The State of Jammu & Kashmir is known for its traditional and street foods. Each region, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh, has its own special and traditional foods influenced by the climatic conditions & customs.
Kashmir
Harissa shop
Rich and redolent with the flavour of the spices used –cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, saffron, etc. -- Kashmiri food can be the simple meal of a family, or a 36-course wedding banquet called Wazawan. The staple diet of every Kashmiri is rice, the most preferred being the dense, slightly sticky grained Kashmir variety, which is prized in the Valley
Kashmir is famous for its Wazwan, predominantly non-vegetarian. Rice is the staple food. Mutton, chicken and fish are of prime importance cuisines. Instead of sweets Kehwah, Persian tea, is served after wazwan which is usually served 7 to 10 courses at weddings and parties- a sign of lavish hospitality. Several restaurants in Srinagar, mainly at Residency Road, serve Kashmiri Wazwan. All the better hotels have restaurants generally serving Indian, Continental and Kashmiri cuisine. Other restaurants are mainly located at Boulevard, Lambert Lane
, Lal Chowk, besides at all the hill stations and tourist destinations. Street foods are available near Lal Chowk and elsewhere. Better sweet shops are located at Residency Road and Boulevard. Quality bakeries are available at M.A Road
and Dalgate market. Traditional breads like tsot, tshochwar & bakerkhani etc are available in all the markets. The delicaries are available at food street Lal Chowk.
The waza (cooks) preparing Wazawan
Mutton, chicken or fish are of prime importance in Kashmiri meal and everyday cooking often combines vegetable and meat in the same dish. Mutton and turnips, chicken and spinach, fish and lotus root are also very popular combinations. Pure vegetarian dishes include dum-aloo - roasted potatoes in curd-based gravy, and chaman- fried paneer (cottage cheese), in a thick sauce. Non-vegetarian dishes are considered in Kashmir to be a sign of lavish hospitality and at a Wazwan or banquet, not more than one or two vegetarian dishes are served. Sweets do not play an important role in Kashmiri cuisine. Instead Kahva or green tea is used to wash down a meal.
Ladakh
Ladakh has traditional foods like mukh mukh available at Leh Hotels & Restaurants. Better hotels and Guest Houses provide Continental, Indian & Ladakhi cuisines. A traditional tea suitable for chilly winters called gur gur chai (buttered salty tea) is available at restaurants / tea shops. Local breads are also available at some shops in Leh Bazar.
Jammu
Traditional Foods of Jammu are Morel (Gushi) Palov, Madra (lintel cooked in curd), Oria(Patato/Pumpkin in mustard sauce), Maani, Khameera, Katha Meat, Shasha(raw mango chatni), Kasrod and Timru-di-Chatni.