MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Kashmiri cuisine stands iconic. Cradled in the panoramic beauty of mountains, rivers, and lush green valleys, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is not just a paradise for nature lovers but also a hidden gem for food enthusiasts. Since Azad Kashmir doesn’t only offer breathtaking beauty, but also mouthwatering cuisine.
The cuisine of AJK is deeply rooted in its culture, geography, and history, offering flavours that are rich, comforting, and soaked in tradition. While Kashmiri cuisine, in general, is famous for its aromatic dishes, Azad Kashmir has its distinctive specialities that mirror the simplicity and warmth of its people.
It is home not only to some of the most breathtaking sights of shimmering lakes, lush pine forests, beautiful terraced fields, and tall and imposing snowcapped mountains. Providing not only tranquillity but also an adventurous escape. So if you are interested in an adventurous time, you might want to check out the top things to do in Azad Kashmir.
Additionally, if you ever find yourself in this stunning region, here are five traditional dishes you simply cannot miss.
Visitors to this breathtaking area must experience these five traditional dishes while they are in the region.
Goshtaba – The royal delicacy
Goshtaba is an elegant representation of Kashmiri cuisine. The term “dish of kings” defines this royal food that uses tender Kashmiri mutton minced meatballs and prepares them in creamy yoghurt gravy, which receives further taste as it gets spiced up with ghee.
Goshtaba exists as a symbol of festivity because people prepare it during grand ceremonies. Thus this tradition delivers both culinary excellence and celebratory customs. The meatballs and the gravy blend to produce a memorable dining experience thanks to their soft meat and creamy, savoury flavour combination.
Tabaq Maaz – A crispy mutton delight
The homestyle mutton meat delicacy Tabaq Maaz serves as an absolute pleasure for people who enjoy meats. Lamb or goat ribs are slow-cooked in milk and aromatic spices until they become tender before they receive a crispy finish after frying in ghee.
People usually eat Tabaq Maaz as an appetizer during communal or family dining events. Residents enjoy this dish because the external crispness perfectly matches the pleasure of soft meat that falls apart in the mouth.
Rajma – The comforting kidney bean curry
Rajma stands as the signature dish of Azad Kashmir because it presents comfort through a perfect kidney bean curry which is paired with rice.
Rajma represents a traditional slow-cooking experience that combines onion and garlic with tomatoes while using Kashmiri spices before becoming a flavorful nutritious dish. People usually eat this staple food regularly in their homes, particularly during the winter months, as it serves a warm and comforting feeling.
Kashmiri Pulao – A sweet and savoury rice dish
What distinguishes Kashmiri Pulao from typical pulao recipes is its unique blend of rice base, which receives saffron flavouring along with dry fruits and nuts, plus aromatic spices.
Kashmiri Pulao exists in two mouthwatering versions, which include pieces of meat or stay exclusively vegetarian with raisins overpowering the taste alongside almonds and cashews. The festive occasion of weddings and celebrations brings out this dish because each mouthful delivers an exquisite blend of rich flavours between sweet and savoury.
Noon Chai – The pink elixir of Kashmiri cuisine
Every dining event in Azad Kashmir requires the consumption of Noon Chai; the locally beloved pink salted tea. The baking soda, green tea, milk and salt mixture combine to create a tea that offers unique sensations which require patience for acceptance but lead to lasting attachment.
People regularly enjoy Noon Chai during cold mornings since this pink tea is served together with local bread like kulcha as the morning ritual of many Azad Kashmir residents.
As you are on it, you might also want to check out the Kulchon Wali Gali. Located in the heart of Muzaffarabad in the market at Upper Adda, there is a street known as ‘Kulchon Wali Gali’, or The Street of Kulchas.
For more than two hundred years, this place has been the hub of Kashmiri kulcha, an age-old traditional delicacy. This craft is so old and has been practised for so long that it is now facing the threat of high costs and economic issues.
Azad Kashmir’s traditional food turns from basic hunger satiation to a representation of regional history, community and cultural identity, and historical foundations. Kashmiri people express their legendary hospitality through every dish starting from the noble feast Goshtaba to the simple pleasure of eating Rajma.
Seeing the vivid landscapes during your visit must be combined with experiencing the authentic taste of AJK.
