Himachal Pradesh, also known as the Devbhoomi or Land of Gods, is one such state that, in addition to having snow-capped mountains, green valleys, picturesque panoramas, a calm environment, and unpolluted air, offers a wide variety of cuisines for visitors to relish. The food culture here is very different because it has its own speciality, a Pahadi touch. The food is inspired by different communities of Himachal Pradesh that add an authentic flavour to every dish. Himachali food has a rustic flavour with earthy undertones due to the blend of herbs, spices, and traditional cooking techniques. Every dish in this cuisine is simple, wholesome, and made with ingredients that are readily available and local. The Himachali thali (Dham) is well-known, but you should also try some of the other well-known and traditional sweets. Himachali sweets are as good as the scenic beauty of Himachal, and if you have a sweet tooth, you should definitely try some Himachali sweets.
Here are some Himachali sweets that are worth trying-
Patande
Pancakes are unique to Himachal. The Sirmaur district of Himachal is where Patande originated. It is made with milk, sugar, and wheat flour. Pancakes are prepared from this dough and then cooked. These are usually served as breakfast. You can eat it with jam or syrup but traditionally, patande is consumed with ghee. The texture and flavour of this morning dish are more akin to pancakes than dosa in appearance. The pancakes are flavoured with cardamom and cinnamon and are made using a batter of wheat flour, sugar, milk, and ghee.
Aktori
Aktori hails from Lahaul-Spiti valleys in Himachal Pradesh. It is a traditional recipe that resembles pancakes from the west. This delightful dessert is usually made for holidays and festivities. Traditionally Buckwheat leaves were combined with wheat flour and then the batter was made into a pancake. Presently, people mix buckwheat flour and wheat flour to make the batter. To create a thick batter, milk and water are combined with this dry mixture. Aktori is served with honey or ghee, although you can enjoy this dessert with jam or maple syrup as well.
Babroo
Babroo, a delicacy from Himachal Pradesh belongs to Shimla. This is a sweet version of kachori. It resembles a kachori in shape. After fermenting, dough made from wheat flour is formed into discs or kachori shapes. It has a great flavour. After being cooked, it is garnished with powdered sugar. You can't afford to miss out on the divine pleasure of crispy Babrus with a hot cup of tea in Shimla's chilly weather.
Mittha
Mittha is one of the most mouthwatering dishes among the many Himachal Pradesh delicacies. It is a type of sweet rice. The fact that this Himachali cuisine is available throughout the state is its best feature. When it comes to making Mittha, the essential ingredients are rice, dry fruits, and raisins. This sweet dish is usually prepared for special events. If you consider your meals incomplete without dessert, you should give Mittha a try. You will want more since the flavour is so wonderful.
Meetha Kaddu
Meetha Kaddu, or sweet pumpkin is a dish made for weddings and festivities. The melted and broken-up jaggery sugar is added to the sauteed pumpkin pieces. The pumpkin chunks are sauteed in ghee. All of the dry fruits are roasted and then mixed with the pumpkin to enhance its flavour. It can be consumed on its own or with rice as a side dish.