Lip Smacking Naga Food

27 FEB 2024

Credit: Google Images

Credit: Google Images

Smoked Pork

Nagaland is the largest consumer of pork in the country. Crispy on the outside and succulent and juicy on the inside, smoked pork is a delicacy that you cannot miss on the streets of Nagaland. It’s made by cooking small pieces of pork with a blend of dry spices.

Credit: Google Images

Bamboo Steamed Fish

Nagaland's signature delicacy is a simple yet famous dish that is a staple at Naga homes. The star of the dish here is the bamboo. Hence the fish is minimally spiced. The first few bites may feel bland, but the bamboo's subtle flavour kicks in for a flavourful explosion in your mouth.

Credit: Google Images

Axone

Popularised by the Netflix film, Axone is slowly inching its way into the mainstream dishes. Also known as Akhuni, it's a pungent, aromatic chutney prepared by the Sumi tribe of Nagaland. It's made by boiling and fermenting soybeans (that give the strong aroma) which are then ground into a chutney.

Credit: Google Images

Pork Curry

Naga cuisine is synonymous with its lavish use of pork. The Naga pork curry is totally different from any other meat-based curries served in the rest of India. It's cooked with unusual ingredients like fermented soybean and fermented bamboo shoots.

Credit: Google Images

Black Sticky Rice Pudding

Naga cuisine is not all spicy – it has some of the best guilt-free desserts as well. Made from the signature black rice of Nagaland, the rice pudding is flavoured with pistachios and a hint of saffron. The best part – this pudding is diet-friendly and can even be eaten by diabetics.

Credit: Google Images

Amarusu

Prepared with a mixture of chicken, ground rice and bamboo shoots, it’s the signature dish of the Ao tribe. It’s the definition of comfort food in Naga cuisine. A small bowl is enough to keep your tummy full for hours.

Credit: Google Images

Raja Mircha Pickle

Naga cuisine is incomplete without this spicy pickle. Made from Bhut Jolokia, the super-hot chilli pepper cultivated in Nagaland, this pickle is an amalgamation of flavours. Spicy, smoky with a hint of sweet undertones, this pickle goes well with rice, roti and dosas.