As the holiday season is subtly setting in, the preparation of the perfect Christmas celebration can be felt in different parts of the country. The northeast part of the country has their own set of rules, delicacies and customs for the festival. Decorate your homes with twinkling lights to celebrate the spirit of Christmas and place a tree inside your home for a change. The arrival of December brings about great preparations where freshly baked plum cakes, smoked pork, pies and puddings always top the list. From desserts to delectable meaty delights, you can enjoy a variety of dishes to make the most of the season. We have rounded up a list of delightful Christmas dishes prepared in the northeastern part of the country. Happy making!
Mui Borok in Tripura
Complement your holiday mood with one of the quintessential Christmas delicacies of Tripura called Mui Borok. The delicacy is relished on special occasions and the dish is believed to be healthy because it is cooked without any oil and has a spicy yet salty taste on the palate. The flavourful fish curry is smoked and cooked with veggies and an assortment of spices that can be paired easily with rice. Chambai in Arunachal Pradesh Chambai is one of the delightful delicacies prepared in the region during Christmas. Arunachal Pradesh brings about the unique combination of chicken and rice that is popular amongst the Mishmi tribe of the state. The delicacy is prepared with a blend of sticky rice that is locally found in the region and paired with hearty chicken curry for a change. Also Read: Christmas Doughnuts in Nagaland
Since Christmas celebrations for Nagas is a big day and the natives never leave a single chance to prepare delightful food dishes for a hearty feasting. Christmas doughnuts are one of the signature dishes prepared during the festive season with delicious toppings and flavourings. The locals love to relish smoked pork with axone and a bowl full of sticky rice for a great festive spread. Fish Curry in ManipurManipur houses two delectable dishes for Christmas festivities to make the most of the occasion. The Meitei community from Manipuri includes spicy rich curry along with a smoked fish and vegetable mash. The delicacy is prepared with a blend of seasonal veggies tossed in non-marinated fish and spicy gravy. The other delicacy is called eromba which is nothing but a mashed mix of fermented fish and seasonal veggies cooked with chillies. Chicken Curry in Mizoram
To celebrate the feeling and spirit of the season, Mizoram boasts a grand spread for Christmas feasting. You can find a delightful blend of dishes including Burmese-inspired chicken curry accompanied by a bowl full of rice noodles. Other than that, Sawchiar is another delicacy which is a sweet reminiscent of khichdi or congee packed with chicken or pork and rice. Another pork-based delicacy for the season is Vawkswa Chhum which is a combination of mustard leaves and pork. Don’t forget to add sweet meaty delicacies including Chhangban or steamed rice cake served at the end of the meal along with a wedge of jaggery and tea for a wholesome meal.Also Read: Pork Innards in Meghalaya The celebrations here include a variety of ways to prepare pork for a hearty Christmas feasting. The community in the Khasi Hills is renowned for its Christmas special delicacies and one of the most preferred delicacies is pork. Often cooked in two ways including ‘Doh Jem’ and ‘Dohneiiong’. Doh jem is a Khasi delicacy made with pork innards and the other is Dohneiiong is pork cooked with a sesame seeds paste. The nutty and deep flavours of the delicacy are a perfect festive treat. In Meghalaya, you can also find mutton and pork stews as a part of winter lunches. Smoked Pork in Sikkim
Christmas is one of the most anticipated festivals in Sikkim. Every household prepares delightful savouries along with smoked pork for a wholesome meal. The pork is cleaned and rinsed with brandy and is later smoked over a wood fire for about a week until dry. The smoky aroma can be felt from afar and the taste of the meat is what makes it unique.