The land of Bhutan, apart from ancient monasteries and scenic mountains is widely popular for its unique cuisines. Known as one of the most isolated countries in the world, the country follows unique cooking methods that give it a distinct taste and texture. Sharing international boundaries with India, Nepal and China, the majority of the dishes have huge similarities. Chilli and Cheese are the two most used ingredients that can be seen in the majority of the dishes. Unlike other countries, Bhutanese cuisine highly depends on homegrown ingredients that are incorporated into a wide range of dishes. Some of the most commonly used ingredients include rice, buckwheat, potatoes, and other locally grown spices. Most of the Bhutanese dishes are spicy and can be difficult for people who love spicy foods.
Some of the popularly consumed food dishes of Bhutanese cuisine are as follows:
Ema Datshi
The national dish of Bhutan, Ema Datshi is a spicy stew made from a perfect combination of chillies and cheese. With the smooth texture of the cheese and the spicy flavour of the chilli, Ema Datshi is worth trying during a visit to Bhutan.
Shakam Datshi
This is another popular form of Datshi made with a mixture of dried beef meat, onion and cheese or butter. This food is high in nutrition and is a must-try dish for non-vegetarians.
Dumplings
Dumplings are the same as momo but are prepared in a unique way that gives it an identical taste and flavour mostly consumed with Bhutanese chilli sauce.
Shamu Datshi
Shamu Datshi is prepared using a combination of Cheese, butter, vegetables and mushrooms that gives its creamy and smoother texture mostly consumed with rice.
Jaju
One of the most served side dishes in the restaurants of Bhutan, Jaju is a creamy soup made with milk, vegetables, butter and spinach leaves. This soup is mostly consumed in the northern part to warm the body and energize during winter.
Laphing
Laphing has emerged as one of the most popular snacks in South Asian countries. Known for its silky texture and spicy flavour, Laphing is one of the popular snacks of Bhutan that are available in various forms and textures.
Shakam Paa
Shakam Paa is a stir-fried curry made from dried yak meat. The food dish is cooked with seasonal spices and homegrown vegetables such as chillies, radishes, onions and many others.
Phaksha Paa
One of the most popular food dishes in Bhutanese cuisine, Phaksha Paa is a stew made from a combination of chillies and pork meat that are mostly served with red rice.
