The scorching April heat made me miss the cold winter breeze a little bit more than usual. After pondering over it for a while, an idea struck my mind ‘If we cannot go to Kashmir, why not bring in the joy of Kashmiri thandi wadiyaan to home?’ And I decided to host a ‘Kashmir themed party.’ Now, to translate this idea into reality, I began my research and organized some traditional outfits, decorations and of course food!Â
Kashmiri cuisine is loaded with a variety of rustic, celebratory recipes that one must not miss. One such highlight of Kashmiri cuisine is the famous Wazan or the extensive 36 dish meal featuring dishes like Rista, Rogan Josh, Kebabs, Goshtaba and a lot more.Â
However, being a simple house-party, I decided to select a few gems of Kashmiri cuisine which can be easily made at home. If you would also like to organize one such party then keep reading to get that perfect menu.
Starters:
Since the first course or dish should always be something light that doesn’t involve much effort to eat, I started off with a personal favourite Kashmiri starter - Nadir Monji. All you need to do is dip lotus roots in rice flour batter with spices and fry them till golden brown, and your Nadir Monji is ready.Â
Main course:
For the main course, I served Kashmiri Muji Gaad, Sheermal, Modur Pulav and Burani Raita. Each of these classics have a unique taste of their own and therefore match up wonderfully on a single plate. Kashmiri Muji Gaad, also known as macchli mooli, is made by cooking the fried pieces of fish filets and radish along with a variety of spice mix. Sheermal, on the other hand, is a rich sweet bread that’s fit for the royalty but can be equally enjoyed by the commoners. Then comes the classic Modur Pulav which is prepared with the goodness of milk, saffron, ghee, and cinnamon, making it a whole lot rich and unique as compared to the usual pulao. Hands down, Modur Pulav is one of the most popular dishes of Kashmir. Then, to complement the Modur Pulav, I served along with it some Burani Raita.
The sweet ending:
Lastly, this unique meal ended with a beverage that is the pehechaan of Kashmir - Kahva. Hailing from the majestic valleys of Kashmir, the fragrant, warming Kahva is a symphony of flavors, with hints of cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves dancing on the palate. Without Kahva, the taste of Kashmiri cuisine remains incomplete. So, I decided to keep the best for the last.
I am sure that your guests will laud you for your efforts in preparing these exceptional dishes. Trust me, with this menu, your party is bound to be a huge success!