Arunachal Pradesh is one of those states that is unexplored by the majority but those who do get to know this place, fall in love with it inevitably. It is as beautiful as it is peaceful, as friendly as it is warm and as welcoming as it is serene. Not only is the state picturesque, it is full of hidden gems in terms of food, culture and heritage that a very few people are lucky enough to experience. Arunachali cuisine is something that you have to locally experience to completely understand the authentic taste of it.
My visit to Arunachal Pradesh was solely because my uncle was working there and staying with his family. His wife was pregnant and my mother had to go there to take care of her in the remote village my uncle was posted in. Of course, I travelled with her and that is when I was exposed to the wonder that Arunachali cuisine is. And trust me, the high-end restaurants serving authentic food of Arunachal at overpriced rates are far from the correct representation of the divinity that the state’s food is. So, let me tell you 5 of my favourite dishes that I ate regularly during my 3 months long stay in the beautiful state.
Pika-pila – For the child that I was, the biggest reason that I got drawn to the dish was clearly its unique name. It was close sounding to one of the most famous taglines of a popular cartoon show in my childhood and I was determined to try this dish called pika-pila. It is a famous pickle that is mostly made by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It is one of the most commonly eaten accompaniments of food in the state. This pickle is made by using bamboo shoot and pork fat with a moderated addition of King Chilly. It is a perfectly balanced condiment, that is hot, but not so hot that it makes you feel sick.
Pehak – I have always been a spice-lover and everything that I eat and love to eat is directly governed by how hot it is. So, the first as well as the second dish on my list has King Chilly as one of its main ingredients. Pehak is again a side dish that is made with King Chilly and fermented soybeans. It is enjoyed with steamed rice.
Rice and lukter – One thing common between Arunachalis and me, a Bengali, is the fact that both parties have this eternal love for non-vegetarian food. Lukter is nothing but smoked meat. Thin slices of meat are smoked over charcoal and eaten with plain, steamed rice. This is a great combination and it made up many of my lunches during my time in Arunachal Pradesh.
Chura sabji – One of the most unique dishes that I tasted in Arunachal, courtesy my uncle’s domestic worker Tashi didi, was the chura sabji, made up of fermented yak cheese. This is one dish that took me some time to get used to, but once I got accustomed to the taste, I found myself asking Tashi didi to get me chura sabji very often.
Koat pitha – Although I am definitely not a person with any kind of sweet tooth, koat pitha was definitely something that I crave often in my busy city life. It is a sweet dish that is made with jaggery, banana, flour and mustard oil. This is that one dessert I would totally cheat on my diet for.
So, if you are planning on visiting Arunachal Pradesh, do not forget to try out these amazing dishes. And if travelling to this beautiful state is not on your to-do list yet, then add it as soon as possible to explore the state and the food. It will be worth every second and every penny.