Assam Food, Cuisine and Assamese Recipes

Assamese food, is mainly based on rice. For the vegetarian palate , Khar(made from papaya and ground rice) and Kharoli( a mustard dish) are an apt introduction. For dessert or for those with a sweet tooth, there is a wide range in Pithas (cakes). The restaurant in most hotels will arrange an introduction to Assamese food on request. The Chandmari areas, Pan Bazar and Fancy Bazaar areas in Guwahati have a number of good restaurants serving a variety of international and Indian Cuisines.

Dish of the Month

Kukura aru Gaj
(Chicken & Bamboo shoot curry)

Preparation time: 20 Minutes
Cooking time: 1 Hour
To serve: 4

Ingredients

1* 1/4 Chicken
250 gm Bamboo shoot, Cleaned, soaked, washed or you may use 1 small can
2 Medium onions chopped
4 Green chilies, slit each one
2 tbsps red curry paste
2 level tsp salt
2.5 cups thin coconut milk
1 cup thick coconut milk
2 tbsps corriander leaves, chopped.
3/4 cup oil

Method

Joint the chicken as for curry. Wash and drain. Wash and cut bamboo shoots into quarters. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Fry onion and chilies until golden. Add chicken and curry paste. Continue frying, stirring all the time, add bamboo shoot, fry few minutes more. Gently pour in the thin coconut milk, lower heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes until chicken is tender and almost dry. Add thick coconut milk, simmer uncovered. Simmer, stirring all the time until oil rises to the surface. Sprinkle coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice.