The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Bhutanese Foods. If you manage to be in an Bhutanese restaurant or you are visiting Bhutan, I recommend the following:
1. Gondo Datshi
These are scrambled eggs cooked in butter. The eggs are mixed with a large amount of butter and fried, then datshi cheese is added and baked. The mixture is amazing and is sure to become one of your favorite breakfasts. You can also combine this dish with rice and chilies, making it the perfect meal to get you through the day.
2. Jasha Maru
Jashamaru, also known as stewed chicken, is the most popular local chicken dish in Bhutan. The minced chicken is stewed with various spices such as tomatoes, onions, red peppers, ginger and garlic. Jashamaru has a mild flavor compared to other spicy dishes, but has a strong ginger flavor.
3. Goen Hogay
Ezay sauce is the most popular sauce in Bhutan, it is used to accompany many dishes, especially momo, which is how dumplings are called in Bhutan. It is a sauce made from tomato and chili peppers, they use it to bring the spicy flavor to all those dishes that do not have enough spice (for them).
4. Ema Datshi
Used daily as a side dish to almost any dish, this dish includes chilies (red or organic) sliced and cooked with butter and Bhutanese cheese. Variations of this recipe are also known as kewa dutch and sham dutch by adding organic beans, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, ferns, ferns, potatoes, yak cheese and chili.
5. Ezay
Ezay sauce is the most popular sauce in Bhutan, it is used to accompany many dishes, especially momo, which is how dumplings are called in Bhutan. It is a sauce made from tomato and chili peppers, they use it to bring the spicy flavor to all those dishes that do not have enough spice (for them).
6. Hoentay
Made during the Lomba celebration by residents of the Haa and Paro valleys in Bhutan, they are sweet dumplings of buckwheat or refined flour stuffed with a mixture of turnip greens, amaranth seeds, cottage cheese and butter seasoned with chili powder, onion and ginger. Because they are cooked once a year during the festival you won’t find them in many restaurants in Bhutan. However, they will definitely serve them if you make a particular request.
7. Kewa Datshi
It is made with potatoes and cheese, but chili and tomatoes are often added. To prepare it, cut the potatoes into thin slices and sauté them in butter, then add the cheese and the rest of the ingredients.
8. Shakam Ema Datshi
Shakam is a type of dried meat from Bhutan that is commonly used in many Bhutanese dishes. Some people feel that shakam resembles dried meat. However, because shakam is not completely dehydrated, it tastes different from any dried meat you have tasted before. That is Shakam Datshi.
9. Momos
Momos must be one of the most popular street foods in Bhutan. Influenced by Tibetan food culture, momos look like ravioli, which is mainly filled with meat, cheese, and sometimes mixed with vegetables like cabbage. Seasonings like ginger, garlic and coriander are frequently added. No matter if it’s steamed or fried, the flavors of Momos will be amazing.
10. Shamu Datshi
Shamu Datshi is one of the best cheese dishes in Bhutan. Some cook local mushrooms with cheese and butter, or add meat. There is another famous dish called Khewa Datshi, better known by Shamu Datshi. But Khewa Datshi adds cheese to the potatoes. Both dishes are usually served with rice.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.