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Famous Food of Sikkim

15 Famous Food of Sikkim: Must Try in 2024

The famous ‘mountain kingdom, or Sikkim, is known for its scenic beauty manifested in deep, plunging, verdant valleys, soaring snow-capped mountain ranges, mural-filled monasteries, magnificent Hindu shrines, and warm-hearted people. Another element that separates Sikkim from its sister states is its delectable food. The food of Sikkim is made using organic local ingredients like ancient grains, root vegetables, and red meats. The food is cooked in a way that carries a unique flair. It is fun to enjoy, explore, and taste its culinary delights.

It is right that the best way to understand the culture of a place is its food. Locally-sourced ingredients give an authentic flavour that is missing in the food of neighbouring states. Here we have rounded up a list of some of the most delectable and traditional food of Sikkim that will leave your mouth watering.

List of 15 Famous Sikkim Food

Sikkimese food is a delight to savour. Many dishes are available at local restaurants, cafes, and eateries. When visiting the state, enjoy the culinary delights available here. Savour stews, dumplings, soups, meats, and tasteful vegetables full of unique Sikkimese flavours.

  • Sel Roti: Sweetened Rice Bread
  • Dal Bhaat: The Traditional Food of Sikkim
  • Thukpa: A Flavourful Noodle Soup
  • Sha Phaley: Packed with Minced Meat
  • Momos: A Scrumptious Snack
  • Phagshapa: A Popular Sikkimese Cuisine
  • Chang: A Fermented Drink
  • Sishnu ko Soup. The Famous Nettle Soup
  • Gundruk and Sinki. A Dish Made in an Earthen Pot
  • Thenthuk. A Popular Tibetan Soup
  • Kodo Ko Roti. A Mouth-watering Pancake
  • Niguru with Churpi. A Local Sikkim Dish
  • Shimi ko Achar. A String Bean Pickle
  • Bamboo Shoot Curry. A Delicious Curry
  • Sikkim Tea. Rich in Flavours

1. Sel Roti | Sweetened Rice Bread

A lip-smacking bread dish, Sel Roti, is usually prepared during Tihar, a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape makes it stand apart from other bread delicacies. It is usually served with a meat-based curry. Mildly sweet in taste, it is made with rice flour added with some spices. Pure ghee is added to the batter before it is fried in oil until golden brown.

Also Read - Famous Festivals In Sikkim

2. Dal Bhaat | The Traditional Sikkim Famous Food

It is a very famous Sikkim food enjoyed by the locals and people residing in nearby states of India and countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. It is a lentil soup and steamed rice combination. It is enjoyed as a daily fare by many locals of Sikkim. Although this dal chawal dish is commonly prepared in the country's northern parts, the one prepared in Sikkim is differentiated by its unique flavours. This comfort meal easily satiates the taste palette of food lovers. Dal Bhaat is the right choice if you wish to enjoy a light meal.

3. Thukpa | A Flavourful Noodle Soup

One of Sikkim famous food, Thukpa, is a perfect antidote to chilly weather. It is a flavoursome noodle soup that is believed to have originated in the eastern parts of Tibet. This dish from Sikkim seems to lead the culinary bandwagon with its unique flavour, texture, and aroma. Every street kiosk and vendor in Sikkim offers Thukpa. This staple food of Sikkim is prepared with chopped onions, garlic, green chillies and a dash of tang and spices. The soup is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions. Beat the chilly weather with piping hot and steamy noodle soup.

Also Read - Best Places To Visit In Sikkim

4. Sha Phaley | Packed with Minced Meat

An eclectic blend of bread, deep-fried flavours and packed with minced meat, this food of Sikkim is undoubtedly a must-try cuisine for non-veg lovers. This dish is believed to have originated from Tibet but has become a famous dish in Sikkim today. The pastry or the bread is stuffed with a mixture of cabbage, ground beef, and a variety of spices. It is neatly folded into a semi-circular shape and deep-fried until golden brown. Crispy and crunchy to the core, the flavouring of minced meat seems to melt in the mouth. These days, the Tofu version is available for vegetarians.

5. Momos | A Scrumptious Snack

An ultimate favourite, Momos is an original Tibetan delicacy. Although a Tibetan delicacy, it has now embraced typical Sikkimese flavours. This scrumptious snack is also a popular Sikkim street food, available at street kiosks and restaurants. This succulent dumpling is filled with various fillings, like cheese, meat, and vegetables. These are steamed in a momo-maker. It has three levels, with tomato juice at the lowest layer. Relish the juicy and mouth-melting taste of momos with chilly chutney.

Also Read - Best Treks In Sikkim

6. Phagshapa | A Popular Sikkim Food Images

It is another non-vegetarian delicacy worth savouring. A cuisine of Sikkim, Phagshapa is a dish made up of pork fat, red chillies, and radishes. These fat strips are cooked and kept separate. The stew is made using spices and radishes, and later red chillies and pork is added as a final touch. These spices are added for a tangy and chilly taste. No oil is added to the dish. It's a perfect blend of proteins and vegetables, thus becoming a healthy meal.

7. Chang | A Fermented Drink

It is a famous drink made up of millet. Yeast is added to speed up the process of fermentation. Also referred to as Thomba, it is a traditional drink of people residing in Eastern Nepal. It is an alcoholic drink brewed locally. Enjoy it with a bamboo pie. This drink is available at a very low price and is prepared in local distilleries.

Also Read - Best Monasteries In Sikkim

8. Sishnu ko Soup | The Famous Nettle Soup

Commonly cooked by people in hilly regions, it is prepared by combining okra and nettle leaves. It is a typical and traditional Sikkimese cuisine served with piping hot steamed rice. This soup not only helps combat winter chill but also has a lot of therapeutic value. It helps in easing pain in joints and muscles. It also takes care of health issues like gout, anaemia, arthritis, and eczema.

9. Gundruk and Sinki | A Dish Made in an Earthen Pot

These dishes are of Nepalese origin, and both are mouth-melting in taste. While Gundruk is made with cauliflowers and radish leaves and cooked with tomato sauce and spices, Sinki has tap roots as its major ingredient. These dishes have a unique sour taste as they are cooked using fermentation. Later, oil and mustard leaves are added to lend Gundruk a nice flavour and lip-smacking taste. This dish is rich in fibre and boosts metabolism. In erstwhile times, this dish was cooked in an earthen pot.

Also Read - Best Snowfall Places In Sikkim

10. Thenthuk | A Popular Tibetan Soup

Most Sikkimese cuisines have originated from Tibet and Nepal, and Thenthuk is no exception. It is a delectable noodle soup from Tibet with several seasonal vegetables, mutton, and wheat flour. This Tibetan soup is spicy and a preferred dinner appetiser for Sikkimese people. You can enjoy a spicier version of this dish with added red chillies, depending on your taste.

11. Kodo Ko Roti | A Mouth-watering Pancake

This delectable pancake is one of the famous dishes of Sikkim. Originating in Nepal, this pancake is enjoyed by local Sikkim people with Tomato Achar and various other pickle options. The unique aspect of this pancake is that the main ingredient used is finger millet which is considered very good for health. This finger millet is also called Kodo in Sikkim. Ghee and sugar are added to it to make it richer and tastier.

Read More: Best Monasteries in Sikkim

12. Niguru with Churpi | A Local Sikkim Dish

When planning a trip to Sikkim, make it a point to enjoy its local food. Niguru and Churpi is one such dish savoured by locals and visitors. It is prepared in every Sikkim household with a few variations here and there. This delectable dish will offer the true aroma, flavour, and texture of Sikkimese food. This dish is prepared with cheese cooked with the fiddlehead fern and is fermented to impart a unique taste and flavour.

13. Shimi ko Achar | A String Bean Pickle

It is a peculiar pickle which is made up of Shimi or string bean and is enjoyed with bread or seal roti. More flavour is added to the pickle with ingredients like sesame seeds, lemon juice, and green chillies. It is enjoyed with many vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in Sikkim.

14. Bamboo Shoot Curry | A Delicious Curry

It is a popular dish of Sikkim cooked using fermented bamboo. This is a mouth-watering curry dish that can be enjoyed with steamed rice. The bitter taste of bamboo is taken care of by adding a pinch of turmeric to the dish. Also referred to as Tama Curry, it is a must-taste food of Sikkim available at many eateries and restaurants.

15. Sikkim Tea | Rich in Flavours

After enjoying the simple yet tasteful 

Sikkim traditional food, enjoy the famous Sikkim Tea. Every sip of this tea will introduce you to new and unique flavours that will stay with you forever. Tea leaves to prepare this beverage are hand-picked from the famous tea garden, Temi tea garden. Enjoy taking small sips from traditional cups!

Read More: Best Snowfall Places In Sikkim

Plan your Sikkim trip with Adotrip, a leading travel portal that provides comprehensive travel solutions. Exciting flight deals, hassle-free hotel bookings, amazing tour packages and more are just a phone call away. Make your vacation more memorable and pleasurable with the lip-smacking food of Sikkim. With us, nothing is far!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Famous Food Of Sikkim

Ques 1. What is the famous street food of Sikkim?
Ans 1
. An ultimate favourite, Momos is an original Tibetan delicacy. Although it originated from Tibet, it has now embraced typical Sikkimese flavours. This scrumptious snack is also a popular Sikkim street food, available at street kiosks and restaurants.

Ques 2. What is the famous sweet sikkim food?
Ans 2
. A lip-smacking bread dish, Sel Roti, is one of Sikkim's most famous sweet dishes. It is usually prepared during Tihar; a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape makes it stand apart from other bread delicacies.

Ques 3. Which is the national and staple food of Sikkim?
Ans 3
. This staple food of Sikkim, Thukpa, is prepared with chopped onions, garlic, green chillies and a dash of tang and spices. The soup is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions.

Ques 4. What is the healthy & famous food of Sikkim?
Ans 4
. Phagshapa is a healthy dish made with pork fat, red chillies, and radishes. These fat strips are cooked and kept separate. The stew is made using spices and radishes, and later red chillies and pork is added as a final touch. These spices are added for a tangy and chilly taste. No oil is added to the dish. It's a perfect blend of proteins and vegetables, thus becoming a healthy meal.

Ques 5. What are momos called in Sikkim?
Ans 5
. The pan-fried version of momos is called Kothey momos in Sikkim. Unlike regular steamed momos, these are pan-fried. 

Ques 6. what is sikkim food information
Ans 6
. Sikkimese cuisine reflects a blend of Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian influences. Common ingredients include rice, maize, vegetables, and dairy products.

--- Published By  Adotrip

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