The Taste Of Kashmir At Salsa
Wazwan is a multi-course meal in Muslim Kashmiri cuisine, the preparation of which is considered an art and a point of pride in Kashmiri Muslim culture. In Kashmiri language 'Waz' means a 'Cook' and 'Wan' means 'Shop'. Thanks to the Kashmir food festival at Salsa, the multi cuisine restaurant in the Corinthian's Resort, I got to enjoy Wazwan for the first time in my life.
For my international readers, Kashmir is the northernmost state of India, which is known for its scenic beauty, lake and mountains.
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| Gosht Ki Pasali (L) and Pardawala Murgh(R) |
I started my meal with a bunch of delectable appetizers. In non vegetarian fare, there was Gosht Ki Pasali, a delicious dish which consisted of Mutton chops cooked in a slightly sweet and spicy sauce. This was accompanied by Pardawala Murgh, a mildly flavored tender chicken kebab. In vegetarian fare, I tried the Mewadar Chaman which had tender cubes of cottage cheese with a mild aromatic masala and the Sochal Nadir which was fried lotus stem! I ate lotus stem for the first time in my life! I didn't even know we could eat it!
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| Mewadar Chaman |
Moving on to main course, in vegetarian, I had the Dal-e-chaman - a mild lentil soup, Wozij Chaman which again had cubes of cottage cheese but in a tangy gravy and the Meethi Mutter which consisted of fenugreek leaves and peas in a creamy, smooth and delicious gravy. In non vegetarian fare, there was the classic Rogan Josh, probably the most famous of all Kashmiri dishes which a hot and spicy curry along with another delicacy called Gushtaba which has minced lamb meatballs that are cooked in a flavorful yogurt gravy.
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| Clockwise from bottom left : Rice, Wozij Chaman, Gushtaba, Murgh Rogan Josh, Dal-e-Chaman and Methi Mutter |