Taste of Sikkim

Cuisines


Sikkim is a very small hilly state of India located in the Eastern Himalayas with a total geographical area of 7096.Sq. Kms. The traditional food of Sikkim is called Sikkimese cuisine. The cuisine is a blend of Tibetan, Nepali and Lepcha dishes which comes from various ethnic tribes and communities of Sikkim. Sikkimese food is largely based on rice, culinary vegetables from jungle like Ningro (Fern), Nakima (Wild Lily), Baas ko Tusa (Bamboo-Shoot), Cheuw (Mushrooms), etc. Even organic vegetables such as Iskus (Chayote/ Squash), Pharsi (pumpkin), Pharsi ko Munta (Pumpkin leaves), Iskus ko Munta (Chayote/ Squash leaves), Kinema (Fermented Soyabean), Ruk Tamatar ( Tree Tomato) and Dalle Chillies (Hot Fire Balls), etc are also extensively used in day to day menu. Most of the Sikkimese people are meat eaters. Varity of fresh n processed meats of mutton,beef,pork chicken and fish are feasted in almost every meal. Locally fermented beverage such as Arra ( Homemade Whiskey), and Chaang / Tongba (Fermented Millet) also compliments the Sikkimese cuisine . Most of the raw materials are readily available in the local vegetable markets and meat shops at a decent price. Being an organic State, people seek for organic raw materials. Local beverages are mostly prepared in villages and can be available on demand. The method of preparations of Sikkim cuisine is generally stir fry, boiled or steamed. The use of spices and herbs are very limited. A wide variety of condiments and plants such turmeric powder, ginger, Chewri (Aesandra butyraceae) barks of plants like Gobere Salla (Abies wabbiana), Verla(Bauhinia Vahlii), Chatiwan(Alstonia scholaris) etc. are also used for medicative purpose. Sikkim offers many interesting and mouth watering dishes but just to raise up your appetite, recipes of few interesting and mouth watering dishes has been endowed below.

Sel Roti

Sweet Rice Bread...

Sha Phaley

Bread sruffed with meat and vegetables...

Sishnu ko soup (Nettle Soup)

Sishnu soup is prepared from leaves of edible wild varieties of nettle....

Hard Churpi

Chhurpi (Nepali: ??????) or durkha is a traditional cheese consumed in the Himalayan regions of Nepa...

Momo

Momo is a type of steamed dumpling with some form of filling...