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Food & Beverages

Not Just Thukpa - 10 Best Delicacies From Leh Ladakh Cuisine

By Swati Mishra

Updated - May 9, 20247 min read

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Before you start reading our blog, do figure out a season in which you're planning to go for which we have curated a complete guide for the same - An Ultimate Guide To Leh-Ladakh, pick your favorite season and enjoy the beauty of nature at it's best only in Leh Ladakh. So let's get to know about the ladakhi delicacies that you should definitely try whenever you visit Ladakh.

Once you've decided the season, you've got to take care of your hunger pangs as well. You'll be awestruck by the end of number delicacies found in Ladakhi Cuisine. We've curated a list of 10 Delicacies you can't miss out on when in Ladakh as they literally define the cuisine of Leh Ladakh. It includes soupy dishes, offbeat teas, and delicious buns. Their food is highly rich in organic flavors and meat has a lot of importance to hold as well it comes to Ladakhi cuisine - The dishes usually include Yak meat, mutton and chicken.

 

1. MOMOS

Not trying momos when in Ladakh is more like committing a food sin. You will encounter several varieties in momo as well, the stuffing has it all from minced meat to cheese and vegetables. It is a treat to have momos here, you will surely love the authenticity of the common cuisine. One should also try Mokthuk, where momos are dipped in a soup and served hot - it's one of the most delicious delicacies here.
 
momos_lehladakhcuisine_image
 

2. THUKPA 

Although thukpa is a Tibetan dish but it is immensely popular in Ladakh as well. Its easily available everywhere at an affordable price. It's basically a noodle soup with vegetables or chicken. It's usually taken as a side dish for dinner, it's also famous in North-East states as well. It is served spot and is usually spicy.
thukpa-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

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3. THENTHUK

Thenthuk is also a soup like Thukpa, in addition to vegetables - this soup also has noodles made out of dough. Vegetables like onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and radish potato are added to it for flavor. Its origin is from Tibet, yak meat is also added to the soup. You'll find it across several other himalayan regions as well.
thenthuk-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

4. SKYU

SKU is immensely loved by the people of Ladakh and is also a traditional dish they like to eat on a daily basis. It's a soup dish which has small balls made out of wheat flour which later cooked in water with meat or vegetable even both. One can add potatoes, carrots and turnips to the soup for flavor. It's their comfort food which helps them survive the cold climate.
skyu-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

5. PABA AND TANGTUR 

Paba is a tremendously nutritious type of bread which once was a staple food for ladakhi people. It is made up of peas, barley, wheat, buckwheat and ladakhi black beans mixed together and made up into a dough. It is traditionally eaten with Tangtur which is buttermilk with local veggies grown wildly. Tangtur contains local vegetables, the ratio is totally dependant on you as to much veggies you want in the buttermilk. The veggies include - spinach, lettuce, leaves of sugar beet and cabbage. It is one of the best traditional dishes for you to try in Ladakh for sure. 
paba_leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 
 

6. KHAMBIR AND BUTTER TEA 

Khambir is another type of bread that is served with a butter tea. It's also one of their tea-time snack which goes just well the all time favorite Butter tea. One should try Khambir with apricot jam for a perfect combination, or you can have it with soup as well. On the other end Butter Tea is of baby pinkish color and smooth in texture. It is salty in flavor, a mixture of tea leaves, salt, butter, and water. It's available at almost every restaurant in Leh Ladakh. It also treats altitude sickness well - so you know what to have when going to Leh Ladakh.
buttertea-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

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7. CHANG 

It's a drink that is made in a porcellin pot, in which Miller is fermented with yeast. One needs to keep topping the pot with water frequently again and again until the miller loses its potency and the water released. It is served as one of the traditional drinks of Ladakh. It is intoxicating and is served from a kettle. Chang is made out of wooden drums also called zems. One can call it as one of the local brews of Leh Ladakh.
chang-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

8. KULCHA 

This is totally different from what we know about the usual kulcha. It is a hard bun like bread, that people of Ladakh like to have with tea or qahwa. It is made up of wheat and is easily available everywhere. It's also one of the basic delicacies of the localities. It's more of an evening snack, alternative to a biscuit - it's prepared in a tandoor. The flavor of the Kulcha is salty and it's round in shape.
kulcha-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image
 

9. MOKTHUK 

Nothing sounds more tempting then momos dipped in a soup, you got it right - that's what a Mokthuk is. It's a Tibetan dish which consists of momos and vegetables in a soup. It's healthy and tasty and looks similar to a Thukpa, Yak Meat and Mushrooms are also added to Mokthuk. One can have it as their lunch or dinner meal, it's available in both the forms - vegetarian and non-vegetarian. You just can't miss out on Mokthuk when you're planning to binge on Ladakhi Cuisine.

mokthuk-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image

 

10. QAHWA 

Qahwa is one of their most basic things, localities's favorite which they often offer to tourists as well. It has saffron and cinnamon which helps in keeping your body warm and soothes you. It's one of the most famous drinks in Kashmir as well as Leh-Ladakh. It becomes your best friend when dealing with the cold climate. People usually take back Qahwa packets from local grocery stores for their friends and relatives.

qahwa-leh-ladakh-cuisine_image

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FAQ

Q: Which is the best fruit found in Leh Ladakh?

A: Apricot is one of the most delicious fruits found in Leh Ladakh. The best ones are found here, don't forget to try their Apricot Jam which is mouth-watering, add it to your sandwiches.

 

Q: Which is their favorite tea time snack?

A: Tingmo is sold almost at every corner in Leh Ladakh. It's a stew which is a combination of sweet and spicy, one can eat it as a full-time meal snack too.

Related tags:

Local Food

Regional Cuisine

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