IMPHAL:
Manipur has an exotic blend of spices and taste. It is home to a variety of delicious food items less known to the rest of the world.
These nine dishes you find here are diverse in their taste owing to their use of ingredients and the style of cooking.
Here are the unique dishes from Manipur which are a must-try:
Chak-hao Kheer: This black rice pudding is a must-have while you are in Manipur or visiting a Manipuri household. It is rich in antioxidants, and made from the black rice forbidden in erstwhile imperial China.
This aromatic black rice pudding, which is nutty in taste and texture, is a superfood and a delicacy that one cannot miss while in Manipur.
Eromba: This dish from Manipur is as authentic as it can get from the state. Made from fermented fish, smoked fish, and locally sourced vegetables, Eromba has a unique taste and serves best when eaten with steamed rice.
Singju: Also known as the salad of Manipur, this is a side dish that can be eaten during a meal or can be partaken as a snack during afternoon tea. Termed as healthy, the dish is prepared using dry dish with locally available fresh vegetables, mixed with fermented fish, pounded and roasted perilla seeds, and roasted besan.
Nga Atoiba Thongba: Also known as the shredded fish curry, this delicious dish is a must for the Meitei community in every formal feast served during the festive occasion and is a part and parcel of celebratory food of the Manipuris.
Made by tearing the fish into pieces while cooking, Nga Atoiba Thongba, is a delicacy that is the main course in any feast of the Meiteis in Manipur.
Sana Thongba: Also known as cottage cheese curry. This dish is prepared by adding milk as its gravy and is a must on the all-vegetarian feast and is yummy. Sana Thongba is a curry that is not only tasty but also very appetising to look at.
Ooty: This is the authentic Manipur version for lentil curry, as whole chickpeas are cooked by adding cooking soda. In the array of Manipur food, Ooty finds a special place as it is light in taste and still very delicious to savour.
Maroi Thongba: It is another dish made with Chinese chives. Chunks of Bori (balls made with besan) blended with peanuts and kidney beans. This dish is purely vegetarian and is available on the all-vegetarian feast of the state of Manipur.
Chagempomba: This dish comprises alot of locally available green vegetables, along with fermented soya beans and smoked fish are used to make the dish. Also, Dill is a necessary ingredient, and this dish’s elaborate and intricate procedure makes it a winner of dishes hands down.
Nga Matum Thongba: This is another fish curry and is a must during any feast for the people of Manipur, especially the Meiteis. Made with fish chunks, this spicy fish curry isn’t only a delicacy but is a necessity for all feasts of the people living in the valley of Manipur.
