Deep, plunging, lush green valleys, snow-capped mountain ranges, fresco-filled monasteries, and magnificent Hindu temples, Sikkim is preferred as a great tourist destination. Due to the unique geographical location of Sikkim, there are great variations in altitude even over short distances. This diversity is also seen in the food here. Sikkimese food is simple and delicious in its way. Although rice is the staple food of the state. But apart from this, many such dishes are made in the state, which become the pride of the state and is also liked by the tourists. Let's know about some traditional dishes of Sikkim...

Thenkuk
Thenkuk, a type of noodle soup, is one of the famous dishes of Sikkim. Vegetables, chicken or mutton, and wheat flour are used to make it. If you are vegetarian then you can cook veggies. It is essentially a soup with vegetables, meat, or both, into which small pieces of dough are added and cooked slowly in a closed pot. This is the dish that the people of Sikkim eat for dinner.

Sel bread
Sel Roti, a delicious bread dish, is usually prepared during Tihar, a famous Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. Its unique circular shape sets it apart from other bread recipes. It is usually served with meat-based curries. Mildly sweet, it is made from rice flour mixed with some spices. Pure ghee is added to the batter before frying it in oil till it turns golden brown.

Gundruk Soup
Gundruk soup has its origins in Nepal but is one of the staple foods of Sikkim. Gunduk soup is a fermented vegetable soup made from mustard, cabbage, or radish leaves. The people of Sikkim make this dish in an earthen pot. The soup is rich in roughage and helps in maintaining the metabolism of the body.

Phagspa
Phagspa is a strip of pork fat cooked with dried chili and radish. A spicy and tangy effort, this Sikkimese dish is rich in protein and is made without oil. Well for vegetarians there is no substitute for pork in this dish so nothing as such. What You Can Do The Golden Dragon Hotel in Gangtok has the most authentic and delicious Fangshapa in all of Sikkim.

Thukpa
It is one of the most popular dishes in Sikkim. Thukpa is a noodle soup served with momos. This soup is made with very tasty spices. You will easily find Thukpa in most of the restaurants in Sikkim. You will easily find both veg and non-veg options in this.

Momos
An absolute favorite, momos are an original Tibetan delicacy. Though a Tibetan dish, it has now adopted distinct Sikkimese flavors. This scrumptious snack is also a popular street food in Sikkim, available at street kiosks and restaurants. This succulent dumpling is filled with a variety of ingredients like cheese, meat, and vegetables. These are steamed in the momo maker. It has three levels, the lowest layer is tomato juice. Enjoy the juicy and melt-in-your-mouth taste of momos with cold chutney.

Wachipa
Wachipa is a traditional Sikkimese dish of the Kirat Rai ethnic group. Cooked rice and minced chicken are mixed with a powder produced from burnt chicken wings. As a result, the powder has a distinct bitter taste. It is possible to make vegetarian wachipa by substituting the meat with the leaves or flowers of the bitter damlapa plant. It is mainly consumed on special occasions.

Kinema
Kinema is a dish that is popular not only in Sikkim but also in Nepal and Darjeeling. It is a dish that is made from soybeans. Soybeans are boiled and fermented to obtain a sticky texture. This dish is high in antioxidants and low in fat.

Gundruk
Gundruk is a food of Nepalese origin and is one of the staple foods of Sikkim. Gundruk is a leafy dish. Which is completely vegetarian and is made from mustard cabbage and a few radish leaves. Properly made gundruks are found only in the village. People who make it in their homes, traditionally it is made in coins in the country in earthen pots. But people have started using other methods of making the same dish.

Chang
It is a famous drink made from millet. Yeast is added to speed up the process of fermentation. Also known as Thomba, it is a traditional drink of people living in eastern Nepal. It is a locally brewed alcoholic beverage. Enjoy it with Bamboo Pie. This drink is available at a very low cost and is prepared in local distilleries.

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