Puta: Special buckwheat noodles from Bumthang valley

This article is picked from the in-flight magazine 'Tashi Delek' with compliments from DRUKAIR CORPORATION LTD.

Puta is an authentic Bhutanese delicacy from Bumthang Valley. Made of buckwheat, puta is considered a special food, served during special occa- sions. It is prepared using a traditional noodle-making machine and often takes time and effort. People of Bumthang usually have this special dish during local festivals. According to Bhutanese historian and scholar Dr Karma Phuntsho, the dish’s presence in Bumthang can be traced to at least the early part of the 15th century, where it is mentioned in the biography of Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), the foremost spiritual figure of Bhutan.

How to prepare

Mix buckwheat flour with cold water and prepare dough. Put lumps of dough into a noodle making machine. You can also use modern noodle making appliances. Once the noodle is produced, placed them in a strainer in boiling water. Once the noodles are cooked, place them in a bowl. In a separate pan, heat oil and fry spring onions and chilies. Eggs are also used according to preference. Mix the sauce with the noodles and add salt, Si- chuan pepper, and other spices. You can serve it dry or add milk or butter milk.

This recipe is provided by Chef Sonam Tobgay. He is currently a trainer for ‘Culinary Arts: Multi Cuisine’ program, De-Suung Skilling Program at Gaylpoizhing, Mongar. Earlier he worked as Chef at Zhewaling Ascent.