Be a rich or a poor guy, food always share a unique bond with each one of you. The necessity of food remains the same. Though your style of food cuisine might change. So, trying different cuisines, knowing a different culture is fun right? Thus it is interesting to note that even the same plain rice cooked at your home today can be cooked in like thousands of varieties in various part of India. Each state comes up with something unique. That’s the beauty of a diversified country like India. And such a diversified state with its Northeastern ethnicity as well as beauty is Assam.
Assam will replenish you with the right kind of flavours. To surely tickle your taste buds! Delicacies with that extra tinge of Assamese herbs and flavours will surely leave you craving for even more and more.
1. MASOR TENGA – AN ASSAMESE EMOTION!
Want to have something super drooling for hot summers? Try this. I am sure you will love it. This evergreen dish of Assam is made of fish and everything sour. The dish is quite simple. Marinate the fish with salt and turmeric and then fry it in hot oil. Then slowly cook it in a rich, tangy gravy made with tomato, some potatoes(optional), outenga (elephant ear), and some lemon to add that extra tinge. And have it with some rice. It’s pure bliss. Being a hosteller, Masor tenga just makes me homesick!
2. KHAAR – THE EPIC ASSAMESE FLAVOUR!
Khar is a delicious signature class Assamese cuisine. It is made by filtering water through ashes of the sun-dried skin of a few varieties of banana. Traditionally we call it kola khaar. Well, but that’s just the khaar. You then need to prepare the whole curry from it. And for ingredient you can then add raw papaya, mustard leaves, vegetables, pulses, fish or any other non-veg main ingredient. Have it with rice. It is tempting!
3. ALOO PITIKA- THE COMFORT FOOD!
This comfort side dish is a popular one that you’d find in any Assamese platter. Just Boil or roast the potatoes. Then you have to mash it up. Mix it with little raw mustard oil, finely chopped green chillies and some onions. And then you are good to eat it up! This Assamese cuisine is simple, easy and very satisfying I must say.
4. DOI CHIRA – THE FESTIVE MARKER!
This traditional local dish is mostly prepared during festive Bihu celebration in Assam. Bihu is the main festival of Assam. But one can have it daily for breakfast as well. Moist flattened rice is then mix with curd, cream and jaggery. You might be thinking this to be a dessert but it is not so.
5. PITHA- THE YUMMY RICE CAKES
Pitha is a unique form of rice cake, mainly prepared on a festive occasion. But you can eat it at breakfast or even with your evening tea. The preparation of this dish is very unique in style with precision. Lot of varieties of pithas are prepared in Assam. Made either fried, toasted or just hand-rolled, these sweet and savoury dish is an essential part of Assamese tradition and culture.
6. PORK WITH LAIXAAK – THE ETERNAL LOVE!
Hey, pork lovers have you ever tried this? Roasted or boiled pork is the common and also the main ingredient in this cuisine. Laixaak is nothing but a unique form of green leafy spinach. Next time you visit Assam do try this. Though looks very unusual combination. But pork tastes brilliant when paired with this Saag. Try it out if you love pork!
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7. POITA BHAAT – TYPICAL FARMER’S BREAKFAST!
Poita Bhat is a simple Assamese farmer’s breakfast. So, commonly seen in the rural household of Assam. Ferment the rice overnight by adding some water to it. And the next day you can have it by seasoning it with raw mustard oil, salt and some green chillies. And to add on top of it you can also have some aloo pitika with it. Aloo pitika is the assamese recipe of mashed potato. Hope you remember guys? (Well the one, which I have discussed above)
8. XAAK BHAJI – ASSAMESE HERB DISH!
Xaak can be named as the herbal side dish for any Assamese platter. Finely chop it and fry it in mustard oil. Season it with ginger, garlic, cinnamon, onions and sometimes lemon. It is a staple form of food of Assam. It is purely healthy and flavoursome too!
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9. MAAS POORA – THE EXOTIC FISH CUISINE!
Tiny river fishes wrapped and steamed in banana leaf. And later garnished with chopped onion, coriander and fresh green chillies. This is one of a traditional Assamese way to prepare the fish item. Also, can’t talk enough about its health benefits! Fish lovers it’s a must-have!
10. DUCK WITH KUMURA- ETHNIC DELICACY OF ASSAM!
Locally called “haa”, duck is one of the most popular meats consumed by Assamese folks. The white gourd is the choice ingredient because its natural aroma complements the duck. Marinate the duck with seasonal vegetable and duck. As well as prepare the gravy. Serve it with rice, the staple food of Assam. It is very good for winters and monsoons.
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11. PARO MANXHO – MEAT DELICACY OF ASSAM
Pigeon meat complemented by Koldil or Banana flower is another popular delicacy among these folks. Pigeon meat is known to keep your body warm in winters and thus preferred to be eaten during winters. It might sound unusual to some of you guys. But this cuisine is very popular among Assamese folks!
12. OU TENGA- ZESTY ASSAMESE FLAVOUR!
Assamese food trends in the production of tangy and savoury items. Ou Tenga is a sour and sweet chutney served among Assamese folks. It is made mainly of jaggery and elephant apple. Guys, you should give it a try. The sweet savoury taste of it melts your taste buds away. So, it does gives that extra tickling sensation to your taste buds. Thus, it perfectly compliments any meal!
13. PAAN TAMUL- TRADITIONAL OFFERING!
Offering Paan Tamool( areca nut) to guests, after tea or meals in a brass plate with stands called bota is common. This is an inbuilt tradition in Assam. During religious and marriage ceremonies or any other occasion, it is regarded as a welcome offering. So next time when you visit Assam, you will get to have a glimpse of this tradition.
14. MATI MAHOR DAALI- PURE ASSAMESE BLISS !
Roasted black gram dal is washed. Then boil it in a pressure cooker. On getting boiled, add kol khar to it. Daal is boiled further with the lid of the pressure cooker open. Now add ginger garlic paste to it. After boilng for 10 more mins the dal is ready.
Well, next time you visit Assam, do try some of this awesome recipes. You will surely love it!