Like most people from western countries, when traveling to a South Asian country you may be a little curious, or even a little skeptical about what to expect from the food that you will be eating there. Although, it may be scary to get out and try new things, once you try it you will not regret that you did. The food in Bhutan will blow your taste buds away. With so many unique and delicious dishes, you are sure to find one of your new favorite foods in this small South Asian country. Here is a list of some of the most popular dishes that you might find there.
Overview-
The food here in Bhutan is very unique. There are dishes that you will not find anywhere else on the planet. Don’t let this scare you! Every dish has it’s very own flavor that you will experience. One of the main staples in Bhutanese cuisine is chili. They love their spice here. Almost every dish will have some type of chili incorporated into it.
Ema Datshi-
Ema Datshi is probably the most popular dish in all of Bhutan. Chances are that you will probably be served this once a day while you are traveling here. In the Dzongkha language spoken in Bhutan, “ema” means chili, and “datshi” means cheese, so you pretty much know what you are going to get with this. It's basically a stew with green or red chilis and a special Bhutanese cheese mixed in with butter and a few other ingredients. This one is sure to get your taste buds fired up!
Shakam Paa-
Shakam Paa is one of the most prominent protein foods of Bhutanese Cuisine. This dish consists of dried out beef that is almost like a jerky. Tons of spices and chili are added to it. Most of the time the chilis are not sliced up or cut so you will be eating them whole! This dish is very flavorful and is definitely a favorite of all the foods found in Bhutan.
Goep-
One of the more interesting dishes, yet still one of the best is Goep. This dish is basically the Bhutan version of stir fry. They take slices of tripe, the inner lining of cow stomach, and mix and fry it all together with onions, chilis, and a variety of many other types of vegetables.
Khur-le-
You might be wondering what you would eat for breakfast in Bhutan. Well, they have their very own version of pancakes called Khur-le. Khur-le is made out of buckwheat most of the time. It goes great with any other traditional breakfast food such as eggs. This dish is a perfect one to eat to start a wonderful day in Bhutan.
Momos-
One of the most popular street foods in the whole country of Bhutan are momos. Momos are basically dumplings. They can be fried or baked. There is so much variety in them that there is a flavor of momo for every liking. They can be stuffed with meats such as beef, pork, or even yak, but they can also be stuffed with a variety of vegetables such as cabbage or any leafy veggie. You can eat them plain or dip them in a delicious chili sauce. These dumplings will satisfy on any occasion.
Tshampa-
Tshampa is one of the most traditional foods in Bhutan. It is pretty much the bread staple that they use for filler foods at meals. It is a dark doughy food made with whole wheat flour. It can be eaten with pretty much any other food on the entire list of Bhutanese cuisine.
Suja-
Tea is a very popular drink in South Asia. But here in Bhutan, it is done a little differently. Suja is butter tea. It is made from fermented yak milk boiled with water and tea leaves. Although it may sound strange and the salty taste might catch you off guard at first, it is one of the most consumed beverages in all of Bhutan.
Although these dishes are among the most popular in this small South Asian country, it is still just a tiny list. There are dozens of other amazing foods waiting for you to go out there and try them. It might be intimidating to try so many new things that may seem so foreign, but you will thank yourself later for leaping into the unknown and for having an open mind for new experiences. Now go out there and please your taste buds with the amazing cuisine of Bhutan!
Post written by Gunner Romney