Oambal~ Indian State Nagaland |
Nagaland is a state that belongs to the north-eastern
part of India. This state is mostly covered by lush mountains, which gives the
land a unique beauty.
and the cuisine is never same for any two of the tribes. A typical Naga meal
comprises of rice accompanied by a meat dish, a couple of boiled vegetable
dishes and chutney.
dishes are boiled to cook instead of frying. The meat and fish are smoked,
dried or fermented. Smoked meat is prepared by keeping the meat above the fire
or hanging on the wall of the kitchen for 2 weeks or longer, which could last
for the whole year ahead. Fermenting food is practiced in the cuisine of
Nagaland in order to preserve the food. The food item is first boiled and then
dried under the sun or near the fire. It is then wrapped in a banana leaf and
stored for future use. Traditional
homes in Nagaland have external kitchens that serve as smokehouses.The main components of Naga cuisine are rice, potatoes and other vegetables and meat. Various meats include beef, pork, fish, chicken, crabs, frog, snail, spider, insects, bee larvae, dog, cat, rat, birds, snake, spider, monkey, bear, and even elephant. Pork meat is highly popular and is cooked with bamboo shoots . Meat of dog and other wild animals are considered a delicacy in Nagaland. Apart from meat, bamboo shoots, lettuce, soybeans, mustard leaves, and yam leaves are also used in cooking. These ingredients are fermented and used to make various dishes.
The food is hot and spicy with a unique taste as due the local flavouring
agents are used and have distinct flavours. Chillies are an integral part of
the cuisine of Nagaland and are used in most of the dishes. The ginger used in
the Naga cuisine is spicy, aromatic and is different from the common ginger.
Various local herbs and leaves are also used to spice up the dishes.
of Nagaland has largely remained free from influence of other cuisines.
lot of first for Nagaland in my case this is where I began my search for
North-Eastern Dishes. Nagaland was also
the state where I discovered NE states will be difficult for us all!! (Now we have
Doctorates being awarded in NE states cuisine, culture) and this was the first
dish I cooked.
was the only vegetarian dish I found for Nagaland.
Ombal
State: Nagaland
Source: ifood.tv
- 500 grms pumpkin boiled and mashed
- ¼ cup Tamarind pulp( I used only 2 tblspn)
- ¼ Cup jaggery
grated - 1
Bay leaf - 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon Lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Raisins
- 2 Dry slit red chillies
- 1 cup Water
- 1 teaspoon Mustard oil
- Salt to taste
- Mix the pumpkin with tamarind water.
- Heat oil and splutter the mustard seeds.
- Add chillies, bay leaf and raisins and stir for few minutes.
- Add the pumpkin tamarind mixture and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add the jaggery mixture and boil at a
low flame for a couple of minutes. - After removing from the fire add the lime juice and mix well.
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Priya Suresh says
Omg, cant resist to this fingerlicking oambal..
The Pumpkin Farm says
you mentioned about smoke houses but it kind of turned me off, the pictures on the net, i was living on top of one such smoke house during my project work in sweden, i dread those days...but luckily we found the oambhal 🙂 this recipe is such different from its otherwise truly nonveggies dishes
Harini-Jaya R says
Good choice. Looks like Omabal is the dish of Nagaland within our group 🙂
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
super tempting!!
Srivalli says
Your version looks so well done as well Archana..
vaishali sabnani says
Archana..very well made..much better than what I made..finger licking!
Gayathri Kumar says
Even I made this ombhal. It tasted amazing. Your version also looks so yumm...
Pavani N says
Oambal wins Nagaland -- hands down.
Yummy looking pumpkin Oambal.
Usha says
oambal looks delicious
Chef Mireille says
I love this one after seeing so many, I must try this at the soonest
Manjula Bharath says
wow thats an delicious looking ombal arcahana .. looks very yummy !!