Kashmiri Thali
Series/ Thali Tales/ Episode 1
Thali Tales · Episode 1 · Summer 2025
01

Kashmiri Thali — the valley on a plate

Kashmiri cuisine reflects the quiet rhythms of the valley — shaped by cold winters, mountain trade routes, and centuries of cultural exchange. Yogurt gravies, warming spices like fennel and dried ginger, and slow cooking techniques define dishes that are rich yet restrained.

Recipes4 Recipes
EssayDiscovering Wazwan · 8 min
SeasonSummer 2025

"A chance documentary. A feast I'd never heard of. A tradition built around 36 courses, shared without ceremony because the ceremony was already woven into the act of sharing."

The Essay
Discovering Wazwan
Episode Essay · 8 min read

Discovering Wazwan — a Kashmiri meal as cultural memory

The Wazwan is not merely a feast. It is a ceremony — 36 courses, cooked through the night, served in a specific order that carries centuries of culture within it. This essay enters Kashmir through its most complete culinary statement.

"What does a ceremonial feast tell us about a culture's values — and what happens when that tradition nearly disappears?"
Read the Essay →
Where to begin
Soya Seekh Kebab
The smoky opener — sets the tone for everything the Kashmiri thali is about before the rice arrives.
← All Episodes
Recipes in this Episode
Rogan Josh
45 min
Kashmiri Thali · Ep. 01

Rogan Josh

Intermediate

Rich and aromatic Kashmiri mutton curry known for its deep red colour and warm, fragrant spices.

View Recipe →
Mutton Yakhni Pulao
1 hr
Kashmiri Thali · Ep. 01

Mutton Yakhni Pulao

Intermediate

Tender mutton and basmati rice cooked in a flavorful spiced broth — light yet aromatic, a pulao that carries the restraint of the Kashmir valley.

View Recipe →
Soya Seekh Kebab
35 min
Kashmiri Thali · Ep. 01

Soya Seekh Kebab

Intermediate

Protein-packed vegetarian kebabs made with minced soya chunks and aromatic spices, pan-fried until golden and crisp.

View Recipe →
Phirni
40 min
Kashmiri Thali · Ep. 01

Phirni

Beginner

Creamy North Indian rice pudding slow-cooked with milk, sugar, and fragrant cardamom. The quiet, cool close to a warming meal.

View Recipe →
Next · Episode 2

Awadhi Thali — cooking as royal art

Awadhi cuisine developed in the royal courts of Lucknow, where the Nawabs elevated cooking into a refined culinary art. Influenced by Persian traditions — delicate spices, the dum technique, and an insistence on restraint over abundance.

Enter Episode 2 →
Awadhi Thali