MANIPUR – Poshan Maah – 28 Days, 28 States

The seven North-Eastern states, or the seven sisters, as they are more famously known, are a nest of beauty. One of these states is Manipur and it has been dubbed “the Jewelled Land” due to its natural beauty.
The food of Manipur is simple and yet, tasty. Most of the ingredients they use are organic which makes it healthy and sustainable. Manipuri food is also supposed to be spicy and contains less oil. Their secret is that they make use of chilli pepper instead of the usual garam masala powder that the rest of the country uses. That is why their food is considered healthier.
Manipuri cuisine is usually represented by the traditional cuisine of the Meiteis, an ethnic majority of Manipur.
The ingredients used in Manipuri cuisine are quite similar to that of Southeast-East-Central Asian cuisine. Daily meals are based on rice, with a few side dishes of vegetables and fish. Also, they grow their vegetables in their gardens or farms and breed their fish in the backyard ponds. So, everything is pretty much organic. They also make use of a lot of herbs in their preparations, ranging from mint and chives to pepper and basil.

Keep reading for a list of traditional Manipuri delicacies:

CHAMTHONG/KANGSHOI: It is a healthy vegetable stew. This is a boiled dish prepared with seasonal vegetables cut along with onions, maroi, cloves, ginger, garlic, and salt. These vegetables are boiled and then topped with Ngari (a type of fish). It is soupy in nature, is served with rice, and is consumed piping hot.

EROMBA: This is a delightful combination of boiled vegetables and Ngari. It is prepared by boiling a tonne of vegetables along with some fermented fish. It is mixed until the texture becomes like a paste. Finally, it is garnished with maroi and a sprinkle of coriander leaves.

MOROK METPA: Just like coriander chutney is popular in Mumbai, Morok Metpa chutney is a hit in Manipur! It is prepared using dried green chillies. The chillies are mashed into a paste and then boiled with some Ngari fish. Once again, it is mashed and then sprinkled with salt. It is enjoyed with all kinds of meals.

SINGJU: This famous Manipuri salad is bursting with vegetables. It does not contain only a few standard vegetables like tomatoes or onions but, it includes cabbage, coriander leaves, onions, ginger, lotus stems, the singju leaf, and other similar vegetables. The variations of this dish include raw papaya, banana flower, and lotus root. The Singju is either flavoured with besan, powdered perilla seeds, chilli powder, and other herbs.

PAAKNAM: This is similar to a pancake. It is a savoury cake that is prepared from a thick batter of besan, herbs, and vegetables, and further flavoured with chilli and the traditional Ngari. It is finally wrapped up in a banana leaf and steamed. It is considered to be quite a delicacy and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike!. It is a perfect dish for evening-time snacking!

CHAK-HAO KHEER: This is a delicious sweet dish that is prepared on many special occasions in Manipur. It is a pleasing shade of purple and is made using black, sticky rice, milk, and cardamom powder. Instead of sugar, jaggery or honey is added. It is generally garnished with dried fruits like raisins or other nuts.

NGA-THONGBA: Fish curry is often considered to be comfort food. Fish is used in most of their preparations. Nga-thongba is a dish included in most non-vegetarian meals, especially by the Meitei community. The fish is cut into bite-size pieces and crushed to a certain degree. It is often flavoured with crushed pepper and other spices, to give it an added taste.

Manipuri cuisine is super healthy, so one doesn’t need to worry about binge eating while on holiday.