South Asian food is all about flavour, flavour, and flavour! The spices, the chillies, the vegetables and the textural components—all create magic together. Be it India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh or China, all these countries serve some amazing foods that are an absolute delight for foodies. However, one South Asian country whose cuisine can win over the taste buds of anyone, but is still unexplored, is Bhutan.

The staples of Bhutan include maize, buckwheat, and rice. The daily diet comprises of pork, beef, yak meat, chicken, and lamb. Soups and stews of meat and dried vegetables spiced with chillies and cheese are also prepared. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular. If you ever plan to visit Bhutan, don’t forget to try these mouthwatering dishes.

Ema Datshi

The dish could be called the national dish for its all-presence and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. It is a stew, which is similar to a curry. It is made of green, yellow or red chillies, yak or cow’s milk cheese, onions and tomatoes. A common accompaniment with Ema Datshi is red rice.

Jasha Maroo or Maru

It is a spicy stew or curry which is made with diced chicken, onion, garlic, chillies, tomato, ginger and coriander leaves. It may be served with a generous portion of chicken broth. Sometimes, beef may also be used in place of chicken. The dish is usually served with red rice.

​Phaksha Paa

‘Paa’ is a curry with gravy or a meaty stew. Phaksha Paa is made of pork slices stir-fried with whole red dry chillies, ginger and Bok Choy (a celery-like stalk with dark leaves). Mountain vegetables such as radishes and spinach may also be added in Phaksha Paa.

​​Momos

Popular throughout the Himalayas, from Nepal and Tibet to Bhutan, Momos are eaten extensively. They can be stuffed with practically anything, but the typical fillings are minced pork or beef, cabbage, or fresh cheese mixed with spices such as garlic, ginger and coriander.

Jaju Soup

It is a traditional Bhutanese soup, usually served along with other dishes. It is made up of green leafy vegetables like spinach or turnips. The broth is prepared with milk and butter. Sometimes, cheese is also added to the preparation to make it heartier and tastier.

​Zow Shungo

It is a rice dish, made with red rice and leftover vegetables. Zow Shungo is a healthy option and one which ensures that you do not have to throw away any leftover veggies. This dish is a popular favourite among Bhutanese cuisine.

Puta

It is a type of traditional Bhutanese noodles made from buckwheat. They are generally served boiled, but can also be stir-fried in oil. They can be spiced up by adding different sauces and sautéed vegetables.

Suja

It is a butter tea usually served after meals and quite soothing in the cold weather. Fermented yak butter is made from fresh yak milk. This butter is then boiled along with tea leaves and water. It is a frothy drink that tastes more like butter than tea and tastes salty.