15 Traditional Foods of Himachal Pradesh That You Must Try

Himachal Pradesh is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty with snow-capped mountains, deep forests, waterfalls, and rivers. Besides its natural beauty, Himachal also offers a tasteful blend of cultural and traditional Himachal Pradesh cuisines. The traditional foods of Himachal Pradesh give you one more reason to fall in love with this state. The Himachal Pradesh local dishes are deeply influenced by its neighbouring state of Punjab and by Tibetian cuisines.

The Himachali food items are mainly plant-based and animal-based. Most of the dishes are made from natural veggies and animals like sheep and goats. Most of the Himachal Pradesh dishes are mouth-smacking and full of nutrition and health. The traditional and famous food items of this state are slow-cooked with a unique aroma and flavor. In the 12 districts of Himachal, all food items have unique preparation styles and tastes. Let’s read about the famous and traditional food items that you must have to try while in Himachal Pradesh.

15 Famous and Traditional Foods of Himachal Pradesh With Names

1. Dhaam

Dhaam is one of the delicious and traditional foods of Himachal Pradesh, and it is one of the most famous food items of Himachal. Himachali Dhaam is a popular traditional feast prepared during festivals, marriages, special occasions, and auspicious days in Himachal Pradesh. Dhaam is a complete nutritional food like a plate full of delicious and healthy food items.

Dhaam is served on leafy plates called “Pattal” or “Pattlu’ (in the local Himachali language). This dish includes plain rice served with a variety of dal, rajma, yogurt curry, Madra, sepu badi, and other lentils and vegetable items and in the last a sweet dish “Meetha Bhath” is served. Dhaam is prepared by the special chefs called “Botis.” This is prepared all over the Himachal and famous as “Kangari Dhaam” or “Chambyali Dhaam”.

• Where to Find: Kangra and Chamba

Also Read : Traditional Dress of Himachal Pradesh

2. Babru

Babru is a special dish, and this dish is similar to the Kachoris across North India but has a unique twist in the preparation of this snack “ Babru.” It is like a deep-fried puri and has sweet and savoury versions. This dish is like a flatbread dough stuffed with a mixture of Urad dal/ Black gram dal and a sweet one stuffed with jaggery and nuts. It is crispy in taste and served with tamarind chutney or a dish called “ Chana Madra.”

• Where to Find: Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur and Chamba

3. Patrode

Patrode dish is the most famous Himachal Pradesh food item and all the Himachali People happily and fondly eat this dish. This dish is prepared with the leaves of Arbi (Taro Plant). The gram flour (besan) paste is prepared with all the Indian spices, and then this paste is spread all over the Arbi leaves, and the Arbi leaves are rolled and steamed for 20-30 minutes. After the steaming, this dish gets half cooked and then cut into slices and fried in the oil, and then this mouth-watering dish is ready to eat. This dish Patrode is eaten as a snack with tea or with chapatis in all Himachal areas.

• Where to Find: All Over Himachal

4. Tudkiya Bhath

Tudkiya Bhath is a mouth-savouring famous food of Himachal Pradesh. It is similar to the pulao but cooked uniquely. This dish is cooked with rice and includes Indian spices with an extra add-up of lentils, potatoes and yogurt, onion, tomatoes, and garlic which make this dish more delicious. This Tudkiya Bhath is accompanied by mashed dal and lime juice for the best taste.

• Where to Find: Chamba

Also Read: Rivers in Himachal Pradesh

5. Chana Madra

Chana Madra is one of the most famous and traditional Himachal Pradesh cuisines that represent the food culture of this state. It consists of chickpeas ( White Chana) which are soaked overnight. This is cooked in oil and seasoned with various spices such as cumin, cinnamon, cloves, coriander powder, and turmeric powder making it a tangy dish. It tastes best with both rice and chapatis and with another dish called “Babru.” It is served to the guests at various ceremonies like weddings and during celebrations.

• Where to Find?: Chamba and Kangra

6. Siddu

Siddu dish is Himachal Pradesh’s special food item. This dish is prepared from wheat flour and stuffed with mutton and vegetables. It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare. The wheat flour is left for 4-5 hours, then the dough is filled with mutton and vegetables and roasted directly on the flame to get half cooked, then steamed for some minutes to keep the taste and the nutrients of the dish intact and nutritious.

• Where to Find?: Shimla and Kullu, Manali

Also Read : Valleys in Himachal Pradesh

7. Bhey

Bhey is the famous food of Himachal Pradesh as this is easily found in every household of the locals and Himachali people are very fond of this food item. Bhey is prepared from the lotus stem, thinly sliced, and cooked with ginger, garlic, onion, and gram flour, giving this dish a unique taste and spicy flavor.

• Where to Find?: All Over Himachal

8. Chha Ghost

This dish is one of the best Non-vegetarian traditional dishes of Himachal Pradesh. It is made of marinated lamb, which is cooked in thick gravy of gram flour and yogurt with all Indian spices like chilli, cardamom, coriander powder, and ginger-garlic paste to enhance the taste of this dish. This dish is also known as “ Meat Bhath” as it tastes best when served with rice.

• Where to Find?: Chamba

9. Kullu Trout Fish

Trout fish is one of the famous Himachal Pradesh dishes in the Kullu region. This dish is prepared from Trout Fish. In this dish, the trout fish is marinated and then cooked with minimal spices to keep the taste and nutritional value of the fish. This Himachal Pradesh famous dish is served with boiled potatoes and vegetables. This is considered to be the most delicious and healthiest cuisine in Himachal.

• Where to Find? : Kullu

Also Read: Himachal Pradesh Fruits Name

10. Aktori

This dish is specifically made during festivals and celebrations of Lahul- Spiti Valley. This dish is like a pancake made from buckwheat leaves and then further cooked with wheat flour. This festive cuisine of Himachal Pradesh is happily enjoyed and loved by the natives of Himachal Pradesh.

• Where to Find?: Lahul-Spiti

11. Aloo Palda or Kaddu

This is the favorite dish of the locals of Himachal Pradesh. This dish is prepared with yogurt or with buttermilk. In this dish, the soft-cooked potatoes are further cooked with thick gravy of yogurt or in buttermilk with flavored spices like cinnamon, cloves, coriander, chilli powder, and onion and ginger garlic paste. This dish is prepared without soft potatoes, and simply the yogurt or buttermilk is seasoned with spices known as “ Kaaddu” or “Rehdu.” It tastes best with “ Makki ki Roti”. This cuisine of Himachal Pradesh is prepared in each household of Himachal.

• Where to Find?: Hamirpur and Kangra

Also Read: Hotels in Kasol

12. Bhuji

Bhuji is the traditional dish of Himachal Pradesh and is mostly found in remote villages of Himachal. This dish is prepared with special leaves called “Bhuji,” which are similar to spinach leaves. This dish is prepared along with leaves of Arbi (Colocasia). The Bhuji and Arbi (taro root) leaves are chopped and then cooked with onion and ginger garlic paste and seasoned with Indian spices like chilli, coriander, cumin, and turmeric powder and cooked for some time on a low flame. These leaves can be dried and sealed in the container for a long time to prepare this dish using dried leaves.

• Where to Find?: Chamba and Kangra

13. Mittha Bhath

This dish is authentic and one of the traditional foods of Himachal Pradesh prepared mainly during festivals, wedding ceremonies, and other celebrations. This sweet dish is prepared with rice cooked in sweet sugar or jaggery and then filled or garnished with raisins and dry fruits. This is prepared in all areas of Himachal.

• Where to Find?: All Over Himachal

14. Kale Chane Ka Khatta

It is a tangy and sour authentic and famous dish of Himachal Pradesh. This dish is prepared mainly in festivals and wedding ceremonies and in Dhaam feast. It is prepared with black chickpeas (Kale chane) soaked overnight and then cooked with gravy of tamarind (Immli) with all flavored spices. It tastes best with plain rice. Its tangy, sour, and spicy taste is mouth-watering.

• Where to Find?: Kangra

15. Tibetian Dishes

Tibetian dishes have gained huge popularity in the Himachal state as the Tibetian colony is an important part of this state. The Tibetian cuisines are famous and can be enjoyed in this state like Thukpa, Tingmo, Luchipoti, Thentuk, and dumplings ( famous as momos).

• Where to Find?: Dharamsala, Macleodganj and Lahul-Spiti

The day-to-day local and traditional foods of Himachal Pradesh are very simple and similar to other northern states of India. Himachal Pradesh dishes are a blend of taste and nutrition, so if you are on a trip to Himachal, then there is nothing better than enjoying Himachal Pradesh food items.

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