Flavours of Kashmir at this NCR meals festival
IANSlife spoke to Chef Anurudh Khanna to obtain out aspects
What are some of the indispensable ingredients in a Kashmiri kitchen?
Khanna: The valley of prosperous delicacies as it is known as, the people of Kashmir have often taken pleasure in their capability to generate royal feasts out of easy substances. From the royal Wazwan to program dishes cooked in regional homes, the Kashmiris have mastered and preserved the knack of introducing a distinct flavour to their food, which can not be matched by any other delicacies in the globe. When we hear of Kashmiri kitchen area ingredients or spices, the common spice saffron flashes in our brain. But there is substantially far more to it than just Saffron. Spices which are straightforward, but unheard of blend jointly in great harmony to impart that uniquely Kashmiri flavour which just can not be set into words and phrases!
Rice is the staple food stuff of Kashmiris and has been so because historic moments. Meat, alongside with rice, is the most well-known food stuff merchandise in Kashmir. Mutton, rooster or fish are of prime relevance. There is a lot of use of yoghurt and turmeric in most of their dishes. Spices like cloves, cockscomb, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and fennel which are commonly regarded scorching are applied broadly in various Kashmiri cuisines, though garlic and onion are not employed much. The area features of remaining the primary producer as nicely as the exporter of saffron which is utilised as a colouring and seasoning agent and also as an ingredient in quite a few of its dishes specially sweets and rice preparing. The beautiful aromatic flavour of variety of dishes, especially seasoned with saffron, have become an integral aspect of Kashmiri food stuff. Dry fruit is also utilized extensively in diverse Kashmiri dishes, especially in getting ready curries. Kashmiris are avid tea fans. The most well-liked and renowned teas are the Midday Chai, or Sheer Chai and Kahwah. There as almost twenty versions of Kahwah. Kashmiris also follow the approach of cooking on woods. Mention Kashmiri food and the well-known dishes that you could think of are Dum Aloo, Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Gustaba, Rista, Haaq and many others.
Delhi and Gurgaon have pockets where just one can relish authentic Kashmiri food. What is Westin’s tactic to this delicacies?
Khanna: Discovering authentic Kashmiri foodstuff is in fact an uphill activity, if a single won’t use standard Kashmiri spices or utilize the conventional cooking strategies, it could end result in compromised style.
Through all our pop-ups and culinary festivals, we consider to existing a variety of cuisines in fashionable techniques without the need of compromising on the integrity of the delicacies. We do not change common recipes or the way we provide our foodstuff. In the Kashmiri food items competition, we will serve Kashmiri foodstuff the classic way, it is supposed to be. Friends these days are trying to find to indulge in unique dishes for their palate. We are delighted to keep providing our visitors a assortment of special encounters primarily based on embracing and showcasing local lifestyle and traditional ethos. We have curated this pageant to give our company an prospect to relish the style of a person of the most loved cuisines- Kashmiri food which is basic, entire of flavours but wealthy in flavor, with ingredients that participate in beautifully with your style buds and leave an boosting expertise.
The spices and the ingredients made use of in Kashmiri cooking are supposed to be indigenous to the valley which ultimately give it a classic taste – local spices like chilies, cockscomb, turmeric and saffron will be used to achieve the genuine taste in the dishes. I strongly believe that meals ought to evolve but stay rooted to custom. In excess of the several years, persons have started to modernise this tradition by including new servings these kinds of as – cold beverages, sweets, dry fruits, and so forth. But the serious natural beauty of Wazwan lies in its outdated regular strategies which is the place our concentrate will be. Our guest Chef Tariq Ahmed is renowned for creating age-old genuine recipes he has brought with him all his spices which includes dried Kashmiri chillies, dried cockscomb flower, cinnamon etc. from Kashmir, as he feels that only these spices introduced from his homeland could be utilised to make the very same taste and genuine recipes.
From a chef’s position of view how can Kashmiri meals and hospitality be popularised?
Khanna: Kashmiri cuisine is a lot more than just food stuff – it can be a celebration a everyday living. Not in contrast to Kashmir’s pure elegance and wonderful items, Kashmir’s cuisine much too is celebrated as specific. Wazwan has now turn into a byword for refined Kashmiri delicacies to be eaten by the urban elites and luxurious resorts and dining establishments in Delhi, for occasion, provide this Kashmiri feast to their friends as a gourmet knowledge. The richness of style, texture, colour and fragrance of Kashmiri Wazwan is unmatched and unparalleled. I have always been intrigued and interested in Kashmir cuisine, with a exceptional meals lifestyle – which has always piqued my desire. At the Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi, the pageant is our humble way of assisting in popularizing the nearby ethnic delicacies from the snow-capped valleys, were our attendees will not only delight in Kashmiri foods, but knowledge Kashmiri hospitality.
Kashmiri saffron has lately been provided a GI tag, and a lot more spices, honey and Kashmiri variants of rice may perhaps adhere to before long. How important is this identification? How does it assistance?
Khanna: Kashmiri saffron, or ‘Zaafran’ as it is called in Urdu, is renowned globally as a spice with many medicinal added benefits. It represents the abundant cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Over the years, I have even applied saffron from Spain and Iran, but nothing at all comes near to the high-quality varietal from Kashmir. Two strands are all you need to have. It is so strong with a deep prosperous colour. With production declining and apprehensions of adulteration expanding, the GI tag could restore saffron to its previous glory. I am confident that its popularity and export will expand a great deal a lot more and this will put the spice on the globe map. This will also assist infuse a sense of self confidence in customers, with regards to the authenticity of the saffron as nicely guarantee consumers of provenance.
Tell us about the ongoing Kashmiri food festival.
Khanna: The resort has welcomed the famed professional Waza, Chef Tariq Ahmed from Srinagar to choose its company on a 10-working day culinary symphony with a regular Kashmiri foodstuff competition ‘Sair-e-Kashmir” at its all working day eating restaurant, Seasonal Preferences from 22nd – 31st January, 2021.
Making use of the very best organic and natural substances from the valley, the learn chef will prepare dishes infused with the richness of cinnamon, cardamom, chilli and saffron, the critical substances of Kashmiri delicacies, generating the competition a need to-visit. What makes the cuisine special is the preparing- which is considered to be an artwork with the fragrance of spices, flavours, freshness and extended-long lasting aromas. The uniqueness of Kashmiri food items lies in the primary premise that it is geared up on gradual but ongoing warmth, which tends to make the food items maintain its nutrients and the aroma.
The standard Kashmiri non-vegetarian signature dishes will contain Rista (meatballs in a fiery purple gravy), Gushtaba (a velvety textured meatball in white yogurt gravy), Tabak Maaz (ribs of lamb simmered in yogurt until tender, then fried), Lahabi Kabab (flattened mutton kababs cooked in yogurt), Waza Chicken (two halves or two whole chicken cooked entire), Rogan josh (tender lamb cooked with Kashmiri spices), Mutton Yakhni (delicately spiced yogurt mutton curry) and a lot much more. For the vegetarian palate, there will be dishes like Tamatar Chhaman (cottage cheese squares with tomato gravy), Chok Wangan (baingan/ eggplant in a tangy yogurt gravy), Dum Kashmiri Aloo (potatoes cooked in yogurt gravy), Nadru Yakhni (lotus root with mild fragrant spices in a yogurt gravy) and so forth.
Zesty chutneys like Mooli akhrot chutney (a sharp radish and walnut chutney) and standard Zirish ki chutney (spicy dried black currants and pink chilly chutney) will add zing to the palate. Ending the meal on a sweet observe, will be the aromatic and flavorful Zafrani Phirni, a dessert produced with rice, milk and saffron – surely a feast for the senses. Attendees may complete their Kashmiri journey with Kahwa, an fragrant traditional Kashmiri green tea built with cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and cardamom, that will sooth the senses and transport them to the land wherever heaven satisfies Earth – the valleys of Kashmir.
When: Everyday, 22nd January until finally 31st January 2021
Wherever: Seasonal tastes at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi – Readily available for lunch and meal
Selling price for 2 : INR 2000 onwards
(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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