Famous Food Of Meghalaya: A Gastronomic Tour In A Dramatic Terrain
What do you understand by Meghalaya? While Megh means ‘clouds’ and Alaya means ‘home,’ the state named the home of clouds is located in the northeastern part of India.
The famous food and culture of Meghalaya are as unique as the place itself. The delicacies of Meghalaya are also in the limelight, with CM Conrad Sangma inaugurating the Culinary Cascade in Meghalaya.
Unlike the rest of the nation, the food habits of this region remain mostly liberal, which is evident from the incorporation of diverse types of meat and vegetables.
The delicious home-cooked curries include pork, chicken, mutton, beef, and other meat variations. Bamboo shoots are common in Meghalayan food. Furthermore, black, white, and red sticky rice varieties are staples in Meghalayan food.
The Garo and Khasi ways of cooking influence Meghalayan food. In fact, the Pumaloi food of Meghalaya comes from the Khasi culinary tradition.
Also, the use of locally-grown organic products, a sustainable approach to commercializing the foods of Meghalaya, and community bonding make the food here a manifestation of who the people here are.
“This event is a vibrant celebration of our Meghalaya’s rich cultural and culinary heritage, highlighting traditional culinary practices while drawing inspiration from global cuisines, culminating in a refined fusion of local flavors with international flair.
We are proud to have farmers and entrepreneurs who will showcase their organic produce and artisanal products, underscoring the importance of sustainable and community-driven food systems.”
Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, at the Inauguration of the Culinary Cascade.
Do you want a more in-depth understanding of Meghalaya’s famous food? This Dream and Travel Guide will take you on the ultimate gastronomic tour.
What Makes The Famous Food Of Meghalaya So Unique?
You know, I hate cliches. However, when it comes to the famous food of Meghalaya, I could only think of the much-used adjectives such as soul-warming, spicy, and smoky.
This is how Meghalayan food is: simple yet incorporating layers of flavors like various human emotions or the mysteries of the universe.
Also, I think the intimate bond between the Meghalayan people and nature is evident in the brilliant items they serve on the plate. Furthermore, the deep-rooted tribal traditions and unique cooking methods add to their charm and how they connect to our souls.
Moreover, as I have mentioned, thanks to the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia influences, you will find the presence of locally sourced and fresh items in their cuisines.
Greens from local forests, fermented elements such as soybeans and bamboo shoots, and hand-reared meat are important elements in the local delicacies.
Also, the cooking techniques, such as steaming the food in bamboo or slow-cooking in woodfire, make these delicacies more magical.
Now, let’s discuss the flavors and aroma. Mustard oil gives most delicacies a pungent depth, while bamboo shoots give the food its umami flavor.
On the other hand, the wild peppers make the dishes spicy, and the tree tomatoes are flavor bombs with a hint of spice, smokiness, and a sweet and tangy taste.
So, you can expect a wholesome and one-of-a-kind experience by gorging on the best Meghalayan food.
Famous Food Of Meghalaya You Must Try: Don’t Miss These Delicacies
Let’s have a taste of Meghalaya’s famous cuisine, celebrating the indigenous traditions of the state.
1. Jadoh
Many call Jadoh the “Biryani of Meghalaya.” It’s a simple dish made with rice, tomatoes, and green chilies.
Further, you will find black sesame seeds, cinnamon, bay leaves, and black pepper in Jadoh. Moreover, the use of pork fat makes the flavor profile of the dish rich.
2. Doh Khlieh
Are you okay to be a little adventurous while trying the famous food of Meghalaya? Then, try Doh Khileh.
It has chopped pig brains and pig meat. The meat is boiled and then chopped to make Doh Khileh salad.
The chopped meat is then mixed with green chilies, chopped onion, and ginger to prepare the salad.
Doh Khlieh is usually served cold, and it has a creamy texture due to the use of the pig brain.
3. Pumaloi
Thanks to the Khasi people, Pumaloi has become a part of the Meghalayan food tradition. It is a simple steamed dish with rice flour as the main ingredient.
If you visit Shillong, one of the budget-friendly hill stations in India, or other parts of Meghalaya during festive seasons, you will see how Pumaloi is distributed publicly.
4. Doh Neiiong
It is one of the delicacies made during the famous Shad Suk Mynsiem festival in Meghalaya. The festival takes place during summer, which is the best time to visit Meghalaya.
Doh Neiiong is a magical combination of black sesame seeds (Neiiong) and pork (Doh). Furthermore, it is made using the slow cooking technique, making the meat tender and juicy with all the flavors intact.
5. Nakham Bitchi
A delicacy in Garo households, Nakham Bitchi, is a flavorful dry fish soup. This simple dish gets all the flavors from the chilies and ginger used.
Also, the use of local soda in the dish adds a unique taste to the delicacy.
6. Minil Songa
If you love sticky rice, you must not miss Minil Songa when visiting Shillong or other parts of Meghalaya.
Minil Songa has a unique flavor as it is boiled inside bamboo. Further, it gets the texture and nuttiness from the black sesame seeds.
7. Pukhlein
Pukhlein is a famous food of Meghalaya for people with a sweet tooth. It has just two ingredients: rice flour and jaggery.
Further, this deep-fried delicacy has the nuttiness of sesame seeds.
8. Ktung Bain Nei-Iong
It’s a sin not to try the dry fish delicacies when you are in Meghalaya during the monsoon and winter seasons.
Ktung Bain Nei-Iong is a standout dry fish dish with a lot of black sesame seeds. This delicacy has the most humble ingredients.
However, when you have it with white steamed rice, magic happens!
9. Putharo and Doh Jem
Putharo is a fluffy and spongy flatbread made with rice flour. Doh Jem is a delicious pork curry that complements the humble taste of the rice flour flatbread.
Further, Putharo and Doh Jem usually go well with black tea.
10. Wak Tangsek Pura
Pork, green vegetables, powdered rice, and local soda! All these go into making Wak Tangsek Pura one of the most famous foods of Meghalaya.
It is a unique specialty of the local Garo community.
11. Do∙o Kapa
Let’s try some chicken in authentic Garo style. Do o Kapa is a brilliant chicken delicacy with many chilies and coriander leaves.
Moreover, the use of the local soda in the dish makes it magical.
12. Doh Sain or Doh Sniang Nei-Iong
A staple in many Pnar (a Khasi sub-tribal community living in a matrilineal society) homes, this famous food in Meghalaya is a wonderful combination of pork and black sesame seeds.
You can have it with white steamed rice.
13. Sakin Gata
Sakin Gata is a famous Meghalayan food. It is a sweet dish with a nutty bite and the flavor of black sesame seeds.
You can also savor this rice cake delicacy as a snack.
Famous Veg Food Of Meghalaya: Celebrating Inclusivity Through Diverse Choices
A report from the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of the Government of India has acknowledged the “traditional dependency of rural tribal population in livestock for livelihood.”
So, most people in Meghalaya have a non-vegetarian food habit. Also, Meghalaya is one of the states in India with a vegetarian population of only 0.2-0.9%.
However, the state, with a liberal and inclusive spirit, also has a wide variety of food for its vegetarian population.
For example, traditional delicacies such as Paumaloi, Pukhlein, and Minil Songa are ideal for people looking for vegetarian food of Meghalaya.
Also, despite the wide use of pork, chicken, and other meat in the food of the state, you will get momos and other street food items in vegetarian options.
Famous Street Food Of Meghalaya: How About A Quick Bite?
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is also a street food heaven. The smoky aroma of street food fills the air of Shillong.
You can explore the Police Bazar area in Shillong to try the best barbecue items. From the evening until 3 o’clock in the morning, the vendors in the Police Bazar serve the best barbecued chicken and pork belly.
Also, you can notice a strong Indonesian influence on the famous street food of Meghalaya these days. You can now try Nasi Goreng here.
It is Indonesian-style fried rice with a poached egg on top.
Nevertheless, Doh Thad Syiem is the signature street food of Meghalaya. It has barbecued and charred chicken, pork, or beef with a juicy texture.
Momos are also quite popular here, along with Sakin Gata, the traditional sweet dish of Meghalaya.
The Famous Food Of Meghalaya: Celebrating The Uniqueness Of The North-Eastern State Of India
Meghalaya is one of the most unique regions in food and culture, and the delicacies here are some of the best in the nation.
Liberal and inclusive, the famous food of Meghalaya also caters to the needs of diverse types of dietary habits,
Furthermore, Meghalaya teaches us how to make the most of the unique yet simple ingredients available in nature and celebrates cultural diversity.
Moreover, the culinary landscape of Meghalaya is incomplete without local drinks such as Kyat or a rice beer, Chhang or a millet beer, and black tea with jaggery.
