The enchanting land of Meghalaya is also known as the “abode of clouds.” This mesmerizing state in northeastern India is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, pleasant weather, and captivating streets. However, Meghalaya has more to offer than just its natural beauty. It is a treasure trove of culinary delights that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more. As you explore the picturesque hills and immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere, make sure to embark on a culinary journey and savor the traditional dishes that define the authentic cuisine of Meghalaya. From delectable meat-based delicacies to mouthwatering vegetarian delights, Meghalaya’s cuisine reflects its rich cultural heritage and the diverse traditions of its indigenous communities. Join us with our Meghalaya Packages as we embark on a trip to this magical state, discovering the must-try famous foods of Meghalaya and exploring the natural gems of this state that will truly capture the essence of this remarkable destination. Get ready to indulge in a feast of flavors that will leave an everlasting impression on your palate. And as the word food teases your taste buds, here’s a list of 10 traditional dishes of Meghalaya that every traveler must try to experience the authentic cuisine of Meghalaya.
Getting the top spot in this list of famous food of Meghalaya is a delicious soup to satisfy your foodie soul. Best suited for consuming after a spicy meal, Nakham Bitchi is made of dry fish with vegetables. This dish is flavoured with lots of spicy chilies and pepper to enhance its taste and add tanginess to it. Post boiling, the vegetables are added to the soup with fish. 100% nutritious and healthy making it a staple food of Meghalaya.
If you’re a pork fan, then this is one of the famous foods of Meghalaya you must try. Sharply sliced pieces of pork, onion, mint, and some spices to taste, Dohkhlieh is one dish that’s super rich in protein and is filled with all the nutrition one can get. The taste is tangy and you can buy yourself a good Dohkhlieh salad from almost all food places in mesmerizing Meghalaya. This traditional food of Meghalaya is as traditional as it can get!
Regarded as the most famous food of Meghalaya, Jadoh is appetising, nutritionally rich and unique in its colour. Another pork dish on the list, Jadoh, consists of rice. The recipe involves cooking rice with chicken, fish or pork and for some extra taste, green chilies, onions, ginger, turmeric, bay leaves and black pepper. All of this is fried and cooked. Sounds tasty, right? Well then you must try this dish on your next trip to Meghalaya. The cuisine of Meghalaya just keeps getting interesting, doesn’t it?
Rice is one of the most popular food ingredients of Meghalaya. No wonder, the people of Meghalaya consume rice in a number of ways and Pumaloi is one of the most favorite ones. Moving further, Pumaloi means rice in the form of powder. This powder is put to steam and cooked inside a unique pot called Khiew Ranei. While cooking this dish, the heat is on a medium level with the right amount of water. All of this goes into bringing up the bright taste powdery taste of Pumaloi. And makes it worth each buck when you’re tasting the traditional food of Meghalaya!
Also Read: Best Things to Do in Meghalaya
One of the most popular Garo dishes of Meghalaya, Minil Songa is a sticky form of rice. Basically, the dish comprises sticky rice with a rich nutty flavour along with a delicate texture. Speaking of how it becomes so sticky, the starch does the job. To prepare a serving of Minil Songa, you’ll have to boil the rice in fresh bamboo and eat it as a snack. Apart from the brilliant taste, it also helps in constipation and improving digestion, making this food of Meghalaya an interesting cure too.
Also Read: 10 Best Places To Visit In Meghalaya
A unique addition in this Meghalaya food list and a true symbol of Meghalayan hospitality, Kyat is one heaven of a party drink. Made naturally using rice, Kyat is a fermented rice beer with an ultra-unique flavour. For preparation, the ingredients are put to boil in water. After that, the drink gets ready and can be garnished with local ingredients and served. Shillong is one of the best places for enjoying Kyat. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get it anywhere else on your next Meghalaya road trip. Each and every bar that you see in Meghalaya can serve you this beauty of a drink. Clearly, the drink’s fame and goodness is unmatched. No wonder, no household in Meghalaya will let you leave without having a glass of Kyat. Sweet, right?
The list of famous Meghalaya dishes is incomplete without Pukhlein. More powdered rice for the seekers of heavenly food in Meghalaya. Pukhlein as mentioned above is made with rice powder. But different from the others here, this dish is sweet for a change. And guess the sweetner? Natural jaggery! Brilliant, right? The dish is prepared by frying the jaggery and rice mixture in a pan forming a deep and thick paste. The ingredients in the pan turn golden brown and crispy. That’s the rice speaking of its sweet taste. To make the most out of this dish, you can serve it with a wide variety of meat items. It’s so simple and so delicious, missing out on it whilein Meghalaya will be a really bad idea.
Also Read: Waterfalls In Meghalaya
Another one on the list is this lilting, yummy mix of pork and curry. The dish is such heaven on earth, that it’ll definitely leave you licking your fingers. With pork and a rich thick gravy adding generous flavours along with the green chillies, pepper, red onions, black sesame and local spices, Doh-neiiong is something you can’t find anywhere else. And then, if you love pork, what else can you ask for? A thick juicy gravy with pork pieces cut fine, literally mouth watering. Totally something that you can’t miss out when exploring the cuisine of Meghalaya.
While for some food is a means of survival, there’s a bunch of people who travel states and even nations for food. Not that, you particularly have to be in that creed to try, love and appreciate new food items though. Keeping the same in mind, we came up with this ‘finger licking good’ list of 10 local food dishes of Meghalaya food every traveler must try.
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