Famous Dishes of Seven Sister States in Northeast India Will Leave You Drooling

Talking particularly about the Northeast, you would have heard of its picturesque beauty and how it packs everything from the lush scenic views to the magical waterfalls in its geographical boundaries. But have you ever heard about its culinary delights? 

Famous Food of Northeast India

Maybe yes or maybe no. Needless to say, when it comes to travel, the food of any place (in this case, Northeast India) does add an important layer for the tourists and makes it worth exploring. And just like any other travel getaway, the Northeast also has its highlights of cuisines which sets it apart from other Indian states while giving it a unique travel voice of its own.

Let’s dive in and discover what we are trying to express here.

Northeastern Cuisine: ‘Tis More than What Meets the Eye

Famous Food of Nagaland

With more than 15 tribes inhabiting here in perfect harmony, Nagaland has its own style of cooking. The tribals from every community have their own specific ingredients with which they spice up their food, and perhaps, that is the beauty of it. For instance, fermented soybean aka Akhuni is majorly used by the Seema tribals. 

It is the simplicity of cuisine preparation by using herbs as well as meat that makes the Naga cooking style quite unique. You will find the usage of ingredients like onions, ginger, garlic, mejenga seeds very common in the local way of cooking. And one key ingredient that makes Naga food worth drooling for is the Raja Mirchi (King Chilli). For the unversed, Raja Mirchi is counted as one of the hottest chillies all across the globe. It won’t be wrong to say that with this kind of culinary elegance, Nagaland is truly one of the best holiday places in India.

Some of the Popular Dishes of Nagaland

• Hinkejvu - Made with Colocasia, cabbage leaves, mustard leaves, and French beans, Hinkejvu is one thing you mustn't skip at all. It tastes great and comes with a high nutrition value.
• Akibiye - A delectable delight made from the bamboo shoots, colocasia (roots, leaves, and stem). So, when travelling to Nagaland, do checkmark this one beforehand.
• Fish in Bamboo - Delightfully smoked; the combination of several spices makes this dish one of the must-haves. The overall flavour and the aroma which permeates the air will simply melt your heart away.
• Zutho - For those who might not know, Zutho is a rice beer and quite famous in the whole state of Nagaland. This fermented drink is quite popular among the Angami Nagas.

Famous Food of Meghalaya

One of the best places to visit in Northeast India, the locals here consume meat in considerable quantities. The smoky flavour of the meat will make your mouth water. Talking about meat, one of the most relished dishes of the Meghalaya’s Cuisine is Jadoh - a pulav served with pig liver, bay leaves along with black pepper. Apart from pork, the locals here are a great fan of eating fish. The recipe for preparing a fish is equally smooth; firstly it is dried, then cooked in a container made out of bamboo, then, baked in banana leaves over an open fire. The purpose of doing all this is to prepare the fish with smoky flavours. On the other hand, the tribals of the Garo community use dried fish with a soup known as nakham bitchi. 

Some of the Popular Dishes of Meghalaya

• Jadoh - A terrific culinary delight made out of rice and pork. Don’t forget to write the recipe down for your future cooking endeavours at home.
• Dohkhlieh - Essentially a pork salad, which is mixed with lots of spices and ingredients like onions, chillies, and salt. This one is a must-taste for those on a trip to Meghalaya.
• Pumaloi - A special type of powdered rice made with a nice blend of spices. It tastes great and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be on your must-try list.
• Bamboo Shoots - It’s marinated pork with soy sauce served with a lot of veggies. Both in terms of taste and nutritional value, this is one good recipe which everyone must try on their vacay trip to Meghalaya.

Famous Food of Tripura

Pork, fish, and Mithun meat are quite common delicacies that are easily available in Tripura. The locals here generally use strong flavours in their recipes along with a lot of veggies. It won’t be wrong to say that a typical Tripurian cuisine isn’t exactly complete without adding a lot of green to it.

Some of the Popular Cuisines of Tripura

• Mui Borok - The highlighting ingredient of this dish is Berma, a fermented dry fish which is kinda people’s favourite here. As minimal to no usage of oil is there in the dish, it comes out as quite healthy and great in taste.
• Chauk - If you are someone who likes to take multiple swigs of beer every now and then, in that case, you cannot miss out on Chauk - a local form of rice beer prepared by fermenting rice in water. Usually, the locals gulp it down on occasions of happiness like festivals and events. Pineapple, Jack Fruit, and Mami rice go into the making of this delicious beverage.
• Mosdeng Serma - This tangy ketchup (chutney) is what gives several other Tripurian dishes their unique taste. It is prepared using garlic, red chilli, and Burma.
• Bhangui - This is yet again a rice dish that is prepared with great love and finesse. The main ingredients of the dish are ghee, onions, and ginger.

Famous Food of Manipur

A great variety of dishes can be found here. The blend of spices and other ingredients like meat, rice, etc. gives the whole gastronomic experience of this state its own unique flavour. You would be surprised to know that a typical Manipuri Thali can have as many as 30 items containing food items like dal, salads, dishes made from meat, rice, fish, and whatnot! Indeed visiting this travel destination in India would be the right choice for you.

Some of the Popular Culinary Delights of Manipur

• Chamthong or Kangshoi - Basically a vegetable stew, Chamthong is made from vegetables and other ingredients like cloves, garlic, cloves, and ginger. Served hot with rice and fish, Chamthong is a must-have whether or not you are in Manipur.
• Eromba - Here is another great dish worth drooling over! Made with vegetables (which are voraciously boiled) and fish, Eromba is all things you wished should be in a blockbuster cuisine.
• Morok Metpa - This is basically ketchup prepared using green chillies which are mashed and also boiled along with Ngari fish.
• Singju - Loaded with every kind of vegetable you could imagine, Singju is quite a popular local dish of Manipur. It is flavoured with ingredients like perilla seeds, chilli powder along many other herbs.

Famous Food of Mizoram

Mizoram comes with its unique culinary identity. The usage of mushrooms, roots, leaves, and various kinds of nuts in the dishes make the whole munching experience quite satisfying, especially for the tourists. What’s interesting is that there is a bare minimum usage of spices like clove, pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom. Instead, the aforesaid ingredients are used in Mizo-styled cooking.

Some of the Popular Food of Manipur

• Koat Pitha - These are fried fritters made from rice flour, jaggery as well as bananas. The locals consume it on special occasions like any major event or festival. It is truly a mouth-watering dish.
• Misa Mach Poora - Those who love shrimp will surely find Misa Mach Poora a delicious delicacy worth tasting again and again. Made using a nice blend of spices, mustard oil, and a bit of good lime juice, this dish is worth every bite of it.
• Paanch Phoron Torkari - It is made in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian ways. For those who love variety, Paanch Phoron Torkari won’t disappoint.
• Bai - It is a popular Mizo dish that is made from steamed vegetables, bamboo shoots, pork, and other local herbs; it tastes delicious. Bai is very easily available in Mizoram.

Famous Food of Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh, Pork, rice, Mithun, and poultry take the front seat and are consumed in flourishing quantities. Apart from that, the locals also use a great variety of herbs in their cooking, perhaps this is so as the Indian state shares its borders with China, which is also famous for the usage of herbs of vivid variety. 

Some of the Popular Food of Manipur

• Pika Pila - A famous pickle made amongst the Apatani community, Pika Pila might just end up being your favourite delicacy from Arunachal Pradesh. It is essentially made from Bamboo shoots, pork, and king chilly.
• Lukter - This is yet another delicacy made from dry meat that is nicely cooked. Meant to be eaten by rice, Lukter is everything your taste buds could desire.
• Pehak - Mainly a chutney (ketchup), Perhak is a side dish that can be consumed with just about any other local cuisine.
• Apong - Home-made and chemical-free, this traditional rice beer of Arunachal Pradesh is the hot favourite of the locals.

Famous Food of Assam

Just like its tourist attractions, you will find a great variety of ingredients used in the local dishes prepared here. Herbs like modhusaleng, pipoli, and Brahmi are used in good quantities in this. Although the Assamese cuisine is majorly vegetarian, one can easily find pigeon, duck, and goose being used here as almost the staple diet of the locals.

Some of the Popular Dishes of Assam

• Duck Meat Curry - It is notably one of the most famous local dishes of Assam. People usually consume it on special occasions.
• Masor Tenga - It is a dish that is a nice blend of rich, tangy, smooth broth which is made out of tomato, outenga, and lemon. Although it is quite a common dish yet is a hot favourite of the tourists.
• Aloo Pitika - Eaten along with rice and daal, Aloo Pitika is one dish that probably doesn’t have any haters. Made from mashed potatoes, mustard oil, and onion, Aloo Pitika is everything a foodie can desire from their heart and soul in a cuisine.
• Pitha - Usually eaten during breakfast or as an evening snack, Pitha comes in several varieties. It can be served as sweet, fried, or even in steamed form. To prepare it, a lot of precision is required at the end of the cook. 

So with this, we are at the end of our blog. Do try your hands on these terrific Northeastern cuisines while on a vacay. For planning your travel itinerary, use Adotrip's smart circuit planner. And for booking Northeast Tour Packages at exclusive prices get in touch with us at our website.