From Mizo, we are now travelling to the next sister state of Nagaland. This state is situated in the extreme North Eastern part f India.The people of this state are called Nagas and previously as Nakas meaning people with pierced noses. There are 16 main tribes that inhabit this region along with several smaller tribal clans.There are around 20 dialects!!Nagaland is largely a mountainous region and rich in fauna and flora.
Since there are so many tribes and sub-tribes,the cuisine of these tribes are distinct and yet some overlap each other and still have some delicacies that are specific to a particular tribe!
The naga cuisine uses any thing and everything in their cooking! And hence it was really difficult to locate an exclusive vegetarian dish for this state. I read that they cook dogs, worms, insects and also use pork and other meats.
A Naga meal would contain rice,which is the staple, along with some meat preparation / bamboo preparation, boiled vegetables and spicy chili sauce.
Their cuisine though bland often have an accompaniment of some sort of spicy sauce that lightens up the meal.
The Nagas preserve their food through smoking or fermentation.
Meat is so much a part of their life style that they associate a curative property with each type of meat – like,dog’s meat cures pneumonia, bee larve, snails heal skin and bones etc. Even now, these are followed.
Naga cuisine has somehow not changed due to modernization and still retains all the traditional and cultural aspects of their cuisine!!
Today’s recipe is a simple boiled vegetable side that is from the Ao Naga clan cuisine….
Behind the scene:
This is perhaps the simplest recipe that I have cooked in this series. It hardly qualifies for a recipe with step by step pictorial coz, it is that simple!!
The taste, like the other NE dishes that I have cooked ,is bland with a hint of spice from the green chilies that I used. I liked it but the others did not try more than a spoonful!
And also I skipped the Dried anchovies in this recipe…
I used:
Recipe Source – Pan Cuisine
Mixed vegetables – Tomato, onion, brinjal/ eggplant – cut into even sized cubes
Green chilies- 2
Salt to taste
Boil 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker and put in the vegetables and salt. Pressure cook for 2 whistles and remove from cooker after the pressure releases.
Serve….
Bon Appetit…
Interesting and so simple…glad you had something easy to choose from PJ
i feel if we get the freshest stock of veggies this dish would be the most sought after
Wonder how these Nagas liked bland food. ..though the recipe is interesting. .how ever I would add some pep to it.
Simple and definitely a healthy food, lovely a beautiful medley of veggies.
Intersting dear!!! Pic looks perfect
Simple and colorful side. I love these type of dishes that bring out the flavor of wholesome organic fresh veggies.
oh that is soo simple.. nicely done PJ
the anchovies i guess are the main flavouring agent.. i don't know.. i am just guessing
This looks a perfect option for health freaks…
Healthy and nutritious veggie dish.
Simple and delicious. I will skip the ladyfinger thanks.
Anything vegetarian is good for this state, PJ. Good find though!
Interesting and colorful recipe,sounds inviting…
Looks healthy and refreshing. As Harini mentioned, you came up with a different veg dish and I guess that's all it mattered for these NE Indian states. 🙂
so simple but great to complement any meal
Even I cooked from that site. Looks like a nice side dish and a healthy one. I think even I will spice it up a little to suite my taste.
Very simple dish for the state! Lovely..
Even I had it bookmarked but some how missed to make them.. very very delicious vegetable chutney dear 🙂 looks very yummy !!