Himachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful northern states of India, sharing borders with Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Its beauty is because of the mighty Himalayan range stretching across the state covered with snow. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations for this reason.
This state is also famous for its rich culture, tradition, and delicious cuisine .The people People of Himachal Pradesh are known as ‘Pahari’ and so is their food. Himachal will give you a variety of options regarding food. Here is the list of the top 20 ‘Pahari’ cuisine of Himachal Pradesh, one should give it a try.
1. Dham
Dham is an exceptional cuisine of Himachal Pradesh. It is a thali wherein there is rice, rajma, Dal, kadhi, curd, and other Pahari delicacies. It is one of the most popular dishes of Himachal Pradesh. During any function or festival, Dham is served for the guests in the state. One must try this unique and complete package of Himachal cuisine.
2. Madra
Madra is a famous Pahari delicacy of Himachal Pradesh. It is popular in the Chamba area of the state. It is a curry of Channa mixed with different spices and sprinkled with onions and mint leaves. It tastes incredibly flavorable , and one will find this dish in every restaurant of Himachal.
3. Babru
Babru is a famous snack in this state. It is one of the unique Pahari snacks found in the entire state. Babru is considered the substitute of north Indian kachoris and is basically stuffed with gram paste. The taste of this snack is mouthwatering and one should try this when in Himachal Pradesh.
4. Tudkiya Bhath
‘Bhath’ means rice in the local language of Himachal Pradesh. Tudkiya bhath is a famous Pahari cuisine of the state. It is basically a Himachal pulao with lots of pulses or dal along with different spices and peas in it. It just tastes yum. Sometimes the ingredients of Dham are mixed to form this preparation.
5. Sidu
Sidu takes a lot of time to get cooked, but tastes delicious. It is one of the sides – dishes of the Pahari thali and one can enjoy it with curry of mutton or else chicken. This delicacy can also be easily found in different restaurants in Himachal Pradesh.
6 Kullu Trout Fish
As the name suggests, this preparation of fish is popular in the Kullu area of Himachal Pradesh. It is prepared using freshwater trout fish marinated with lots of spices and then mixed with boiled vegetables to give it a fantastic taste. Fish lovers visiting Himachal should try this Pahari preparation.
7.Aktori
Aktori – a famous dish in La haul- Spiti region of Himachal, but available in the entire state. This Pahari delicacy is a type of pancake which is baked and is made up of buckwheat leaves. This cuisine is also popular during festivals celebrated in Himachal Pradesh.
8. Patrode
It is one of the popular dishes of western India, but is famous in Himachal Pradesh due to its flavorful and excellent taste. It is made of the leaves of Arbi vegetable. The leaves are washed and then a paste of gram flour, and urad dal is spread over them and fried in oil.
9. Kale Chane ka Khatta
This delicacy is very famous in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the finest ‘Pahari ’ cuisines. As the name suggests, Kale chane ka khatta is a bit sour in taste and is served with plain rice. This preparation is popular in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
10. Tibetan Dishes
Himachal Pradesh has a significant influence on Tibetan culture and tradition, especially in Dharamshala. This is the reason; Tibetan food is also very famous in the state. Thupka, LuchiPoti, Naizha cake are some popular Tibetan dishes of Himachal Pradesh. One must try the taste of Tibet when in Himachal Pradesh.
11. Mittha
Mittha is a Pahari sweet dish popular in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is basically rice that is sweetened and filled with dry fruits like cashew nuts, almonds, and raisins. Mittha is a delight to have and is one of the best sweets of Himachal.
12. Chha Gosht
Chha Gosht is one of the finest delicacies of mutton in Himachal Pradesh. It is a delight for meat lovers and a must-try dish. In this preparation, the mutton is marinated with curd and other spices and slowly cooked in a delicious gravy. Using various spices in this dish is responsible for enhancing its taste.
13. Pahari Chicken
It is another delight for non – vegetarians. Chicken Pahari is an authentic dish made of various ingredients like different spices, coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, and yogurt. This dish is usually served with Plain rice or Butter naan, which gives an exquisite taste to the mouth.
14. Bhey
Bhey is a Pahari delicacy of the state, which is made of lotus stems. In this dish, the lotus stems are sliced and cooked with various spices. It is generally considered to be a side dish and is a very famous delicacy of Himachal Pradesh.
15. Aaloo Palda
It is a famous Pahari delicacy of northern India and is very popular in Himachal Pradesh also. This is a straightforward dish of Aaloo mixed in gravy of curd and spices, but tastes really ravishing. It is one of the best delights for vegetarians in Himachal.
16. Auriya Kadoo
Auriya Kadoo is a dish wherein the core ingredient is Pumpkin. This is another Pahari vegetarian cuisine famous in Himachal Pradesh. It is a vegetable of pumpkin, potato, and mustard seeds mixed with an authentic powder made of dried mango. One should definitely try this if looking for a proper vegetarian delight.
17. Gahat Ka Shorba
Gahat ka shorba is a soup in Himachal Pradesh. This soup is made of the local grain gahat and mixed with coriander and lemon, which produces a strong and refreshing taste. This soup is a must-try as it is also a perfect recipe for the cold weather of the state.
18. Chamba Chukh
As this dish has its roots from the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, that is why this is popularly known as Chamba chukh. Chukh is famous chutney made with green chilies and citrus fruits like lemon. It is also used as a pickle and relished with the main course.
19. Anardana Chicken
Another popular dish of chicken in Himachal Pradesh is Anardana Chicken. As the name suggests, this preparation makes use of Anardana that is Pomegranate. This is a unique dish and has a tangy taste. This is a must-try chicken preparation for chicken lovers.
20. Mash Dal
Mash Dal is a famous Pahari cuisine of Himachal Pradesh. It is basically dal made of black lentils. Different spices are used along with ginger, garlic, and onion to give it a rich taste. This preparation can be enjoyed with plain rice and roti.
