Varities of Food In Sikkim

                                                         SIKKIM FOOD

Hey guys! Welcome to my blog today I will tell you about some of the famous and tasty foods to eat in Sikkim. But first I will give you an introduction about Sikkim which is also called Drenjong in Tibetan language which means "valley of rice".

                                                             SIKKIM

Sikkim is a state in northeastern India. It borders Tibet in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in west, and West Bengal in south. Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest among Indian states. A part of the Eastern Himalaya, Sikkim is notable for it's biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates, as well as being a host to Kanchenjunga, the highest peak in India and third highest on the Earth. Sikkim's capital and largest city is Gangtok. Almost 35% of the state is covered by the Khangchendzonga National Park- a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now let's see the delicious food that people of Sikkim eat.....

      1. Phagshapa

 

Generally a dish for the summers, phagshapa is a pork based served dish served with rice. Food from Sikkim is generally regarded to be very spicy even though this dish contains it's fair share of heat, it is still easier on the palate than the rest. The star of the dish is the pork, cooked with subtle spices, chilli and radish in oil. The pork fat is left on the meat to give it the dish's primary flavour.

      2. Chaang

                      

In the bitteer-cold winters of Sikkim, it is ideal to try out an alcoholic beverage to keep you warm. A Tibetan later adopted by the state, Chaang is a must-try drink in Sikkim. It is produced with fermented cereals and sipped through a bamboo vessel with a bamboo straw. The vessels with millets are topped with warm water to extract the flavour.

           3. Kinema curry

A unique dish, the star ingredient of this dish is fermented soya bean. It is one of the most popular dishes of the state for its taste as well as its high protein value. A tadka of turmeric powder, onion, red chilli and tomatoes is added to the gravy to further enhance the taste. The dish is served with rice. This is a great food for the vegetarians visiting the state. 

4. Kodo Ki Roti

A Nepali dish, kodo ko roti has been adopted through Sikkim as a dish of its own. The dish is a simple bread meal, typically served with pickle. With kodo flour or finger millet flour, the batter is kneaded and spread across a banana leaf. The leaf is then covered and baked on a tawa. The dish is known to taste best when a tomato pickle is served as an accompaniment. 

5. Sael Roti

Reminiscent of a soft pretzel because of its ring shape, a sael roti is a bread prepared during festivals in Nepal. This has been roped in Sikkimese cuisine. The dish is made from a batter of fermented rice and then deep-fried. The dish is perfect for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, since it can be eaten with a potato curry or even a meat accompaniment.

6. Gundruk and Sinki

Another one for the vegetarians, gundruk and sinki are fermented vegetable dishes. Green vegetables are packed into air-tight containers to make gundruk. Various other vegetables including turnip, radish and mustard are cut and fermented to make the sinki. They can be eaten or even added into soups, pickles and curries. 

  7. Chhurpi

Cheese is loved by almost all, barring the lactose intolerant of course. And while fancy international cheeses from around the world are commonly talked about, there is little discussion about this delicious cheese in Sikkim. chhurpi is manufactured in both hardened and softened versions. The harder cheese is made from Yak’s milk and is either brown or white in colour. It is typically slightly sweet in taste. The softer one can be made from the milk of yak, goat or cow. This kind is slightly tangy in taste.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog , Stay tuned for more blogs.

-Nandini Chandel