You've never truly tasted Indian cuisine until you've tried this!
Julley! A region that is so remote and deep within the mountains offer so much flavour in their food. Ladakh’s rich food culture is worth exploring and if you think you’ve tasted all there is to Indian food, wait till you try some of the dishes below!
Succulent stuffed dumplings steamed to perfection. Flavorful broths, rich in spices, warm your body. Soft, fluffy buns dipped in spicy chilli gravy and a cup of hot buttery milk tea to revitalise your body after a day’s hike.These are just a few delicacies on offer in Ladakh, the land that has some surprising influences from their neighbouring countries.
Momos
Momos (locally known as Mok Moks) are without a doubt one of the most well known Ladakhi dishes. Heavily inspired by neighbouring countries such as Nepal, China and Tibetan culture, each respective region has their own variation to momos.
These yummy dumplings are filled with meat or vegetables and wrapped in dough before being steamed in a container called Mokto. The steaming process begins by boiling water at the bottom-most container and the steam that rises cooks the momos. You can also get creative when wrapping the momos, some are beautifully pinched and sealed into half moons, hearts or you can always stick with the simple round pleated ones. It is usually served on a plate of 10 with a chilli garlic dipping sauce on the side. Today, several restaurants in the capital, Leh, serve momos with yak cheese or even chocolate. For a more rustic version, it is usually served in Ladakhi homes, similar to the ones our participants get to make at Timosgam Village. Check out this Instagram Reel we made of us making Momos from scratch!
Thukpa
Readily available everywhere in Ladakh, Thukpa is a staple food for Ladakhis! Thukpa which translates to “overcooked” is a soupy noodle dish that uses noodles made out of wheat and their broth thickened with barley flour.
Similarly to momos, it is served with assorted vegetables or minced meat. Usually, in Ladahki homes and the countryside, hosts and restaurants only serve vegetarian styled Thukpas. Whereas, in the city, to accommodate the numerous tourists that visit all year round, you can find plenty of restaurants serving meat Thukpas as well!
What does it taste like? It does remind abit of home, as it tastes something similar to Mee Soto.
Skyu
Another staple dish to add onto the must tries while in Ladakh is Skyu! It is a stew cooked with vegetables and dough kneaded into flattened thumb - sized balls. On occasions, it is served with meat depending on which region of Ladakh you are in.
This mouth-watering dish is slow cooked and will definitely fill your stomach. More commonly served in places of higher elevation, it is the ideal dish to bring warmth to your heart.
Shapta Tingmo
One of my favourites in Ladakh. Trust me, I’m a foodie and you can never go wrong with Tingmo accompanied with a bowl of Shapta. The pair just blends well together.
Tingmo are soft, delicate, fluffy buns made from wheat flour without any filling, just like our local Golden Pillow buns. It goes through a similar cooking process just like momos. These marshmallow-like buns served with the best gravy, Shapta, taste soooooooo good! So what are Shaptas? Inspired by Tibetan flavours, Shapta is a gravy cooked with chicken or minced meat with red-chilli and ginger. Do not devour the Tingmo in one bite, but slowly peel off piece by piece and dip into the gravy. Just talking about it makes me miss it so much! If you’re a foodie like me, not to worry, this dish can be found at every nook and corner of the capital, Leh!
Gulab Jamun
After every heavy meal, you want to cleanse your palette. What better way than with India’s most popular sweet dessert. Although it is not from Ladakh, it is arguably the best tasting dessert we’ve eaten throughout the expedition. These fried dough balls are soaked in sweet, sticky sugar syrup that just melts in your mouth! Definitely a must try during your trip here.
Gulab meaning ‘rose water’ and Jamun meaning ‘berry sized ball’ are sweet treats that are served to you after every dinner at the hotel in Leh. They are one of the most popular sweets in India as well. Grab a couple, get that first bite and it will leave you speechless! One of the hardest parts of leaving Leh was separating from this sweet treat as it may not be found elsewhere in the countryside. But if you're craving for it eagerly, try to ask your local guide to search for it.
Till today, we are still trying to find this popular sweet in Singapore. Oh how much we've missed you!
Butter Tea
Up in the mountains, hiking at high elevations, feeling cold, you’ve come to a pitstop. A local hands you a warm cup of Butter Tea to keep you warm and hydrated. All of a sudden, you’re recharged and revitalised to conquer the rest of the day. That, my friend, is why a cup of Butter Tea is regarded as the best antidote for Ladakhis and tourists!
Also known as gur-gur chai, it is brewed with milk, salt and yak butter. It is boiled and churned thoroughly before mixing with boiled tea leaves. Tea connoisseurs claim that the best Butter Teas are brewed up in the monasteries.
Everything Apricot
You heard it! You have to try everything that has Apricot here. Apricot is regarded as Ladakh’s national fruit and has become an integral part of the region. It is a major source of income for Ladakhis in the countryside who are engaged in farming, cultivating and marketing of the fruit. Also known as “Chulli” , the dried fruit ripens in the months of August and September and gives off a sweet fragrance after biting onto it.
Besides eating the fruit on its own, several other products such as apricot jam, oil, dried apricot, juice, cakes, and jelly are produced for commercial purposes. As you nibble to the centre of the fruit, you can find an apricot seed that can be cracked open and eaten as well. It is said that apricots come with plenty of health benefits as well - it helps you to lose weight, regulate digestions, treat various infections, prevent heart diseases, reduce cholesterol levels and many more.
There you go fellow adventurers! Now that you’ve known more about Ladakhi cuisine, the only thing left to do is to fill your stomachs with all these mouth watering delicacies! I know you’re just as hungry as I am! What are you waiting for? Time to travel up to the remote land and taste Ladakh’s finest foods!
Article Written By: Dzul
Beyond Expeditions’ Adventure Content Writer since June 2022 and pursuing his Communications Degree in Singapore University of Social Science. He hopes to continue his knack for travel writing, sharing stories in hopes of inspiring the travel bug in his readers. He dabbles in photography on the sides and wants to incorporate beautiful visuals in his storytelling. A true fan of the outdoors, his thirst for adventure is second to none!
