Nagaland Cuisine

Welcome to a tradition where the cuisine is dominated by them age traditions of its local tribes, where Nagaland has almost sixteen tribes and almost every single one of them has a common dish, for many dishes in Naga cuisine are commonly found amongst most tribes. Nagaland is a place where you can still find a seat at any friend’s house, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

1. Naga Tomato Chutney

This authentic Naga dish is not like any ordinary tomato chutney garnished with sugar or jaggery. This one is tangy and spicy; a pickle meant for tingling your taste buds. While you can expect chilies to be amongst the ingredients used to make this tomato chutney, for this dish is spicy.

The primary ingredients used for this dish are tomatoes, green chilies, ginger,  garlic pods, a handful of mint, and coriander leaves. You also need to use salt and water.

At first, all the ingredients are brought together and boiled with salt and water. You have to ensure that the chutney is not burnt. Once the dish is completed and there is no more water, smash everything using a ladle.

2. Naga Chicken Curry 

It is quite a task to think that you can prepare a chicken dish without using oil. However, this Naga dish is not at all complicated in preparation,  and it is quite healthy as well.

You need to use ingredients like chicken, bamboo shoot, and chopped cabbage. Nagas use Bastanga or fermented Bamboo Shoot, but you can also use fresh bamboo shoot. You will need to use crushed tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chilies. For garnishing, you can use chili flakes and coriander leaves.

Primarily, clean and cut the chicken into different pieces. Then, crush the garlic, ginger and green chilies and mix the chicken with other ingredients in a deep pan. Cook the mixture until it becomes soft and tender. Add requisite amount of salt, and garnish the dish using coriander leaves.

3. Pork and Pumpkin Curry

Heat the mustard oil in a casserole and fry them pork pieces till their texture turns brown and keep it aside. Clean the casserole and heat the mustard oil in it while you keep adding them bay leaves, garlic and saute till the garlic gains its fragrance. Now add ginger, green chilies and saute further till them chilies are a little shriveled up. Put the pumpkin and sprinkle some salt, fry for almost three to four minutes, and finally add the browned pork and stir the dish. Add garam masala, turmeric powder, chili powder, and coriander powder to mix it up really well, ensuring that the meat and pumpkin is well coated with spices.

Put the lid on and cook for almost five minutes, after which you give it another good stir and add water. When the water comes to a rolling boil, turn down the flame to simmer and cook until the meat is tender, while the pumpkin is soft and mushy.

Comment below of your experience, while preparing any one of these dishes, and stand a chance to win an all-expense paid lunch buffet for you and your loved one.

Nagaland Handicrafts

Nagas are live examples of exemplary artisans, who work day and night on perfecting their craft. Manufacturing products with impeccable quality and creativity. Making each and every product durable and resistant to wear and tear. The details etched on each and every product is subtle and intense at the same time.

1. Weaving Work

Weaving the famous Naga shawls is an important skill amongst all of them Naga tribes. Apart from these shawls, they also weave handbags and jackets. For this purpose, the loin loom was used by them weavers, a technique mastered by these indigenous Naga tribes. As time passed by, the fly shuttle loom became very popular amongst these naga weavers. The decorations used for making these bags and other items has passed down from one generation to another.

Before natural dyes were used which are presently replaced by them artificial colors. In olden days Cowrie shells and beads used to describe the economic status of a person, who used to carry bags and baggages, now these embellishments are added to these handlooms, for decorative purposes only.

2. Jewellery

Traditionally both sexes enjoy being embellished with colorful ornaments. Their ingenuity lies in collecting and showcasing an uncompromising foreign object, for their personal use defined with style and grace, converting broken containers of glass into ornaments, where these glass beads are strung on a cord of fiber. Procuring these beads in multiple colors, such as violet, indigo, and orange, making such jewelry items one of the most authentic handicrafts created in the state of Nagaland.

3. Blacksmithy

Blacksmithy is the second largest handicraft for them nagas. These blacksmiths produce axe, knives, and spear. Spears are utilized in ceremonial purposes, decorated with goat`s hair on its shaft.  Dao is used for cutting trees, chopping meat, carving-wood and killing enemies. It consists of a blade and a handle.

Considering Rengmas to be the best amongst Naga blacksmiths, presently in business. During them olden days Rengmas were the only Naga tribe who smelted iron before carving out weapons out of it, by boiling and heating the stone, which had huge quantities of sand. Iron contents are boiled in an earthen pot, till it turns into a solid mass appearing to be red hot. Red hot iron is then taken off the earthen pot, laying it on a furnace and molding the iron by hammering.

Nagas have an intense attachment with their weapons. The spear and dao are a necessity for them Nagas. A whole spear is made out of iron, which is used in hunting and war.

Visit this state today and dwell deeper into its traditional heritage and legacy. Comment below with your experience, and stand a chance to win exciting discount vouchers.