Ladakhi Cuisine: Spice up your Food Trip to Ladakh

Ladakhi cuisine is a unique fusion of traditions taken from Tibet, Kashmir and Central Asian countries, especially during the Silk route trading. Also, it is crucial to know that the cuisines have a significant influence by the surrounding involving the Himalayan peaks, Tibet plateau, and cool air from the valley of Ladakh. Mixing these elements has created a beautiful experience for spicing up your food journey in Ladakh.

Several Ladakhi cuisines are there to improve your taste pallet. It does not matter what you are looking for in Ladakh. It can either be a snack or a heavy meal. Ladakhi cuisine offers something best for every person. So if you are looking ahead for a trip to Ladakh, there are several dishes you cannot miss, and it is a must try.

Thukpa

Thukpa is considered one of the vital food of Ladakh. It is a dish with noodles with vegetables for vegetarians and mutton for non-vegetarians. The noodles are made using wheat. The broth in the dish is there to satisfy you and warm your body. There are varieties of thukpa that get served in the regions of Ladakh.

Thukpa is one dish that is a favorite of not only the local people but also loved by visitors. The best part is that thukpa is readily available in most restaurants in Ladakh at a reasonable price.

Momos

Momos is one dish that is very much known not only in Ladakh but throughout the region. It is a dumpling that gets prepared either in vegetarian or non-vegetarian. The momos prepared with the use of mutton are the most favorite and are very juicy andpopular in Ladakh. The vegetable momos are also enjoyed a lot.

The momos get cooked either by frying or steaming and have a sauce to go with them. As a Ladakhi cuisine, Momos is enjoyed most during festivals or celebrations. The process of cooking momos is unique as several momos are kept in a steamer with several rooms with several holes in them and placed above each other. Water is kept at the bottom to keep boiling, and momos get cooked with the help of steam.

Skyu

Another beautiful dish offered by Ladakh, skyu, is a traditional Ladakhi cuisine. The Skyu as a dish gets prepared using vegetables and dough in the form of balls. The balls are added to the water, and the vegetables are boiled on low heat. The best part is that skyu can get served along with mutton. The dish contains a good amount of calories and will make your stomach full. Skyu is best eaten in the winter when the temperature is at a shallow point. The dish is the favorite among the people visiting Ladakh and people staying there.

Paba and Tangtur

Paba and tangtur are one dishes of the time taken with people in fieldwork. Paba is a type of bread that is eaten along with tangtur. Tangtur is a dish made with buttermilk and vegetables that make this Ladakhi cuisine taste better. Paba and tangtur are for eating throughout the year. It is one dish found all across Ladakh in most cafes.

Chutagi

The meaning of chutagi signifies water bread. It is one of the unique dishes that have a high nutritional value. But, first, the dough gets prepared and molded into a shape. Then it gets cooked along with either vegetables or mutton. Chutagi is one special meal that is fulfilling and eaten at the time of harvest as it works to give them an energy boost. It is one of the main staple dishes you must taste when visiting Ladakh.

Thenthuk

Thenthuk(hand-pulled noodles)is another dish that has a similarity to Thupka. Thenkthuk is a dish that is mainly eaten in the regions of Ladakh and Tibet. The dough is made ready with mutton, veggies, and low- spices and gets served with noodle soup called thenthuk. This Ladakhi cuisineis found in most places in Ladakh, so it is crucial that when you visit Ladakh, you have to ry this dish, which will be a great experience.

Chhang

Chhang is a form of drink that gets served to visitors. It is a form of beverage that is alcoholic. Chhang is a beer prepared by fermenting Barley and is drunk during celebrations like weddings, festivals, etc. The vital thing to note is when this drink gets served to guests, they will take a buttered piece in small portions and place it on the top of the glass to show respect. It is a must-try if you are planning to visit Ladakh and want to try a beer.

Apricot jam

Everyone loves jams, and there is no question about it. Apricot jam is a local specialty that gets prepared in Ladakh. Once you have this jam, you will want to try it again. You will find many types of jams, but nothing can replace apricot jams. The jam is prepared freshly with the help of tart, which is available locally in Ladakh. Nothing is better than making your sweet tooth great with the richness of apricot jam once you are in Ladakh.

Khambir

Khambir is a locally available bread with a crust thick in layers and made using wheat, buttermilk, and baking soda. The dough gets fermented and served along with butter tea. Khambir is one dish you must try if you want to understand what precisely ladakhi cuisine is. The locals also look forward to having khambir bread with vegetables.

Conclusion

Ladakh cuisine will enrich your taste pallet, and you can enjoy a variety of dishes. Afterward, if you wish to explore more of Ladakh's culture, you must see the people living their traditional life. Their life is much better than ours because they are free from the greed of the money we have in our societies.