Exploring Food of Himachal Pradesh
The very mention of the word “Food” evokes a myriad of emotions and memories among people. For some, food means tasty dishes which they get to eat on special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, key business meetings, religious occasions, etc. For some, food means their favourite food items which they get to eat often in their home. For others, the mention of food triggers the memories of lovely and happy moments they spent with their families or friends in the past.
Food is not just food but much more than simply a food. Food is an inherent part of our culture and traditions that took many centuries to develop. In a vast country like India there is so much diversity in terms of language, customs, traditions, etc. and this diversity applies also to food.
In this article, we are going to talk about the food of himachal pradesh, including the traditional and staple food items as well as foods that are consumed through the length of the breadth of the country, as well as those that have originated from foreign lands, but have become an integral part of Indian cuisine for centuries now. So pay attention.
The people of Himachal Pradesh have immense fondness for food. Also, they are knowledgeable of the art of food preparation and connoisseurs of rich food recipes. Also, they prepare food with a lot of love and emotions whether they are cooking food items for consumption in their homes, for riverside lunch or on special occasions like Dham. Moreover, they use fresh and organically grown ingredients like vegetables, lentils and grains which add to the taste of dishes prepared by them.?
Let’s begin with Kachori a himachal traditional food that is extremely popular throughout this Himalayan state. With a crispy exterior and flavorful stuffing, preparing and eating kachori will delight your? senses and give you a feel of vibrant Himachali culture. So do not miss laying on your hands on this popular and most sought after food in hp.
Next comes Bhalle, a famous food of himachal pradesh. Prepared from half cutted urad ki daal, this delicacy is prepared on festivals like Lohri. If you get an opportunity to taste Bhalle in a far-flung village of Himachal, don’t ever miss it. Tasting it will give you a unique, unmatched and truly satisfying food experience that you won’t forget in your entire life.?
Makki Ki Roti delicacy is not only popular in Punjab, but also is an integral part of pahari food of himachal pradesh. Preparing Makki ki roti requires deft cooking skills as well as patience. You may not be able to cook it perfectly for the first time, but with constant practice and perseverance, you can become a master in its preparation.
Kachalu Ka Jhol also known as Kachalu Kadi is cooked by frying Kachalu ( Arbi in Hindi). Served with Makki Ki Roti, Kachalu Ka Jhol is prepared in winters, but can be cooked in other seasons too. Once you taste this ultimate himachal pradesh ka food, you are bound to fall in love with it forever.?
Prepared from Mah ki daal, Sefu Badi is a traditional food of mandi himachal pradesh. It is one of the main food attractions at Mandiyali Dham. Eating this mouthwatering dish in the company of your near and dear ones in a dham is an altogether different experience that cannot be described in mere words.?
If Sefu Badi is there in a Dham, how can Badana Ka Mittha be behind. With Besan as its prime ingredient, this dish of himachal pradesh state is loved by all, especially those who have a sweet tooth.?
Patrode is yet another traditional and special food of himachal pradesh that is prepared with Colocasia Leaves (Arbi Ke Patte). When prepared by a skilled and passionate cook, this dish tastes great. It is hardly a surprise that you will keep asking for more once you taste it. So do make the most of the opportunity to consume it in a far-flung village of Himachal situated in breathtaking natural surroundings and experience the warm hospitality of your Himachali host.
If you are fond of dry fruits, then do give Mewe Ki Recipe a try. Being one of the most popular and highly sought after food recipes of himachal pradesh, Mewe Ki Recipe’s taste will make you a lover of Himachali food forever. Also, Mewe delicacies’ intake will do a lot of good to your health. The preparation of this delicacy requires a lot of hard and painstaking effort, but the results are worth the effort.??
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If you are talking about Himachali food, how can you miss Siddu. Big in size and unmatched in taste, they can give any other snack run for money. Do visit a village in Himachal to witness how people there prepare Siddu with care and love. Eating siddu food of himachal pradesh even once will impress you to try this delicacy again and again. ?
Lingdu Ki Sabzi also occupies a special place in Himachali cuisine. It is simple to prepare and has an exquisite taste. Its main ingredient is Fiddlehead Fern (Scientific Name Matteuccia struthiopteris) that is found across a wide stretch of Himachal mountains range including Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Nepal. Rich in vitamins A, C, and E and essential minerals like potassium and iron, the intake of Lingdu in the form of sabzi is quite beneficial for your health.?
Bicchu Buti Ki Sabzi is prepared from Bicchu Buti which is found in abundance in the Himalayan region as a wild plant growth. Also known as Himalayan stinging nettle, its scientific name is ?Urtica dioica. Rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and other phytochemicals, Bicchu Buti holds a lot of health benefits. This plant is also used for treating Uric Acid. When cooked by skilled cooks with passion, this sabzi can be exceptionally tasty.??
Pickles also feature prominently among traditional and local food of himachal pradesh. Amla Ka Achar and Neembu and Ghandelu Ka Achar are some popular pickles of this hilly state but these are not the only ones. Meticulously prepared using fresh and organic ingredients, they are extremely tasty as well as beneficial for health on account of being rich in various minerals and vitamins.?
Rot is another traditional food item of Himachal Pradesh. It is offered to Gods as a Prasad on holy and auspicious occasions like Shivratri. People of Devbhumi prepare it with a lot of love and devotion.?
Not to be missed, Gal Gale Ka Khatta is another popular himachal pradesh food that is prepared from Galgal fruit, which grows in the Himalayan region and harvested in the winter season. Mixed with traditional home-prepared salt, it has an outstanding and heart-pleasing taste. People of Himachali can be often seen enjoying Gal Gale Ka Khatta among their near and dear ones in the sun.??
Himachali people are not only experts in preparing traditional and staple food items of the state, but they are also equally adept at preparing other food items which origin in other parts of India and even foreign lands.??
One such delicacy is Chilli Paneer whose very mention will ignite hunger in you and whose intake will please your palate and senses. So don’t miss the opportunity to view the meticulous preparation of this appetizing dish in a remotely located village of Himachal by a seasoned cook and experience its unrivaled and palate-pleasing taste.?
Having originated in Tibet, Momos are an integral part of Tibetan and Nepali cuisine besides being a popular food item in India and Bhutan. Now being a himachal pradesh famous food, preparing momos requires special skills and a lot of patience and effort. Observing a momos-preparation session in a village in Himachal is going to be an exciting and immersive experience, so be a part of it if you get an opportunity for the same.
By now you have gotten an idea of various traditional and other famous food of hp and gained an understanding of the rich and vibrant food culture of himachal pradesh. So it will not be at all difficult for you to answer such questions like what is the food of himachal pradesh?, what is the main food of himachal pradesh and what is famous food of himachal pradesh??
We hope this article inspires you to begin your himachal food exploration journey. But for this, you will have to pack your bags and head straight to Himachal Pradesh, your favourite food destination.??