Page 73 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INTRODUCING DELHI & THE NOR TH  71

Kashmir
Food here ranges from a
simple family meal to a
36-course wedding banquet,
the wazawan, where guests are
seated on cushioned rugs in
groups of four, in front of large
silver platters. Rice, grown in the
Kashmir Valley, mutton, chicken
or fish are of prime importance.
The generous use of yoghurt in
the sauces gives the dishes a
creamy consistency, while the
Shikaras (skiffs) carrying fresh vegetables on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir locally grown saffron adds
flavour and colour. Walnuts
pudding) and crushed almond blend of Northwest Frontier and almonds are also added
or pistachio kulfi (ice cream), and Mughlai cuisines. The hub for texture and flavour. A meal
garnished with noodle ribbons. of Punjabi cuisine is Amritsar, ends with kahva, a green tea
famous for its batter-fried fish. flavoured with cardamom
The dhabas (eateries) that dot and cinnamon.
Punjab
the main highways offer the
Punjabi food is rich and whole- best local food, as truck drivers ON THE MENU
some, and is largely influenced demand hot and tasty meals.
by the lifestyle of farming and Aloo tikki Potato cutlets.
agricultural communities. It is Chhole-bhature Spiced
dominated by milk and dairy chickpeas and puffy bread.
products, such as yoghurt and Dal makhani Lentils flavoured
paneer (cottage cheese), with ginger, garlic, spices and a
prepared in innumerable ways. dollop of cream.
Popular drinks are lassi (butter- Gushtaba Large meatballs
milk) and a variant, chhach, made flavoured with fresh mint.
with ginger, coriander and
powdered cumin. Wheat is the Phirni A sweet rice pudding,
staple cereal and dishes include garnished with nuts.
aloo parathas (fried bread stuffed Shami kebab Mincemeat
with potatoes and vegetables, patties flavoured with spices.
and eaten with yoghurt) and the Tandoori murg Barbecued
seasonal sarson ka saag (mustard spring chicken.
greens) and makke (corn) ki roti. Yakhni A yoghurt and mutton
Although vegetarian food is or lotus root curry with a
the main fare, the non-vegetarian Winnowing wheat, a common sight delicate hint of fennel.
dishes from this state are a in Punjab

Rogan josh has pieces of Dal combines lentils with a Gulab jamuns are deep-fried
mutton simmered in yoghurt heady mix of onions, garlic and milk and flour balls in a sweet
and is then thickened with spices. It is considered India’s syrup flavoured with rosewater
khoya (solidified milk). “soul food”. and cardamom.

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