiri non-vegetarian curry famous for the right reasons! Such ghee-rich curried meat cooked in a spicy and smooth flavourful gravy with the distinctive Kashmiri dash of saffron tastes brilliant and heartwarming when served along with any kind of roti, parantha or rice.
Next up is a delightful dish that combines the flavors of fish cooked with radish - Kashmiri Muji Gaad also known as macchli mooli. This Kashmiri delicacy is popularly made during winters. To make Kashmiri Muji Gaad, start off by shallow-frying pieces of fish filets and radish pieces till golden brown. Then cook them along with a variety of spice mix till the gravy thickens. Serve hot for a comforting meal.Â
Then comes the Goshtaba, a Kashmiri local favorite. Goshtaba is a delicacy made by first shaping spiced mutton mince into balls and cooking them later in a flavourful yogurt gravy. This hot and spicy curry is delicious and gives a true Kashmiri taste in each bite.Â
Last but not the least recipe on this list is a celebration in itself - Wazwan! If you are a non-veg lover, then you must try this without any second thoughts. Wazwan is a ceremonial spread, a multi-course non-veg Kashmiri meal & Kashmir’s pride! It represents the true amalgamation of tradition and culture. Such out-of-the-world meat-laden banquet comprises of 36 distinctive dishes like Rista, Rogan Josh, Kebabs, Goshtaba and a lot more. If you want to experience the true masterpiece of Kashmir, then you must explore this aromatic, dreamy Wazwan!
Overall, I believe that Kashmir has much more to offer than just the above mentioned recipes, but each one of these recipes is loaded with flavours and authenticity. The techniques of slow-cooking and cooking with a jar full of joy gives us the taste of Kashmir! I hope you enjoyed this walk through my memory lane, and hope you can relish these amazing recipes too.