Not to Miss Local Delicacies of Sikkim
Sikkim is a land that amazes you with its natural beauty, culture, and cuisine. Yes, the food of Sikkim is not just different but also mouthwatering delicious. Since Sikkim is a state where there is a large Tibetan and Nepalese population, local delicacies usually consist of Nepalese, Tibetan, and Sikkim dishes.If you are taking a Sikkim Tour Package, you should definitely try out the local delicacies, you are actually missing out on a whole new experience. To experience the real Sikkim, you must try these local delicacies of Sikkim.
Momo
Momos are the favorite fast food of the people of Sikkim. Both fried and steamed momos are loved by the locals and you will love them to. The dumplings of momos are made with white flour and are stuffed with vegetarian and non-vegetarian fillings. Momos are originally from Tibet, but here in Sikkim you will find momos with a Nepalese twist. In Sikkim, momos are filled with all sorts of fillings- paneer, tofu, chicken, pork, cheese, corn, and cabbage and are served with sauce. Since it is a local delicacies, you can savor them in almost any restaurant in Sikkim.
Thukpa
Thukpa is one of the favorite Sikkim delicacies that is loved by foodies from all over the world. Thukpa is a hot noodle soup that is made using various vegetables and/or chicken. Its origin is credited to both Nepal and Tibet. It is a delicious, hot, and healthy soup that is very effective in keeping you warm in cold weather. Thukpa is made using literally all types of vegetables- cabbage, bell peppers, cauliflower, spinach, celery, carrots, garlic, and onions. Spices are added to it to enrich the flavor and to warm up the body. The non-vegetarians add chicken to it and relish this wholesome meal. It is available everywhere in Sikkim, but the locals prefer to cook their own Thukpa or to buy it from the local vendors.
Sael Roti
Sael roti is made of rice flour. The sweet rice batter is deep fried in ghee or oil. These ring shaped breads are then severed with potato curry, mutton curry, and even pickle. This is basically a sweet snack that is often cooked during festivals like, Tihar and Dashain. Sael roti is originally from Nepal but has found a huge following in Sikkim. It is served in almost every restaurant in Sikkim, so next time you are in Sikkim make sure that you order sael roti.
Phagshapa
Phagshapa is a pork dish that is relished by both Sikkimese and Nepalese. There are no vegetarian version of this dish, so this is purely a non-veg delight. It consists of only three ingredients- pork, chili, and radish. First onion and ginger garlic paste are sautéed inoil and then radish and red chili are added to it. Pork pieces are cooked separately and then all the three ingredients come together in a stew. Not only is phagshapa a very delicious local delicacy, but it is also very healthy since there is very little oil in it. And remember that it is a spicy dish since there is lot of red chili in it. Like other local delicacies, you can find phagshapa being served in almost every restaurant in Sikkim.
Niguru with Churpi
This is a local dish that you will not find in most of the restaurants in Sikkim. If you want to try this dish, you will have to befriend a local and request him/her to cook niguru with churpi for you. Niguru is a fiddlehead fern, which when cooked with churpi (cheese) tastes irresistible.
Gundruk
This is another Nepalese delicacies that has found home in Sikkim. This is a pure vegetarian dish that the villagers have been cooking for thousands of years. This staple diet of the vegetarians is cooked using fermented leaves of vegetables like, radish, cauliflower, and mustard. It is a very healthy dish, since it is packed with vitamins and is said to be very good for the metabolism. In order to relish this dish, you will have to befriend a local since it is not available in most restaurants. There is no need to worry on this front, since the locals are very friendly and would love to serve you gundruk.
Sinki
Sinki is another popular local delicacy that you will only find in local households. Like gundruk, sinki is also a fermented dish. The difference is that while gundruk is prepared using fermented leaves of leafy vegetables, sinki is prepared using the fermented radish tap roots. The fermented radish roots are then used in soups and stews. These fermented roots are also used as pickles. Sinki is a dish that you must try during your Sikkim Tourism.
Thenthuk
This is another delicious noodle soup that you can find in any restaurant in Sikkim. It is actually a popular street food of Sikkim. It is originally from Tibet and is cooked using chicken, meat, veggies, and wheat flour. The flat noodles in this soup are made with wheat flour. The non-veg can order a chicken, pork, mutton, or egg thenthuk. It is a thick and creamy soup that your taste buds will relish. The best thenthuk is usually sold by the street vendors.
ShaPhaley
This is a popular street food in Sikkim that you will relish forever. This is also of Tibetan origin and is loved by the locals here. Shaphaley consists of a bread that is stuffed with ground beef and cabbage. The bread is then shaped into semi-circle and then deep fried. For the health conscious it can be pan fried also. The bread is crispy on the outside, but the grounded meat and cabbage inside is soft and will just melt in your mouth. A bite of it will tingle your taste buds like never before. It is a street food that is also available in most restaurants across Sikkim.
Kinema
This is a popular vegetarian dish that is often served with rice. It is cooked using fermented and dried soya beans. It is mostly prepared as a soup, but many people also prepare it as a side dish and serve it with bread. It is really easy to prepare and delicious in taste. Not to forget- it is also a healthy dish, since it is packed with proteins. Almost every restaurant in Sikkim serves this dish.
Sikkim has a rich and highly delectable cuisine and these are just some of the popular dishes of Sikkim. So next time you are in Sikkim, make sure that you at least try some of them.
