The picturesque Kashmir valley is not only a treat for the eyes but a delight for the belly, too. The Kashmiri cuisine is known for its appetizing and delicious preparations, with generous use of spices and dry fruits. This helps the people of the region to fight the extreme cold weather conditions, but it’s surely also because it just tastes so good.
As you would expect, the food of this region has a heavy Mughal influence, and is rich in flavour, because of the use of various spices such as saffron, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, fennel and cardamom. Let’s find out the top food in Gulmarg.
Top Non-Vegetarian Food in Gulmarg
1. Roghan Josh
A fiery lamb gravy, it is one of the more well-known Kashmiri delicacies and a must-eat dish for meat lovers visiting Gulmarg. A signature Kashmiri recipe, it was introduced to India by the Mughals.
It is prepared with aromatic Kashmiri spices, lots of red chillies, onions and yoghurt, and is typically eaten with rice or naan. Go ahead and fill your mouth with a riot of flavours.
- Where to have Rogan Josh in Gulmarg: Ahdoos and local outlets
2. Gushtaba
Meatballs floating in a spicy yoghurt gravy. Made out of mutton mince, it is usually eaten only on grand occasions, such as your holiday, of course. It is also known as a “dish fit for the kings”. Best eaten on cold winter nights.
- Best place to have Gustaba in Gulmarg: Nedous Dining Room
3. Yakhni
Flavoured with malwa flowers, this Kashmiri delicacy is made up of lamb cooked in a yoghurt-based gravy. The gravy comprises yoghurt, onion paste, black and green cardamom, dried mint leaves and aromatic fennel seeds to add an extra punch to the gravy. It is best enjoyed with rice.
- Where to have Yakhni in Gulmarg: Enjoy this dish in the local eating outlets in Gulmarg and at Nedous Dining Room.
4. Kashmiri Tujj
Tujj or the traditional Kashmiri mutton kebab is an experience that will mesmerise your tastebuds. These kebabs are prepared on skewers and cooked on slow-burning coal to cook the meat just right. The succulent minced mutton just melts in your mouth. It is eaten with a Kashmiri roti and radish chutney.
5. Gadde Monje
This is a rich and tasty treat for fish lovers. The fish is deboned and dipped in a spicy flour batter and then deep-fried.
A treat for the non-vegetarian palate, the gadde monje is usually served with a spicy radish chutney. This is a variation of the popular vegetarian item nadir monje, where the lotus stem is used in place of the fish.
6. Kashmiri Muj Gaad
Gaad is a dish that is made with fish along with nadur or radish. This dish is served on special celebrations and occasions. Herbs, spices and the amazing lotus stem add a robust flavour to this dish. It is usually served in the month of December during festivals like Gaada Bata.
- Where to have Muj Gaad in Gulmarg: At Bakshi and Nedous Dining Room you can enjoy the best Muj Gaad dish in Gulmarg.
Top Vegetarian Foods in Gulmarg
1. Dum Olav
Most of the Kashmiri dishes are non-vegetarian, but there is something legendary about the dum olav or aloo.
Potatoes cooked in yoghurt and spiced up with powdered ginger, fennel and other popular Kashmiri spices lend a very unique taste and flavour to this popular dish. Dum Olav or aloo is usually eaten with roti or naan.
- Where to have Dum Olav in Gulmarg: Relish this delicacy at The Chinar and other local outlets in Gulmarg.
2. Modur Pulav
Modur Pulav is the name given to sweetened Kashmiri rice made with cinnamon, a little ghee, saffron, green cardamoms, and milk as the main ingredients along with dry fruits.
The saffron gives this heavenly dish an orange hue and enhances its taste. The unique taste of this amazing blend of ingredients will leave your taste buds craving for more.
Where to have Modur Pulav in Gulmarg: Ahdoos and local outlets
3. Nader Monjje
The Kashmiri take on French fries they are sometimes called. But made instead with lotus stems, which, by the way, are a delight in any form.
Nader Monjje is a favourite snack and popular street food in Gulmarg. These are lotus stems that are cut into small pieces, dipped in a besan batter and deep-fried until they are golden brown.
4. Masala Tcotte
Perhaps the healthiest of the treats we’ve mentioned here, the Masala Tcotte is made up of boiled and flavoured chickpea masala that is spread over a Kashmiri naan (or lavaas as they call it there) and eaten with mujj chetin (or a spicy radish chutney).
This hot and yummy chickpea-filled roll is a healthy snack that can be enjoyed while taking a stroll on the streets of Kashmir. There are a lot of hawkers all along the streets that make and sell this dish. The spicy and non-messy chickpea wrap can be enjoyed while sipping a hot cup of tea, an ideal snack for a chilly winter day.
5. Kenn’k Masala (Kruhun Masalle)
These are a hit with people of all ages. Hot boiled and flavoured split wheat are mixed with a black masala (or the kruhun masalle as it is locally called) and eaten off a paper cone. This is a fat-free as no oil is used in the preparation.
6. Noon Tea
Highly unusual, Kashmiri noon chai is pink in colour and has a salty taste. Why? Because of what it’s made with: green tea, milk, salt and soda bicarbonate. Try it you must.
7. Sheermalas
There are many traditional bakeries that make different types of bread like sheermals, kulchas, bakarkhani, and various other sweet and savoury treats that can be enjoyed and eaten for breakfast along with a hot cup of Kahwah, a traditional Kashmiri tea.
Top Desserts in Gulmarg
1. Sewai
Considered one of the finest desserts of Kashmir, this simple yet mouth-watering dessert is made up of vermicelli or sewai. It is cooked in milk with coconut and has a generous helping of dry fruits. These simple yet amazing flavours will leave you wanting more.
2. Paratha Halwa
These large Parathas are a dream. These are basically large deep-fried rotis eaten with sooji halwa, a real winner and must-have on your list.
The halwa is made up of sooji or semolina and the paratha is made with flour. Not the healthiest combination surely, but there’s no way you’ll be able to refuse it once you see it.
The food in Gulmarg, as you can see in the pictures, can be pretty heavy, a necessary evil in the cold of Kashmir. It definitely makes for great holiday food.
We’re aware that our picks barely scratch the surface of all that’s on offer in Gulmarg. Let us know which others you would add to this list. Matschgand? Muji Gaad? What would it be?
