Himachal Pradesh is a small hilly state of India that is known for its natural beauty, but it also has its very own unique cuisine with flavourful dishes. India is a beautiful country surrounded by lots of diverse landscapes and cultures on all sides. Each of these different parts of the country also has its own flavour palate and unique cuisines. The same is true for Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh is a hilly state in North India that is a favourite tourist destination for Indians because of its lush green forests and snow-covered mountain peaks. But Himachal also has some characteristic dishes that tourists often miss out on. Travelers who plan to visit hill stations like Shimla and Manali should also try out the unique dishes that Himachal Pradesh has to offer.
Must Read: How To Plan a Trip for Himachal Pradesh? – Travellers of India
Here is a list of the top traditional food of Himachal Pradesh that tourists must try out:
#1. Babru in Himachal Pradesh
#2. Kaale Chane ka Khatta in Himachal Pradesh
#3. Madra in Himachal Pradesh
#4. Chaa Gosht in Himachal Pradesh
#5. Dham Thali in Himachal Pradesh
#6. Aktori in Himachal Pradesh
#7. Siddu in Himachal Pradesh
#8. Bhey in Himachal Pradesh
#9. Mittha in Himachal Pradesh
#10. Thenthuk in Himachal Pradesh
#11. Kullu Trout in Himachal Pradesh
#12. Chicken Anardana in Himachal Pradesh
#13. Tudkiya Bhaat in Himachal Pradesh
#14. Kaddu ka Khatta in Himachal Pradesh
#15. Pahadi Chicken in Himachal Pradesh
#16. Tibetan Recipes in Himachal Pradesh
#17. Pahari Aloo Palda in Himachal Pradesh
#18. Gahat ka Shorba in Himachal Pradesh
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#1. Babru in Himachal Pradesh – This is perhaps the only famous food of Himachal Pradesh that has a little bit of popularity outside the state. The Babru is a kachori dish prepared in the Himachali cuisine style. This is a crispy, deep fried dish with a little bit of spicy filling inside. The Babru kachodis are perfect when served with some chutney and a hot cup of tea. Tamarind chutney also pairs perfectly with this dish. Tourists can try out the Babru kachodis at the street food stalls littered around Shimla. Babru kachodis are now available in some north Indian restaurants as well, though Himachali people argue that the taste is nowhere close to the original.
#2. Kaale Chane ka Khatta in Himachal Pradesh – This is another of the signature dishes of Himachal Pradesh. This sour gravy is usually served with rice dishes or with madra. The gravy has a rich, dark colour and a slightly thick texture. The Kale Chane ka Khatta has a mix of many different spices that lend it a kind of unique flavour. Serving sizes are usually large enough for two people and the dish is available at all popular Himachal tourist spots like Shimla and Manali.
#3. Madra in Himachal Pradesh – The Madra is a very traditional food of Himachal Pradesh. This dish is characteristic of the Chamba valley. The Madra is a lentil dish that is cooked slowly with lots of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cloves and turmeric. The madra uses generous amounts of oil and is a quite filling dish. The madra usually uses a chickpea base and is served to guests on many different special occasions. This is a rich, creamy dish that is bursting with flavours with every bite because of the large amounts of spices and flavouring agents that are used when preparing the dish.
#4. Chaa Gosht in Himachal Pradesh – Mutton curry is a typical element of Himachali cuisine and the Chaa Gosht is a prime example. The tradition of eating mutton has percolated from the Pahari people into the region of Himachal Pradesh. Chaa Gosht is a lamb meat dish that is prepared after marinating the meat in lots of spices. The meat is left to marinate in all the flavourful spices and dishes for a long time. The meat is finally cooked in gravy thickened up with yogurt and gram flour. The Chaa Gosht is a flavourful dish full of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, garlic and ginger. A big bowl of Chaa Gosht on a cold day in Manali is a perfect meal for tourists. This dish pairs perfectly with rice dishes and is now served in some top restaurants outside the state as well.
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#5. Dham Thali in Himachal Pradesh– Thalis area is a quintessential part of Indian food and culture and has been incorporated into many different cuisines. The Dhami thali is a great example of many traditional Himachal Pradesh foods. The thali includes rice, dal, rajma, a sour sauce, some curd and a sweet. This thali is perfect for those tourists who want to try out many different dishes all at once. Nowadays the humble Dham thali has been modernized and is available as a menu item in posh restaurants as well. Originally the Dham used to be served as a feast at weddings and other special occasions.
#6. Aktori in Himachal Pradesh– Aktori is an integral part of Himachal Pradesh food habits as a celebratory recipe. The dish involves primarily a buckwheat leaf that is cooked like a cake with wheat flour. This Akhtori is a dessert recipe that was originally prepared during regional celebrations by the Pahari people in the Spiti Valley. Now the dish is more popular all across Himachal Pradesh. People usually serve their Aktori with a drizzle of honey or ghee on top to give the dish an extra boost of sweetness.
#7. Siddu in Himachal Pradesh– The Siddu is one of those traditional dishes that used to be prepared by mothers and grandmothers with lots of care and attention, but is now dying out due to a lack of time on people’s hands. However, some Himachali culture enthusiasts are still trying to keep alive the ancient but laborious tradition of making Siddu. The dish is made with wheat flour, but the dough has to be allowed to settle for a few hours. Then the dough is cooked on a low flame till it is half done. The cooking is finally completed by steaming it for a while longer. The Siddu take a long time to prepare, but the taste is delicious and a representation of the authentic Himachali cuisine. People who visit Himachal Pradesh often take back Siddu for their friends and family to experience the authentic Pahari culture.
#8. Bhey in Himachal Pradesh– Bhey is one of the famous dishes of Himachal Pradesh. It is a very unique dish prepared from lotus stems. The stems are cooked with lots of onions, ginger, garlic and gram flour to create a unique blend of flavours. This crispy lotus stem is a good snack item that tourists can also try out to immerse themselves in the true flavor palate of Himachal Pradesh.
#9. Mittha in Himachal Pradesh– This is perhaps the main food of Himachal Pradesh in the sweets category. This sweet dish is prepared with a rice base and also has lots of dry fruits. Mittha is another one in the long list of rice desserts that are found in different variants in every corner of India. The Mittha is also a celebratory dish and is usually prepared for special occasions in Himachal Pradesh. This dish is a light dessert and pairs perfectly with other spicy Himachali dishes to clear the palate.
#10. Thenthuk in Himachal Pradesh– This is Himachali cuisine’s take on the famous Thukpa of north-eastern India. The Thentuk is a noodle dish cooked in warm broth. The noodles are prepared by hand-pulling soft elastic type dough. The dough is then flattened and the noodles are added to a broth of meat and vegetables. The Thenthuk is a Manali famous food that is well loved by tourists because of its ability to warm the body from the inside out on a cold winter evening. A steaming bowl of Thentuk is a great photo opportunity as well as great meal for tourists who want to fill up without having something too heavy on the stomach.
#11. Kullu Trout in Himachal Pradesh– The rainbow trout is the main food of Himachal Pradesh. The fishes are reared in the icy cold waters of the Himalayan rivers that flow through Himachal Pradesh. This fresh river trout is cooked in Himachal with their own traditional twist. The trout is marinated in lots of Indian spices and then pan-fried with generous amounts of mustard oil. Fresh fried Kullu trout served with a squeeze of lemon and a side of rice and veggies is a party for the taste buds. Travelers who visit Himachal Pradesh should definitely make it a point to try some local freshly caught trout, because nowhere else in India can one replicate the taste of trout cooked and fried straight from the water.
#12. Chicken Anardana in Himachal Pradesh– This is a very unique meat dish that is prepared with anardana or pomegranate seeds. The dish is believed to have some Persian origins. The chicken is marinated with the garam masala spice mix and then cooked in thick gravy. The gravy uses a yogurt base and a paste made of dried and crushed up pomegranate seeds. The gravy of Chicken Anardana has a spicy and sour taste. This chicken dish pairs with all kinds of rice dishes as the flavours are not too heavy and intense.
#13. Tudkiya Bhaat in Himachal Pradesh– Every part of India has its own rice dish or pulao variant and Himachal Pradesh is no exception. The Tukdiya Bhaat is cooked not only with a mix of spices, but lots of other elements are also added, to make the dish more wholesome and appetizing. The rice is mixed with potatoes and lentils and some yogurt, onions and tomatoes are also added to make the meal more filling. This dish is usually flavoured with cinnamon, cardamom and garlic. The Tudkiya Bhaat tastes best with a dash of lime juice on top. The Tudkiya Bhaat can be served by itself, but can also be accompanied by the different dishes of the region.
#14. Kaddu ka Khatta in Himachal Pradesh– Kaddu is pumpkin and kaddu ka khatta is a much underappreciated dish in the Indian cuisine that is capable of turning the boring pumpkin into a delicious meal. In Himachal Pradesh people prepare their Kaddu ka Khatta by cooking the pumpkin in a spicy madra sauce. Then a bit of khatta or tanginess is added to the dish with the help of a generous sprinkling of amchoor or dried raw mango powder. This is a cheap and simple dish, but tastes delicious because of its balance of flavours and fresh ingredients.
#15. Pahadi Chicken in Himachal Pradesh– Pahari dishes are a very important part of Himachali cuisine and the Pahadi chicken recipe is a crowd favourite in the region. This chicken dish is flavoured with cloves, coriander, cinnamon and fennel and cooked with some onions. This chicken is a perfect accompaniment with rice and is often a crowd favourite at restaurants in tourist hotspots like Shimla and Manali.
#16. Tibetan Recipes in Himachal Pradesh– Himachal Pradesh and Tibet have always had a close cultural connection and the cuisine of the two areas is also very closely intertwined. McLeodganj and Dharmashala are the best examples of the admixture of Himachali and Tibetan cultural influences. Some of the most popular dishes in this area are Thukpa, Tingmo, Naizha, momos and more. All these are Tibetan inspired recipes. Many traditional Tibetan recipes have also been adapted into more Pahari styles by the people of Himachal.
#17. Pahari Aloo Palda in Himachal Pradesh– This is a creamy soupy dish that is prepared from potatoes. Potatoes are slowly simmered in yogurt to create a thick consistency. Some regions in Himachal Pradesh make the Palda with some other vegetables as well. The aloo palda has a blend of sweetness and sourness in it. This creamy aloo palda can be served with rice as well roti or Indian flatbreads.
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#18. Gahat ka Shorba in Himachal Pradesh– Moving on from sweet and savoury meals let us move on to a drink which is a very traditional food of Himachal Pradesh. Gahat ka Shorba is a soup cum drink that is prepared from a grain called gahat that grows in the Himachal area. The drink is flavoured with coriander and garlic and tastes very refreshing. It is a good drink to cool down, hydrate and give your body some much needed nutrition after a hard day’s work.
There are lots of other delicacies in Himachal. With lots of influences from Pahari culture, from Tibet and from north India, the Himachali cuisine has developed its own unique identity. Focused heavily on lentils, curd and fresh fish, the Himachali dishes are a perfect combination of creamy and spicy.
There are lots of desserts as well for those with a sweet tooth. Himachal has grown over the last few years as a major hub of tourist activity and now the state’s tourism department is also trying to promote their cuisine as a unique selling point of the region. So, plan a trip to Himachal Pradesh today and immerse yourself in a diverse, delicious cuisine.
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