Visiting Assam? Here are 5 Traditional Dishes You Must Try

Assam might be the land of one-horned rhino, but it offers a myriad of culinary jewels too. Most dishes are a perfect mix of fresh ingredients and delicious flavours here. Simple ingredients like fish, green vegetables and bamboo shoots are used in the cuisine. New Delhi has quite a few good Assamese restaurants but if you want to experience the real thing, book a Delhi to Dibrugarh flight.

Here’s a look at some of the tastiest Assamese foods you must try one you deboard.

1. Omita Khar

Khar is unique to Assam and the main ingredient is raw papaya. The other ingredients include pulses, vegetables, meat or fish. A sort of alkaline liquid is extracted from dried and peeled banana, which goes into the making of Khar. The dish is pleasantly aromatic and aids in digestion. This is one of the most popular recipes of Assam, particularly because of the distinct taste and flavor.

2. Peetha

The Assamese usually prepare Peetha during the auspicious festival of Bohag Bihu. However, the dish can be enjoyed all year round too. These are toasted, fried or rolled manually by hand. For a rustic flavor, peethas are also often barbequed inside bamboo stems. They are either sweet or tangy and taste best with curd or jaggery. Peetha is popular among children and makes for a healthy snack as well.

3. Masor Tenga

This is a light summer dish made from mustard, Kazi nimbu and sour Chonak fish. There is usually a riot of flavors, created with fresh tomatoes and ginger. Many Assamese communities also add raw mango, elephant apple, panch phoran and Fenugreek to render a tangy taste. Masor Tenga is best paired with plain rice for lunch or dinner. Professional food bloggers particularly take flights between Delhi to Dibrugarh to savor this dish.

4. Pani Hamuk

Snails are a dominant part of North Eastern cuisine. Pani Hamuk is an interesting dish, since you will have to suck out the meat from the shell. These are small snails, which can only be sourced from paddy fields and flowing streams. They are cooked with potatoes, red chilies and pumpkin, and leave your taste buds all tingly. It is an exotic dish and taking a Delhi to Dibrugarh flight particularly for Pani Hamuk can be worth it.

5. Eri Polu

This might raise your eyebrows, but stir-fried silkworms are quite popular among tribal Assamese. When the silk is separated from the cocoon, the leftover pupa is boiled in water. The exterior is crunchy, while the insides are all soft and tender. It will literally melt in your mouth, since the pupa becomes extremely soft and delicious. However, if you have strict diet restrictions, make sure you avoid Polu.

A few other exciting dishes are Paro Mangxo, Duck with Kumura, Koldil Bhaji and Dhekia Xaak. Assamese love to mix and match various flavors to create unique tastes. You can pack a few dry items to bring back home on your flights from Dibrugarh to Delhi.