All Cuisines are shaped by the elements available locally. India is a land of diversity with so many cultures. All have their authentic style of food with their own taste and peculiarities. One of them is Assam cuisine from the state of Assam of India. This cuisine is an assortment of various native styles with significant territorial versions and also some external influence. Its main characteristics are minuscule use of spices but exotic flavors due to the use of indigenous herbs, vegetables and fruits.
Assam Cuisine can be described as the most different type of cuisine you would have ever tasted. The dishes have the taste and aroma that had made this cuisine a household name all over the world. The cuisine is recognized by its vegetables and exotic herbs that add a wonderful taste to the dishes. All the main dishes are prepared from rice and find a place in all the cooking. In non vegetarian dishes, fish and pork are the favorite.
In Assam, a full course meal begins with “Khar” and an end with “Tenga”. The dishes are served on bell-metal utensils. After the meal, people chew betel nut known as Paan.
In Assamese cuisine, all vegetarian preparations are of rice. These rice dishes are eaten with curry that is made by stewing vegetables in water. In non vegetarian dishes, fish dishes form the main part. There are many forms of fishes that are used for cooking. Pigeons and ducks are also used. There are special entremets called Pitikas which is generally made from roasted or steamed vegetables. The most famous being Aloo Pitika (mashed potatoes).
Assamese cuisine is shaped more by the combination of different types of vegetables rather than spices. This combination of vegetables with fish, meat and poultry adds flavour to the different dishes without any spice other than ginger and garlic.
