Top 3 Bhutanese Dishes

 Life is more beautiful and enjoyable when you get to eat varieties of food.  Foods are the source of nutrients which provides use strength for doing anything. In this 21st century world is full of food and foodies. Different countries comes up with different dishes everyday which make foodies desire more and more for food. Each and every countries have their own food for which they are known for example India is know for biryani, Nepal is known for dal bath, same like that Bhutan is also known for varieties of food which are especially prepared in Bhutan. There are many dishes which are popular in Bhutan but most famous which are know for their unique taste and texture are Ema Datshi, Shakam Paa, and Phaksha Paa.

Bhutanese people are so in love with chilies and spicy food that they have prepare a a curry full of chilies and cheese and its called "Ema Datshi". It is among the famous dishes in Bhutanese cuisine, recognized as a national dish of Bhutan. The word "Ema" means "Chili" and "Datshi" means "Cheese" in dzongkha language. In order to prepare Ema Datshi, we can use different chilies(green, red, or white chilies) which may be dried or fresh. The cheese used in Ema Datshi is called Datshi which are homemade from curd of cow or yak's milk. 

How to make recipe to make Ema Datshi?

Ingredients needed are as follow:

1. Chilies
2. Onion
3. Tomato
4. Garlic
5. Unsalted Butter
6. Salt

Instructions:

1.  Heat a pan and add butter. Add sliced onion, tomato, and chilies. Give them a quick fry and add water. Add salt and cover. Cook until the chilies become tender.
2. Add cheese and let them melt in a low flam.
3. Serve them with red rice or white rice.

Bhutanese people very religious but they love eating meats. There varieties of meat dishes but i going the mention on the top two meat dishes of Bhutan which are well known for their unique making and taste. First dish is called "Shakam Paa" where word "Sha" means "meat", "Kam" means "dried", and "Paa" means "long strip of meat". Shakam Paa is also known as dried beef cooked with dried chilies and sometimes slices of radish. The beef in this dish are bit chewy as they are dried and preserved. It is excellent source of protein. It is one of the important dish that should be present during occasions like "Losar".

How to prepare Shakam Paa?

Ingredients needed are as follow:

1. Shakam (Dried Meat)
2. Red Chilies
3. Oil
4. Salt

Instructions:

1. Cut meat into long strips and rinse thoroughly. Transfer into a pot, add water, oil and salt. Cover and cook for 15 minutes on a medium high heat. 
2. Wash and cut chilies.
3. Give it a toss and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
4.  Lower the flame, toss and add the chilies. Cover and cook on medium low flame for 5 minutes.
5. Serve with red rice or white rice.

Second dish is called "Phaksha Paa" where the word "Phaksha" means "Pork". It is a Bhutanese dish of dried pork cooked with a variety of hot red chilies. Phaksha Paa is a special kind of dish which are mainly prepared for occasions and when there is visit of special guest. Pork is used for making two kind of dish in Bhutan one is Phaksha Paa and another is Sikam Paa where pork are smoked and dried in the sun too make extra oily.

How to make Phaksha Paa?

Ingredients needed are as follow:

1. Onion
2.  Ginger
3. Radish
4. butter
5. Pork
6. chili power
7. Salt
8. Green Chilies

Instructions:

1. Chop the onion and finely chop ginger and set aside.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan, add the pork shoulder, onion, radish, water, chili powder, salt and simmer over low heat until the pork is tender.
3. Add the ginger and chili to stew and simmer over low heat.

Though the Bhutan is small country it has varieties foods to serve for particular occasions. Above are some of the popular dishes that are prepared in Bhutan. Ema Datshi are considered special for vegetarian and other two are for non-veg peoples. Countries are also defined through different dishes.

Bhutan is rich in culture as well as food. Bhutan can be  land where every foodies want to visit as varieties of food are found which are rare. Therefore, food are not only for eating but also for preserving our countries in term on food and its unique taste. 

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