Uttarakhand is often associated with tourism. The scenic views come with roadside vendors selling hot noodles that can be prepared in an instant. Cascading rivers, temples atop hills, snow-capped mountains, and mesmerising spots do not make up even a fraction of Uttarakhand as much as its micro cuisines.
The dishes belonging to many micro cuisines of Uttarakhand imbibe recipes featuring local ingredients extracted from lush green forests, valleys, and mountains. They are prepared in fresh water from rivers and brought to your table so that you can embark on a culinary journey through the diverse culture of Uttarakhand. Take note of the regional delights so that tasting them becomes a crucial part of your itinerary as much as finding hidden spots.
Bhotiya Cuisine
If you plan to explore the high altitudes of Uttarakhand, you will come across the Bhotiya Tribe, one of the ancient tribes in the state. People from the community are considered among the best climbers who can go from one mountain to another without any difficulty. They often store dehydrated food because of the harsh weather and rely on dishes made from paddy, wheat, potatoes, jowar, etc. You will also notice hints of Tibetan flavours that inspire the regional cuisine. Steamed dumplings, yak butter, thukpa, kachri ka pani, and Buransh juice are some dishes and beverages that are a must-try.
Kumaoni Cuisine
Kumaoni cuisine is from a region attached to the plains. People living in areas bordering Uttar Pradesh prepare food from seasonal products that boast earthy flavours. You will find the use of grains like black soybeans and finger millet a lot here. The food in this region is simple but flavourful and nutritious. Some of the dishes that you should not miss out on include aloo ke theke, ras bhaat, bhatt ki churkani, and baadi or bade. If you can locate a good sweet shop in the region, you must try singodi, a soulful dessert prepared using grated coconut, sugar, and khoya.
Garhwali Cuisine
After Kumaoni, Garhwali cuisine features the most prominent regional food of Uttarakhand. Though the recipes use fewer spices, the dishes are scrumptious. A traditional Garhwali thali has phanu (lentil curry), roti, rice, chainsoo (ground gram dal dish), fannah (horse gram-based dish), til ki chutney, dhapdi (green vegetable dish), arsa (sweet dish), gulgula (deep-fried sweet), and thechwani (curry made by crushing ingredients). If you are planning a holiday in Uttarakhand, must order a Garhwali thali to relish the taste of mountains.
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Jaunsari Cuisine
Amid the green landscape of Jaunsar-Bawar region communities with unique cultural identities exist together. Their food preparation is quite different from what you will witness in other regions of the state. People cultivate crops by cutting hills and use the local produce to prepare delicious delicacies like chausu (a kind of khichdi), chikle wali urad dal with ginger, cumin, and garlic, thhatwani made from lentils and herbs, and jholi with a yoghurt-based curry that is served with rice.
Jaunpuri Cuisine
Rawain is the region in Uttarakhand that shares borders with Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur. The regional cuisine here is called Jaunpuri cuisine which features recipes using foraged and wild ingredients. The kandali ka saag dish is prepared from a stinging nettle. It is cooked in garlic and other spices. You can also relish seeda, a sweet made from jaggery and wheat flour, and madua (or mandua) ki roti prepared from finger millet.
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While exploring Uttarakhand, you will also witness Rajasthani's influence on the regional cuisine because of the historical migration and settlements. Singal (semolina-yoghurt-based dessert) and bal mithai (prepared from khoya) are two examples where you will find the cuisines of Uttarakhand and Rajasthan coming together to create magic.