India is a vast country. It has twenty-nine states and seven union territories and each state, and union territory is different regarding its culture, language, food items, and even dress. Most of the states in the North-East of India remain a mystery to the people of India. People are still unaware of the things that are available here. These places have some food items that are exclusively available here, and are worth trying. This article brings to you some of these food items.
1.Pika Pila
Pika Pila is a type of pickle that the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh makes. The things used for making this pickle are bamboo shoot, which is very famous in almost all the north-eastern states, pork fat and King Chilli, also known as Bhut Jolokia which is the hottest chilli found extensively in the north-eastern states. This pickle is quite spicy.
2.Apong and Marua
Apong and Marua are famous home-made found in Arunachal Pradesh. Since these drinks are home-made, they are free from any chemical substance and are also lighter than the commercialized ones.
3.Aloo Pitika
Mashed potatoes cooked in mustard oil, coriander, and salt are known as Aloo Pitika in Assam. It is the comforting food of Assam and delicious. If you ever happen to visit Assam, then you should certainly try this dish.
4.Silkworm
Assamese love this food item. The main ingredient of this dish is the larva of a silkworm. It is a traditional dish where the larva is stir fried with spices which leave the outside of the silkworm crunchy while the inside is liquid-like. It is worth the try once.
5.Singju
It is a salad extensively found in Manipur. The ingredients of this food item include finely chopped banana stem, banana flower, cabbage, lotus stem; some herbs found here, beans, coriander leaves, ginger, some other herbs, and lots of vegetables mixed with fermented fish. The seasoning of the dish include chilli flakes, salt to taste, roasted sesame powder, and roasted chickpea powder. It is a tasty dish with lots of herbs and vegetables which are good for health also.
6.Chamthong or Kangshoi
The people prepare it as a stew of many vegetables with chopped onions or spring onions, maroi, ginger, ngari, and salt and then topped with fermented, dried or fried fish pieces, again found in Manipur. It is a soup and side-dish with rice. It is one of the unique dishes of Manipur and cooked on special occasions. It is a must-try dish in Manipur.
7.Nakham Bitchi
A famous dish of Meghalaya, it is a delicious soup prepared with dried fish, and also lots of chillies and spices are used to make it tasty. It is a very popular food among the Meghalayans and usually taken after a heavy meal because this soup helps indigestion. The Meghalayans also serve this soup to their guests because it is a very special dish and is a mark of their Khasi community.
8.Dohklieh
This is also a salad made with pork, onion, and chilli. Beans, tomatoes, and carrots are put in to give it an impressive look. This dish is said to be good for the skin. It makes the skin glow and also helps in enhancing that glow. It also makes the skin smooth and wrinkle-free. It is extensively available in Meghalaya.
9.Bai
It is a well-liked dish found in Mizoram made of steamed vegetables, pork, spinach, and bamboo shoot spiced with local herbs and pork sauce (made of pork and mustard). This food item can also be prepared with butter to make it a vegetarian dish.
10.Koat Pitha
This is also a food found in Mizoram. They are deeply fried in oil. The ingredients include rice flour and banana. This makes the item crispy from outside and has a soft inner layer. It is an evening snack which goes well with Zu, the Mizo chai or tea.
11.Beans Mix
This is a famous dish in Nagaland which can be found even on the streets. If anyone wishes to have a vegetarian dish, this is the best dish that is available. This item is a mixture of beans, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, and some local herbs. It goes well with chilli sauces and curries that are exclusively found here.
12.Kongshia Lon
Kongshia Lon is another name for eel chilli sauce made of dry eel mixed with lots of spices, garlic and salt. It goes well with rice as an accomplishment. Though it might not sound very attractive and impressive, this dish is worth the try.
13.Kosoi Bwtwi
It is a traditional dish of Tripura. The ingredients include French beans, chopped onions, green chillies, a few tofu pieces, garlic cloves, salt, and turmeric powder. The people also use a kind of herb called the khundrupui leaves which is available only in Tripura. It is a tasty vegetarian dish and a must-try food item.
14.Kothalor Chakoi
This is a simple curry found in Tripura. The ingredients used for making it are jackfruit seeds and lentils mixed with mustard seeds, green chillies, yellow peas, shredded ginger, garlic, salt and baking soda. This is a popular curry available in every house of Tripura and is yummy.
15.Phagshapa
It is a famous dish of Sikkim. The ingredients include radish and pork mixed with light flavours of different local herbs and other spices. It is not very spicy. Chilli is the only spice used in it. It goes well with rice as an accomplishment and is available in every house of Sikkim.
16.Sel Roti
It is a famous home-made sweet dish of Sikkim. It is ring-shaped rice bread/doughnut which is available during Tihar, a festival in Nepal. The ingredients include rice flour mixed with customized flavours that are exclusively found in Sikkim. It is also a very popular item in the state of Sikkim.
17.Pehak
It is spicy chutney found exclusively in Arunachal Pradesh. It is made with the help of fermented soya bean and King Chilli which makes it hot and spicy. It also has the taste of flavoured rice and spicy, tangy mash which makes it even more delicious.
18.Paro Manxho
This is a delicacy found in Assam which is made of Pigeon meat. Pigeon meat is said to keep the body warm and therefore especially preferred during winters. It tastes best when eaten with koldil or banana flower, the buds of banana plant. The mixture of Pigeon meat and banana flower is then cooked as a curry with different spices. It is widely eaten by the Assamese people.
19.Misa Mach Poora
This is a dish found in Mizoram. The ingredients include shrimps, onion, coriander, peppercorns, and lime juice. It is a tasty and widely-found food item and available in every restaurant and Mizo houses.
20.Muya Bai Wahan Chakhwi
It is another famous dish found in Tripura. This food item is made up of bamboo shoots, pork, jackfruit seeds, green papaya, baking soda, green chilli, ginger, turmeric powder, rice flour, and salt. The people of Tripura are very fond of non-vegetarian dishes, and this is the most famous dish that is found widely in Tripura.
